A weekend in Kinshasa
You can use the Taxif app for transport around the city.
Arrival and logistics
You can use the Taxif app for transport around the city. For shorter trips, you can haggle with zemidjan motorbike taxis down to 1000 CDF. If you want easy river access and nightlife, stay in Gombe at Hotel Invest or a similar mid range option. Alternatively, you can stay in guesthouses near Kintambo Magasin in Kintambo to be closer to breakfast spots and Sunday transport.
Saturday itinerary
Start your day at 6:00 AM at Yacht Club Beach to watch the sunrise over the Congo River. This activity costs $5 and takes about 2 hours. You may also visit Ngaliema Beach for morning walks and beachside cafes or go to Marché de la Liberté to find traditional clothing and local crafts. In the afternoon, spend approximately 3 hours at the National Museum of Congo. The entry fee is $10 and you must bring your passport for registration. For dinner, visit Chez Ntemba where you can order fufu and moambe chicken [S2, S4].
Sunday itinerary
Begin your morning with a gallery walk at the Academy of Fine Arts. This costs $8 and takes about 2.5 hours. If you are visiting on a Friday morning, you can see live student demonstrations there. Between 2 PM and 4 PM, visit the Kintambo fish market and Ma Vallée when the fish is freshest. This activity lasts about 4 hours and costs $25. For nightlife, start with a Primus beer at Bar Express before visiting open air clubs in Matonge that stay active until 4 AM.
Practical details
You should budget between $80 and $120 per day. The best times to visit are during the dry season from June to August or the short dry spell from December to February.
Sources
[S1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weeknd, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weeknd [S2] https://thingstodoinkinshasa.com/itineraries/weekend/, https://thingstodoinkinshasa.com/itineraries/weekend/ [S3] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0WP5P-ufpRfjbNrmOWwLBQ, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0WP5P-ufpRfjbNrmOWwLBQ [S4] https://draftitinerary.com/kinshasa-weekend-itinerary, https://draftitinerary.com/kinshasa-weekend-itinerary [S5] https://www.theweeknd.com/tour/, https://www.theweeknd.com/tour/