It is that time of the year when Kigali is packed with thousands of tourists from across the world, with the majority touching down in the city to experience the Basketball Africa League (BAL) that kicks off this Saturday, or Rwandan students in the diaspora returning home for summer holidays.

Are you in Kigali this weekend? The New Times got you. Here are some of the places where you can find the best vibes and get to meet different people from all areas of the world in Kigali.

Biryogo

Are you a teetotaler? Biryogo Car Free Zone located in the city center of Kigali got you covered. The area, painted in different colors mostly known as "Mu Marange” is well known for dozens of food kiosks and restaurants known for the Swahili cuisine dishes, and aromatic beverages.

The predominant Muslim place has seats everywhere, some with umbrellas on, there are ice cream stands, and the paintings on the road make the place more beautiful. Although this place doesn’t offer alcohol, various coffees, teas like, green tea, black tea, and others, and street food like chapati, and also their finger-licking pilau, will make you go there countless times.

Biryogo serves the entire city with its unique recipes. They say the ambiance in this car free zone can only be lived, rather than told.

Cadillac Night club

If you like partying until the sun rises, Cadillac Night Club located in the city center of Kigali is the right spot for you.

The renowned night club which has been in existence for over a decade, is home to all blends of music and features the best DJs and mixologists in town.

This Friday, Cadillac club will host one of Kigali’s finest DJs, Pyfo, alongside DJ Cad who is new on the block. The right day to pay a visit to the club is Saturday when the king of Amapiano in Rwanda popularly known as DJ Marnaud is playing the whole night.

Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park

Nyandungu Urban Wetland is one of the outdoor places that one wouldn’t miss to visit on their staycation in Kigali. The 121-hectare park features a medicinal garden, a Pope’s Garden, five catchment ponds, three recreation ponds, an information centre, a restaurant as well as 10 kilometres of walkways and bike lanes.

The Nyandungu Eco-Park provides space for residents and visitors of the city to explore and learn from nature. It is the first public recreational and touristic facility of its kind in Kigali.

With 121.7 hectares in size, including 70 hectares of wetland and 50 hectares of forest, Nyandungu Eco-Park is home to more than 62 local plant species and hosts more than 100 bird species.

Visitors enjoy birdwatching, hiking and cycling on car-free bike lanes as well as access to educational services and peaceful gardens with fresh air. Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park is located in the valley between Kimironko and Masoro in the Ndera sector.

Pili Pili

Sundays are for sports and Pili-Pili in Kigali. This is because the bar located in Kibagabaga-Kigali hosts the biggest party of the week in town on Sundays.

With a vast open-air terrace with superb views, a nifty pool, and a congenial atmosphere, Pili Pili has got the best Nyama Choma that comes with good music played by the best DJs in town.

Every Sunday it hosts DJ Marnaud, one of the best in the country who is popularly known for hits like Mundemere, Mbape and many others.

It's a popular bar and restaurant known for its knockout burgers, grills, pizzas, salads and vast choice of drinks especially champagnes of all kinds. It heats up to club temperature on weekend nights when DJs spin house music and other beats.

Choose Kigali art gallery

Founded by world renowned artist, Emmanuel Nkuranga in 2019, the historic heart of the city, Choose Kigali is at its core a creative space. This space includes several floors of an open gallery that feature a rotating slate of Africa’s latest contemporary art.

It allows for a wider range of artists to show their work in a greater range of formats. The gallery and tiered gardens are built for an ideal event space. With few bespoke event spaces in the city, Choose Kigali is the ideal location for a private event, whether a lunch of 10, or a reception of 200.

The space, located in Kiyovu, is also best known for its Executive Chef, Stafano Rutigliano, who is one of the best chefs on the globe. He is famously known for establishments of the Giorgio Amani’s Franchise in UAE.