Why go
- Largest city of Burundi.
- Served by Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM).
History
Bujumbura, formerly Usumbura, is the economic capital, former political capital, largest city and main port of Burundi. It ships most of the country's chief export, coffee, as well as cotton and tin ore. Bujumbura was formerly the country's political capital. In late December 2018, Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would follow through on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status, with Bujumbura remaining as economical capital and center of commerce. A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on 16 January 2019, and as of late 2025, the transition is still ongoing, having been estimated to end in 2022.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 10 airlines, 3 direct destinations
- Kenya Airways KQ (Embraer 170, Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Kigali, Nairobi
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (Embraer 170, EMJ) · 2 routes: Kigali*, Nairobi*
- Northern Dene Airways U7 (CRJ) · 2 routes: Entebbe, Kigali
- Air Canada AC (A330-200) · 1 route: Nairobi*
- Brussels Airlines SN (A330-200) · 1 route: Nairobi
- Egyptair MS (737-800) · 1 route: Kigali*
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (737-800) · 1 route: Kigali
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-200) · 1 route: Nairobi*
- Rwandair Express WB (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Kigali
- United Airlines UA (A330-200) · 1 route: Nairobi*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Milder and quieter, with better value.
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: BJM has direct flights to 3 destinations on 10 airlines (incl. Kigali, Nairobi, Entebbe). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Port de Bujumbura, 3 km).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Bujumbura. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.