Africa · Eastern Africa

Eritrea

State of Eritrea

Flag of Eritrea
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+03:00
🏛️ Capital
Asmara
👥 Population
3,607,000
📐 Area
117,600 km²
💱 Currency
Eritrean nakfa (Nfk)
🗣️ Languages
Arabic, English, Tigrinya
📞 Calling Code
+291
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+03:00
🌐 Region
Africa / Eastern Africa

About Eritrea

Eritrea is Africa's most enigmatic destination — a country that guards its secrets carefully and reveals them slowly to those patient enough to look. Perched along the Red Sea coast and rising dramatically through highlands to the edge of the Danakil Depression, this small nation packs an almost implausible range of landscapes into its borders. Italian colonial architecture lines the streets of Asmara in such remarkable preservation that the capital earned UNESCO World Heritage status, while ancient port cities and coral-fringed islands hint at a civilization stretching back millennia.

Traveling through Eritrea feels like stepping into a suspended moment. Asmara's wide boulevards, modernist cinemas, and Art Deco cafés carry the ambiance of a 1930s Italian city, yet they are populated by Eritreans going about their daily lives with quiet dignity and warmth. Mopeds weave past pedestrians dressed in flowing white shawls, and the scent of roasting coffee mingles with the morning air. Outside the capital, the landscape becomes starkly beautiful — rocky highland plateaus, terraced hillside farms, and the distant shimmering haze of the Afar lowlands.

The Red Sea coast offers world-class diving and snorkeling in waters that see very few foreign visitors, making encounters with manta rays, reef sharks, and untouched coral gardens feel genuinely exclusive. The Dahlak Archipelago, a chain of desert islands scattered across turquoise shallows, is one of Africa's least explored marine environments. For travelers willing to navigate the visa requirements and limited tourist infrastructure, Eritrea offers an Africa that is unlike anywhere else.

History & Background

The territory of modern Eritrea has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and its Red Sea coast made it a coveted prize for successive empires. The ancient Aksumite Empire, centered in what is today Ethiopia and Eritrea, was one of the world's great ancient powers, trading across the Red Sea with Rome, Persia, and India. Its legacy survives in the standing obelisks and ruins scattered across the highlands. Ottoman Turks controlled the coast for several centuries, followed by the Egyptians, before Italy colonized the territory in 1889 and named it Eritrea after the Latin name for the Red Sea.

Italian rule lasted until World War II, leaving behind the remarkable modernist cityscape of Asmara and a road and railway infrastructure that still partially functions. After Italian defeat, Britain administered the territory until 1952, when the UN federated Eritrea with Ethiopia. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea in 1962 sparked a thirty-year armed independence struggle that became one of Africa's longest liberation wars. Eritrea finally won independence in 1991 and held a formal referendum in 1993, achieving UN recognition as a sovereign state with near-unanimous popular support.

Culture & People

Eritrea's culture reflects the extraordinary diversity of its nine recognized ethnic groups, each with distinct languages, traditions, and ways of life. The Tigrinya-speaking Eritreans of the highlands form the largest group and are predominantly Christian, practicing a form of Orthodox Christianity with deep roots stretching back to the fourth century. Their festivals, church music, and elaborate fasting traditions give the highlands a spiritual intensity that is profoundly moving. The lowland communities include Muslim groups such as the Tigre and Saho peoples, whose nomadic pastoralist traditions and Islamic observances add further layers to the national tapestry.

The coffee ceremony is a cornerstone of Eritrean hospitality — an elaborate ritual involving three rounds of coffee, burning incense, and conversation that can last well over an hour. Refusing an invitation to participate is considered impolite. Traditional music played on the krar (a stringed instrument) and meleket flute accompanies weddings and religious festivals, while colorful embroidered dresses and hand-woven shawls remain everyday wear in many highland villages.

Food & Cuisine

Eritrean cuisine shares deep roots with Ethiopian cooking but carries its own distinct identity shaped by the country's coastal geography and Italian colonial legacy. Injera — a spongy, fermented flatbread — is the foundation of most meals, served with an array of stews called tsebhi. Tsebhi dorho, a rich chicken stew with a hard-boiled egg simmered in berbere-spiced sauce, is the dish of choice for celebrations. Along the Red Sea coast, fresh grilled fish seasoned with cumin and fenugreek is served with rice and tomato salad in a style that reflects the country's historical connections to Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Italian colonial period left a genuine pasta culture that locals have embraced as their own. Pasta with meat sauce, pizza-style flatbreads, and espresso served in proper Italian cups are morning staples across Asmara. Zigni, a spiced meat stew, is one of the most beloved national dishes, slow-cooked for hours with onions, garlic, and clarified butter. Meals are communal affairs eaten by hand from a shared platter, and finishing everything on the plate is the highest compliment you can pay a host.

