Travel advisory · EritreaSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Eritrea.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Border areas with Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Agordat · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, New Zealand
- Gash Barka · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Teseney · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, New Zealand
Also named by one government: Areas north and west of Barentu (New Zealand), Nakh'fa (New Zealand), Barentu (Spain), Dancalia–Southern Red Sea (Italy), Debub-Sud (Italy), Outside the capital (Asmara) (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Eritrea | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise increased caution | Jul 31, 2023 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Von Reisen in alle anderen Gebiete Eritreas wird abgeraten (Reisen nur in Asmara und Umgebung ohne Warnung, Reiseerlaubnis nötig) | Oct 16, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée à Asmara et Massaoua (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 3, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Massawa
A Red Sea port whose small coral-stone island town shows Ottoman and Italian-era history. Give it a day or two.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Massawa is a port city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea, in East Africa. Most of the old town sits on a small island linked to the mainland by a causeway, and its low buildings are made of coral stone. The town's history includes Ottoman and Italian colonial periods, and buildings damaged in fighting in 1990 still stand in parts of town. Asmara, the capital, is about 3 hours away by road.
Massawa suits travelers who want a slow trip built around history and the sea. The old island is small enough to cover on foot in a day. Plan a day or two for the old island and waterfront, and add time for the Dahlak archipelago offshore if your itinerary and permits allow. The cooler months, roughly November to March, are the best time to visit, because summer heat is intense.
Massawa in five
- Get your Eritrean visa before you travelMost passports need a visa arranged before arrival, through the nearest Eritrean embassy or consulate. Check the requirements for your passport first.Visas and entry
- Carry nakfa in cashCards are rarely accepted in Massawa, so plan to pay in nakfa. Ask your tour operator where to change money before you arrive.Money and costs
- Book through a registered tour operatorTours in Eritrea are usually arranged through a registered operator, which can arrange transport, hotels and guides. Confirm in writing what the price includes.Tours and tickets
- Pack for heat and a modest old townMassawa is hot and humid for much of the year. Take a sun hat, loose cotton clothes and covered shoulders for walks in the old town.
- Ask before you photograph people or buildingsAsk permission before photographing people, and do not photograph government or military buildings. Your operator can tell you which sites are sensitive.
Need to know
- Currency
- Nakfa (ERN)
- Entry
- Visa needed in advance for most passports; apply before travel
- Emergency
- Confirm local emergency numbers with your embassy before travel
- Tipping
- Ask your guide or driver what is usual
- Time
- UTC+3, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool, dry
- FebruaryCool, dry
- MarchWarming up
- AprilHot, rising
- MayHot, humid
- JuneVery hot
- JulyVery hot
- AugustPeak heat
- SeptemberHot, humid
- OctoberHeat easing
- NovemberWarm, dry
- DecemberMild, dry
Right now in Massawa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 27°
- Humidity
- 62%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Massawa
08:03 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today34°26°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 34°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed34°26°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 34°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu35°27°0%Thursday: Clear. High 35°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri35°27°0%Friday: Clear. High 35°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat36°27°0%Saturday: Clear. High 36°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun35°27°6%Sunday: Clear. High 35°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 6%.
Updated 05:01 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 15 ERN
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Asmaraabout 3 hours by roadThe capital, with its Italian-era buildings, is where most visits begin.Read the guide
- Dahlak archipelagoby boat from Massawa, allow a full dayIslands reached by boat from Massawa.
- Massawa old town walkon foot from Massawa IslandA walk through the coral-stone streets and along the waterfront.
Before you go to Massawa
Rules for Massawa, checked
- Most passports need an Eritrean visa arranged before arrival. Check requirements with the nearest Eritrean embassy or consulate.
- Ask permission before photographing people, and do not photograph government or military buildings.
- Check the UK government's Eritrea travel advice before you go, since conditions can change.Source
- Confirm in writing what your tour operator includes, such as transport, hotels and guides, before you pay.
Plan around Massawa
Country overview, Asmara and the Red Sea coast
Read the guideVisas and entryHow to apply in advance and what to check first
Read the guideMoney and costsPaying in nakfa and where cards fail
Read the guideTours and ticketsHow visitors arrange tours and what they include
Read the guideGetting aroundThe road from Asmara to Massawa and local transport
Read the guideWhere to stayOptions near the old town and on the mainland
Read the guideMassawa FAQ
Is Massawa worth visiting?
Yes, for one or two days if you are already in Eritrea. The coral-stone old town on Massawa Island and the Red Sea waterfront are the main draw, and Dahlak boat trips leave from here.
How do you get to Massawa from Asmara?
By road, about 3 hours. Travel is usually with a driver or tour vehicle arranged in advance.
How many days do you need in Massawa?
One or two days covers the old town, the waterfront and a Dahlak boat trip if your tour includes one.
Can you pay by card in Massawa?
Rarely. Plan on paying in nakfa cash, and ask your operator where to change money before you arrive.
Do I need a tour to visit Massawa?
Tours in Eritrea are usually arranged through a registered operator, which handles transport, hotels and guides. Ask your operator to confirm what is included before you pay.
Is Massawa safe for a solo traveller?
Safety depends on current conditions. Check the UK government's Eritrea travel advice before you decide, and ask your operator how solo travellers are handled.