Butare

Butare (also known as Huye) is Rwanda's intellectual and cultural capital. It is home to the National University of Rwanda and the excellent National Museum of Rwanda, which offers the best overview of Rwandan history, culture, and traditional life. The town has a relaxed, academic atmosphere with tree-lined streets, colonial-era buildings, and a more cosmopolitan feel than other provincial towns. Butare is a must-visit for anyone interested in Rwandan culture.

By plane: Kigali International Airport (KGL), 130 km north. By car/road: regular buses from Kigali (2.5 hours, around 2,000 RWF). The road is paved and in good condition.

Walkable town centre. Motorcycle-taxis for longer trips.

• National Museum of Rwanda — the country's premier museum with outstanding ethnographic exhibits. Entry around 8,000 RWF. Allow 2 hours.

• Ethnographic Museum — housed in a former Belgian building with exhibits on traditional crafts, tools, and rituals

• Butare Cathedral — a large colonial-era Catholic cathedral

• Nyabisindu Palace — former royal palace nearby

• Visit the National Museum (allow half a day)

• Walk through the university campus

• Watch an Intore dance performance (arrange through the museum or a tour operator)

• Explore the town's colonial architecture

• Chez John — popular for brochettes and Rwandan food
• Hotel Faucon — good international menu
• Sukhdev Restaurant — Indian food
• Street food includes sambusa and brochettes

Cafes around the university area. Bars serve Primus and Mützig beer.

• Budget: Centre Saint Paul — guesthouse from US$20
• Mid-range: Hotel Faucon — from US$50; Crest Hotel — from US$40
• Upscale: Huye Mountain Lodge — from US$100

Crafts at the museum shop. Rwandan baskets, imigongo art, and coffee are good souvenirs.

• Nyanza — 30 km north, King's Palace Museum and Inyambo cows
• Nyungwe National Park — 80 km west, chimpanzee tracking
• Kigali — 130 km north, the capital