Sleeping in Airports

Sleeping in Nairobi Airport

sleeping in nairobi airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Nairobi airport, you might wonder if sleeping in the airport is possible. Our guide to sleeping in Nairobi airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Nairobi Airport Overnight

Locations & Seating

Terminal 1 is more comfortable than Terminal 2 and is home to low-cost carriers. Unfortunately, the five terminals that comprise T1 are in separate buildings, so you can’t hop around once you’ve passed through security. If you’re lucky enough to fly from T1E (International), you’ll likely be in the best spot for sleeping.

We have a few reviews related to specific sleep spots in this airport. Travellers have reported that the Avanti Restaurant near Gate 23 may have some comfortable couches, but you may need to purchase an item if they’re open.

Do you have a good location, airport tip or photos to add? Click here for our review form.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Hotels

Nairobi airport hotelsWould you prefer the privacy and comfort of a hotel room? If you want a good, solid sleep, you’ll have to leave the airport behind and head to one of the hotels 5-10 minutes from the terminal. A few hotels offer day rooms. See the hotel section of our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Nairobi Airport.

Lounges

Nairobi airport loungesWhile Nairobi Airport has a few lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out the pay-to-use lounge details in our Nairobi Airport Guide.

More Airport Services & Facilities

For information about drinking water, 24-hour food & drink options, luggage storage, showers, mobile charging and WiFi, visit our Nairobi Airport Guide.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Temperature – The terminal temperatures vary widely, from hot and stuffy to downright cold. Dress in layers. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
  • Lighting – It seems most lighting stays brightly lit throughout the night. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.  
  • Noise – Daytime sleepers can expect to hear frequent announcements, non-stop music, and ambient traveller noise. At night, when there are no more flights, you would think the announcements would be put to rest, but that is not always the case. As a precaution, you should come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Security & Safety

At the time of this update, we have no traveller reports about safety issues at Nairobi Airport. Some older reviews mention that some airport staff required bribes or inflated prices or otherwise seemed corrupt, but more recent reviews haven’t mentioned this issue so it may be improving.

Sleeping in any airport can include a certain risk level, especially when travelling alone. It’s essential to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

  • Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
  • Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
  • Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
  • Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.

Write a Review

To help us keep this page up-to-date for future airport sleepers, write a review about your experience sleeping in Nairobi Airport.

Airport Photo Gallery

Thank you to the airport sleepers who have written reviews and shared their airport photos to help future travellers. Click here to add your airport photos.