Getting Around Asmara
Asmara is a compact highland capital, and most visitors find they can cover the centre on foot while using the city's distinctive buses, minivans and taxis for longer hops or trips out to the surrounding villages. What follows is a practical overview of the options, based on the available traveller information.
Walking the City
Central Asmara was largely built during the Italian colonial period, and its wide avenues and handsome public buildings make it a rewarding city to explore on foot. The main downtown streets, Independence Avenue and Martyrs Avenue, are walkable and are also where several bus lines converge, so the centre is easy to navigate without a vehicle. Because the city sits at high altitude, you may notice the elevation when walking, but the layout itself is pedestrian-friendly.
Buses
Asmara has a network of downtown bus lines operated with distinctive red Mercedes-Benz buses. Each bus displays a sign at the front showing where it is headed, often written in Latin script, so the routes are reasonably legible even if you don't read Tigrinya.
- Stops: Bus stops are easy to identify, with signs and an obvious shelter with a bench.
- Frequency: Buses generally run at intervals of roughly 15 to 30 minutes during the day, every day, but there is no fixed or published schedule.
- Hours: Service stops fairly early in the evening, around 19:00, so plan your day accordingly.
- Fares and boarding: The fare is about Nkf 2. You board at the back, where you buy your ticket. Exact change isn't required, but it helps to pay in lower denominations.
- Traffic: Roads get congested at rush hours, in the morning, at midday and around 16:00.
Line number 1 is especially useful for visitors: it links the airport, south of the city, with Biet Ghiorghis to the east, and it passes through the main downtown streets. Lines beginning with 2 run between the downtown marketplace and surrounding villages, but only a few run each day, so plan to leave early if you want to return the same day. Schedules for these village routes are known mainly through word of mouth among locals; if you meet someone who speaks English, they can often help. Villages such as Embaderho and Tselot are worth visiting for their scenery and traditional lifestyle.
Minibuses
White minibuses run along the main streets on fixed routes, but without fixed stops or signs. They usually stop at the regular bus stops, but you still need to hail them as you would a cab.
- Before boarding, ask where the minibus is headed, unless the ticket-boy (called a fottorino) announces the destination first.
- Let the driver know when you want to get off; "Stop!" is universally understood.
- The fare is about Nkf 2.
Taxis
Yellow taxis are a common way to get around, and many operate much like the white minibuses, running fixed routes along the main streets.
- Shared route taxis: The fare is about Nkf 5, and you will most likely share the ride with other passengers.
- Contract taxis: Some cabs don't follow fixed routes and will take you directly where you want to go. You negotiate the price with the driver; it depends on distance, but most contract drivers charge a minimum of around Nkf 70.
- Where to find them: Contract cabs often wait outside the airport when a plane is arriving, at the city's main hotels, on the road to the right of the main cathedral downtown, and at other obvious spots. They can also be hailed on any street, though many cabs are already on a fixed route with passengers aboard.
Renting a car is very expensive, and fuel prices are higher than in Europe. Hiring a cab to drive you around town is also fairly expensive but more affordable; expect to pay in the region of Nkf 3,000 to 6,000 for a weekend with a driver. For many visitors, taking the bus or contacting one of the national tour agencies, which you can ask about at the airport information desk on arrival, is the better option.
Rail, Metro and Tram
The available information on getting around Asmara describes buses, minibuses and taxis as the practical options for visitors. No metro, tram or urban rail network is described as serving the city, so plan your movements around road-based transport and walking.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Asmara International Airport (ASM) is the city's gateway. The national carrier, Eritrea Airlines, flies to Addis Ababa, Cairo, Jeddah and Khartoum, and other airlines also serve Dubai and Istanbul. There are no scheduled domestic flights within Eritrea.
To reach the city from the airport, you have two straightforward options:
- Bus: Line number 1 runs between the airport and Biet Ghiorghis, passing through the main downtown streets along the way. This is the cheapest option, at around Nkf 2.
- Contract taxi: Taxis commonly wait outside the airport when a flight arrives. These are contract cabs, so you negotiate the fare with the driver in advance.
On arrival, the airport information desk can also point you toward national tour agencies if you'd prefer to arrange transport or excursions through them.
A Note on Registration
If you enter Eritrea without a visa, as a holder of an Eritrean ID card combined with a foreign passport, you are required to register with the Immigration and Nationality office in Asmara within seven business days of entry. It's worth handling this early in your stay so it doesn't interfere with your plans for exploring the city.