Travel to Eritrea

Eritrea at a glance

Why visit Eritrea

Modernist architecture, the Red Sea and ancient sites on the highlands

Highlights

Asmara, Massawa, the Dahlak Islands, Keren and Qohaito

Eritrea is best seen from top to bottom: you start on the cool highlands around Asmara, then drop down to the heat of the Red Sea. The road and railway between the two climb more than 2,500 metres, with three climates in two hours.

Asmara and its modernist architecture

Asmara is best explored on foot: the centre is compact, the streets are wide and the facades tell half a century of Italian urban planning. The Art Deco Cinema Impero, opened in 1937, the Fiat Tagliero station with its concrete wings, the markets and the cafes make an open-air museum. The city is ringed by hills and nights are cool.

Cathedrals and churches of Asmara

Several religious buildings stand side by side: the Orthodox Enda Mariam Cathedral with its striped towers, the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, finished in 1923 in a neo-Romanesque style, and the Grand Mosque. They are open to respectful visitors: dress modestly and ask before taking photographs.

Massawa and the Dahlak Islands

Massawa, on the Red Sea, spreads across the islands of Batse and Taulud, linked by causeways. It has white galleried houses, Ottoman, Egyptian and Italian buildings, and the Mosque of the Companions, which some regard as the oldest in Africa. Boats serve the Dahlak archipelago, with its reefs, dolphins and seabirds, if the trip is arranged in advance.

Qohaito, Keren and the highlands

Qohaito, an ancient town identified with Koloe, stands on the edge of the Great Rift escarpment. The Temple of Mariam Wakiro, Safra's Dam and the painted caves of Adi Alauti are visited with a guide. Further north-west, Keren, above 1,300 m, is known for its market and metalworkers. In the nearby lowlands you can also reach the sea and the Danakil desert.

Before you go

Mild plateaus and a scorching coast: October to March

Area	Climate	Best time
Asmara and highlands	Mild all year: about 15 C in December and 20 C in June, cool nights. Rain mostly from June to September.	October to March
Red Sea coast (Massawa)	Desert and very hot, humid in summer; annual mean close to 30 C.	November to March
Dahlak Islands	Marked heat; warm sea suited to snorkelling and diving.	October to April
Qohaito and Keren	Cool at altitude, strong sun, summer showers.	October to March

Pack warm clothes for Asmara's nights and light clothing for the coast. The altitude calls for a day of acclimatisation. Watch flight prices before fixing your dates, and check your government's official travel advice before you leave.

Getting around

Taxis, buses, a tourist railway and guides

Asmara is explored on foot and by taxi. For Massawa, Keren or Qohaito you travel by car with a driver, by bus or with an agency. The railway linking Asmara and Massawa, rebuilt on that section, runs as a special tourist service: ask about departures before you come.

For some trips outside the capital, a travel permit may be required: find out in advance from the embassy or an agency. A visa is generally needed. Check current entry conditions before booking.

Culture and food

Injera, the coffee ceremony and an Italian legacy

The country has nine national languages, of which Tigrinya is the most spoken. The Italian legacy shows in Asmara's signs, in its cafes and in the pasta and pizza found on every menu.

The traditional table rests on injera, a soft flatbread served with spicy stews, often zigni or vegetables. The coffee ceremony, with incense and three rounds of cups, is a moment of hospitality. On the coast, grilled fish is the speciality.

Travelling to Eritrea

The Eritrean airport covered by SniperAir

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Eritrea