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Eritrea✨ 10 best things to do in Eritrea

Things to do in Eritrea

1. Tour Asmara's modernist architectureSpot the Fiat Tagliero service station, Cinema Impero and dozens of Art Deco gems from the 1930s.
2. Join the passeggiataStroll Harnet Avenue at dusk with locals, then stop for a macchiato in a vintage café.
3. Ride the old railwayCharter a ride on the restored mountain railway as it winds through tunnels and over bridges toward the coast.
4. Explore Massawa's old townWander coral-block houses, Ottoman-era mosques and arcaded streets on the island of Taulud and Massawa.
5. Dive the Dahlak ArchipelagoSnorkel or dive pristine, little-visited Red Sea reefs around remote desert islands.
6. Visit Keren's Monday marketWatch traders buy and sell camels and livestock in this lively market town.
7. See Asmara's marketsBrowse the Medebar recycling market, where artisans turn scrap into tools and household goods.
8. Explore Qohaito's ruinsDiscover ancient columns, a dam and rock art on a high plateau overlooking deep canyons.
9. Drive through Filfil's green beltEscape to forested hills on the eastern escarpment, a contrast to the dry highlands.
10. Take part in a coffee ceremonyShare the ritual of roasting, brewing and serving coffee in three rounds with an Eritrean family.

Eritrea🗺️ Where to visit in Eritrea

Where to go in Eritrea

• 📍
  AsmaraHighlands · capitalA clean, safe-feeling city famed for its 1930s Italian modernist architecture and café culture.
• 
  MassawaRed Sea coast · portA historic port of coral-stone buildings showing Ottoman, Egyptian and Italian influences.
• 
  Dahlak ArchipelagoRed Sea · islands & divingOver a hundred islands surrounded by unspoilt reefs, reached by boat from Massawa.
• 
  KerenWestern highlands · market townA lively town of markets, mosques and churches, plus a famous baobab shrine at St Mary's.
• 
  QohaitoSouthern highlands · archaeologyRemains of an Aksumite-era town set on a dramatic plateau edge.
• 
  FilfilEastern escarpment · forestA green, misty region of forested hills, a surprising contrast to the dry highlands.
• 📍
  Senafe & MeteraSouthern highlands · ruinsA town ringed by huge rock outcrops, with the ancient stelae and ruins of Metera nearby.
• 
  Debre Bizen MonasteryNear Nefasit · Orthodox monasteryA centuries-old mountaintop monastery with fine views; traditionally only men may enter.

Eritrea🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Eritrea

Best time to visit Eritrea

Asmara's high altitude gives it a mild, spring-like climate with cool nights all year. The Red Sea coast is among the hottest places on Earth in summer, though winter there is warm and pleasant.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Asmara (approximate averages).

Eritrea🎉 Festivals & events in Eritrea

• 24 May
  Independence DayThe biggest celebration of the year, with parades, music and dancing in Asmara's streets.
• January
  Timket (Epiphany)Orthodox Christians process with colourful robes and umbrellas to celebrate the baptism of Christ.
• September
  MeskelBonfires are lit to commemorate the finding of the True Cross.
• February
  Fenkil DayMassawa commemorates a key battle of the independence struggle.

Eritrea🧭 Eritrea itinerary ideas

How many days in Eritrea?

Eritrea🎒 Backpacking Eritrea – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $40–60 a day

• Arrange travel permits in Asmara before going anywhere outside the capital – they are required for most trips.
• Public buses connect Asmara with Keren, Massawa and other towns cheaply, but are crowded and leave early.
• Internet access is very limited, so download maps and information before you arrive.
• Try local dishes like zigni (spicy stew) with injera, and ful for breakfast, at small local restaurants.
• Bring all the cash you need, as foreign cards are generally not usable.

Eritrea🛡️ Safety & money in Eritrea

Emergency: 113 police · 114 ambulance · 116 fire

Eritrea🛬 Getting to Eritrea

Asmara International Airport is the only major gateway, with limited flights from the Middle East and East Africa. Land borders are frequently closed or restricted for foreign travellers.

✈️ Cheap flights to Eritrea: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Eritrea💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Eritrea

• Asmara is one of the best-preserved modernist cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Fiat Tagliero building in Asmara was designed to look like an airplane with huge cantilevered wings.
• Eritrea has nine officially recognised ethnic groups, each with its own language.
• Massawa's Mosque of the Companions is considered by some to be among the oldest mosque sites in Africa.
• Italian influence lives on in Eritrea's love of pasta, espresso and cycling.

Eritrea❓ Eritrea travel FAQ

Eritrea travel questions