Travel to Eritrea — everything you need to know
When to go to Eritrea?
- October – April — Cool dry season : Best time to go: pleasant weather in Asmara (15–24°C), and the Red Sea is accessible (30°C). Diving and snorkelling are excellent in the Dahlak archipelago.
- June – August — Rainy season (highlands) : Rain falls over Asmara's highlands (60–90 mm). The coast (Massawa) is extremely hot (38–42°C). Best avoided.
Weather in Eritrea
Check the weather city by city, starting with Asmara.
- Asmara: daytime highs from 22 to 25 °C depending on the season, 43 mm of rain per month on average.
- Massawa: daytime highs from 28 to 38 °C depending on the season, 15 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Eritrea?
Eritrea is one of the most isolated destinations in the world: its capital Asmara was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 for its extraordinary concentration of Italian Art Deco and Futurist architecture from the 1930s, preserved almost unchanged like an open-air museum. The Red Sea coast (Massawa, Dahlak) and the Tigrinya highlands complete a mysterious, little-visited country with deeply preserved hospitality.
Asmara — Unique Art Deco city (UNESCO)
Asmara was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 for its exceptional Italian architecture from the 1930s: Cinema Impero (Futurist, 1937), the FIAT Tagliero service station (a concrete airplane with no pillars, 1938), the opera house, and the Art Deco buildings along Harnet Avenue. A city frozen in the Italian 1930s, with no billboards or neon signs — a living museum.
Highlights : Cinema Impero (1937) — a Futurist masterpiece, FIAT Tagliero station (1938) — a pillarless concrete airplane, Harnet Avenue — Art Deco promenade.
Massawa — City of coral and history
Massawa is Eritrea's main Red Sea port: its historic centre (Taulud Island), with its Ottoman houses with mashrabiya balconies, mosques and souks, survived the wars. The ruins of Haile Selassie's palace and abandoned war tanks recall the brutal liberation of 1990. The sea is crystal clear and fish are plentiful.
Highlights : Taulud old town — Ottoman houses and mashrabiya balconies, War tanks in front of the station — liberation memorial, Ruins of Haile Selassie's imperial palace, Gurgusum Beach — Red Sea and coral reefs.
Dahlak Archipelago — Red Sea diving
The Dahlak archipelago includes 209 coral islands (only 4 are inhabited) on some of the richest reefs in the Red Sea. Its waters are among the least polluted and least visited on the planet: dolphins, manta rays, whale sharks, turtles and remarkably preserved coral thrive here. Access is from Massawa by charter boat.
Highlights : Dahlak reef diving — coral down to 40 m deep, Dolphins and manta rays in the channels between the islands, Deserted white beach on an uninhabited island, Second World War wrecks (Italian ships).
Travel budget for Eritrea
Eritrea is one of the most affordable destinations in the world, but the country imposes strict rules on travellers (official guide required, permit needed to leave Asmara). The nakfa cannot be exchanged abroad — bring US dollars or euros in cash.
- Backpacker : 30–55 €/j — Guesthouse + local food + transport + guide
- Comfort : 80–150 €/j — 3★ hotel + restaurants + private excursions
Practical tips for travelling to Eritrea
- Flight from Paris : ~9–12h via Istanbul (Turkish), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian) or Dubai (flydubai). No direct flights.
- Visa : Visa required, to be requested from the Eritrean embassy in Paris. No visa on arrival. Processing time: 2–4 weeks.
- Currency : Nakfa (ERN). Cannot be exchanged abroad. Bring US dollars or euros in cash. No ATMs are accessible to foreigners.
- Language : Tigrinya (main language), Arabic and English (official). French is rarely spoken. A bilingual guide is very useful.
- Electricity : Type C/L (European + Italian) — 230V. A standard European adapter works.
- Mandatory guide : An approved official guide is required to leave Asmara. Factor this cost into your budget. Your travel agency usually arranges it.
- Health : Malaria prophylaxis is needed on the coast (Massawa). Standard Africa travel vaccinations are recommended. Drink bottled water.
- Internet : Internet access is very limited and slow. Social media is sometimes blocked. Expect an intentionally unplugged trip.
Compare Eritrea with other destinations