Guide
Get a quick guide to living in Rwanda
for both short and long stay
Visa
The latest visa regulations can be found here.
Safety
Please save the GIZ RW Emergency Information Sheet on your phone already before you arrive!
Water
It is not recommended to us tap water for drinking or cooking. Instead, bottled water should be used.
Accommodation
GIZ Rwanda does not have a partnership with one or more hotels that would e.g. result in lower prices or more flexibility. Hence, hotels
can be booked according to the needs and the available budget. The following table provides an overview of recommended hotels:
| Name | Location | Price | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grazia Apartments | Near Convention Center | High | High |
| Park Inn by Radisson | Near Convention Center | High | High |
| Urban by CityBlue Hôtel des Mille Collines | Near Convention Center | Moderate | Good |
| Hôtel des Mille Collines | Near German Embassy | High | Good |
| Ubumwe | Near German Embassy | Moderate | Good |
| Onomo | Between Kiyovu and Kimihurura | Moderate | Good |
| Highlands Suites & Apartments | Nyarutarama Near Convention Center | High | High |
In case of questions, please contact our colleague Christiane Uwase Bukuru: christiane.bukuru@giz.de
Transportation
Transport services from and to the airport are usually provided by the hotels.
Taxis can also be or ordered by calling the 24/7 toll-free hotline: 9191. A reliable taxi driver who speaks English is Abraham Bizimana: +250 783 361 502. Moto taxis should not be used for safety reasons!
Money
Although paying with Visa Card or MasterCard is possible almost everywhere in Kigali, it is recommended to also have a certain amount of cash. Banknotes of the local currency – the Rwandan Franc (RWF) – can be withdrawn from
most of the ATMs. The best option to change e.g.
dollars or euros is to go to one of the Forex Offices.
Communication
If your SIM card does not work in Rwanda, we recommend to go to one of the MTN Centers to get a local one (passport required). The staff there will also explain you how to buy airtime and internet bundles. Rwanda has an excellent 4G network!
Restaurants
Check out Tripadvisor.
More Information
Check out our Country Page➔GIZ Kigali Office➔Living in Rwanda.