Asmara
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The UK Foreign Office currently advises against travel to all or parts of Eritrea. This guide is for a safer time. Check the latest travel advice.
At a glance
- Country
- Eritrea
- Region
- Maekel (Central)
- Population
- 960,000
- Best time to go
- October to May
- Main airport
- Asmara International (ASM)
- Coordinates
- 15.32°N, 38.93°E
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Overview
Asmara sits high on the Eritrean plateau, and its streets are lined with some of the finest Italian modernist buildings anywhere: Art Deco cinemas, futurist petrol stations and tiled corner bars. In 2017 the city centre became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is a calm, orderly place where life moves at the pace of an evening stroll and a strong macchiato. For now, travel to Eritrea is limited and requires careful planning, so treat this as a guide for a future visit.
Things to see
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Photo: sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0 Fiat Tagliero Building
A 1938 service station shaped like an aeroplane, its concrete wings stretching out over the forecourt without supporting pillars.
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Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0 Harnet Avenue
The palm-lined main street, where the city gathers for an evening walk past cafés, pastry shops and old cinemas.
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Photo: sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0 Cinema Impero
A grand Art Deco cinema from 1937 on Harnet Avenue, its original façade and lettering still intact.
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Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0 Enda Mariam Cathedral
The city's main Orthodox church, with colourful mosaics on its façade and worshippers in white shawls on feast days.
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Medeber Market
A recycling market where metalworkers hammer old oil drums and tyres into tools, buckets and sandals.
Things to do
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Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0 Café culture
Order a macchiato and a pastry at one of the old Italian-era bars and watch the street go by.
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Photo: Original photograph taken by User:Voice of Clam , edited by , Public domain Steam train to Nefasit
Charter trips on the restored Eritrean Railway wind down from the plateau through tunnels and over viaducts.
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Drive down to the Red Sea
The road to Massawa drops more than 2,000 metres through switchbacks and changing landscapes in a few hours.
Where to stay
Around Harnet Avenue
Within walking distance of the cafés, cinemas and most of the modernist landmarks.
Hotels in Around Harnet AvenueSembel
A quieter, newer district towards the airport, suited to longer stays.
Hotels in Sembel
Getting around
The compact centre is easy to walk. Shared taxis run along fixed routes and private taxis are easy to find.
The airport is just south of the city, around 15 minutes from the centre by taxi.
When to go
At around 2,300 metres, Asmara is mild all year with cool nights. The main rains fall in July and August, while October to May is mostly dry and sunny.
Plan your trip to Asmara
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.