Nairobi named best city to visit in 2024, ahead of Paris, Montreal

Kenya's capital Nairobi has been named the best city to travel to in 2024 by United States-headquartered travel firm Lonely Planet.

Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2024" list showcases 10 travel destinations across four categories: countries, cities, sustainability, and value.

Nairobi claimed the top spot in the cities rankings, followed by Paris (France) and Montreal (Canada) respectively. The cities of Mostar in Bosnia and Philadelphia (USA) completed the prestigious top five list.

Manaus (Brazil), Jakarta (Indonesia), Prague (Czech Republic), Izmir (Turkey) and Kansas City in Missouri US placed sixth to tenth on the list respectively.

Nairobi was the only African city on the list.

"Kenya's capital is staking its claim as a global center of culture, sizzling with unmissable travel experiences. The city is shrugging off the colonial gaze and embracing its unique rhythms, with an dynamic array of restaurants, food carts and cafes, along with a steady rotation of arts and cultural venues that all fuel a distinct Nairobi cool," reads the Lonely Planet website.

"Add in its namesake national park teeming with wildlife within easy reach of the city center, and you've got yourself an unforgettable trip."

Some of Nairobi's highlights according to Lonely Planet include; watching a performance of traditional music and dance at the Bomas of Kenya, walking through the Ngong Hills Forest at sunrise for views of Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro, visiting the Nairobi National Park for a safari on a budget with the city's evolving skyline as a backdrop and climbing to the top of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre for a 360-degree view of the city.