Eritrea
Eritrea's capital Asmara is notable for its Italian-style architecture, while the Red Sea port city of Massawa has a different atmosphere. The country is fairly closed off, however, so travel isn't very free.
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- ERN
Eritrea currency guide — today's rate & payment tips
Visa and entry rules change often. Check your government's travel advisory or the local embassy before you go.
Average temperature by month
Based on Asmara · 5-year average
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Map and place data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Asmara
Asmara is the capital of Eritrea, set on a plateau 2,325 meters above sea level. Its cool highland climate makes it pleasant to stroll through the city center.
8 sights 9 guides Asmara International Airport (ASM)
Massawa
Massawa is Eritrea's second-largest city, set on the Red Sea coast and linked to Asmara by rail. It's a great place to enjoy a train journey between the two cities.
1 sight 9 guides Asmara International Airport (ASM)
Keren
Keren is Eritrea's second-largest city, located in the semi-desert region northwest of Asmara. With several ethnic groups living together here, it's a great place to experience diverse local culture.
1 sight 9 guides Asmara International Airport (ASM)
Top sights in Eritrea
Temples & religious sites
Great Mosque of Asmara
This mosque stands in the center of Asmara, Eritrea, and is one of the city's landmark buildings. Built in 1938, it is notable for its exotic exterior.
Temples & religious sites
Mosque of the Companions, Massawa
A roofless, open-air mosque on a small island off the Red Sea coast. Said to have been built in the early 7th century, it's regarded as one of Africa's first mosques and continues to draw visitors.
Temples & religious sites
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary
This Catholic church was built in the center of Asmara during the 1920s, in the era of Italian Eritrea. With its grand Lombard Romanesque exterior, it is often called "the cathedral" and has served as Eritrea's leading church.
Culture & venues
Cinema Impero
An Art Deco theater building in Asmara, built in 1937 during Italian colonial rule. It stands in the city center, amid architecture that still reflects its Italian influence.
Temples & religious sites
Enda Mariam Coptic Cathedral
An Eritrean Orthodox cathedral in downtown Asmara, easy to stop by while strolling through the city.
Culture & venues
Asmara Cinema-Teatro
This theater was built in 1918 to a design by an Italian architect and also served as an opera house. Renovated in 1936, its Italian-style architecture can still be seen today.
Nature
Mareb River
The Mareb River rises in central Eritrea and forms part of the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. It offers a glimpse of the natural landscape along the two countries' shared frontier.
Temples & religious sites
Kidane Mehret Cathedral, Asmara
A Catholic cathedral in downtown Asmara, Eritrea, belonging to the Archdiocese of Asmara. It's a good place to explore local religious culture, inside and out.
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Local data
Get an eSIM for Eritrea before you go
Activate mobile data with a QR code instead of swapping SIM cards. Buy it before departure and switch it on the moment you land.
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