Overview
Asmara, Eritrea's highland capital, sits at around 2,300 metres and rewards travellers with mild weather, wide palm-lined avenues and one of the world's finest collections of 1930s Modernist architecture, recognised by UNESCO. It is an unhurried, safe-feeling city built for walking, with a celebrated café culture inherited from the Italian colonial era. There are no direct flights from the UK to Asmara, so every routing involves one connection, but the journey is straightforward with the right carrier. Use the price charts on this page to see current fares from your local airport.
Best time to fly to Asmara
Asmara's altitude keeps temperatures pleasant all year, with mild days and cool evenings. The main rains fall between late June and early September, and July and August are the wettest months. The long dry season from October to May is the most comfortable time to visit and the easiest for exploring on foot or taking day trips. Fares tend to rise around Christmas, Easter and the European summer holidays; the When to book chart above shows how prices move through the year.
Airlines and routes
UK travellers reach Asmara with one stop at the airline's hub. Turkish Airlines connects through Istanbul, EgyptAir through Cairo, flydubai through Dubai, and Saudia routes via Jeddah. From London, allow roughly 13 to 16 hours in total depending on the layover; from Manchester, expect a little longer, usually connecting through Istanbul or Dubai. Schedules to Asmara are limited, often only a few times a week, so flexible dates make a real difference.
Things to do in Asmara
The city itself is the main attraction, best enjoyed slowly with a macchiato in hand.
- Fiat Tagliero Building: a 1938 former petrol station shaped like an aircraft, the icon of Asmara's Futurist design.
- Cinema Impero: a grand Art Deco picture house on Harnet Avenue, still fitted with its original 1930s interior.
- Nda Mariam Cathedral and the Catholic Cathedral: landmark places of worship that reflect the city's mixed heritage.
- Medebar Market: a working recycling quarter where craftsmen turn scrap metal into everyday goods.
- National Museum of Eritrea: a helpful introduction to the country's archaeology and long independence struggle.
At Asmara International Airport (ASM)
The airport lies about 6 km south-west of the centre, a 15 to 20 minute drive. Taxis are the usual way into town; agree the fare before setting off, and carry small amounts of local cash, as cards are not accepted. Some hotels will arrange a pickup if you ask when booking. The terminal is small, so allow extra time for checks on departure.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Asmara
- Book early: with only a handful of weekly services, the cheaper seats on connecting flights sell first, so aim for two to four months ahead.
- Fly midweek and outside the school holidays; Tuesday and Wednesday departures are often better value than weekend ones.
- Keep your dates flexible and compare the price charts on this page across a two or three week window.
- Check more than one hub, as Istanbul, Cairo and Dubai routings can differ noticeably in price for the same travel dates.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa to enter Eritrea, arranged in advance through the Eritrean Embassy in London; it is not reliably available on arrival. The currency is the Eritrean nakfa, and Eritrea is largely a cash economy with tight currency rules, so foreign cards and ATMs generally do not work and you must declare foreign cash on arrival. A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from a country where the disease is a risk. Check the latest FCDO travel advice and NHS Fit for Travel guidance before you book, and note that separate permits are needed for travel outside Asmara.
