Things to do & places to visit in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kinshasa #2 destination in Democratic Republic of the Congo 2023. The average rating score is 4.22 based on 576 traveler reviews, of 30 attractions. Timezone: Africa/Kinshasa, current date and time: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 21:24.

Kinshasa Weather Statistics view more »

Top things to do (24)

• Art Galleries
• Gardens
• National Parks
• Parks
• Beaches
• Antique Shops
• Monuments & Statues
• Cemeteries
• History Museums
• Zoos
• Flea & Street Markets
• Nature & Wildlife Areas
• Children's Museums
• Churches & Cathedrals
• Points of Interest & Landmarks
• Art Museums
• Playgrounds
• Farmers Markets
• Bodies of Water
• Shopping Malls
• Mountains
• Beach & Pool Clubs
• Universities & Schools
• Architectural Buildings

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

1. 5.0 Cathedrale du Centenaire (3 reviews)
   - The biggest church in Kinshasa!
   Churches & Cathedrals
   
   
   The Cathedral of the Centenaire is huge: it's the biggest church in Kinshasa. I went there last Sunday. I counted 4,000 seats and about 1,000 people attented mass. Is there a bigger church in Kinshasa? - I don't think so. It's also very conveniently located: on the Avenue de la Libération (ex 24), in Lingwala, about 1 kilometer after Notre Dame du Congo, but on the other side of the road. The priest was really excellent, he explained the Bible very well, drawing examples not from that sacred text, but from our everyday life here in Kinshasa. I laughed a lot and I felt I learned something. See more..
   
2. 5.0 Marché Nouveau DAIPN (3 reviews)
   - The best place in Kinshasa to buy vegetables if you are an expat
   Sunday: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM Farmers Markets
   
   
   The Marché Nouveau DAIPN or 'DAIPN New Market' in English is a vegetable and fruit market on the Place des Évolués, near the Collège Boboto. It is only there on Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Some people say on Sunday as well, but since I have never been on a Sunday I can't confirm. The best time to go is around 11:00 am. Most expats living in Kinshasa know about this market. The products come from the N'Sele farm - situated near the N'Sele park, in the Maluku area. Most of the vegetables you can find at the Grand Marché can be found here too, but much cleaner. And you don't need to bargain! Everything has a fixed price, which is very convenient for foreigners who don't know the price of things in a faraway land. Apart from that, you can buy chicken (meat and live animals) and fruits Congolese people have seen only in movies, such as apples, plums and grapes. Nothing is as ridiculously expensive as in the supermarkets. It's a really good market! See more..
   
3. 5.0 Statue De Simaro Lutumba (2 reviews)
   - Statue of the Congolese poet Simaro Lutumba
   Monuments & Statues
   
   
   This is a good statue of Simaro Lutumba, who passed away last year (2018). I like his songs, even though I don't always understand everything he says or sings: it's always in Lingala. Check for example his album "Maya". This golden statue is roughly in the middle of the Avenue de la Libération. See more..
   
4. 5.0 Mount Mangengenge (2 reviews)
   - A great walk!
   Mountains
   
   
   I had a great walk last Sunday at the Mount Mangengenge. The Mount is situated about an hour away from Kinshasa's centre. It is a quiet place. If you like walking in nature and if you live in Kinshasa, this place is for you. Don't miss it! It takes about 45 minutes to reach the summit. 30 minutes to go down if you take the same way. If you go back the other way, it takes from two to three hours. I advise you to start early, like at 6:00 or 7:00 am. Enjoy! See more..
   
5. 5.0 Mbudi Nature (1 review)
   - Splendide petit parc !
   Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens • Playgrounds
   
   
   Mbudi Nature est un splendide petit parc en face des rapides de Kinsuka (Livingstone Rapids). On y trouve de belles termitières désaffectées, une vingtaine de statues époustouflantes, plusieurs balançoires, plusieurs toboggans, des chaises et des bancs d'où contempler le fleuve, des tables où prendre un verre et où se restaurer, des dizaines d'arbres qui protègent des rayons du soleil, des fleurs et un modeste restaurant. L'entrée du parc coûte 3.000 francs. On peut bien manger pour 10.000 francs par personne. Un sucré coûte 2.000 francs, une bière 3.000. C'est un espace idéal pour les couples, jeunes ou moins jeunes, ainsi que pour les familles. Nous sommes rentrés de là-bas heureux et détendus. See more..
   
