Eritrea
Country · Africa, Eastern Africa
Eritrea is located in Eastern Africa, sharing borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Sudan. The country covers 117,600 square kilometers and has a population of about 3.6 million. Its capital city is Asmara.
Highlights
This guide covers 3 major sights in the country. In Asmara, religious architecture includes the Enda Mariam Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Outside the capital, travelers can visit Debre Sina. The Great Mosque of Asmara is also available to see.
Food and drink
Local culinary offerings include Kitfo, Himbasha, Shiro, and Gored gored.
When to go
The weather in Asmara remains mild throughout the year, with daily highs ranging between 18 °C and 25 °C and lows between 8 °C and 13 °C. The months from September through June are generally drier, offering more consistent conditions for travel. July and August experience significant rainfall, with 158 mm and 173 mm of precipitation respectively, and rainy days occurring on more than half the days of those months.
Practical notes
The currency is the nakfa. Official languages include Tigrinya, Arabic, and English. The country operates on a 230 V power supply using plug types C and L. Traffic moves on the right side of the road. The time zone is UTC+03:00.
Cities
Food and drink to try in Eritrea
- Tej
- Kitfo
- Himbasha
- Shiro
- Gored gored
Top sights in Eritrea
Weather by month
The warmest month is June, with an average high of 25 °C. The wettest is August, with about 173 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 |
| Average low, °C | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Rainfall, mm | 36 | 32 | 47 | 49 | 46 | 33 | 158 | 173 | 30 | 30 | 22 | 38 |
| Rainy days | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Asmara (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Great Mosque of Asmara