Hotel
Kigali Serena Hotel
A five-star hotel on KN 3 Avenue with 148 rooms and 25 suites, an 18-metre pool, a Moroccan-style spa and two restaurants, minutes from the business…
Hôtel des Mille Collines
Kigali's historic grand hotel, opened in 1973, where 1,268 people took refuge during the 1994 genocide, with a large pool near the city centre.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic hotel
- Area
- City centre, Kigali, Rwanda
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
Good to know
- Outdoor pool
- Restaurant
- Garden-view rooms
Why we recommend it
The Hôtel des Mille Collines opened in 1973 as Rwanda's first grand hotel, built by the Belgian airline Sabena, which still owned it in 1994. Its place in history comes from the genocide, when 1,268 people took refuge inside the building. Their story inspired the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda, although that film was largely shot in South Africa; the hotel itself appears in later films shot on location in Rwanda.
Since then the hotel has changed hands several times. Sabena's hotel company sold it in 2005, it was managed by Kempinski from 2014 to 2016, and it has since reverted to its original name. It is usually described as a four-star hotel, and today it operates as a business and leisure hotel in the city centre, with a mix of double and single rooms, suites and junior suites.
The large outdoor pool is the heart of the hotel and is popular for lap swimming; some garden-view rooms overlook it. The restaurant focuses on local cuisine and serves dinner from 7pm to 11pm.
Please be aware of the setting. For survivors and for many Rwandans, the events of 1994 here are part of living memory, so visit with the same respect you would bring to a memorial. If you want to understand the wider history, see the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi before or after your stay.
Staying here is less about luxury than about place: the hotel is central, has a good pool and comfortable rooms, and allows you to reflect on the city's recent past in a building closely tied to it. Combined with visits to the memorial and the Campaign Against Genocide Museum, it gives a fuller picture of 1994 and of how Kigali has changed since.
The hotel sits in the central business district on KN 6 Avenue, within walking distance of the city centre; guests report about ten minutes on foot to the main shopping area and the car-free zone. Kiyovu's restaurants are close by, and Heaven Rwanda's guided neighbourhood walk passes the hotel on its way into the pedestrian zone. We could not verify the hotel's official website, so book through a reputable channel and confirm details directly with the hotel by phone.
Hôtel des Mille Collines FAQs
Why is the Hôtel des Mille Collines famous?
During the 1994 genocide 1,268 people took refuge in the hotel, a story that inspired the film Hotel Rwanda.
When did it open?
In 1973, built by the Belgian airline Sabena.
Was Hotel Rwanda filmed there?
No, the film was mostly shot in South Africa.
Is there a pool?
Yes, a large outdoor pool, overlooked by some garden-view rooms.
Where is it?
At 2 KN 6 Avenue in the central business district, walking distance from the city centre.
What are the restaurant hours?
The restaurant serves dinner from 7pm to 11pm.
How do I contact the hotel?
Call +250 788 192 000.