Top Attractions

  • Asmara UNESCO City — A stunning time capsule of 1930s Italian Modernist, Art Deco, and Futurist architecture in remarkable everyday use.
  • Dahlak Archipelago — Remote Red Sea islands with pristine coral reefs, sunken Italian warships, and virtually no other tourists.
  • Massawa Old Town — A historic port city with Ottoman-era coral-stone buildings, ancient mosques, and fresh seafood at harbor restaurants.
  • Qohaito Archaeological Site — Ancient Aksumite ruins including a dam, temples, and carved stelae in a breathtaking highland setting.
  • Filfil Solomuna Forest — A rare remnant of subtropical montane forest, home to green monkeys and extraordinary birdlife.
  • Asmara Fiat Tagliero Building — An iconic 1938 Futurist service station designed without supporting columns, a marvel of engineering and audacity.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Obtain your visa well in advance — the process requires an invitation letter or travel agency coordination and can take several weeks.
  • Register with local authorities on arrival in each region; your hotel or guide can usually arrange this formality.
  • The Eritrean nakfa (ERN) cannot be exchanged outside the country; bring US dollars or euros to exchange locally.
  • Independent travel outside Asmara requires permits for many areas; arrange these through a licensed local tour operator.
  • Internet and mobile connectivity are very limited; download offline maps and essential information before you travel.
  • Dress conservatively, especially in Muslim lowland areas and when visiting Orthodox churches — cover shoulders and knees.
  • Photography of military personnel, government buildings, and infrastructure is strictly prohibited and can result in serious trouble.

Visa Overview

Eritrea requires advance visas for all foreign visitors, and the process is among the most involved in Africa. Travelers typically need a letter of invitation from an Eritrean organization or a booking through a licensed Eritrean tour operator. Apply at your nearest Eritrean embassy at least four to six weeks before travel. A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is required. US, UK, and EU citizens are eligible to apply but must follow the embassy-specific process in their country.

Getting Around

Asmara's Asmara International Airport receives flights from several African and Middle Eastern hubs, with Eritrean Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines operating regular routes. Within the country, taxis and shared minibuses connect major towns, but many roads outside the capital require a 4WD vehicle. A restored rack railway between Asmara and Massawa offers a spectacular scenic descent but runs irregularly. Hiring a driver through a local tour operator is the most practical way to explore beyond the capital.

Safety Notes

Eritrea is generally considered safe for visitors within permitted travel zones. Crime against tourists is very rare, and locals are consistently hospitable. However, the border regions with Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti can be volatile — avoid these areas entirely. Landmines remain a concern in some rural areas from the independence war period. Always travel with a registered guide outside Asmara, adhere strictly to photography restrictions, and keep your travel documents and permits on your person at all times.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Eritrea.

