Rwanda

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Gisenyi

Rwanda's lake resort on the Congo border

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Gisenyi Plan a trip around Rwanda

Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency: RWF
Time zone: UTC+2
Country: Rwanda

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Amakuru assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0

Gisenyi (Rubavu) is Rwanda's second-largest city, a lakeside resort on the north shore of Lake Kivu with sandy beaches, water sports and views across the border to Goma. People come for the beach, boat trips, the brewery and easy access to the volcanoes and national parks of the west.

Largest cities

Kigali
Gisenyi
Butare
Musanze
Rwamagana

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Rwanda
Capital: Kigali
City population: 53,603
Population of Rwanda: 14.6M
Country area: 26,338 km²
Official language: Kinyarwanda, Swahili, English, and French
Currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF) · 1 USD ≈ 1,476 RWF
Time zone: UTC+2
Calling code: +250
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 1,461 m
Plugs: C / J · 230V
Emergency numbers: 112 · 113 · 114
Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	23°	23°	23°	23°	23°	23°	23°	24°	24°	23°	23°	23°
Low	17°	17°	17°	17°	17°	17°	16°	16°	17°	17°	17°	17°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$17
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$58
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$165

Plan a trip to Gisenyi

Top things to do

Free
Lake Kivu public beach
Swim or relax on the sandy shore of Lake Kivu, with several beach bars nearby; go in the late afternoon for the light and cooler air.
- Half day
- Lake Kivu waterfront and beaches
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $25
Kayaking and boat trips
Paddle or take a boat out on the lake for views of the shoreline and the volcanoes; arrange through lakeside hotels and confirm the price before setting off.
- Half day
- Lake Kivu waterfront and beaches
- Good for kids
≈ $10
Bralirwa brewery visit
See where Primus, Mützig and other Rwandan beers are brewed; tours need to be arranged in advance and are best in the morning.
- Half day
- Town centre and market
- Indoors
≈ $10
Pfunda Tea Factory
About 5 km from town, the factory runs visits from 8am to 5pm showing how tea is processed; pair it with a walk through the surrounding tea fields.
- Half day
- Pfunda and northern outskirts
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $35
Border crossing to Goma
Walk across the Petite Barrière into the DR Congo for a few hours in Goma; most nationalities can get a short Congolese visa at the border, but check current security advice first.
- Half day
- Petite Barrière border area
Free
Town centre and market walk
Wander the paved main streets and the market for fruit, fabrics and everyday goods; keep valuables out of sight and agree prices before buying.
- Half day
- Town centre and market
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $200
Scenic flight over Nyiragongo
Light aircraft trips from the area give views of the Nyiragongo volcano crater and the lava plain around Goma; book ahead and expect weather-dependent schedules.
- Half day
- Lake Kivu waterfront and beaches
≈ $100
Volcanoes and western parks day trip
A full day out towards the Volcanoes National Park area for gorilla trekking, golden monkeys or hiking; permits are expensive and must be booked well in advance.
- Full day
- Hills above town

Before you go

Entry and visas

Most visitors need a visa for Rwanda; citizens of Commonwealth countries and many other nationalities can get a free 30-day visa on arrival, while others can apply online for an e-visa before travel. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival and have one blank page, and a yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from a country with transmission risk. Check the latest rules on Rwanda's official immigration website before you travel.

Official website

From the airport

Most visitors arrive by road from Kigali, with buses running about twice an hour and taking roughly 3 hours. The nearest large airport is Kigali International Airport, about 3 hours away by road; there is no commercial airport in Gisenyi itself.

Getting around

The town is small and walkable, and hundreds of motorbike taxis cover longer hops cheaply.

Local tips

Rwanda banned plastic bags, so leave them at home and expect bags to be checked at arrival.
Dress modestly away from the beach; swimwear is fine only at the lakeside resorts.
Carry some Rwandan francs in cash: card machines work at larger hotels and banks but not everywhere.
The rains fall in April, May, November and December, so pack a light rain jacket if visiting then.

Areas worth knowing

Hills above town
Town centre and market
Pfunda and northern outskirts
Lake Kivu waterfront and beaches
Petite Barrière border area

Official travel advice

The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on September 4, 2026. The advice includes warnings against travel to some areas. Read it before booking.

Read the advice on GOV.UK