Overview
Dire Dawa is Ethiopia's eastern gateway, a low-lying city that grew up around the Djibouti railway line from 1902. Grid-planned streets, palm-lined avenues and French- and Indian-influenced architecture give it a character all its own. Many UK travellers pass through on the way to the walled city of Harar, but it rewards a night or two in its own right.
Best time to fly to Dire Dawa
Sitting at around 1,200m, Dire Dawa is much hotter than Addis Ababa. The most comfortable months are October to February, when days are dry and temperatures sit in the mid-20s to low 30s Celsius. March to May turns very hot, often above 35C, and the main rains fall from July to September. For how fares shift through the year, see the When to book chart above.
Airlines and routes
There are no direct flights to Dire Dawa from the UK. The simplest routing is with Ethiopian Airlines, which flies daily non-stop from London Heathrow to Addis Ababa in about 7.5 to 8 hours, then connects onto a domestic flight to Dire Dawa of roughly one hour. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Qatar Airways via Doha and Emirates or flydubai via Dubai also reach Addis Ababa, where you pick up the Ethiopian domestic hop. Allow 12 to 16 hours in total.
Things to do in Dire Dawa
A compact centre and easy access to eastern Ethiopia's highlights make it a good base.
- Kefira Market: Sprawling open-air market where highland, Oromo and Somali traders meet over spices, textiles and livestock.
- Dire Dawa Railway Station: The handsome early-1900s terminus of the historic Ethio-Djibouti line.
- Kezira old quarter: Arcaded shopfronts and Art Deco villas built by Greek, Armenian and Indian merchants.
- Harar: The UNESCO-listed walled city about an hour away, known for its tangle of alleyways and evening hyena feeding.
- Valley of Marvels: Wind-sculpted rock pillars near Babile, often paired with the Babile camel market.
At Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport (DIR)
The airport sits about 5km south-east of the centre, a 10 to 15 minute drive. There is no train or bus link, so take a taxi from outside arrivals and agree the fare, in birr, first. Larger hotels arrange pick-ups if you book ahead, and around town the shared blue Bajaj auto-rickshaws are the cheapest way to get about.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Dire Dawa
- Book the Addis Ababa leg roughly two to four months ahead, as last-minute seats are dear.
- Fly midweek and avoid Ethiopian New Year in September, Timkat in January and the European summer peak.
- Keep your dates flexible and use the price charts on this page to spot cheaper departures either side of your ideal day.
- Buy the UK and domestic flights on one Ethiopian Airlines ticket, as the through-fare is usually far lower than booking the hop separately.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa for Ethiopia. Apply online for the tourist eVisa before you travel, as airport arrival visas are no longer reliably issued, and carry a passport valid for at least six months. The currency is the Ethiopian birr, which you cannot buy in the UK, so bring pounds or US dollars in cash to change on arrival, as card payment is rare outside large hotels. Check current FCDO advice and see a travel clinic about yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid and malaria precautions for the lowland east.
