The best hotels in Harare
Harare has 8,000+ places to stay and a surprisingly wide gap between the good ones and the forgettable ones. We reviewed the standouts. these 10 made the cut.
Our 10 Top Picks in Harare
Click any hotel to check availability and book at the best price.
The Hilltop Guesthouse
Harare
$71/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Residence Hotel Zimbabwe
Harare
$128/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles
Harare
$202/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Sandalwood Lodge
Harare
$100/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
The Gray Aparthotel
Harare
$77/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
N1 Hotel Rotten Row Harare
Harare
$50/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
盛华山庄酒店 shenghua
Harare
$93/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
St Tropez Luxotel
Harare
$100/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Monomotapa Hotel
Harare
$86/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Mount Pleasant Bed and Breakfast
Harare
$37/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Why These Hotels Made Our List
Here's why each one made the cut.
The Hilltop Guesthouse
At $71 a night, you're getting one of Harare's better-rated guesthouses without the downtown noise. A 4.7 from 249 guests isn't a fluke. Expect a quieter, more personal stay than the big city hotels. Solid value if you want comfort without paying central business district prices.
Address:The Hilltop Guesthouse, 5 Casson Way, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Emerald Hill
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Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Residence Hotel Zimbabwe
You're paying $128 for a consistent 4.6 from nearly 250 guests. That puts it above guesthouse territory but well below the Meikles. It leans apartment-style, useful if you need space and a kitchenette for a longer stay. Solid mid-range option. Just confirm what's included before you book.
Address:Residence Hotel Zimbabwe, 4A Dungarvan Cl, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Borrowdale
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Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles
The Meikles has been Harare's prestige address for decades. At $202 you're getting Africa Unity Square views and a lobby that still impresses. Over 3,000 reviews at 4.4 is a credible score at this volume. Service can be inconsistent on busy nights. Best choice for business travel in the city.
Address:Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, 5393+R4X, Jason Moyo Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Harare South
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Sandalwood Lodge
One of Harare's better-rated five-star options, with a 4.5 from 223 guests. The lodge format means a more intimate feel than the city's tower hotels. Good pick if you want boutique service and a garden setting rather than a conference-hotel atmosphere. Price isn't listed, so call ahead before assuming.
Address:Sandalwood Lodge, 11 Quorn Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Harare North
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The Gray Aparthotel
An aparthotel at $77 with a 4.6 score is a smart find. The smaller review count (65) means you're trusting early adopters, but the trend holds. Best for stays longer than three nights when you want a kitchen and real living space. Cheaper than the Residence with a similar concept.
Address:The Gray Aparthotel, 105 King George Rd, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Harare Central
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N1 Hotel Rotten Row Harare
Budget Harare at $50 on Rotten Row, one of the city's main commercial strips. A 4.3 from 557 reviews is a big, credible sample. You won't get luxury finishes, but you'll get a clean, reliable base close to the central business district. Honest value and one of the best-reviewed options at this price point.
Address:N1 Hotel Rotten Row Harare, 52CR+C4H, Corner Rotten Row and, Samora Machel Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Harare South
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盛华山庄酒店 shenghua
A 4.9 rating sounds exceptional until you see it's from 20 reviews. Early scores can skew high. That said, $93 for a Chinese-operated guesthouse in Harare is fair. If you're working in Harare's Chinese business community, this likely has the right network and feel. Verify recent reviews before committing.
Address:盛华山庄酒店 shenghua, Zimbabwe, ZW Harare 634 Helensvale TOWNSHIP
Neighborhood:Harare East
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St Tropez Luxotel
Twelve reviews. That 4.9 rating is nearly meaningless at this sample size. Could be genuinely brilliant, or just new and fortunate. The name suggests luxury ambitions. No listed price makes value impossible to judge. Ask for current rates and look hard for reviews beyond the original handful before booking.
Address:St Tropez Luxotel, 7 Henry Chapman Rd, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Harare Central
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Monomotapa Hotel
Named after the historic Mutapa Kingdom, this is Harare's other landmark hotel. At $86 with a 4.2 from nearly 3,000 reviews, it's one of the most credible scores in the city. Three-star rated but often performs above it. Central location near the Botanical Gardens. A reliable choice when the Meikles is out of budget.
