Five For Free: The Five Best Things to Do in Nairobi For No Cash

We have all been there, the job is bringing you down and the people you’ve owed money to since primary school have crawled back into your life and are now pounding down the door. Seeing as how life is a cruel and mischievous mystery, this will be the exact moment when that special someone asks you for a date. So what to do in a city that runs notoriously pricey? Never fear, here are five things to do in Nairobi that will cost exactly nothing.

Monday Movies at Alliance Francaise (Cinemalliance)

First, the free movie at Alliance Francaise every Monday at 6pm. This is a great opportunity to show off your cultural sensitivity, with typically art house offerings that get screened every week at the downtown cultural center. If possible do prior research so you can have a bit of astute commentary about the cinematography.

Hike Nairobi’s Trails

Next, if the day is showcasing that gorgeous Nairobi sun, stay outside and take a nice long walkabout. Seeing as how city center (and most of Nairobi in general) is a chaotic traffic cataclysm, the best option is the hike within a city. Such an option is possible at Karura Forest and Oloolua in Karen, where people can meander and chill for hours on end for a delightful price of free.

Creative’s Garage Chill Out

If the party scene is your thing, but the ever rising toll on good times is killing your vibe, check out the Chill Out at Nairobi Creatives Garage every Friday evening. The people are cool, the conversation buzzes and the atmosphere is all out relaxed. Creative’s Garage is tucked away in a house along Kirichwa Road, making it a great “secret” shindig to experience. Bring your own booze, but there is no entrance charge.

Take a Stroll at Kuona Trust

Looking for art but striving desperately to get away from the ultra-expensive art gallery scene? Kuona Trust is the answer to your prayers, with its amazing art being constantly formed by the collective’s resident artists from workshops within the compound. It’s possible to get an all around art fix and kill some hours among some remarkable talent.

Percussion Discussion at Kenya National Theater

Concerts in Nairobi are ludicrously priced. For those broke Fridays we all endure, check out the Percussion Discussion that goes down weekly at Kenya National Theater in CBD, just opposite the Norfolk. It’s a great combination of music, fresh faces and some lively discussion and it is that cost-free musical experience that a lot of Nairobians need.