How To Travel From Brazzaville Congo To Kinshasa DRC

If you’re planning to travel from the Republic of Congo’s capital city, Brazzaville, to the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa, then look no further than this handy guide.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo are neighbouring countries who share similar cultures, languages and even names. Brazzaville and Kinshasa are so close to each other that the two cities could be confused as being within the same country; geographically they are the two closest capital cities in the world. While in Brazzaville, you might be interested in taking a trip to Kinshasa to get another stamp in your passport and have yet another adventure.

Why you should visit Kinshasa, DRC

The Republic of the Congo and the DRC might be mistaken as being the same country, but they’re really not – both countries have different activities and experiences to offer. Unlike the small and peaceful city of Brazzaville, Kinshasa is a large and chaotic city with a population 10 times that of Brazzaville.

What you should know

Brazzaville and Kinshasa are very close, with only around eight kilometres and the Congo river separating them. It is very easy to travel to Kinshasa from Brazzaville and not very time consuming depending on the type of transport you decide to take.

When travelling from Brazzaville to Kinshasa, people with a Congolese nationality from Brazzaville can easily cross over to Kinshasa without a visa, regardless of their mode of transport. It’s slightly different for people with a European visa, or even for holders of other African passports who will require a valid visa. The visa application from Brazzaville to Kinshasa is a very easy process. Travellers can obtain the visa to Kinshasa at the embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Brazzaville. The visa can be issued within one or two days.

Type of transportation

Being so close to each other there are multiple types of transport to help you get across from Brazzaville to Kinshasa.

Travelling by car

Few people travelling to Kinshasa from Brazzaville opt to go by car. This option might be a bit time consuming as it takes about five-and-a-half hours to reach Kinshasa. The driving distance from Brazzaville to Kinshasa is about 12km (7.34 miles) if driving on the N1 route towards Avenue Kasa-Vubu. The estimated time might not apply to everyone due to the number of stops you make during your trip. An advantage of travelling by car, however, is that this will be a perfect opportunity to explore different cities within Congo-Brazzaville before reaching your destination in the DRC.

Travelling by boat

This is the most common way people choose to travel from Brazzaville to Kinshasa, the main reasons being is that it is much faster and more affordable. A boat ticket to Kinshasa might cost only about 20, 000FCFA, which is about $36 US dollars. If travelling by boat it is necessary to book a hotel before your trip as the immigration officers might demand tourists arriving in Kinshasa to show proof of accommodation. The approximate time it takes to arrive in Kinshasa by boat is only about 10 to 15 minutes.

Travelling by airplane

Travelling by aeroplane has always been the fastest and most preferred way to reach a specific destination. The distance to travel by airplane is only about 7km (four miles), which takes around 35 minutes. Asky airlines have three scheduled flights per week from Brazzaville to Kinshasa. Reservations can be booked on their website. Although travelling by airplane might take a bit longer than travelling by boat, it is more comfortable.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.