Timetable au Rwanda: time difference and opening hours

Time difference au Rwanda

Rwanda is at GMT + 2 hours. In summer, it is at the same time as France and Belgium. In winter, it is 1 hour ahead.

Opening hours au Rwanda

To see / To do au Rwanda

Government departments are open Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm, with 1 hour for lunch. The private sector is generally open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, with a 1-hour lunch break. Many companies also work on Saturday mornings. Banks are open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, sometimes later. Finally, most shops are open from 8am to 6pm during the week. Some are also open at weekends from 8am to 5pm. Simba supermarkets are open daily from 8am to 10pm. Some mini-markets are open 24 hours a day. Museums and historic sites are open daily from 9am to 4-5pm.

And don't forget: every last Saturday of the month is dedicated toUmuganda, a community service in which the entire population is called upon to take part from 8am to 11am, including the President of the Republic! Most services, shops and museums remain closed. Participation in Umuganda is enshrined in law. There is a fine for non-participation.

Enjoying yourself au Rwanda

In restaurants, service is generally from midday to 3pm, then from 6pm to 10pm. Some bar-restaurants serve late into the night (Choma'd, Sundowner, Boho...). Others offer continuous service from noon to 10pm. If you're looking for a quick bite to eat right from breakfast (Indabo Café, Fika Café, Kivu Noir, Now Now Rolex...), there's really no time like the present.

Take a break au Rwanda

It's not uncommon for bars to offer happy hour from 4pm to 8pm for workers'afterwork. These convivial moments can last until 11pm or 1am on weekdays, and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, depending on the atmosphere and the crowds. In Kigali, brunch has become a common practice at weekends, as Rwandans (among the urban middle class) like to get together with friends for an "early breakfast", whether in certain restaurants (The Hut, Heaven, Kivu Noir, Casa Keza, Choma'd, Boho...) or in coffee shops.

(To) please yourself au Rwanda

Depending on the store, opening days and times may vary, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays. Major shopping centers (Kigali Heights, Kigali City Mall, Union Trade Center...) remain open at weekends.

Get out au Rwanda

The nightlife in Kigali is very lively: between bars, restaurants and discos, there's plenty to keep you entertained. However, since 2023, nights have been quieter, with a night-time curfew imposed for the capital's bars and nightclubs (1h on weekdays, 2h at weekends). The aim is to combat noise pollution and excessive alcohol consumption.
Two districts act as beacons for night owls: the popular Nyamirambo and Remera, and the more select Kimihurura. Outside the capital, the evenings are much quieter, with the exception of Rubavu/Gisenyi, a town on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which attracts Goma residents, especially at weekends. Here, a number of well-known venues on the shores of Lake Kivu delight night owls (Chez West, Amaliza, New Tam Tam, Saga Bay...).