Disclosure: Advertising and affiliate services, including Amazon Associates, help the cost of running my blog. Clicking ads or making purchases through affiliate links may, at no additional cost to you, earn me a small commission. I appreciate your support.
So you’re going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? You’re gonna rock it! But you’ll likely arrive a day early to acclimatize a bit, or spend a day after your hike while you recover. Here’s some of my suggestions of what to do in Arusha with your free day in between naps.
Most companies will have you stay over in Moshi or Arusha before and after your Kili trek. For me it was Arusha. Take an extra day. Trust me, you’ll need it.
How long do you need in Arusha?
The city is not huge, but there’s enough here to keep you going for a day or two. Taking on such a big hike such as Kilimanjaro can be daunting. Your first day will be an early start, so I recommend arriving in Arusha at least a day or two before.
Not only will an extra day give you a chance to acclimatize a bit, but it will eliminate any panic over missing your hike through flight delays by arriving at the last minute. Oh, and it’ll allow you time to explore the wonderful city of Arusha and get a taste of the real Tanzania.
If you don’t have time before your hike, why not after? After a restful sleep, and the best shower of your life, the last thing you’ll want to do is have a long day of travel. Instead, take a day discovering what to do in Arusha that doesn’t involve hiking.
Where to stay in Arusha
You can stay in the city center, but a lot of the activities are spread out anyway, so honestly it doesn’t matter too much where you are in my opinion.
You’ll likely end up booking a tour or driver to get you around at some point, so being an extra few minutes from the bustling areas of Arusha won’t make too much of a difference.
We stayed at the Summit Lodge, a quiet hotel where the staff couldn’t do enough for you, the rooftop had killer views and a really nice restaurant, and the rooms were clean. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Looks can be deceiving…
Summit Lodge was in a quieter, more local part of town which made our stay in Arusha feel a little more authentic. That said, the hotel is gated and at first glance looked a little prison-like, at the end of a dusty red dirt road where the main building material seems to involve plain concrete.
But architecture doesn’t seem to be a huge focus in Arusha so don’t let that put you off. Many areas in Arusha don’t seem as polished as you might see in other cities, but the people are friendly and the town has character.
What to do in Arusha for shopaholics
You’ll find a lot of places to buy local crafts, as well as the essentials. By the time we arrived in Arusha we’d already spent a lot of money on African souvenirs, but that didn’t mean we were done shopping.
First stop: Kilombero Market. It’s where the local’s shop, not the tourists. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit. Go in search of fresh produce including the tastiest tropical fruits. Check out some of the homewares for sale including traditional cooking pots, and there are plenty of stalls selling spices to cook with too.
The local markets like Kilombero are a little overwhelming. Tightly packed stalls with narrow walkways, making sure you don’t trip over something or other. And you will get people trying to sell you something at every turn. But the experience is like no other.
Next stop: Maasai Market. You’ll find the usual souvenirs, and bargaining is all but expected. Don’t buy at the first place you see, and be prepared to walk away if you feel like you’re being taken for a ride.
Last stop: Arusha Cultural Heritage Center. This was a shoppers paradise. Not only is the main store just full of everything you might want to buy from paintings to wooden carved safari animals, jewelry and clothing. But there are more shops in the complex to feed your shopaholic tendencies. Buy locally sourced coffee and tea, or spices. Or splash out on Tanzanite, Tanzania’s popular gemstone.
What to do in Arusha for coffee fans
Coffee is one of Tanzania’s biggest exports. So why not enjoy it at the source? Arusha is full of coffee-related activities – perfect for my fellow caffeine-loving friends.
Learn more about the coffee growing and manufacturing process at one of Arusha’s many coffee plantations. Your hotel might be able to book a local tour for you or point you in the right direction. But you can also book an Arusha Coffee Plantation Tour in advance.