6. 5.0 Building ex-Sozacom (1 review)
   - Tour Sozacom, bâtiment exceptionnel
   Architectural Buildings
   
   
   La tour Sozacom est un des bâtiments les plus impressionnants et les plus emblématiques de la ville de Kinshasa. Il a été construit pour abriter les bureaux de la Société Générale des Minerais (devenue plus tard la Gécamines) ainsi qu'une série d'appartements aux étages supérieurs.
   
   La tour a été commandée par Mobutu. La construction a débuté en 1969 et elle s'est achevée en 1977. En construisant cette tour exceptionnelle et quelques autres comme la Tour de l'Échangeur ou la Tour de la RTNC, Mobutu rêvait de faire de Kinshasa une ville internationale. Par ailleurs, la tour a un caractère africain très marqué.
   
   En la regardant attentivement, on a l'impression d'être en face d'une sculpture géante, composée de matériaux nobles, de volumes débordants, d'arrêtes saillantes et de baies qui se logent dans ses formes audacieuses. Ce bâtiment est une véritable icône urbaine. Il se trouve sur le Boulevard du 30 Juin, à une centaine de mètres de la gare. Vous ne pouvez pas le manquer ! See more..
   
7. 5.0 Mfuti Plage (1 review)
   Beaches
   
   
   See more..
   
8. 5.0 Cathedrale du Centenaire (3 reviews)
   - The biggest church in Kinshasa!
   Churches & Cathedrals
   
   
   The Cathedral of the Centenaire is huge: it's the biggest church in Kinshasa. I went there last Sunday. I counted 4,000 seats and about 1,000 people attented mass. Is there a bigger church in Kinshasa? - I don't think so. It's also very conveniently located: on the Avenue de la Libération (ex 24), in Lingwala, about 1 kilometer after Notre Dame du Congo, but on the other side of the road. The priest was really excellent, he explained the Bible very well, drawing examples not from that sacred text, but from our everyday life here in Kinshasa. I laughed a lot and I felt I learned something. See more..
   
9. 4.5 Lola ya Bonobo (233 reviews)
   - Beautiful & interesting visit
   Nature & Wildlife Areas
   
   
   DRC is the only place where you can see bonobos. The parc is definitely worth the visit, it’s beautiful, the guides are extremely friendly & knowledgeable. You will walk around the various living areas of the monkeys, see their sleeping quarters, nursery, and see many monkeys in their habitat. The tour takes around 1h/1h30. There is a lot of walking involved as well as steep steps in some places therefore I would not recommend it for the elderly. Think about taking some water with you because you will be hot & sticky by the end of the visit. Make sure you buy something in the souvenir shop to support the parc. See more..
   
10. 4.5 Académie des Beaux-Arts (16 reviews)
    - Welcoming students
    Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries • Art Museums
    
    
    The Académie des Beaux Arts de Kinshasa, or Academy of Fine Arts, is a higher art school with a park in which the visitor can see about forty original sculptures made by the students or the teachers and an exhibition hall with oil paintings and other artifacts, including souvenirs. Most of the pieces on display can be bought. And it's much cheaper than at the Symphonie des Arts! You also don't need to bargain, since price tags are already on most pieces. Another great thing about this place is that you can see the artists at work and talk to them if you wish to do so. They are very welcoming! See more..
    
11. 4.5 Texaf Bilembo (13 reviews)
    - Art gallery with gift shop
    Sunday: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries • Art Museums • Children's Museums
    
    
    I enjoyed this gallery; the gift shop has local handicrafts and locally made food products (jelly, etc.), as well as books about DRCongo. They sometimes show feature films in the gallery viewing space. Well worth the time for a visit. See more..
    
12. 4.5 Eglise CBFC-Gombe (11 reviews)
    - Baptist Community of the Congo River
    Churches & Cathedrals
    
    
    The two main pastors of this delightful little church are Mr Bais Balongo and Mr Maurice Mondengo. They preach every Sunday in English, from 11:00 am to 12:20 pm. They are really excellent. If you are in Kinshasa and haven't been there yet, I warmly recommend you to pay them a visit. That will make your day, no doubt! See more..
    
13. 4.5 Serpents du Congo (9 reviews)
    - Highly recommended
    Zoos
    
    
    This is one of the few attractions of Kinshasa that is really fun and educational for children and teens. I'm not sure where it is located now, but when we went it was up Matadi road, in the direction of Zongo Falls. Well worth the drive. We had to pay an entrance fee, if I recall correctly something like $10 per adult and $5 per child, but the snake handler was extremely knowledgeable and we felt it was well worth the visit. See more..
    
