Bujumbura: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Bujumbura is a city of 769,317 people in Burundi (Bujumbura Mairie), 807 m (2,648 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre. Our booking partner lists 53 places to stay.
Key facts
Daylight in Bujumbura runs from about 11 h 58 min a day in late June to 12 h 21 min in late December (computed for -3.38° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Bujumbura is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, whose 11,811-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Gitega Airport (GID, 61 km).
Flights to Bujumbura: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Bujumbura · Driving and car hire
Where to stay
Our booking partner lists 53 places to stay in Bujumbura. Of the 29 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (18), and 1 are five-star. Guests have left 1,049 reviews in total.
Hotels in Bujumbura: the full picture, and book
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Kigali, 177 km (Rwanda) — flights
- Bukavu, 115 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Kahama, 363 km (Tanzania)
- Uvira, 25 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Geita, 324 km (Tanzania) — flights
- Butembo, 392 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Kasulu, 156 km (Tanzania)
- Kindu, 385 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo) — flights
- Kigoma, 169 km (Tanzania)
- Mbarara, 340 km (Uganda)
Twin towns and sister cities: Hefei.
Common questions
Which airport serves Bujumbura?
Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Bujumbura?
About 769,317 people live in Bujumbura, across 87 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).
What time zone is Bujumbura in?
Africa/Bujumbura, currently UTC+2.
What currency is used in Bujumbura?
The Franc (BIF). Traffic drives on the right.
How many hotels are there in Bujumbura?
Our booking partner lists 53 places to stay in Bujumbura, bookable on this site.
Which cities are near Bujumbura?
Kigali (177 km), Bukavu (115 km), Kahama (363 km), Uvira (25 km), Geita (324 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.