Thika: 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.
Thika is a city of 251,407 people in Kenya (Nairobi County), 1,506 m (4,941 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 35 km (22 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Thika runs from about 12 h 6 min a day in late June to 12 h 13 min in late December (computed for -1.03° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Thika is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 35 km (22 mi) from the centre, whose 13,507-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL, 43 km).
Flights to Thika: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Thika · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Nairobi, 40 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Kakamega, 296 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Arusha, 263 km (Tanzania) — flights
- Nakuru, 137 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Ruiru, 17 km — tours
- Eldoret, 264 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Kisumu, 277 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Kikuyu, 51 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Bariadi, 395 km (Tanzania)
- Moshi, 259 km (Tanzania)
Common questions
Which airport serves Thika?
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 35 km (22 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Thika?
About 251,407 people live in Thika (GeoNames).
What time zone is Thika in?
Africa/Nairobi, currently UTC+3.
What currency is used in Thika?
The Shilling (KES). Traffic drives on the left.
Which cities are near Thika?
Nairobi (40 km), Kakamega (296 km), Arusha (263 km), Nakuru (137 km), Ruiru (17 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 13 September 2026. Hotel 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.