Travel advisory · Democratic Republic of CongoGovernments advise against all travel to Democratic Republic of Congo.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Bas-Uélé · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, Italy
Haut-Lomami · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, Italy, UK
Haut-Uélé · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, Italy, UK
Ituri · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, Italy, UK
Kwamouth territory (Mai-Ndombe) · avoid all travel · France, UK
Kwango · avoid all travel · France, Italy
Maniema · avoid all travel · Germany, Italy, UK
North Kivu · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, UK
South Kivu · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, UK
Tanganyika · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, France, Italy, UK
Tshopo · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, Italy
50 km strip along the Central African Republic border · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, UK
Kasai · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
Mai-Ndombe province · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
Northern Haut-Katanga (Upemba National Park) · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Italy, UK

Also named by one government: Garamba National Park (France), Kahuzi-Biega National Park (France), Kwilu province (France), Mongala (Germany), North Ubangi (Germany), South Ubangi (Germany), Virunga National Park (France), Bangoka International Airport, Kisangani (UK), Burundi border (New Zealand), Kasai-Central (France), Kasai-Oriental (France), Kinshasa (Germany), Kinshasa, Maluku area (Italy), Kwilu (Kwamouth–Bandundu zone) (Spain), Lomami (Italy), N'djili and Kimbanseke districts, Kinshasa (UK), N1 road, Kinshasa Province (UK), Rwanda border (New Zealand), Uganda border (New Zealand)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Level 4: Do Not Travel	Jul 15, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Avoid all travel (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Non-essential travel to the rest of the country, including Kinshasa, is advised against	Oct 16, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Do not travel due to unstable security, armed conflict, terrorism and violent crime	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Voyages touristiques déconseillés sur l'ensemble du territoire	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Kinshasa

Visitors come to Kinshasa for the Congo River views, live rumba and soukous, and the busy street life of the Congolese capital.

Find a room in Kinshasa Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Kinshasa

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Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Central Africa, on the north bank of the Congo River. Brazzaville, the capital of the neighboring Republic of the Congo, sits directly across the water. Kinshasa is one of the largest cities in Africa and the country's political and commercial center, and its population has grown quickly in recent decades.

Most visitors come for the music. Kinshasa is a center of Congolese rumba and soukous, and live bands and dance venues make up a large part of the nightlife. Markets, the riverside and neighborhood streets show how the city works day to day. The city suits travelers who want urban culture and are comfortable in a large, busy place. June to August is the main dry season and the easiest time to travel.

Kinshasa in five

Get a visa and yellow fever certificate firstMost visitors need a visa for the DRC, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is checked on arrival. Apply through the Congolese embassy or consulate in your country before you book flights.Visas and entry
Carry clean US dollars in cashCards are accepted at only a few hotels and large businesses, and many prices are quoted in US dollars. Bring crisp, undamaged notes, since torn or marked bills may be refused.Money and costs
Buy a SIM from Vodacom, Airtel or OrangeMobile data is the quickest way to check maps and call your driver.Phones and eSIM
Hire a driver for each day outTraffic on the main roads is slow and the city is spread out, so a driver for the day is the practical choice. Agree the rate and the route before you set off.Getting around
Buy insurance that covers medical evacuationSerious medical care is limited in Kinshasa, and evacuation to a hospital abroad is expensive without cover. Check that the policy names evacuation and repatriation.Travel insurance

Things to do in Kinshasa

See all attractions in Kinshasa

Sight · KinshasaPalais du Peuple (Kinshasa)

Sight · KinshasaMusée National de Kinshasa

Sight · KinshasaMarche Central

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KinshasaPut the places you like in Kinshasa on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Congolese franc (CDF); US dollars widely used
Entry: Visa needed for most visitors; yellow fever certificate required
Emergency: Hotel and embassy contacts first; save their numbers before you go out
Tipping: Not expected; rounding up in restaurants is welcome
Time: UTC+1, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Short dry spell
FebruaryRain18 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Short dry, hot
MarchRain19 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Rains return
AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Rainy season
MayRain15 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Heavy rain
JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Main dry season
JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low20°Dry, cooler nights
AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low21°Driest, cooler
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Rains return
OctoberRain21 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Rainy, humid
NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Rainy, humid
DecemberRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Short dry spell

Average daily high and low in Kinshasa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kinshasa

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 29°
Humidity: 72%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 88%

Brazzaville

09:39 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today33°24°88%Monday: Rain. High 33°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 88%.
Tue31°24°63%Tuesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 63%.
Wed31°23°37%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 37%.
Thu31°24°71%Thursday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 71%.
Fri31°24°55%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 55%.
Sat31°24°46%Saturday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 46%.
Sun31°23°65%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 65%.

Updated 06:11 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 2,314 CDF

Amount

Converted to

CDF · Congolese Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Brazzavillehalf a day to a full day, including border formalitiesThe capital of the Republic of Congo, directly across the river, so check its entry rules too.
Lola ya Bonobo sanctuaryhalf a day by car, traffic permittingA sanctuary for orphaned bonobos on the edge of the city, a change of pace from the center.
Kisantu botanical gardena full day by road, longer in rainA botanical garden in the forested hills of Kongo Central, reached by road.

Before you go to Kinshasa

SIM and data in KinshasaVodacom, Airtel and Orange SIM optionsRead the guide

Insurance for KinshasaEvacuation cover for Kinshasa tripsRead the guide

Money and cash in KinshasaCarrying cash and US dollar notesRead the guide

Where to stay in KinshasaHotels by area and driver accessRead the guide

Rules for Kinshasa, checked

Most visitors need a visa, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required on arrival. Confirm both with the Congolese embassy or consulate before you fly.
Do not photograph police, military sites or government buildings without permission. Ask before taking pictures of people at checkpoints.
Carry your passport and visa when you go out, and keep copies at your hotel.

Plan around Kinshasa

Where to stay in Kinshasa

Gombe, Binza and Limete compared

Read the guide Getting around Kinshasa

Drivers, minibuses and the traffic to plan around

Read the guide Visas and entry for the DRC

Visa steps and the yellow fever certificate

Read the guide Money and cash in Kinshasa

Carrying US dollars and where cards work

Read the guide Live music in Kinshasa

Rumba and soukous venues and how to find shows

Read the guide Democratic Republic of Congo

Country overview, regions and entry rules

Read the guide

Kinshasa FAQ

Is Kinshasa worth visiting?

Yes, for live music, the chance to see a very large and fast-growing capital on the Congo River, and its position across the river from Brazzaville. It is a poor choice for a relaxed beach trip or a short stay built around museums.

Do I need a visa for Kinshasa?

Most visitors do, and you should apply at the Congolese embassy or consulate in your country before you travel. Bring a yellow fever vaccination certificate, which is required on arrival.

Is Kinshasa safe for tourists?

Plan to travel by private driver, avoid walking at night, and check your government's travel advice before you go. Ask your hotel which streets to avoid.

Can you pay by card in Kinshasa?

Cards are accepted at a limited number of hotels and large businesses, so carry enough cash in clean US dollars for the whole trip.

What is the best time to visit Kinshasa?

June to August is the main dry season and the easiest time to travel. A shorter drier spell runs from December to February, and the rains are heavy from October to November.