Lira: 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.
Lira is a city of 119,323 people in Uganda (Northern Region), 1,104 m (3,622 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Gulu Airport (ULU), 93 km (58 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Lira runs from about 12 h 2 min a day in late December to 12 h 17 min in late June (computed for 2.25° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Lira is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Gulu Airport (ULU), 93 km (58 mi) from the centre, whose 10,314-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Soroti Airport (SRT, 99 km).
Flights to Lira: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Lira · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Kakamega, 300 km (Kenya) — flights
- Kampala, 218 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Nansana, 214 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Eldoret, 326 km (Kenya)
- Kira, 208 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Juba, 324 km (South Sudan)
- Bunamwaya, 225 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Bunia, 304 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Kisumu, 334 km (Kenya)
- Kyengera, 222 km — buses · car rental · tours
Common questions
Which airport serves Lira?
Gulu Airport (ULU), 93 km (58 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Lira?
About 119,323 people live in Lira (GeoNames).
What time zone is Lira in?
Africa/Kampala, currently UTC+3.
What currency is used in Lira?
The Shilling (UGX). Traffic drives on the left.
Which cities are near Lira?
Kakamega (300 km), Kampala (218 km), Nansana (214 km), Eldoret (326 km), Kira (208 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.