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Khartoum — travel, stays & events guide
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Khartoum, SudanOpen-Meteo forecast.
Khartoum city overview
Khartoum is Sudan's capital at the dramatic meeting point of the Blue and White Nile, long home to the Khartoum National Museum, the historic Souq Omdurman and the whirling dervishes at Hamed al-Nil Tomb.
City facts
Airport baseKhartoum International Airport (KRT)
Known forConfluence of the Blue and White Nile, Sudan National Museum, Tuti Island, Al-Mogran Development Area
RegionSudanSudan
Time zoneAfrica/Khartoumlocal time
Founded1823historical origin
City history
Egypt shifted the seat of the colonial government from Wad Madani to Khartoum in 1823, which became a permanent settlement and underwent rapid development in the next decades.
A significant change took place in 1854, when most of the city was destroyed by heavy rains and floods.
Despite being fortified by trenches and a wall connecting the Blue and White Niles, the city was conquered by the Mahdists on 26 January 1885 and the entire garrison was annihilated.
Herbert Kitchener became Governor-General of the Sudan in September 1898, and began a programme of reconstruction, Khartoum was rebuilt according to a street plan in the shape of the Union Jack.
Under Reginald Wingate (1899–1916), the Governor-General's Palace in Khartoum was rebuilt using red bricks, with sandstone used for the corners.
The Gordon Memorial College (now the University of Khartoum) was opened in 1903, and a new railway to Port Sudan was completed in 1919.
Khartoum continued to grow after it was declared the capital of the newly independent Republic of Sudan in 1956.
On 3 June 2019, Khartoum was the site of the Khartoum massacre, where over 100 dissidents were murdered (the government said 61 were killed), hundreds more injured and 70 women raped by Rapid Support.
On 1 July 2020, activists demanded that al-Zibar Basha street in Khartoum be renamed.
This is supported by historical accounts which place the Dinka homeland in central Sudan (around present-day Khartoum) as recently as the 13th-17th centuries A.D.
It was rebuilt with houses made out of mud and stones, replacing those made out of thatch and straw.
Many of the inhabitants were massacred or enslaved and the survivors were deported to the newly established Omdurman, while Khartoum was largely destroyed and abandoned.
Kitchener ordered the mosques of Khartoum rebuilt and guaranteed freedom of religion to all citizens.
Fighting was reported at the presidential palace, the RSF's headquarters, Khartoum International Airport and Merowe Airport, which the RSF claimed to have captured.
Worth seeing
Confluence of the Blue and White Nile
Confluence of the Blue and White Nile is a named stop in Khartoum worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Sudan National Museum
Sudan National Museum is a key Khartoum culture stop, useful for understanding local history, collections and rainy-day planning near the main sightseeing route.
Tuti Island
Tuti Island adds the water-facing side of Khartoum, making it a good break from museums, traffic and dense historic streets.
Al-Mogran Development Area
Al-Mogran Development Area is a named stop in Khartoum worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Khartoum Grand Mosque
Khartoum Grand Mosque anchors the historic and ceremonial side of Khartoum, making it a practical stop for architecture, local memory and orientation.
Republican Palace Museum
Republican Palace Museum is a key Khartoum culture stop, useful for understanding local history, collections and rainy-day planning near the main sightseeing route.
Stay overview
Khartoum is not currently recommended for travel due to ongoing armed conflict, and this stay information is provided for reference. Historically Khartoum Centre offered the most convenient base near the National Museum and Presidential Palace, with Omdurman across the river known for its markets and Bahri as a quieter residential option.
Hotels & areas
Hotel planning for Khartoum is currently on hold given the security situation; historically, Khartoum Centre held the main business hotels near government offices, while Omdurman and Bahri offered more local, lower-cost stays across the Nile.
Khartoum Centre
Khartoum Centre is the historic downtown core along the Blue Nile, home to the National Museum, ministries and the Presidential Palace.
Best for: history, landmarksCompare staysOmdurman
Omdurman is Khartoum's twin city across the Nile, known for its sprawling souq and the Friday whirling dervishes ceremony.
Best for: markets, culture, traditionCompare staysKhartoum North (Bahri)
Khartoum North, known as Bahri, is an industrial and residential district across the Blue Nile from the city centre.
Best for: local life, industryCompare staysTuti Island
Tuti Island sits at the exact confluence of the Blue and White Nile, a small farming community reached by bridge or boat.
Best for: river views, farming villagesCompare staysFlights & airports
Khartoum International Airport (KRT) arrival plan
- Khartoum International Airport (KRT)Khartoum International Airport, Khartoum, Sudan
Khartoum International Airport has been repeatedly closed and damaged amid the ongoing conflict since 2023, and travelers should check current status before making any plans.
Rental cars
Khartoum day-trip car use
Independent driving is not advisable under current conditions; historically a driver was recommended for crossing between Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri across the Nile bridges.
Compare rental carsTravel tips
Check current conditions
Confirm official travel advisories before considering any trip to Khartoum, given the armed conflict affecting the city since 2023.
Airport status
Verify whether Khartoum International Airport is operational before booking, since it has been repeatedly closed and damaged.
Historical layout
Note that Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri sit across the Nile from one another, traditionally linked by several bridges.
Cultural reference
The Friday whirling dervishes ceremony at Hamed al-Nil Tomb in Omdurman was, prior to the conflict, one of Sudan's best-known cultural events.
Nearby ideas
Nature
Tuti Island
Tuti Island sits at the Nile confluence itself, historically a peaceful farming community reached from central Khartoum.
Nature
Sabaloka Gorge
Sabaloka Gorge on the Nile north of Khartoum is known for its rapids and rock formations, a scenic spot in ordinary times.
Upcoming events
No upcoming Khartoum events in the shared event index yet.