NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, has been named the world’s best city to visit in 2024 by Lonely Planet, a leading travel company. The French capital, Paris, takes second place, while Montreal in Canada takes third place.
Lonely Planet has published over 150 million books and lists the top 10 countries, regions and cities to visit. The company that has been publishing guidebooks on international travel since 1973 and is headquartered in the US.
The guidebook, called Best in Travel 2024, highlights Nairobi’s diverse attractions, including its wildlife safaris, its vibrant culture, and its stunning scenery. The city is also home to a number of world-class museums and historical sites.
In addition to its natural and cultural attractions, Nairobi is also a major economic hub in Africa. The city is home to a number of multinational corporations and regional organizations.
Travel experts Lonely Planet named Nairobi the winner for “staking its claim as a global center of culture and is sizzling with unmissable travel experiences.”
“The Kenyan capital offers a dynamic array of restaurants, food carts and cafes, along with a “steady rotation of arts and cultural venues that all fuel a distinct Nairobi cool,” says the guidebook, “Within easy reach, its namesake national park is teeming with wildlife.”
“This ranking is a humbling tribute to the people of Nairobi who provide our visitors with an unrivalled travel, hospitality, cultural, sights and sound experience. This is also a timely ranking coming as we prepare to host the Nairobi City Festival, which will showcase the true spirit of Nairobi,” said Dr Nyalita, the Nairobi County Executive Committee member for Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service after the ranking was announced.
“I’ve found a lot of improvement, especially the infrastructure. On the highways, people are following the traffic rules. So, I find it more peaceful. The safety and security, I think they have also improved,” said Bangladeshi writer Ashrafuz Zaman, the president of the Bangladesh Travel Writers Association who first visited Kenya in 2003. When he returned to the country two months ago, he was wowed by the transformation, he told the Saturday Nation in an interview.
Lonely Planet’s picks for 2024 are designed to inspire and follow the instincts of next year’s traveler. They include new takes on iconic destinations and 50 fresh ideas across five categories.