Address:Monomotapa Hotel, 54 Park Ln, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Harare Central
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Mount Pleasant Bed and Breakfast
Mount Pleasant is one of Harare's better northern suburbs, leafy and quieter than downtown. At $37 a night with a 4.2 from nearly 200 guests, this is genuinely strong value. Four-star with personal bed-and-breakfast service means real attention. The trade-off: you'll need a taxi or car to reach the city center.
Address:Mount Pleasant Bed and Breakfast, 4 Montrose Close Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Neighborhood:Northwood
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Didn't find your match above? Here's every hotel in Harare.
Every scored hotel in the city. Filter by price, rating, or type to find yours.
| # | Hotel | Our Score | Guest Rating | Reviews | Type | Price/Night | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hilltop Guesthouse | 4.7 | 249 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $70/night | Book → | |
| 2 | Residence Hotel Zimbabwe | 4.6 | 248 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $130/night | Book → | |
| 3 | Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles | 4.4 | 3 022 | 5★ | $200/night | Book → | |
| 4 | Sandalwood Lodge | 4.5 | 223 | 5★ | $100/night | Book → | |
| 5 | The Gray Aparthotel | 4.6 | 65 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $80/night | Book → | |
| 6 | N1 Hotel Rotten Row Harare | 4.3 | 557 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $50/night | Book → | |
| 7 | 盛华山庄酒店 shenghua | 4.9 | 20 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $90/night | Book → | |
| 8 | St Tropez Luxotel | 4.9 | 12 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $100/night | Book → | |
| 9 | Monomotapa Hotel | 4.2 | 2 758 | 3★ | $90/night | Book → | |
| 10 | Mount Pleasant Bed and Breakfast | 4.2 | 198 | 4★ | $40/night | Book → | |
| 11 | North Road Executive Suites | 5.0 | 12 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $50/night | Book → | |
| 12 | Holiday Inn Harare | 4.2 | 3 893 | 4★ | $190/night | Book → | |
| 13 | Upmarket luxury boutique guesthouse | Apartment / Guesthouse | $250/night | Book → | |||
| 14 | Skyline River Resort | Apartment / Guesthouse | $60/night | Book → | |||
| 15 | The Residence Hills Lodge | Apartment / Guesthouse | $130/night | Book → | |||
| 16 | Villa near Airport & City Centre - 2317 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $90/night | Book → | |||
| 17 | Grand View Lodge Harare | 4.1 | 98 | 3★ | $50/night | Book → | |
| 18 | 19 On Bay Noakes | 5.0 | 4 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $70/night | Book → | |
| 19 | Inn on Lichfield Lane | Apartment / Guesthouse | $50/night | Book → | |||
| 20 | Luxurious 2 bedroom apartment in Harare North | Apartment / Guesthouse | $130/night | Book → |
Where to Stay in Harare
The neighborhood you pick matters more than the hotel.
City Centre vs. Northern Suburbs: where should you actually stay?
City Centre on Baker Avenue and Samora Machel Avenue is convenient for meetings and landmarks, but it empties out fast after 6pm. If you're here purely for business, Cresta Jameson or Meikles makes sense. But for anything else, the northern suburbs win without argument.
Borrowdale and Mount Pleasant have the restaurants, the supermarkets, the coffee shops, and the after-dinner walks you'd actually want. The 20-minute drive between Borrowdale Road and Baker Avenue is nothing once you've booked a hotel you'll enjoy coming back to.
Getting around Harare: taxis, Uber, and what to skip
Uber works reliably in Harare and is cheaper than street taxis almost every time. A ride from Borrowdale to City Centre runs $4-7 on Uber versus $10-15 in a metered cab. Kombis (shared minibuses) are the local way to move around, but the routes are informal and confusing for first-timers.
Avoid the unlicensed taxis that cluster around Roadport Bus Terminal on Fifth Street. We've seen this go badly for travelers more times than we'd like. Stick to Uber or ask your hotel to call a trusted driver. most properties on our list do this without fuss.
Harare's food scene: where to eat near your hotel
The best eating in Harare is concentrated around Sam Levy's Village in Borrowdale and along Enterprise Road in Mount Pleasant. Amanzi Restaurant near Borrowdale Brooke is excellent for a special dinner. If you're staying at Imba Matombo in Mount Pleasant, you're already in the right zone.
Don't rely on hotel restaurants unless you're at Meikles or Amanzi Lodge, both of which genuinely deliver. The casual spots on Borrowdale Road near Chisipite are better value and far more interesting than most in-house menus charging $25-40 for average food.