Love coffee so much you don’t want to leave it? Great news! In Arusha you don’t have to. Book a stay at the Arusha Coffee Lodge. That’s right, a fancy hotel in a coffee plantation. Take a tour of the plantation while you stay there, enjoy a cup of coffee in the café or just take in the views from your room surrounded by coffee plants.
TOP TANZANIAN TRAVEL TIP: Buy coffee from local supermarkets. It’s probably half the price than the tourist shops and comes from the same place. Either way make sure to buy yourself some Tanzanian coffee before you leave.
What to do in Arusha for museum geeks
A visit to the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre feels like a museum visit since they have a huge art gallery and many cultural pieces on display. The good news is that you can even buy some of them to take home.
If you’re into shiny pretty things instead, then a visit to the Tanzanite Experience museum is in order. Located in Arusha’s main town, entry to the museum for a guided tour is free. And again, at the end, you can shop for some incredible jewelry to take home.
I know people who were skeptical as to the quality or authenticity of the gemstones when purchasing at various markets, so this feels like a safer bet to ensure you get the real deal.
What to do in Arusha for foodies
The best recommendation I can make is to talk to locals. Ask where they like to go, and what their favorite food is to eat. That’s exactly what we did on our first day in Arusha. Our Nairobi to Arusha transfer driver was from Arusha and pointed out a few hole in the wall spots as well as local food markets.
Tanzanian food is not fancy, and is often simple meat and vegetable dishes, inspired by other cuisines, and heavy in starches which are nice and filling. Perfect if you’ve been climbing a mountain, or are about to.
You can’t leave without try Ugali, a maize porridge dish where you roll balls of the dough and dip in the sauces of your main dish. Or chipsi mayai which is literally a French fry omelet. Simple, yet satisfying.
One of the nicest simple dishes I tried in Arusha was coconut maharage. A coconut kidney bean curry served with rice and vegetables. Just the right amount of spice and lots of flavor.
TOP TIP: To try both local cuisine, local coffee and to get your western fix of food if you’re missing home, try the AfriCafe Arusha. If you’re a beer drinker, then make an effort to visit the Twiga Brewery in the mall near the Cultural Heritage Centre. Their craft beer logo has giraffes on it which makes it really worth a look in my opinion.
What to do in Arusha for artists
While I’ve already mentioned the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre, it really needs to be restated if you’re in any way into art. The African Art Gallery has floors of amazing art pieces, both paintings and sculptures. The sloped walkway winds up and up in this bright and beautiful gallery. You could spend hours here if you have the time.
Want something a little less pricy but just as special and unique? I cannot recommend Shanga enough. This workshop is where you can not only buy handmade art, but see it being made. Specifically glass and jewelry.
Two awesome things about Shanga: 1) They only employ artists who have disabilities, giving them an opportunity for work where they otherwise wouldn’t always get it; 2) Shanga uses recycled materials to create the wonderful artwork these incredibly talented artists make.
Even the bags you get in the gift shop are handmade there using recycled newspapers. You’ll get the chance to walk around the open-air workshops, seeing the dedicated staff at work. Watch them blowing glass, threading beaded jewelry or weaving clothing by hand.
We got to meet some of the artists who were more than happy to show you how they create their pieces. And at the end of it, you can buy some handmade one-of-a-kind glassware and other items from the gift shop. This was one of my favorite places in Tanzania to visit and my top recommendation for what to do in Arusha.
What to do in Arusha for animal lovers
Arusha is one of the most visited places for people heading out on Tanzanian safaris.
The Arusha Airport has direct flights to Serengeti National Park, and many safaris head out to the other large national parks nearby such as Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro.
But you don’t have to go far to see African wildlife…
Arusha National Park is near to the city, surrounding Mount Meru which you will see from all over Arusha. At first we mistakenly thought it was Kilimanjaro but that’s a little further.
Enjoy a day trip to Arusha National Park with an Arusha safari tour, or ask your hotel about local tour options when you arrive. Giraffes are in abundance here, and since they’re one of my favorite animals to see on safari this park definitely appeals.
