Pass The Passport

Places / Africa / Somalia

Mogadishu

Not been yet

The UK Foreign Office currently advises against travel to all or parts of Somalia. This guide is for a safer time. Check the latest travel advice.

At a glance

Country
Somalia
Region
Banaadir
Population
2.5 million
Best time to go
December to March
Main airport
Aden Adde International (MGQ)
Coordinates
2.05°N, 45.32°E

Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.

Overview

Mogadishu is one of the oldest trading cities on the Indian Ocean coast, a port that dealt with Arabia, Persia and India for centuries. Its old quarters keep mosques dating back to the medieval era, and the Italian colonial period left arches and boulevards behind.

Decades of conflict have taken a heavy toll, and travel here is not advised at present. This guide is written for a time when visiting is safe again.

Things to see

  • Hamar Weyne
    Photo: AMISOM Public Information, CC0

    Hamar Weyne

    The oldest part of the city, a quarter of narrow lanes and coral-stone houses close to the sea.

  • Arba'a Rukun Mosque
    Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain

    Arba'a Rukun Mosque

    One of the city's oldest mosques, founded in the thirteenth century in the historic heart of the city.

  • Fakr ad-Din Mosque
    Photo: Unknown photographer, Public domain

    Fakr ad-Din Mosque

    A medieval mosque built of coral stone and marble, among the oldest on the East African coast.

  • Mosque of Islamic Solidarity
    Photo: Welimo28, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Mosque of Islamic Solidarity

    The largest mosque in the Horn of Africa, a landmark of white walls and a tall minaret.

Things to do

  • Lido Beach
    Photo: Khadija Isse, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Lido Beach

    The city's long sandy beach, lined with seafood restaurants where families gather on Friday afternoons.

  • Try Somali food
    Photo: adar saqadhi, CC BY-SA 1.0

    Try Somali food

    Look for spiced rice with goat, flatbreads called canjeero and sweet, cardamom-scented tea.

  • Visit the fish market
    Photo: AMISOM Public Information, CC0

    Visit the fish market

    Early in the morning, the catch is landed and sold by the old port in Hamar Weyne.

Where to stay

  • Near the airport

    Most business travellers stay in secure compounds close to the airport.

    Hotels in Near the airport

  • Lido

    Beachfront hotels near the seafood restaurants, for a time when the city is calmer.

    Hotels in Lido

Getting around

Visitors should not move around independently; travel with trusted local fixers and drivers arranged in advance.

The airport sits on the coast just south of the centre, a short drive into town.

When to go

The cooler, drier months of December to March are the most comfortable. The main rains fall from April to June, with a shorter rainy season around October and November.

Plan your trip to Mogadishu

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about this.

Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.

More city guides for Somalia

Back to Somalia

Over to you

Been here? Share a tip, or ask me anything about it, in the comments.