Why visit
Harare is Zimbabwe's highland capital, with jacaranda avenues, stone sculpture, galleries, markets, and access to eastern highlands or safari routes. It is a softer urban entry than many expect.
How to use this result
Use it as a capital-city prompt
Harare is useful when you want a city-level starting point in Zimbabwe. Check whether the capital is the best arrival city, a practical transfer point, or mainly a geography and planning reference.
Check practical trip fit
Before planning around Harare, compare airport access, local transport, time zone, neighborhood choices, weather, safety guidance, and whether another city in Zimbabwe better matches the trip style.
Harare at a glance
City population
1.5 million
Elevation
1,494 m
4,902 ft
Time zone
UTC+2
Africa/Harare
Airport
HRE
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport
Zimbabwe at a glance
Country center
-20.0°, 30.0°
Coast
Landlocked
Country area
390,757 km²
150,872 mi²
Country population
16.3 million
42/km²
Subregion
Eastern Africa
Currency
Botswana pula (P)
BWP
Dial
+263
Languages
Chibarwe, English, Kalanga
Demonym
Zimbabwean
Internet
.zw
UN
Member state
ISO code
ZW / ZWE
Where in the world
-20.0° - 30.0°
Zimbabwe
Open in Google Maps
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world - CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Harare was called Salisbury until 1982.
- The city is known for jacaranda-lined avenues and Zimbabwean stone sculpture galleries.
- The name Harare comes from a Shona chief nicknamed he who does not sleep.
- Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls is nearly twice the height and more than double the width of Niagara Falls.
- Great Zimbabwe, the medieval city that gave the country its name, was the largest pre-colonial African city south of the Sahara.
Bordering Zimbabwe
Traveler notes
- The National Gallery is strong on Zimbabwean stone sculpture
- Jacaranda bloom gives the city its seasonal color
- Mbare Musika is the major market for daily trade
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
Explore more
Facts last reviewed June 2026 against GeoNames and national statistics sources. See the editorial policy for how destination data is maintained.
Frequently asked about Harare
What currency is used in Harare?
Harare uses the Botswana pula (P), ISO code BWP.
What languages are spoken in Zimbabwe?
The primary languages are Chibarwe, English and Kalanga.
What is the international calling code for Zimbabwe?
The calling code is +263.
When is the best time to visit Harare?
May–Sep. Check current weather and local events before booking.
What airport serves Harare?
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (IATA: HRE).
Other Africa destinations
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is known for the Gorom-Gorom market, the painted houses of Tiebele, and FESPACO in Ouagadougou, Africa's biggest film festival. Security conditions have curtailed most travel in recent years; check current conditions carefully.
Burundi
Burundi sits on the northeast shore of Lake Tanganyika, the world's second-deepest lake. Drumming is the cultural signature: the ritual dance of the royal drum is UNESCO-listed. Tourism remains small-scale.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde is ten volcanic islands off West Africa with a Creole culture closer to Brazil than to the mainland. Sal and Boa Vista carry the beach resorts, Santo Antão has the canyon hiking, and Fogo is an active volcano you can climb.
Cameroon
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Central African Republic
The Central African Republic holds Dzanga-Sangha, where forest elephants and western lowland gorillas gather at jungle clearings. Ongoing instability means the few visitors who come fly directly into the reserve with specialist operators.
Chad
Chad's far north hides the Ennedi Plateau, a sandstone labyrinth of arches and gueltas, and the Lakes of Ounianga, a UNESCO chain of desert lakes. Zakouma National Park in the south has staged one of Africa's great elephant recoveries.