Gisenyi: 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.
Gisenyi is a city of 172,357 people in Rwanda (Western Province), 1,461 m (4,793 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Goma International Airport (GOM), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Gisenyi runs from about 12 h 4 min a day in late June to 12 h 16 min in late December (computed for -1.7° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Gisenyi is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Goma International Airport (GOM), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,695 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Kamembe Airport (KME, 93 km).
Flights to Gisenyi: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Gisenyi · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Kigali, 93 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Bukavu, 99 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Bujumbura, 187 km (Burundi) — flights
- Uvira, 189 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Bunia, 379 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Geita, 355 km (Tanzania)
- Butembo, 205 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Kasulu, 333 km (Tanzania)
- Kindu, 395 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Kigoma, 355 km (Tanzania)
Common questions
Which airport serves Gisenyi?
Goma International Airport (GOM), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Gisenyi?
About 172,357 people live in Gisenyi (GeoNames).
What time zone is Gisenyi in?
Africa/Kigali, currently UTC+2.
What currency is used in Gisenyi?
The Franc (RWF). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Gisenyi?
Kigali (93 km), Bukavu (99 km), Bujumbura (187 km), Uvira (189 km), Bunia (379 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.