Hopefully you’ll also get to see some of the Park’s resident elephants, zebras, primates and birds on your visit too.
The best part about Arusha National Park? No lions or big predators. While that might not immediately make you happy, how about if I tell you that this means you can do a walking safari there? How’s that for a unique experience.
Making the most of your post hike/safari stay
Arusha (and Moshi) can often be overlooked. Visitors are in such a hurry to get up a mountain or out on a multi-day safari, that they don’t spend any time in Arusha. I’m here to tell you that’s a big mistake.
You don’t have to delay getting to the Zanzibar beaches, or the Serengeti, too long. But an extra day to slow down and enjoy your African adventure is worth taking in Arusha.
Discover the cultural sites, enjoy a local tour, and stop to sip on (perhaps) one of the best coffees you’ll have in Africa. We had the chance to experience the local’s side of Arusha which made it all the more special.
In fact, our transfer driver, Patrick, was so keen to show off his hometown that we went out for lunch to one of his favorite places and took a mini tour of the city. Patrick even invited us to a youth football game for a team he coaches.
There we got to cheer on a local team and meet a lot of his friends. Which sums up our time in Arusha – the people were so friendly and welcoming that one extra day didn’t feel like enough.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a commend or share using the social media buttons below. Are you hiking Kilimanjaro and wondering what to do in Arusha? Where will be your first stop?
We find that it’s always a good idea to arrive at a destination a bit earlier than your planned activity – not only to acclimatise, but also in case there are travel delays – so it was great to read about the range of activities in Arusha. We would definitely enjoy visiting the museums, and Shanga looked fascinating – such a fantastic enterprise. It was lovely to read about the foodie choices as well – great tips about hole in the wall spots and food markets. And we couldn’t visit without tasting local coffee! Great post.
Arusha has been on my list of places to visit when I eventually get to Tanzania and Mt Kilimanjaro.
This guide gives me lots of info on what to see and do. I’m not a shopper or trinket collector but I’d be very tempted to visit the Shanga workshop – the fact that they give work to the disabled and the products are from recycled materials would make me get my wallet out.
The foodie tips are great and I’d definitely want to try the coconut maharage. I actually often make the same thing at home and had no idea that there is actually a famous Tanzanian dish with the same recipe!
I would not hike Killi but rather stay in Arusha and learn more about the coffee culture. And they have a coffee hotel, too, this is fantastic news for me. It looks like a cool place worthy of spending a day or two and not just passing through in preparation of the hike. I hope exploring Arusha didn’t tire you out much before the big challenge and adventure ahead.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
I have accepted that I will never do the Kili hike but Arusha looks like it is worth a visit, even so. The juxtaposition of the modern and the more traditional architecture really appeals to me. I could easily spend many happy hours checking out the local arts and crafts… and likely filling my suitcase with treasures to bring home.
Lyn | http://www.ramblynjazz.com
I always try to get somewhere a day or two early so I don’t have to worry about flight delays. I saw a couple miss an Antarctic cruise because of a flight delay – so it’s definitely a great tip. Arusha seems like a pretty epic place to spend a day or two. There’s such a great variety of things to do here!
Despite all the other activities mentioned in the post, my attention was immediately drawn to the “coffee fans” part 🙂 here’s an activity I certainly wouldn’t miss on a visit to Arusha!
The art gallery also piqued my interest. The local artisans always manage to convey so much of their culture in the works of art they produce.
There’s no doubt that on a visit to Tanzania I’ll be sure to visit Arusha.
Arusha – I love the way it escapes the mouth when you say it. And I can see the appeal why it draw travelers like yourself. Hiking the summit of Kilimanjaro might be the goal of many adveturous travelers, but I’m quite happy to roam and hike in my own pace in Arusha – its museum, market, art places, coffee houses and local flavors – what’s not to like?
#flyingbaguette
Jan – https://flyingbaguette.com/