Kano is northern Nigeria's largest city and a former Hausa city-state, known for its medieval walled old city, Emir's Palace, Kurmi Market and centuries-old indigo dye pits.
- Public
- Informal shared minibuses, buses and three-wheeled keke napep (locally 'A Daidaita Sahu') cover most of Kano; there are no fixed timetables and routes are learned on the spot
- Taxi
- Ride-hailing and street taxis operate in the city; app availability and fares in Kano are not well documented, so confirm the price before boarding any vehicle
- Rental
- Hiring a car with a driver through a hotel is the usual option for visitors; self-drive is uncommon and not recommended
- Walking
- The walled old city (Birni) is compact and best explored on foot with a local guide; elsewhere distances, heat and traffic make walking impractical
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 2/5
- Taxi
- 3/5
- Rental
- 2/5
- Walking
- 2/5
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Kano is northern Nigeria's largest commercial city and its main transport hub, with an international airport, a railway station and road links to Kaduna, Abuja, Katsina and Maiduguri. Within the city, keke napep, shared minibuses and taxis are the main options; the old walled city is best covered on foot.
Airports
Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Keke napep are the standard way to cover short trips; agree the fare before getting in, as they are not metered
Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN) is roughly 10 km from the city centre, a trip of about 15 minutes in light traffic
Carry small naira notes, since keke, taxis and market vendors rarely accept cards
Okada (motorcycle taxis) have been restricted on many Kano roads at various times; check current local rules before using one
Check current security advisories before any road travel outside the city, especially toward neighbouring states
Travel in daylight for intercity journeys and arrange transport through a hotel where possible