Why go
- Capital and most populous city of DR Congo.
- Served by Ndolo Airport (NLO).
History
Kinshasa, formerly named Léopoldville 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, 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. The city also hosts some of the DRC's significant institutional buildings, such as the People's Palace, Palace of the Nation, Constitutional Court, Court of Cassation, Council of State, African Union City, Marble Palace, Government House, Kinshasa Financial Center, and other national departments and agencies.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 13 airlines, 16 direct destinations
- Baikotovitchestrian Airlines BU (A320, Fokker 100, L4T) · 8 routes: Boende, Kananga, Kindu, Kisangani, Lubumashi, Mbandaka, Mbuji-mayi, Tshikapa
- Air Canada AC (A330-300) · 2 routes: Brussels*, Douala*
- Brussels Airlines SN (A330-300, A330-200) · 2 routes: Brussels, Douala
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (787-8, 737-700) · 2 routes: Brazzaville, Libreville*
- Kenya Airways KQ (737-800, 767-300, 737-700) · 2 routes: Brazzaville, Nairobi
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (737-800, 737) · 2 routes: Brazzaville*, Nairobi*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300) · 2 routes: Brussels*, Douala*
- United Airlines UA (A330-300) · 2 routes: Brussels*, Douala*
- Air France AF (A340-300) · 1 route: Paris
- Camair-co QC (737) · 1 route: Douala
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800) · 1 route: Brazzaville
- South African Airways SA (A319, A320, 737-800) · 1 route: Johannesburg
- Turkish Airlines TK (737-900) · 1 route: Istanbul
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.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 14 airlines, 13 direct destinations
- Varig Log LC (737, 757) · 5 routes: Cotonou, Douala, Oyo, Paris, Pointe-noire
- Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines Q8 (732, 737-300) · 3 routes: Cotonou, Libreville, Pointe-noire
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (787-8, DH8) · 2 routes: Addis Ababa, Douala*
- Kenya Airways KQ (737-800) · 2 routes: Kinshasa, Nairobi
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (737-800, 737) · 2 routes: Kinshasa*, Nairobi*
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800) · 2 routes: Casablanca, Pointe-noire
- Rwandair Express WB (737-700) · 2 routes: Douala, Kigali
- Air France AF (A340-300) · 1 route: Paris
- Camair-co QC (737) · 1 route: Kinshasa
- Estafeta Carga Aerea E7 (ERJ) · 1 route: Pointe-noire
- Hapagfly HF (A319) · 1 route: Libreville
- Mauritania Airlines International L6 (737-700) · 1 route: Cotonou
- South African Airways SA (A319, A320) · 1 route: Johannesburg
- TAAG Angola Airlines DT (737-700) · 1 route: Luanda
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 Ndolo Airport (NLO); 4 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: FIH has direct flights to 16 destinations on 13 airlines (incl. Douala, Brazzaville, Brussels, Nairobi, Boende…). By water: 4 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Port fluvial, 2.7 km); routes include Kinshasa - Brazzaville.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Kinshasa (Léopoldville), Congo. 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.