What to do in Harare beyond the usual tourist list
Chapungu Sculpture Park in Msasa is one of the best places to see Shona stone sculpture in context. and it's often empty on weekday mornings. Pair it with a stop at Mbare Musika Market on Remembrance Drive if you want to see how the city actually moves. Allow half a day for each.
Mukuvisi Woodlands off Glenara Avenue in Msasa is underrated. You're watching zebra and giraffe 8 km from the CBD. The entrance fee is minimal and most visitors to Harare never make it there. Book a hotel in Highlands or Greendale and you're 10 minutes away.
Harare in the rain: what changes November to March
The rainy season brings serious afternoon downpours, usually 2-4pm. Roads in lower-lying suburbs like Mbare and parts of Glen View flood quickly. If you're visiting between November and March, stay in elevated suburbs. Borrowdale, Mount Pleasant, Highlands. and plan outdoor activities for mornings.
Hotel prices dip slightly in the wet season, and you can find deals at places like Palm Rock Villa in Borrowdale for $70-80/night. The gardens are spectacular when it's green. Just factor in that some day trips, including the drive to Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens north of the city, can get messy on unpaved stretches.
Booking a hotel in Harare: the mistakes we see constantly
Don't book a cheap guesthouse near the Harare Show Grounds on Lomagundi Road based on pretty photos. Several properties there photograph well but haven't been maintained properly. We cut a dozen from our list for exactly this reason. Verify recent reviews from 2024-2025 before committing.
Also: don't assume 'City Centre' means walkable to everything good. The CBD is compact, but most restaurants, malls, and parks are a $5-7 Uber ride north. Paying $20/night less for a central location and then Ubering everywhere often costs the same as just staying in Borrowdale.
Harare's best hotel regions
City Centre puts you closest to business and culture, but Borrowdale and Mount Pleasant are where you actually want to eat and spend your evenings. If this is your first trip, start in Borrowdale. the infrastructure is better and the food scene around Borrowdale Road is worth it.
City Centre 2 vetted hotels Business, landmarks, and no-nonsense access to the CBD.
Business, landmarks, and no-nonsense access to the CBD.
Baker Avenue and Samora Machel Avenue form the spine of Harare's central business district. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Eastgate Shopping Centre, and most government offices are all within a 10-minute walk. If your trip is meeting-heavy, this is the logical base.
The trade-off is real. City Centre quiets down sharply after dark, and the dining options within walking distance are thin compared to the northern suburbs. Plan on Ubering out for dinner most evenings. it's a $5-7 ride to Borrowdale Road or Enterprise Road in Mount Pleasant.
Two strong hotels anchor this area. Cresta Jameson on Baker Avenue gives you solid mid-range value at $110-160/night. Meikles Hotel, one of Harare's most storied addresses, sits at $140-220/night and genuinely earns its reputation with service and finish that outlcasses most of the city.
Browse all City Centre hotels → Borrowdale & Borrowdale Brooke 2 vetted hotels Harare's most liveable zone. great food, serious luxury, and real security.
Harare's most liveable zone. great food, serious luxury, and real security.
Borrowdale Road running north from the City Centre is where Harare does its best impression of a well-functioning city. Sam Levy's Village at the heart of it has decent restaurants, a supermarket, a pharmacy, and coffee worth drinking. The area is popular with expats, NGO staff, and business visitors who know better than to stay in the CBD.
Palm Rock Villa sits in residential Borrowdale at $70-99/night. good value for the neighborhood and surprisingly quiet given the proximity to the main strip. Amanzi Lodge in Borrowdale Brooke is a completely different level: $270-380/night, immaculate, and worth every cent if the budget allows.
The gap between these two properties is large, but both sit in a zone you'll genuinely enjoy. Borrowdale Brooke specifically is one of Harare's most secure and manicured residential pockets, 12 minutes from the shopping and dining of Sam Levy's Village.
Browse all Borrowdale & Borrowdale Brooke hotels → Northern Suburbs: Mount Pleasant, Highlands & Avondale 3 vetted hotels Residential, safe, and underrated. Harare's everyday best.
Residential, safe, and underrated. Harare's everyday best.
This band of northern suburbs runs roughly from Avondale in the west through Highlands to Mount Pleasant in the east. Baines Avenue in Avondale is where Bronte Hotel sits. unpretentious, reliable, and at $55-85/night the best budget option in the city. The area is walkable during the day and has solid access to the University of Zimbabwe campus.
