Tourist Sites in Rwanda
The national museums
| Museum | District | Known for | Adult ticket, international |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnographic Museum | Huye | The oldest museum, over 10,000 artefacts | RWF 15,000 |
| King’s Palace Museum | Nyanza | Royal palace replica and Inyambo cows | RWF 20,000 |
| Kwigira Museum | Nyanza | Home-grown initiatives, in a 1958 palace | RWF 10,000 |
| Kandt House Museum | Nyarugenge | Pre-colonial and German-era Rwanda | RWF 15,000 |
| Campaign Against Genocide Museum | Gasabo | How the genocide was stopped | RWF 20,000 |
| Rwanda Art Museum | Kicukiro | Contemporary art | RWF 15,000 |
| Museum of Environment | Karongi | Environment and local plants | RWF 10,000 |
| Rwanda Liberation Museum | Gicumbi | Open-air site of the liberation struggle | RWF 12,000 |
Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy: Museums and heritage sites management division; Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy: Visit the national museums (hours and admission fees)1,2
- Hours: every day from 9:00 to 17:00. On Umuganda days, the last Saturday of the month, the museums open at 12:00.
- Closed: 7 April, for the commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and on 25 December and 1 January.
- Groups: groups of 30 or more visitors get a 20% discount.
- Payment: all tickets are paid through Irembo, online or with Irembo Pay.
Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy: Visit the national museums (hours and admission fees)2
Rwanda’s tourist sites: museums, lakes, trails, parks and memorials
- 1 Ethnographic Museum National museum · Huye, Southern Province
- 2 King’s Palace Museum National museum · Nyanza, Southern Province
- 3 Kandt House Museum National museum · Nyarugenge, City of Kigali
- 4 Campaign Against Genocide Museum National museum · Gasabo, City of Kigali
- 5 Rwanda Art Museum National museum · Kicukiro, City of Kigali
- 6 Museum of Environment National museum · Karongi, Western Province
- 7 Rwanda Liberation Museum National museum · Gicumbi, Northern Province
- 8 Congo Nile Trail 227 km trail · Rubavu to Rusizi
- 9 Musanze Caves Lava caves · Musanze, Northern Province
- 10 Lakes Burera and Ruhondo Twin lakes · Northern Province
- 11 Lake Muhazi Lake · Eastern Province
- 12 Ellen DeGeneres Campus Gorilla conservation centre · Kinigi, Musanze
- 13 Lake Kivu Lake · Western Province
- 14 Volcanoes National Park Northern Province · Mountain gorillas
- 15 Nyungwe National Park Southern and Western provinces · Montane rainforest
- 16 Akagera National Park Eastern Province · Savanna and lakes
- 17 Gishwati-Mukura National Park Western Province · Forest
- 18 Nyamata Memorial site · Bugesera, Eastern Province
- 19 Murambi Memorial site · Nyamagabe, Southern Province
- 20 Gisozi Kigali Genocide Memorial · City of Kigali
- 21 Bisesero Memorial site · Karongi, Western Province
Lakes, trails and caves
| Site | Where | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Congo Nile Trail | Rubavu to Rusizi | 227 km along Lake Kivu, about 5 days by bike |
| Musanze Caves | Musanze | A 2 km lava cave, guided tours only |
| Lakes Burera and Ruhondo | Burera and Musanze | 55 km² and 26.6 km², a Ramsar wetland site |
| Lake Muhazi | East of Kigali | 33 km², boating and lakeside lodges |
| Ellen DeGeneres Campus | Kinigi, Musanze | Gorilla conservation exhibits, open daily |
Source: Visit Rwanda (Rwanda Development Board): Itineraries, Congo Nile Trail; Visit Rwanda (Rwanda Development Board): Caving; Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources: National Aquaculture Strategy for Rwanda 2023–2035 (FAOLEX copy); Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: The Ellen DeGeneres Campus3,4,5,6
Parks and memorial sites
The four national parks, Volcanoes, Akagera, Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura, have their own pages, with gorilla permit prices. The memorial sites of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi at Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero are covered on the UNESCO sites pages. All of them are shown on the map.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many national museums does Rwanda have?
Eight, in seven districts, run by the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy.
When are Rwanda’s national museums open?
Every day from 9:00 to 17:00, from 12:00 on the last Saturday of the month. They close on 7 April, 25 December and 1 January.
How do you pay for museum tickets in Rwanda?
Through Irembo, online or with Irembo Pay. Groups of 30 or more get 20% off.
What is the Congo Nile Trail?
A 227 km route from Rubavu to Rusizi along Lake Kivu, about five days by bike or ten on foot.
The sites
Ethnographic Museum
Rwanda’s oldest museum, opened in 1989, with more than 10,000 artefacts.
1989 Year the museum opened
Read more
King’s Palace Museum
The royal palace replica at Rukari, the Inyambo cows and the Kwigira Museum.
88 km Distance from Kigali
Read more
Kandt House Museum
Pre-colonial Rwanda, German rule and the founding of Kigali, near downtown.
1 km Distance from downtown Kigali
Read more
Campaign Against Genocide Museum
In the Parliament building: how the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi was stopped.
13 Dec 2017 Official opening
Read more
Rwanda Art Museum
Contemporary Rwandan and international art in the former presidential palace.
4 km Distance from Kigali International Airport
Read more
Museum of Environment
On Lake Kivu at Karongi, with an exhibition and a garden of local plants.
2015 Year the museum opened
Read more
Rwanda Liberation Museum
Open-air museum of the liberation struggle at Mulindi, with the command bunker.
Open-air Type of museum
Read more
Congo Nile Trail
227 km from Rubavu to Rusizi along Lake Kivu, by bike or on foot.
227 km Length of the trail
Read more
Musanze Caves
A 2 km lava cave with 31 entrances, visited on guided tours.
2 km Length of the Musanze Cave
Read more
Twin lakes
Two volcanic lakes east of Musanze, part of a Ramsar wetland site.
55 km² Area of Lake Burera
Read more
Lake Muhazi
A long, narrow lake east of Kigali, with boating and lakeside lodges.
33 km² Area of the lake
Read more
Ellen DeGeneres Campus
The gorilla research and exhibition campus near Volcanoes National Park.
2022 Year the campus opened
Read more
Sources
- Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy: Museums and heritage sites management division
- Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy: Visit the national museums (hours and admission fees)
- Visit Rwanda (Rwanda Development Board): Itineraries, Congo Nile Trail
- Visit Rwanda (Rwanda Development Board): Caving
- Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources: National Aquaculture Strategy for Rwanda 2023–2035 (FAOLEX copy)
- Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: The Ellen DeGeneres Campus
Figures checked 10 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.
