AFCON 2027 hotels: where to stay in every host city

AFCON 2027 hotels will be the hardest part of the trip to sort. Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala have plenty of rooms, but Hoima, Lira, Arusha and Zanzibar have far fewer, and June and July are already busy with holidaymakers and safari groups. The tournament runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027, and the venues are not yet confirmed, so the best plan is to choose a base city, book a room you can cancel, and adjust when the schedule is out.

This guide covers where to stay in each host city, the hotels guests rated highest when we checked in November 2026, and how to book without losing money.

How to book AFCON 2027 hotels

1. Book a cancellable room now in the city where your team is most likely to play. Free cancellation costs a little more, but it lets you move when the schedule changes. 2. Book early for the small venues. Hoima, Lira, Arusha and Zanzibar will fill first. 3. Stay near the stadium, or near a good road to it. Traffic in Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam is slow on match days. 4. Ask about airport pickups. Many hotels include one, which saves a taxi negotiation on your first night. 5. Check the security. Hotels with a guarded gate and their own car service make late match nights simpler.

The AFCON 2027 hotels ratings below are guest scores from TripAdvisor (out of 5) or hotels.com and Travelocity (out of 10), taken in November 2026, before tournament bookings began. They will change, and prices are likely to rise once the schedule is published.

Nairobi

Westlands is where most visitors stay, with hotels, restaurants and good ride-hailing coverage. Well-reviewed choices include the Mövenpick (4.9 on TripAdvisor), the Villa Rosa Kempinski (4.7) and the Sankara (4.6). Upper Hill is closer to the Ngong Road ground, with the Radisson Blu (4.7) and the Pullman (4.9). The city centre has historic hotels such as the Fairmont The Norfolk and the Sarova Stanley, but the UK government's travel advice lists it among Nairobi's higher-risk areas for street crime, so travel by car at night.

For Kasarani, a hotel on Thika Road saves the worst of the traffic. Karen, on the leafy south-western edge, suits a longer stay with a safari day, with Giraffe Manor and Hemingways. Near the airport, the Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport (4.8) suits a short stopover.

Kampala, Hoima and Lira

Kololo and Nakasero, on the hills above the centre, are Kampala's upmarket districts. The Kampala Serena scored 9.6 on hotels.com, the best rating we found. Munyonyo, on Lake Victoria, is quieter, with the Speke Resort and, at Kigo, the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort (8.6). Both are further from Namboole, so add time on match days.

Hoima and Lira have very few hotels, and fans online already worry about capacity. For most visitors, the better plan is to base in Kampala and make a long day trip or stay one night. Hoima is about four hours by road and Lira about five. If you do stay, book the moment the venue is confirmed, and ask the hotel to arrange your car to the stadium and back, because taxis and ride-hailing apps can be scarce in smaller towns.

Dar es Salaam

Kivukoni and the city waterfront hold the big business hotels, closest to the stadium and the Zanzibar ferry: the Hyatt Regency The Kilimanjaro (9.4 on hotels.com, from about $186), the Johari Rotana (9.2, about $149) and the Dar es Salaam Serena (8.6, about $168). Masaki and Oyster Bay have the best restaurants and beach bars, with the Sea Cliff (8.6, about $200), but also see street crime against tourists, so take a car after dark.

Zanzibar

Stone Town is the base for match days, within about half an hour of both proposed grounds, the new Fumba stadium and the Amaan. On the seafront, the Park Hyatt Zanzibar scored 9.4 on Travelocity, from about $360 a night, and the Zanzibar Serena is about $300. Smaller places in old houses, such as Emerson Spice, Jafferji House and The Seyyida, start much lower.

The beach resorts at Paje, Kiwengwa, Nungwi and Kendwa are 1 to 1.5 hours from the stadium. Stay in Stone Town for the games and move to the coast afterwards. Remember Zanzibar's dress code in town: cover your shoulders and knees.

Arusha

Arusha is the safari capital, so it has more choice than its size suggests. Top-rated on hotels.com: the Gran Melia Arusha (9.6, about $349), the Four Points by Sheraton The Arusha Hotel (8.8, central, about $197), the Kibo Palace (8.8, about $224) and the Mount Meru Hotel (8.4, central). For lower budgets, the Tulia Boutique (8.6, about $96) and the Sanna Boutique (9.0, about $144) score well. Rivertrees Country Inn (9.6), at Usa River, and the Airport Planet Lodge (9.4), next to Kilimanjaro airport, suit early flights.

June and July are peak safari months, so lodges fill early. Book as soon as Arusha is confirmed.

What to check before you pay

Before you book AFCON 2027 hotels, check four things. First, the cancellation deadline, and whether it falls before or after the schedule is published. Second, the distance to the stadium by road at rush hour, not as the crow flies. Third, whether the hotel has a guarded gate and its own car or a taxi it trusts for late returns. Fourth, whether the price includes breakfast, taxes and the airport pickup. A cheaper room an hour from the ground often costs more once you add taxis.

Budgets and alternatives

If the hotels are full or too expensive, look at serviced apartments in the bigger cities, which suit groups and longer stays. Guesthouses near the smaller stadiums are likely to appear on booking sites as the tournament nears. Be careful with private rentals advertised on social media: pay only through a booking platform, never by bank transfer or mobile money to a stranger, and read recent reviews.

For value, the smartest approach to AFCON 2027 hotels is often to base yourself in one big city and fly in for away matches, rather than moving hotel every few days.

What we do not know yet about AFCON 2027 hotels

CAF has not confirmed the venues or the match schedule, and the qualifiers run until March 2027. Prices and availability will change sharply once they are out. We will update this guide when they come. Until then, book what you can change, because tournament plans move. Our AFCON 2027 hub tracks every date as it is confirmed.

For the rest of your trip, see our Kampala guide and our safari guide.

Quick answers

• When should I book AFCON 2027 hotels? Now, with free cancellation, then adjust when the schedule is out.
• Where should I stay in Nairobi? Westlands for most visitors; Upper Hill for the Ngong Road ground; Thika Road for Kasarani.
• Can I stay in Hoima or Lira? A few hotels exist, but most fans will base in Kampala.
• Where should I stay in Zanzibar? Stone Town for match days, the beaches afterwards.