Imba Matombo in Mount Pleasant punches well above its price bracket. Mount Pleasant itself is one of the most pleasant parts of Harare to actually be in. the streets are lined with jacarandas in October, and Enterprise Road has a handful of genuinely good restaurants within a 5-minute drive.
Holiday Inn in Highlands rounds this out with a family-friendly setup at $160-210/night. Glenara Avenue access means Mukuvisi Woodlands is 10 minutes away. These suburbs collectively offer the best ratio of safety, access, and quality in Harare.
Browse all Northern Suburbs: Mount Pleasant, Highlands & Avondale hotels → Belgravia & Belvedere 2 vetted hotels Mid-to-upper tier hotels in established suburbs, ideal for longer stays.
Mid-to-upper tier hotels in established suburbs, ideal for longer stays.
Belgravia sits just north of the CBD, roughly 10 minutes walk from Samora Machel Avenue, with a quieter residential character that suits business travelers wanting to be close to meetings without sleeping in the thick of the city. Cresta Oasis Hotel here runs $150-200/night with solid conference infrastructure.
Belvedere is a short drive further west and home to Rainbow Towers Hotel, one of Harare's most recognizable buildings. At $180-240/night it attracts a mix of regional conference delegates, diplomats, and leisure travelers. The hotel has its own facilities so you're less dependent on the surrounding area, which is functional rather than exciting.
Both suburbs are safe, well-connected to the CBD, and genuinely more comfortable than staying in the city centre itself. The main weakness is nightlife and dining. you'll still be Ubering to Borrowdale or Mount Pleasant for a proper meal.
Browse all Belgravia & Belvedere hotels → Greendale 1 vetted hotel Quiet, upscale, and made for couples who want genuine privacy.
Quiet, upscale, and made for couples who want genuine privacy.
Greendale sits northeast of the City Centre, about 15 minutes drive along Arcturus Road. It's a leafy, unhurried suburb with large properties and relatively little through-traffic. The Beatrice Hotel here is one of Harare's best romantic addresses at $290-420/night. the kind of place where you close the gate and the city stops.
The trade-off is that Greendale isn't walkable to much. You'll need a car or Uber for anything beyond the hotel's own grounds. But for a couple not looking to do a lot of independent wandering, that isolation is exactly the point.
October is the best month to be here, when the suburb's jacarandas are in full bloom along the residential avenues. It's one of Harare's genuinely pretty moments and worth timing your trip around if you have flexibility.
Browse all Greendale hotels →Best Areas by Vibe
Tell us how you travel.
Romantic
Greendale is where you come for privacy and atmosphere. The Beatrice Hotel on Arcturus Road is the best romantic stay in the city, with rates from $290/night and a level of seclusion you won't find closer to the CBD.
Culture
City Centre is the cultural anchor. the National Gallery of Zimbabwe on Julius Nyerere Way and the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences are both within a 15-minute walk of Baker Avenue. Stay at Meikles and you're in the middle of it.
Family
Highlands is the right call for families. Holiday Inn off Glenara Avenue puts you 10 minutes from Mukuvisi Woodlands and the Lion & Cheetah Park, with pool facilities and enough space that kids aren't bouncing off hotel walls.
Budget
Avondale on Baines Avenue is the sweet spot for budget travelers. Bronte Hotel starts at $55/night and the neighborhood has solid daytime walkability. You get a real Harare neighborhood without the security concerns of cheaper options further south.
Foodie
Borrowdale is Harare's best eating neighborhood without question. Sam Levy's Village and the restaurants scattered along Borrowdale Road have the city's best range, and staying at Palm Rock Villa or Amanzi Lodge puts you right in it.
Business
Belgravia is the business traveler's base of choice. Cresta Oasis Hotel is 5 minutes from the Reserve Bank on Samora Machel Avenue, with conference facilities and reliable internet. the two things that actually matter when you're working.
We reviewed 8,000+ options across the main regions of Harare. Most got cut fast. We dropped anything with misleading 'luxury' labels that turned into tired colonial-era rooms with no hot water, anything in the industrial pockets around Workington and Graniteside where street safety after dark is a real issue, and any lodge plastering 'boutique' on a mediocre B&B off Samora Machel Avenue. What's left are 10 hotels that actually deliver on their promise.
