Lilongwe

Set on the banks of the Lilongwe River, Lilongwe was established in 1906 as the capital of Malawi, and is comprised of an Old town and a modern town – the latter commonly referred to as Capital City. Capital City is the commercial heart of Lilongwe, home to various embassies, banking institutions, office blocks and upmarket hotels, while the Old Town houses the main bus station, a lively market and most of Lilongwe’s residential quarters.

Lilongwe is growing rapidly and now has a population of around 1 million. Unusually, the city is divided into numbered zones, rather than named suburbs. The oldest part of the city is Zone 1, and so on.   

Although there is little in the way of historic buildings or iconic architecture to see in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital is a pleasant enough city to visit, with a comfortable climate, reasonably inexpensive transport, and plenty of places to stay from modest guesthouses to upmarket boutique hotels. It’s the usual starting point for visitors to Lake Malawi or the safari territories, meaning a night here is often needed at the beginning or end of an itinerary.

In and around Lilongwe, Malawi
Lilongwe offers few sights of major interest. We generally only recommend a 1-2 night stay in the city at the start or end of an itinerary, as necessary. For those on longer stays or with an afternoon to fill, the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary is worth a visit. Situated between the old and new towns, the sanctuary is home to the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, a refuge for injured animals, housing a number of rare species.

Lilongwe is home to some of Malawi's best hotels. Below you'll find a list of some of our recommended places to stay.