Kinshasa walking tour & city guide

Gombe and the boulevards

Gombe, by the river, is the business and government district, with office towers, embassies and the wide Boulevard du 30 Juin running through it. To the south and east, neighbourhoods such as Bandalungwa, Matonge and Lingwala are full of street life, bars and music.

The Grand Marché, also called the Marché Central, is the city's biggest market, a sprawling place of fabrics, food and everything else.

A classic walk

Start on Boulevard du 30 Juin in Gombe and walk to the Congo riverfront to look across at Brazzaville. Visit the Academy of Fine Arts, where students sculpt and paint in the gardens, then head to the Grand Marché, and end the day in Matonge, the heart of Kinshasa's music scene.

Good to know

Kinshasa is hot and humid all year; June to September is drier and slightly cooler. Traffic is heavy, so allow plenty of time to cross the city. The Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary on the outskirts cares for orphaned bonobos. Check current travel advice before planning a trip.