Location Quality
Is the neighborhood walkable? Are restaurants, shops, and attractions within 10 minutes on foot? How does it feel after dark? We evaluate safety, public transport access, and whether the area has genuine local character or just tourist traps. A hotel in the wrong neighborhood ruins a trip. That's why location carries the most weight.
Value for Money
We compare what you pay against what you get. A €150 hotel with a great location, clean rooms, and helpful staff can outscore a €500 hotel with fancy amenities in a bad area. We factor in seasonal pricing, cancellation policies, and hidden costs like tourist tax and breakfast surcharges. The goal is finding the best ratio, not the lowest price.
Guest Experience
We analyze thousands of verified guest reviews across multiple platforms, looking for patterns rather than individual complaints. Consistent praise for cleanliness, staff, and room quality counts. We also assess the intangibles: does the hotel have character? Would you recommend it to a friend? A soul-less chain hotel with perfect facilities still loses to a well-run boutique with personality.
Every hotel on this page earned its spot through this process.
When to Visit Harare
Hotel prices, crowds, and weather vary by season.
Dry Season (May-August)
This is Harare at its most comfortable. Days are warm and sunny, nights get genuinely cold. pack a layer if you're heading out to Mukuvisi Woodlands or Chapungu Sculpture Park in the evenings. Hotel prices across the city are stable in this window, with Bronte sitting around $55-65/night and Meikles around $140-160/night. The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) in late April into May brings activity to the City Centre and books out the better properties fast.
Spring (September-October)
October is arguably the best month to be in Harare. The jacarandas along Harare Drive and throughout Greendale and Borrowdale bloom purple and the city looks genuinely beautiful. Temperatures climb fast. 30°C+ is normal by late October. and hotel rates tick up slightly as the conference season picks up. Book Amanzi Lodge or The Beatrice Hotel at least 3 weeks ahead in October specifically.
Rainy Season (November-March)
Afternoon downpours are near-daily from November through February, usually hitting between 2pm and 5pm. The city turns lush and green, which has its own appeal, but some roads in Mbare and lower suburbs flood badly. Rates at Palm Rock Villa in Borrowdale drop to around $70-80/night in this window. good value if you don't mind planning mornings for outdoor activities and riding out the rain with a book.
Shoulder Season (April)
April is trickier than it looks. The rains are winding down, the weather is pleasant at 17-27°C, and HIFA (Harare International Festival of the Arts) fills the city with energy and international visitors. Hotel availability in City Centre and Borrowdale drops sharply during the festival weeks, and prices at Rainbow Towers and Meikles can jump $40-60/night above their usual rates. Book at least 6 weeks ahead if you're traveling in late April.
Booking Tips for Harare
Smart booking strategies for Harare.
Book Borrowdale hotels 3+ weeks ahead for October
October is jacaranda season and one of Harare's most in-demand travel windows. Properties like Amanzi Lodge in Borrowdale Brooke and Palm Rock Villa fill up fast. Three weeks is the minimum. 4-6 weeks is safer. This isn't generic advice: we've seen last-minute October visitors end up in Workington guesthouses they'd never have chosen otherwise.
Always take Uber over street taxis at night
Street taxis around Roadport on Fifth Street and near the Harare Showgrounds on Lomagundi Road are unlicensed and unmetered. A City Centre to Borrowdale ride should cost $5-8 on Uber. The same trip in a street taxi can run $15-25 with aggressive negotiation built in. Uber is available across the city and works reliably in the northern suburbs.
Don't judge Harare hotels by star ratings alone
Zimbabwe's hotel classification system hasn't kept pace with actual standards. A 4-star label here can mean anything from genuinely excellent to 'nice lobby, broken plumbing.' We only include properties we've verified through recent 2024-2025 guest data. If you're booking outside our list, look specifically for reviews mentioning hot water, Wi-Fi reliability, and load-shedding backup power.
Ask about generator coverage before booking
Load-shedding. scheduled power outages. is still a reality in Harare. The better hotels on our list (Meikles, Rainbow Towers, Amanzi Lodge) have full generator backup. Some mid-range properties have partial coverage. Ask specifically about whether the generator covers your room's air conditioning and hot water, not just the lobby. This matters especially November to February.
USD cash is king. but carry small bills
Most hotels price in USD and prefer cash. The issue isn't availability of USD but availability of change. A $100 bill at a hotel bar or taxi will cause real problems. Come with a supply of $1, $5, and $10 notes from the airport or your home bank. Card payments work at Meikles, Rainbow Towers, and the larger properties, but don't rely on it for smaller expenses around Borrowdale Road.
