Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kinshasa is a capital city of 16,000,000 people in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, founded in 1881.
Why visit Kinshasa
Townapedia lists 18 museums and landmarks, 15 parks and trails, 147 places to eat, 54 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Brazzaville–Kinshasa Bridge, Livingstone Falls, Centre Culturel et Artistique pour les pays d'Afrique centrale and National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Weather in Kinshasa
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Kinshasa
Kinshasa (; French: [kinʃasa]; Lingala: Kinsásá), formerly named Léopoldville (Dutch: Leopoldstad) from 1881 to 1966, is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-growing megacities, with an estimated population of 18.5 million in 2026. It is the most densely populated city in the DRC, the third-most populous city and third-largest metropolitan area in Africa, the world's seventh-most populous city proper (the most populous outside of China), and the fourth-most populous capital city in the world. It is the leading economic, political, and cultural center of the DRC, housing several industries including manufacturing, telecommunications, banking, and entertainment.
From the Wikipedia article Kinshasa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Kinshasa on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do6
Brazzaville–Kinshasa Bridge
Bridge · 8.3 km
Proposed bridge crossing the Congo River
Livingstone Falls
Waterfall · 11.7 km
Whitewater rapids on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo
Kinshasa Zoological Garden
Zoo and aquarium · 2.0 km
Avenue Kasa-Vubu, Gombe
Museums and landmarks18
Centre Culturel et Artistique pour les pays d'Afrique centrale
Museum · 1.6 km
Boulevard Triomphal, Kinshasa
Mo-Fr 08:00-16:00
National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Museum · 1.8 km
Museum for art and ethnography in DR Congo
Mémorial aux anciens combattants de la Force Publique
Monument and historic site · 2.4 km
Mémorial aux anciens combattants de la Force Publique avec des victoires à Tabora (1916), Redjaf/Rejaf (1897), Asosa (1941), Gambela...
Palais du Peuple
Monument and historic site · 1.3 km
893 Boulevard Triomphal
Musée national de la République démocratique du Congo
Museum · 1.8 km
Mo-Sa 09:00-16:00
6 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds15
Brazzaville Zoo
Park · 8.5 km
Zoo located in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
3 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes147
La case Resto-Grill Kinshasa Gombe
Restaurant · African · 2.0 km
16 Av. De la libération N°16 (Ex 24 Novembre) Gombe Réf: En face du saut de mouton Assanef, Kinshasa
24/7
24 Signature By Eden
Restaurant · European, African · 2.0 km
16 Avenue de la Libération, Kinshasa
Mo-Su 06:00-23:00
Café Garage Huilerie
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Pizza, Chicken, Tacoc · 1.0 km
3 Avenue des Huileries, Kinshasa
Mo-Su 08:00-22:00
Espace Le 155
Restaurant · Burger, Coffee Shop, Chicken, Sandwich, Steak House, Seafood, Barbecue, Pizza, Breakfast · 0.9 km
155 Avenue Kabambare, Kinshasa
Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
FUSION AER BAR
Bar and pub · 2.5 km
Restaurant
34 avenue colonel Ebeya
Tu-Su 11:00-01:30
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RACHEL
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.1 km
Rue Kanda-Kanda, Kinshasa
9H00 A 20H30
Restaurant Bar chez FRIDA
Restaurant · Chicken, French, Regional, Steak House, Fish, Grill, African, Congolaise, Wings, Fine Dining, European, Shawarma · 3.1 km
2 Oranger, Gombe, Kinshasa
Vilakazi Restaurant Kinshasa
Restaurant · African, Pizza, Steak House · 2.5 km
22 Avenue Tombalbaye, Kinshasa
Mo-Su 12:00-00:00
135 more on the map.
History
In pre-colonial times, the area was inhabited by two trading centres, Ntamo and Ntsaasa, which were part of the Tio Kingdom.
