Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

Eritrea’s national airline is Eritrean Airlines. Other airlines operating to Eritrea include Alitalia Airlines (from London), KLM (from London), Lufthansa (from Frankfurt), Saudi Arabian Airlines (from Jeddah) and Yemenia (from Sanaa). Flights from Europe and the USA can be booked through Ericommerce International Ltd, Robin House, 2A Iverson Road, London NW6 2HE, UK (tel: (020) 7372 7242; website: www.ericommerce.com).

International Airport

Asmara (ASM) is 6km (4 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city centre. Facilities: Left luggage, bank/bureau de change, post office, bars, duty free shop and restaurants.

ROAD

Currently, borders with Sudan and Ethiopia are closed. The border with Djibouti remains open. Travellers are advised to check with the relevant authorities beforehand as this situation could alter.

SEA

Massawa port in Eritrea is the largest deep-water port in the Red Sea. The other main port in Eritrea is Assab. However, there are very limited scheduled passenger services. There is a weekly ferry service from Massawa to Jeddah.

Travel - Internal

AIR

Internal flights operate between Asmara and Assab but are limited. Assab (ASA) is 15 km (9 miles) from Assab. Buses and taxis travel to the town (travel time – 15 to 30 minutes).

RAIL

Work was completed on the Asmara-Massawa railway in 2003. There are eight locomotives operating on the line. There are no timetables and services are not regular.

ROAD

The infrastructure suffered badly during the protracted fighting. Repairs and a modernisation programme are currently underway. Roads between major cites are paved and in relatively good condition, others are not paved and can be of very poor quality. Bad weather can make them worse. 4-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended on all other roads and tracks. Traffic drives on the right.

Bus: Services connect all larger towns and cities. There are usually two buses per day to larger towns and one bus per day to smaller towns. They leave a destination when full.

Taxi: These can be found in the capital and at the airport. They usually carry multiple passengers and there is a tendency not to wear a seatbelt. For a higher fee travellers can hire a taxi for themselves. Fares are higher at night (usually double) and should be negotiated in advance as taxis are not metered.

Car hire: Cars can be booked through the Eritrean Tour Service (see Top Things to Do).

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.

Resorts & Excursions

ASMARA

Eritrea's capital Asmara was only a small cluster of villages at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1897, the Italian colonial government moved the administration there from Massawa. Today, Italian architecture prevails in the city. The magnificent Cathedral (1922), built in the Lombardian style, is not far from a bustling market. Fruit and vegetables, bric-a-brac, spices, used furniture, ceramics, handicrafts and clothes are sold on the stalls. There are a number of churches and mosques which can be visited. Marble from the Italian Carrara quarry was used to build the largest mosque, Khalufa el Rashidin. Gold and silver jewellery is on offer at the nearby market. Palms and colourful bougainvillaea line the main avenues. The National Avenue is the major thoroughfare of the city; an ideal place to meet people and enjoy the numerous cafés and bars. The Avenue is also the address for the Government Administrative Centre, the Asmara Theatre (built 1918), the Catholic Cathedral and the Town Hall. The former residence of the colonial rulers, the Ghibi or palace, is used today as the National Museum. The University and the Mai Jahjah Fountain are also interesting

ELSEWHERE

The road from Asmara to Massawa, 105km (65 miles), is both spectacular and beautiful. It descends from 2438m (8000ft) to sea level, with hairpin bends on the escarpment, and magnificent views over the coastal desert strip. It passes the famous Orthodox Monastery of Debre Bizen. Massawa was an important centre in ancient times and remains, to this day, the largest natural deep-water port on the Red Sea. If Asmara is an 'Italian' city, Massawa is 'Turko-Egyptian', reflecting the periods of Ottoman and Egyptian rule from the 16th century to the late 1800s. Dams connect the islands of Batsi and Twalet with the main part of the city.

The port and the old town of Batsi were damaged during the civil war but are still impressive. The Iman Hanbeli Mosque escaped damage. Batsi Island is a good area for restaurants, cafés and bars; visitors can take a small boat to Sheikh Said Island (also known as Isola Verde), a favourite picnic spot. Twalet has fine examples of Italian architecture. Here, also, is a badly damaged Ghibi or palace. It was originally built in the 15th century, but has been much altered and restored since then. It was badly damaged in the civil war and is again in need of restoration. The Port Club has a restaurant, a museum, a small library and sporting facilities. North of Massawa is the white sandy beach of Gergussum. It is a good place to sunbathe or swim.

From here it is not far to Emberemi, famous for the mausoleums of Sheikh el Amin and Muhammad Ibn Ali. It is an important pilgrimage site. Nakfa in Satel province is famous as the main site and symbol of resistance during the war with Ethiopia. The nearby towns of Denden, Orota and Afabet still bear the scars of fighting although much rebuilding has been completed. Keren, in the Province of Senhit, is like a miniature Asmara. The Forto was built during the Turkish period. Also of interest are the religious sites of the Tomb of Said Abu Bakr el Mirgani and the Mariam de Arit. Debre Sina, near Elabered on the Asmara-Keren road, is also a noteworthy monastery. The modern city of Asseb in the southeasterly Province of Denkalia has many pleasant beaches.

The Turkish and Egyptian colonial periods left numerous interesting buildings and sites in Akordat (Barka Province). Here is situated the tomb of Said Mustafa wad Hasan. Qohaito, Metera and Rora Habab are also important archaeological sites.