Kismayo, or Kīsmāyū, is the first main city you will come to in Somalia when travelling from Kenya. Most buildings in town are low and dark and most streets are unpaved. It is a major port city and there is a lot of metal and leather industry, but there is nothing of any interest in town.

In the evenings, small stalls spring up where foodstuffs and drinks are sold. Kismayo sits at the mouth of the Jubba River, some 528 km (328 mi) southwest of Mogadishu on the Indian Ocean.

There are various hotels and restaurants in Kismayo.