Eritrean nakfa (ERN) Nfk
Updated: 2026-08-21
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.749829
AAVE 0.000673
ADA 0.325468
AED 0.244833
AFN 4.399625
AGIX 1.067365
AKT 0.127089
ALGO 0.759979
ALL 5.283670
AMD 24.308612
AMP 167.327964
ANG 0.120269
AOA 61.195737
APE 0.505513
APT 0.115783
AR 0.032337
ARB 0.730486
ARS 99.815107
ATOM 0.044056
ATS 0.784692
AUD 0.093514
AVAX 0.009197
AWG 0.119333
AXS 0.068622
AZM 566.666674
AZN 0.113333
BAKE 89.106101
BAM 0.111533
BAT 1.001023
BBD 0.133333
BCH 0.000296
BDT 8.154677
BEF 2.300413
BGN 0.111533
BHD 0.025067
BIF 198.426514
BMD 0.066667
BNB 0.000101
BND 0.084695
BOB 0.769843
BRL 0.346337
BSD 0.066667
BSV 0.004127
BSW 178.527290
BTC 0.000001
BTG 0.141832
BTN 6.382355
BTT 235,290.246172
BUSD 0.066659
BWP 0.896062
BYN 0.202996
BYR 1,306.554374
BZD 0.134270
CAD 0.091821
CAKE 0.040296
CDF 152.833174
CELO 0.984567
CFX 1.481026
CHF 0.053285
CHZ 5.049651
CLP 61.516532
CNH 0.448213
CNY 0.448163
COMP 0.003514
COP 204.721566
CRC 30.300461
CRO 1.242150
CRV 0.233517
CSPR 25.299279
CUC 0.066661
CUP 1.766515
CVE 6.288231
CVX 0.038851
CYP 0.033376
CZK 1.375813
DAI 0.066674
DASH 0.002014
DCR 0.005416
DEM 0.111533
DFI 123.733515
DJF 11.874531
DKK 0.426316
DOGE 0.811665
DOP 3.900417
DOT 0.078828
DYDX 0.587263
DZD 8.857549
EEK 0.892262
EGLD 0.022314
EGP 3.391883
ENJ 2.538803
EOS 0.953845
ESP 9.488288
ETB 10.865099
ETC 0.009556
ETH 0.000028
EUR 0.057026
EURC 0.057219
FEI 0.066650
FIL 0.089366
FIM 0.339060
FJD 0.146468
FKP 0.048854
FLOW 2.294179
FLR 9.583880
FRAX 0.067179
FRF 0.374064
FTT 0.306534
GALA 41.068146
GBP 0.048854
GEL 0.173368
GGP 0.048854
GHC 7,394.110005
GHS 0.739411
GIP 0.048854
GMD 4.944295
GMX 0.009595
GNF 586.095200
GNO 0.000542
GRD 19.431528
GRT 4.409984
GT 0.009258
GTQ 0.508859
GUSD 0.066765
GYD 13.958147
HBAR 0.899073
HKD 0.522861
HNL 1.788526
HNT 0.366300
HOT 188.560345
HRK 0.429661
HT 1.417815
HTG 8.732273
HUF 20.794296
ICP 0.027956
IDR 1,182.954900
IEP 0.044911
ILS 0.200114
IMP 0.048854
IMX 0.602791
INJ 0.014065
INR 6.382355
IQD 87.459644
IRR 91,630.458116
ISK 8.097869
ITL 110.417268
JEP 0.048854
JMD 10.559403
JOD 0.047267
JPY 10.597093
KAS 2.315892
KAVA 1.570497
KCS 0.008861
KDA 13.657699
KES 8.628754
KGS 5.836549
KHR 268.348901
KLAY 2.470387
KMF 28.054835
KNC 0.611704
KPW 59.994863
KRW 92.105867
KSM 0.020874
KWD 0.020552
KYD 0.055454
KZT 30.469045
LAK 1,502.332108
LBP 5,984.179320
LDO 0.196367
LEO 0.007172
LINK 0.006188
LKR 22.022189
LRC 8.218119
LRD 12.104677
LSL 1.073543
LTC 0.001385
LTL 0.196899
LUF 2.300413
LUNA 1.440107
LUNC 1,249.902802
LVL 0.040078
LYD 0.422703
MAD 0.616723
MANA 0.945453
MBX 3.132001
MDL 1.145906
MGA 285.167062
MGF 1,425.835311
MINA 1.422202
MKD 3.516272
MKR 0.000044
MMK 139.981119
MNT 239.946047
MOP 0.538547
MRO 26.618976
MRU 2.661898
MTL 0.024481
MUR 3.109843
MVR 1.030638
MWK 115.718168
MXN 1.129309
MXV 0.128400
MYR 0.269631
MZM 4,254.832827
MZN 4.254833
NAD 1.073543
NEAR 0.037748
NEO 0.033576
NEXO 0.083892
NFT 239,730.502494
NGN 90.017122
NIO 2.454732
NLG 0.125668
NOK 0.622173
NPR 10.216554
NZD 0.111756
OKB 0.000621
OMR 0.025653
ONE 89.334331
OP 0.688304
ORDI 0.015929
PAB 0.066667
PAXG 0.000015
PEN 0.223531
PEPE 20,686.140897
PGK 0.298978
PHP 4.111971
PI 0.731970
PKR 18.519552
PLN 0.246207
POL 0.824779
PTE 11.432638
PYG 401.942295
QAR 0.242667
QNT 0.001078
QTUM 0.081911
ROL 2,994.559536
RON 0.299456
RPL 0.040934
RSD 6.690974
RUB 5.519573
RUNE 0.148506
RVN 22.009596
RWF 98.110082
SAND 1.512887
SAR 0.2500
SBD 0.534288
SCR 0.936174
SDD 4,000.913515
SDG 40.009135
SEK 0.631361
SGD 0.084695
SHIB 13,429.458605
SHP 0.048854
SIT 13.665653
SKK 1.717958
SLE 1.526669
SLL 1,526.668820
SNX 0.313166
SOL 0.000755
SOS 38.121426
SPL 0.011111
SRD 2.521093
SRG 2,521.093264
SSP 374.659214
STD 1,408.816229
STN 1.408816
STX 0.448942
SUI 0.090047
SVC 0.583333
SYP 866.725503
SZL 1.073543
THB 2.189148
THETA 0.410077
TJS 0.616714
TMM 1,165.489637
TMT 0.233098
TND 0.193242
TOP 0.160550
TRL 3,203,418.712346
TRX 0.197152
TRY 3.203419
TTD 0.452227
TUSD 0.066773
TVD 0.093514
TWD 2.123177
TWT 0.162251
TZS 176.375967
UAH 2.977684
UGX 247.948220
UNI 0.017559
USD 0.066667
USDC 0.066664
USDD 0.066679
USDP 0.066761
USDT 0.066684
UYU 2.674987
UZS 789.619267
VAL 110.417268
VEB 5,181,579,885.199095
VED 51.672191
VEF 5,167,219.083664
VES 51.672191
VET 12.822615
VND 1,735.957978
VUV 7.905117
WAVES 0.323735
WEMIX 0.335142
WOO 5.742110
WST 0.181103
XAF 37.406446
XAG 0.000974
XAU 0.000015
XAUT 0.000015
XBT 0.000001
XCD 0.180492
XCG 0.120269
XCH 0.046073
XDC 2.325592
XDR 0.048687
XEC 9,605.048690
XEM 145.315015
XLM 0.360550
XMR 0.000160
XOF 37.406446
XPD 0.000049
XPF 6.804983
XPT 0.000036
XRP 0.051897
XTZ 0.297524
YER 15.805113
ZAR 1.073543
ZEC 0.000116
ZIL 26.357081
ZMK 1,264.914252
ZMW 1.264914
ZWD 24.126667
ZWG 1.775368
ZWL 4,436.154106

