A Guide to the Markets of Nairobi Central for First-Time Visitors

City Market, Maasai Market and the smaller stalls around Moi Avenue reward visitors who know which days to come and what to leave behind.

City Market: start here, go early

City Market sits between Muindi Mbingu Street and Koinange Street, a short walk from the Kencom bus terminus and the Nairobi Railway Station. The stalls here sell fresh produce, flowers and craft on two floors, and the craft traders tend to cluster at the back of the ground floor. Arrive between 8am and 10am on a weekday: the aisles are clear, the vegetables are fresh in, and traders have time to talk. Saturday is busiest and slowest. Budget roughly an hour, more if you are buying carvings or baskets.

Currency is Kenyan shillings and prices are quoted rather than marked, so polite bargaining is expected. Start near half of the first price and settle somewhere in the middle; walking away is part of the process and rarely causes offence. Vendors accept mobile money widely, but keep small notes for the fresh-produce sellers. Wear closed shoes, because the floor near the produce section stays damp. If you are staying in a hotel around Kimathi Street or University Way, this market is a ten-minute walk and makes an easy first morning.

Maasai Market: moving, and worth checking first

The Maasai Market is Nairobi's best-known craft market, and it moves. It normally sets up at the High Court parking on Saturdays, but the days and locations rotate through the city centre and other sites, so confirm the current arrangement with your hotel's front desk the evening before rather than trusting an older listing. Quality varies from stall to stall: soapstone bowls, beaded leatherwork and woven baskets are reliably good, while some wood carvings are mass-produced.

Expect to spend 90 minutes if you are browsing properly. Prices for a medium soapstone bowl or a beaded belt typically fall in the low thousands of shillings, and bundles of two or three items get better prices than single purchases. Bring small notes. Do not photograph traders or their stalls without asking first. If you are carrying a large bag, keep it zipped and in front of you in the crowds. The market is not a place to rush, and a first visit works better after you have seen City Market and learned what things cost.

Moi Avenue, Biashara Street and the small stalls

Biashara Street, running off Moi Avenue near the Hilton, is where fabric and tailoring shops concentrate. It is the practical stop for kitenge and kikoi cloth, with tailors who can turn a length into a shirt or cushion covers in a few days. Prices per metre vary widely by print and weight; the honest approach is to ask at three shops before committing, because the first quote is rarely the best. Shops are generally open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and close on Sundays.

Around Moi Avenue and Tom Mboya Street you will find smaller stalls selling phone accessories, second-hand clothing and household goods. These are working markets rather than tourist ones, and they are busy from mid-morning. This is a good place to buy a cheap umbrella or a phone charger, not to linger. Keep cash separate from your phone, and avoid the area after dusk on a first visit. For a calmer afternoon, the covered arcades along Kimathi Street have fixed prices and air-conditioning.

Where to stay and when to come

January and February are dry and hot; June to August is cooler and greener, and the long rains of April and May make market visits a wet affair. If your main purpose is markets, come in the dry months and plan market mornings early. Hotel rates in Nairobi Central sit in the mid-range bracket for the city, and booking two to three weeks ahead is sensible for the January and August peaks.

For a first visit I would book a hotel within walking distance of City Market, roughly between Muindi Mbingu Street and Kimathi Street. That puts the craft and fabric markets on foot, keeps taxi costs down, and leaves you close to the Kencom and Railways matatu stages for onward trips to Westlands or Karen. Skip the hotels on the far side of River Road for a first stay: they are cheaper but the walk to the market crosses heavy traffic and feels less comfortable in the evening.

Questions, answered

How much should I budget for souvenirs at City Market?

Most small craft items sit in the low to mid hundreds of shillings, while soapstone bowls, baskets and carvings run into the low thousands. Carry small notes in Kenyan shillings, expect to bargain politely, and compare two or three stalls before deciding.

Is it safe to walk between the markets in Nairobi Central?

Walking between City Market, Biashara Street and Moi Avenue is normal in daylight along the main streets. Keep bags zipped and phones out of sight, avoid quiet side streets and River Road after dusk, and use a taxi or ride-hailing app for evening returns.

Which day is best for the Maasai Market?

Saturdays are the traditional day at the High Court parking, but days and sites rotate. Ask your hotel reception the evening before to confirm the current location, then arrive in the morning when traders are setting up and stalls are still uncrowded.

← Nairobi Central's page