14. 4.5 Cimetiere de la Gombe (3 reviews)
    - Sapeurs' Day on February 10
    Cemeteries
    
    
    If you like cemeteries and would like to visit one while in Kinshasa, make it this one. Unlike Western people, Congolese people don't go to the cemetery to flourish their loved ones and to clean their tombstones once or twice a month. They only go twice a year: on the anniversary day of their beloved's death and on the 1st August ("jour des morts"). As a result, the cemetery looks abandoned. Several tombs are broken. Be careful not to fall in one of them! Several Congolese politicians and artists are buried here. I would like to mention Nyarkos, one of the spiritual fathers of the famous fashion movement of this part of the world: sapology. On the 10th February of each year, dozens of "sapeurs" meet up in this cemetery to commemorate the anniversary of Nyarkos' death. This is one of the things you shouldn't miss at any cost if you are interested in African culture. See more..
    
15. 4.5 Paroisse Sainte Anne (3 reviews)
    - Beautiful Church
    Points of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals
    
    
    The Paroisse Sainte-Anne is a beautiful church near Kinshasa's central station. I often go on Sundays. There are four Masses on that day. The first one is at 7:00 am, in Lingala. About 200 to 300 people attend. The second one is at 9:30 am, in Latin. About 100 people attend. The third one is at 11:30 am, in French. About 600 to 700 people attend. The fourth and last Mass of the day is again in French, at 18:30. I have never attended it, so I don't know how many people show up. Each Mass lasts two hours. If you don't want to go to Mass, you can always visit it as a tourist. It's possible as well. There are several beautiful statues of Mary, of her mother Anne and of the Christ. The building itself is quite beautiful. From inside, it gives a sense of peace. It is luminous - white and yellow. It can accommodate a maximum of 1,000 people. It is a quiet, but not a small church. If you visit as a tourist, avoid coming during the services. See more..
    
16. 4.5 Bombo Lumene National Park (2 reviews)
    - Beautiful park and great getaway from Kinshasa
    Spent More than 3 hours National Parks
    
    
    This is a beautiful, peaceful place to visit and a great weekend away from Kinshasa. There are several lodging options: bring your own tent, rent a tent, hotel rooms and a chalet. No restaurant or electricity on site, so plan accordingly. The staff will light the bbq for you and do your dishes! See more..
    
17. 4.5 Lola ya Bonobo (233 reviews)
    - Beautiful & interesting visit
    Nature & Wildlife Areas
    
    
    DRC is the only place where you can see bonobos. The parc is definitely worth the visit, it’s beautiful, the guides are extremely friendly & knowledgeable. You will walk around the various living areas of the monkeys, see their sleeping quarters, nursery, and see many monkeys in their habitat. The tour takes around 1h/1h30. There is a lot of walking involved as well as steep steps in some places therefore I would not recommend it for the elderly. Think about taking some water with you because you will be hot & sticky by the end of the visit. Make sure you buy something in the souvenir shop to support the parc. See more..
    
18. 4.5 Académie des Beaux-Arts (16 reviews)
    - Welcoming students
    Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries • Art Museums
    
    
    The Académie des Beaux Arts de Kinshasa, or Academy of Fine Arts, is a higher art school with a park in which the visitor can see about forty original sculptures made by the students or the teachers and an exhibition hall with oil paintings and other artifacts, including souvenirs. Most of the pieces on display can be bought. And it's much cheaper than at the Symphonie des Arts! You also don't need to bargain, since price tags are already on most pieces. Another great thing about this place is that you can see the artists at work and talk to them if you wish to do so. They are very welcoming! See more..
    
19. 4.5 Texaf Bilembo (13 reviews)
    - Art gallery with gift shop
    Sunday: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries • Art Museums • Children's Museums
    
    
    I enjoyed this gallery; the gift shop has local handicrafts and locally made food products (jelly, etc.), as well as books about DRCongo. They sometimes show feature films in the gallery viewing space. Well worth the time for a visit. See more..
    
20. 4.5 Eglise CBFC-Gombe (11 reviews)
    - Baptist Community of the Congo River
    Churches & Cathedrals
    
    
    The two main pastors of this delightful little church are Mr Bais Balongo and Mr Maurice Mondengo. They preach every Sunday in English, from 11:00 am to 12:20 pm. They are really excellent. If you are in Kinshasa and haven't been there yet, I warmly recommend you to pay them a visit. That will make your day, no doubt! See more..
    