HIFA in late April books out City Centre hotels. plan accordingly
The Harare International Festival of the Arts runs over roughly 5 days in late April and transforms the City Centre around the Harare Gardens and Theatre on Fourth Street. Cresta Jameson and Meikles both get heavily booked during this window. If you're here for the festival, book 6 weeks out minimum. If you're not here for the festival and didn't know it was on, don't say we didn't warn you.
Hotels in Harare, FAQ
Straight answers from our team.
What's the best area to stay in Harare?
Borrowdale is the top pick for most visitors. The stretch along Borrowdale Road between Sam Levy's Village and Borrowdale Brooke has the best restaurants, cafes, and security. It's about 20 minutes by car from the City Centre and most hotels here run $70-270/night depending on how much comfort you want.
Is Harare safe for tourists?
The northern suburbs. Borrowdale, Mount Pleasant, Highlands, Avondale. are generally fine for tourists. Avoid walking around Mbare and the area south of Rezende Street in City Centre after dark. Most hotels in our list sit well inside the safer zones, and a taxi from Borrowdale to City Centre costs around $5-8.
What's the cheapest good hotel in Harare?
Bronte Hotel in Avondale starts at $55/night and it actually delivers. It's on Baines Avenue, about 10 minutes drive from the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, with a garden that makes it feel more spacious than the price suggests. For this budget in Harare, nothing else we reviewed comes close.
Which hotel is best for business travelers in Harare?
Cresta Oasis Hotel in Belgravia is the go-to. It's 5 minutes from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on Samora Machel Avenue and has reliable conference facilities. Rates run $150-200/night, which is fair for what you get. stable Wi-Fi, professional staff, and easy access to the CBD without actually sleeping in it.
When is the best time to visit Harare?
May through August is the dry season and the most comfortable for visitors. Temperatures stay between 15-25°C, skies are clear, and hotel prices are at their most stable. The rainy season from November to March brings lush scenery but afternoon downpours, and some roads in lower-lying areas like Mbare flood quickly.
How do I get from Harare Airport to the hotels?
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport sits about 15 km southeast of City Centre, roughly 25-40 minutes depending on traffic on Airport Road and Borrowdale Road. A metered taxi runs $20-30 to Borrowdale or Mount Pleasant. Uber is available in Harare and typically comes in $5-10 cheaper than street taxis.
Which Harare hotel is best for families?
Holiday Inn Harare in Highlands is the obvious choice. It's a 10-minute drive from the Mukuvisi Woodlands nature reserve off Glenara Avenue, which kids love, and the hotel has a proper pool and consistent room standards. Rates sit at $160-210/night, reasonable for a family-focused setup in a safe suburb.
What's the top luxury hotel in Harare?
Amanzi Lodge in Borrowdale Brooke is genuinely world-class. Rates start at $270/night, but the privacy, food, and finish are worth every dollar. It's tucked into one of Harare's most exclusive residential pockets, yet only 12 minutes from Sam Levy's Village on Borrowdale Road for shopping and dinners out.
Are there boutique or romantic hotels in Harare?
The Beatrice Hotel in Greendale is the standout for couples. It's on Arcturus Road, around 15 minutes from the Harare Gardens, and the property feels genuinely intimate rather than just calling itself romantic. Rates run $290-420/night, so it's a splurge, but the experience justifies it.
What's the most central hotel in Harare?
Cresta Jameson Hotel on Baker Avenue in City Centre puts you right in the middle of things. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is an 8-minute walk, and Eastgate Shopping Centre is 5 minutes. For access to government offices, banks, and CBD meetings, nothing beats this location at $110-160/night.
Which neighborhoods should I avoid when booking a hotel?
Don't book anything in Mbare, Highfield, or the industrial belt around Graniteside. These areas have genuine security concerns at night and the handful of guesthouses there do not offset the risk. Stick to the northern and eastern suburbs. even the more affordable ones like Avondale and Greendale are a different world.
Do Harare hotels accept USD?
Yes, virtually all hotels in our list price and accept payment in USD. Zimbabwe's currency situation has been unstable for years, so the hospitality sector runs almost entirely in US dollars. Some properties also accept ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold) at the counter rate, but confirm this before you arrive.
Useful links for Harare
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