From the History section of Kinshasa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay54
Churches and places of worship71
Église La Louange
Church · Renouveau Charismatique · 1.1 km
68-72 Rue de Kanda-kanda, Kishasa
Shopping46
Patchi Kinshasa
Shop · 3.0 km
Galleria Mall: 6133, Av. Lukusa, Kinshasa/Gombe Avenue Colonel Lukusa, KINSHASA
Gas and EV charging32
Station Service Palais du Peuple
Gas station · 1.0 km
Avenue des Huileries, Kinshasa
Schools, colleges and libraries103
Healthcare102
Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Kinshasa
Hospital · 2.2 km
Avenue de l’Hôpital, Gombe
Map of Kinshasa
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
N'Dolo Airport (NLO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 km away.
- Masina 11 km southeast, about 11 min by car
- Kasangulu 33 km southwest, about 33 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Vue Kinshasa, Garcia-Pavilion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Julienne Lusenge in Kinshasa (cropped), U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Tours Medical Supply Store in Kinshasa Started With Microfinance Program, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Meets With Two Women Helped By USAID-Funded Fistula Clinic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Fields Question From AFP Reporter Revise in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Makes Statement About OSCE Worker Release While in Kinshasa, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Addresses Members of Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on 3 May 2014, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Addresses Reporters About His Visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo after his arrival in Kinshasa on May 3, 2014, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Gets Briefing at USAID-Funded Fistula Clinic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Bids Farewell to Staff at Fistula Clinic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Addresses Members of Embassy Kinshasa, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Ambassador James Swan Listens As Secretary John Kerry Addresses Reporters in Kinshasa, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Condemns Gender-Based Violence During Tour of Fistula Clinic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Meets Family Members of Embassy Kinshasa Employees-, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Locally Hired Staff at Embassy Kinshasa Receive Salute from Secretary John Kerry, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry, Democratic Republic of Congo Foreign Minister Raymond Tshibanda Meet in Kinshasa, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary Kerry Meets With Julienne Lusenge in Kinshasa, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Tours Hospital Providing USAID-Funded Fistula Services in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Kinshasa & Brazzaville - ISS007-E-6305 lrg, NASA, Public domain
- Chutes Livingstone, User:Vberger, Public domain
- National Museum of RD Congo 01, Munfarid1, CC BY-SA 4.0
- De Brazza's Monkey (14398780995), Steve Wilson - over 6 million views Thanks !! from Chester, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Une vue exterieure de Sainte Marie de Kimwenza, ByaduniaEspoir, CC0
- Devanture de la faculté des sciences et techniques de l'Université Marien NGOUABI, Orlen00, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grue royale un oiseau coloré, Reshlove, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stade Reine Astrid, United States Army, Public domain
- BOT 039, Leon Bilili, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Académie des beaux-arts en République Démocratique du Congo, Glo Ditu, CC0
- Académie militaire de Kananga, Delphin Mpoyi Kankolongo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Passage to the Congo in 1939 (32236399882), Liberaal Archief, Public domain
- Passage to the Congo in 1939 (31575749703), Liberaal Archief, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Holds News Conference After Meeting With President Joseph Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Speaks About Microfinance Program Started by YALI Graduate, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Meets With President Joseph Kabila in Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- DRC Ambassador to the United States Faida Mitifu (cropped), U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Democratic Republic of Congo Woman Tells Secretary John Kerry How Microfinance Program Helped Her Business, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Takes Late-Afternoon Walk Along Congo River, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry, Special Envoy Russell Feingold Meet With President Joseph Kabila in Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Addresses Reporters After Meeting With President Joseph Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Secretary John Kerry Kerry Meets With Elections Activists in Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. Department of State, Public domain
- Conteneur de déchets sur le boulevard devant le Musée national de la République démocratique du Congo, Kinshasa, Michkagho, CC0
- Street-level photo, marcelbag, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, orlanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, orlanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, orlanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, orlanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ladis_gis_rs, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ange, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ladis_gis_rs, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ladis_gis_rs, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, don20, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ladis_gis_rs, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, orlanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, don20, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, orlanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ladis_gis_rs, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, orlanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ange, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, Jeraks, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ladis_gis_rs, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ladis_gis_rs, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ladis_gis_rs, CC BY-SA 4.0
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