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Cities in Eritrea 63
Browse all cities and towns
/ قلاس / Glass Addi K'eyih Addi Kwala Addi Ugri Adi Ahiderom Adi Quala ዓዲ ዃላ عدي خوالا Adi Tekelezan ዓዲ ተከሌዛን عدي تكليزان Ak'ordat Asmara Asseb Badme ባድመ بادمة Barentu Beylul Dedda ዴዳ ددا Dek'emhare Dekemhare ደቀምሓረ دقمحري Edd Emahmime ام همميمي Gahtelay ጋሕቴላይ قحتلاي Gheleb ገለብ خلب Ghinda ጊንዳዕ جندع Ginda Gogne ጐኘ جوني Golij ጐልጅ غلج Hagaz ሓጋዝ حقاز Himbirti Jurna جورنا Keren Maydima ማይድማ ماء ديما Mersa Fatma Mitsiwa Mogolo موغولو Nefasit Omhajer أم هاجر Segeneiti ሰገነይቲ سغنيتي Sen'afe Teraemni ተራእምኒ ترائمني Teseney Tiyo ጢዖ طيعوا Tocombia ቶኾምብያ توخومبيا Tsazega ጸዓዘጋ صعازغا Tzada Christian ጻዕዳ ክርስትያን صعدا كرستيان መንደፈራ Mendefera مندفرا መጠራ ማይ ምነ Mai Mine ماء منه ምጽዋዕ Massawa مصوع ሰንዓፈ Senafe صنعفي ሻምብቆ Shambiko شامبيكو ባረንቱ Barentu بارنتو ተሰነይ Teseney تسني ናቕፋ Nakfa نقفا ኣስመራ Asmara أسمرة ኣቑርደት Akordat أغوردات ኣፍዓበት أفعبت Af'abet እምባ ደርሆ Emba Derho إمبا درهو እንዳገርግስ Enda Giorgis إندا جرجس ከረን Keren كرن ዓሰብ Assab عصب ዓዲ ቐይሕ Adi Keyh عدي قيح ዙላ Zula زولا ድባርዋ Debarwa دباروا ጾሮና ፎሮ Foro فورو

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Eritrea needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Eritrea?
The capital of Eritrea is Asmara.
What currency does Eritrea use?
Eritrea uses the Eritrean nakfa (Nfk) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Eritrea?
The official language(s) of Eritrea include Arabic, English, Tigrinya.
What is the population of Eritrea?
Eritrea has a population of approximately 3,607,000 people.
What region is Eritrea in?
Eritrea is located in Africa, specifically in the Eastern Africa subregion.
What is the international calling code for Eritrea?
The international dialing code for Eritrea is +291.
What time zones does Eritrea observe?
Eritrea observes the following time zone(s): UTC+03:00.
What is the current time in Eritrea?
The local time in Eritrea is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Eritrea?
Eritrea covers a total area of 117,600 km².
How many states or provinces does Eritrea have?
Eritrea is divided into 12 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Eritrea in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Eritrea in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Eritrea?
Visa requirements for citizens of Eritrea vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.