21. 4.5 Serpents du Congo (9 reviews)
    - Highly recommended
    Zoos
    
    
    This is one of the few attractions of Kinshasa that is really fun and educational for children and teens. I'm not sure where it is located now, but when we went it was up Matadi road, in the direction of Zongo Falls. Well worth the drive. We had to pay an entrance fee, if I recall correctly something like $10 per adult and $5 per child, but the snake handler was extremely knowledgeable and we felt it was well worth the visit. See more..
    
22. 4.5 Cimetiere de la Gombe (3 reviews)
    - Sapeurs' Day on February 10
    Cemeteries
    
    
    If you like cemeteries and would like to visit one while in Kinshasa, make it this one. Unlike Western people, Congolese people don't go to the cemetery to flourish their loved ones and to clean their tombstones once or twice a month. They only go twice a year: on the anniversary day of their beloved's death and on the 1st August ("jour des morts"). As a result, the cemetery looks abandoned. Several tombs are broken. Be careful not to fall in one of them! Several Congolese politicians and artists are buried here. I would like to mention Nyarkos, one of the spiritual fathers of the famous fashion movement of this part of the world: sapology. On the 10th February of each year, dozens of "sapeurs" meet up in this cemetery to commemorate the anniversary of Nyarkos' death. This is one of the things you shouldn't miss at any cost if you are interested in African culture. See more..
    
23. 4.0 Ma Vallee (88 reviews)
    - Best place for a excursion
    Bodies of Water
    
    
    Surrounded by the equatorial forest, Ma Vallée is a scenic African lake. See more..
    
24. 4.0 Musee National de la Republique Democratique du Congo (50 reviews)
    - BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM THE OLD MUSEUM
    History Museums
    
    
    New National Museum of DR Congo financed by South Korea opened in November 2019, so please disregard the old reviews. The now modern museum is worth the visit, great improvement after the previous buildings on old location. 4 halls with exhibits (incl one on traditional music instruments) , a cafe with drinks, snacks and light food. Not everything is on display yet, they are still preparing more exhibits there so the later you come the more you might see. See more..
    
25. 4.0 Congo River (22 reviews)
    - Pirogue trip
    Bodies of Water
    
    
    Way back in 1993, another young adventurer and I bought a local pirogue and travelled from Aketi to Bumba on the Itimbiri River, which joins the Congo (then called Zaire) River. Then we caught a ride on a barge from Bumba to Kisangani. The Captain was a friendly Greek, who invited us up to his cabin to drink something "strong and dark". It was part of an amazing adventure. But the river....long, slow, powerful, wide - never underestimate it. It is very beautiful, but can be home to dreadful hordes of mosquitos, snorting groups of hippos, dour old Customs men and laughing children. It is lifeblood and highway to those who live along it and indeed to the whole country. Advice for prospective river-wanderers: the closer you get to a large town or city, the less friendly the people become. See more..
    
26. 4.0 Parc de la Vallée de la Nsele (20 reviews)
    - Poor service is the best way to ruin a great experience
    Nature & Wildlife Areas
    
    
    Beautiful place, good food, TERRIBLE RESTAURANT SERVICE, very close to ruining a beautiful day. Avoid the restaurant See more..
    
27. 4.0 Cathédrale Notre-Dame Du Congo (14 reviews)
    - Beautiful
    Churches & Cathedrals
    
    
    We were lucky enough to attend mass for a wedding and it was absolutely beautiful. The choir was phenomenal See more..
    
28. 4.0 Congoloisirs (9 reviews)
    - great park for family day out
    Sunday: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM Parks
    
    
    this is a great park for a family day out as they have good bouncy castles, pedal carts for the kids, swings, slides, trampolines etc. There is also a restaurant with good food and outdoor seating areas. See more..
    
29. 4.0 Cercle Elais (5 reviews)
    - Best place to relax in Kinshasa
    Beach & Pool Clubs
    
    
    Cercle Elaeis is a fantastic place to relax in the center of Kinshasa. It has a great swimming pool, restaurant and a gym. See more..
    
30. 4.0 Value Market (5 reviews)
    - Excellent
    Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Antique Shops
    
    
    Wonderful experience in the heart of Kinshasa. If you are looking for Congo handicrafts, new and old from all corners of the county, then this is the place. We came with our young children and never had a problem with thievery. Please understand that the vendors are local and their style of selling is more forthright. This can be tiresome, but if you are patient you can get good deals. Negotiation is the key here. After getting a low price we tend to tip a little. See more..