Explore Asmara's Art Deco architecture
A UNESCO World Heritage capital recognized as one of the best-preserved collections of Italian Art Deco and modernist architecture anywhere in the world.
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East Africa
Things to do in Eritrea
A capital city so architecturally intact from the Italian colonial era that it earned UNESCO recognition as a living Art Deco museum, a Red Sea coastline still genuinely undiscovered, and one of the most isolated but visually striking destinations in Africa.
Explore Eritrea on the map →Budget$
Best for7-9 days
CapitalAsmara
VisaVisa required in advance for all nationalities including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders, typically arranged through an Eritrean embassy with additional travel permits required for movement outside Asmara.
CurrencyEritrean nakfa (ERN)
LanguagesTigrinya, Arabic, and English (all official)
InternetLimited and heavily restricted nationwide
Typical lodging$15–$35/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type C/E plug)
Time zoneUTC+2 to UTC+3
Emergency numberVaries. Save your hotel or embassy’s number on arrival.
Dialing code+291
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Photography★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or purified water only. 10% at restaurants; guides and drivers appreciate a daily tip.
Asmara, Eritrea's capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized as one of the best-preserved collections of Italian Art Deco and modernist architecture anywhere in the world, a genuinely surreal urban landscape frozen largely as it was built during the 1930s Italian colonial period. Eritrea's Dahlak Archipelago, a chain of over 200 islands in the Red Sea, remains one of the least-dived and least-visited reef systems in the entire region, a product of the country's decades of relative isolation rather than any lack of natural significance.
When to go
Cool season (highlands)October–March
The most comfortable window for Asmara and the highlands, with mild temperatures at altitude.
Hot season (coast)October–March
The best window for the Red Sea coast and Dahlak Archipelago, avoiding the extreme summer heat of the Eritrean lowlands.
Highland wet seasonJune–September
The main rainy period in the highlands around Asmara, with the coast remaining largely dry and extremely hot.
Extreme coastal heatApril–September
The Red Sea coast and lowlands become extremely hot during this period, among the hottest inhabited regions on Earth.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
12Explore Asmara's Cinema Impero and colonial-era cafés
A beautifully preserved 1937 Art Deco cinema, alongside historic Italian-style cafés that remain a genuine part of Asmara's everyday social life.
Visit the port city of Massawa on the Red Sea
A historic coral-stone port city blending Ottoman, Egyptian, and Italian architectural influences, though significant war damage remains visible from past conflicts.
Visit the Eritrean National Museum in Asmara
A museum tracing Eritrea's ancient, colonial, and independence-war history, offering context on the country's long path to nationhood.
Explore Asmara's Medebar metalworkers' market
A market where craftsmen recycle scrap metal into tools and household items, reflecting Eritrea's genuine resourcefulness and post-conflict rebuilding economy.
Explore the ruins of ancient Qohaito
A little-visited archaeological site on Eritrea's highland escarpment, holding pre-Aksumite ruins dating back over 2,000 years.
Visit the tank graveyard near Asmara
A striking field of decommissioned military vehicles from Eritrea's decades-long independence struggle, a sobering and genuinely unusual sight.
Explore Asmara's Enda Mariam Orthodox Cathedral
A striking Eritrean Orthodox cathedral in the capital, reflecting the country's deep Christian religious heritage alongside its significant Muslim population.
Visit the Keren market and its camel trading tradition
Eritrea's second-largest city holds a significant traditional livestock market, including camel trading reflecting the region's pastoral heritage.
Explore the Great Mosque (Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin) in Asmara
One of Asmara's most significant Islamic architectural landmarks, reflecting the city's religious diversity alongside its Christian institutions.
Explore Asmara's Bowling Alley and mid-century modernist buildings
One of the oldest bowling alleys in Africa, part of Asmara's broader collection of remarkably preserved mid-20th-century modernist architecture.
Visit the Adulis archaeological site near Massawa
The ruins of an ancient Red Sea trading port dating back over 2,000 years, once a significant hub connecting Africa to Roman and Byzantine trade networks.
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Adventure & outdoors
2Dive the Dahlak Archipelago's untouched reefs
A chain of over 200 Red Sea islands holding one of the least-dived and least-visited reef systems in the region, a product of decades of relative isolation.
Visit the Dahlak Kebir, the largest island in the archipelago
The main inhabited island of the Dahlak Archipelago, holding ancient cistern ruins and offering a base for exploring the surrounding reef system.
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Photography
1Visit the Fiat Tagliero Building in Asmara
A striking 1938 Futurist-style former gas station shaped like an airplane, one of the most photographed examples of Asmara's remarkable architectural heritage.
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Food & drink
5Eat Eritrean tsebhi with injera
A spiced stew served over injera, a spongy sourdough flatbread shared with neighboring Ethiopia but reflecting distinct Eritrean culinary traditions.
Try Eritrean coffee ceremony (buna)
A ceremonial coffee preparation shared with neighboring Ethiopia, roasted and brewed fresh as a genuine daily social ritual central to Eritrean hospitality.
Try Eritrean zigni, a spicy meat stew
A richly spiced meat stew similar to Ethiopian wat dishes but with distinct Eritrean seasoning, typically served with injera.
Try Eritrean shiro, a spiced chickpea stew
A ground chickpea stew flavored with berbere spice, a genuine everyday staple shared with the wider Horn of Africa region.
Try Eritrean himbasha, a sweet celebratory bread
A slightly sweet bread baked for celebrations and special occasions, reflecting Eritrea's Italian-influenced baking traditions layered onto local ingredients.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Eritrea?
All nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, need a visa arranged in advance through an Eritrean embassy, with additional travel permits typically required for movement outside Asmara.
▾Why is Asmara so architecturally significant?
It's a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized as one of the best-preserved collections of Italian Art Deco and modernist architecture anywhere in the world, largely frozen as it was built during the 1930s Italian colonial period.
▾Is independent travel possible in Eritrea?
Movement is significantly restricted, with permits typically required to travel outside Asmara, making organized, permit-arranged itineraries the practical default rather than a preference.
▾How many days does Eritrea need?
7-9 days lets you combine Asmara's architecture with a permitted excursion to the Red Sea coast or Dahlak Archipelago, given the additional permit logistics involved in traveling beyond the capital.
▾Is internet access available for tourists in Eritrea?
Access is limited and heavily restricted nationwide, so it's worth planning for significantly reduced connectivity throughout your visit.
▾Is it easy to visit Eritrea as a tourist?
Eritrea remains one of the more tightly controlled countries for independent travel: most regions outside Asmara require a travel permit arranged in advance, and foreign journalists and independent researchers face particular restrictions. Asmara's Italian-era Art Deco architecture is a genuine highlight for visitors who do make it, but check your government's current travel advisory and permit requirements closely before planning a trip.
