Eritrea, located on the Red Sea coast of the Horn of Africa, offers a unique blend of Italian Art Deco architecture in Asmara, pristine beaches along the Dahlak Archipelago, and rich cultural heritage. This hidden gem features Africa's cleanest capital city and untouched coastal landscapes.
Local currency: Eritrean Nakfa (ERN).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Eritrea.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $8-15
- Budget
- $20-40
- Midrange
- $50-90
- Luxury
- $120-220+
Food
- Street
- $2-4
- Local
- $6-10
- Midrange
- $15-25
- Fine
- $30-45+
Transport
- Bus
- $0.25-0.50 (within Asmara)
- Taxi
- $2-8 (within Asmara)
- Airport
- $5-15 (Asmara airport to centre)
- Daytrip
- $15-50 (shared taxi to Massawa or Keren)
Activities
- Museum
- $3-8
- Sites
- $5-15
- Tour
- $25-60
- Excursion
- $60-150 (Dahlak boat trip or full-day 4WD tour)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Eritrea costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$175-245/week
Midrange traveller
$420-630/week
Luxury traveller
$1050-1750+/week
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat where locals eat — restaurants near Bahti Meskerem Square and the Central Market area serve excellent injera meals for $4-8, less than half the price of tourist-facing restaurants
Travel on shared taxis (blue and white) rather than private hire — Asmara city fares drop from $5-8 to $0.50-1.50 per person
Exchange currency at hotels or licensed exchange desks to avoid counterfeit risk from unofficial changers who often short-change tourists
Asmara Palace and Crystal Hotel bars offer happy hour pricing on Asmara Beer — the best value for cold drinks in the country
Buy spices, coffee, and craft souvenirs at the Biassa Market rather than tourist-adjacent souvenir shops where prices are 2-3x higher
A combined Massawa day trip visit and Keren day trip covers Eritrea's two most important excursion destinations — plan them on separate days to avoid rushed visits
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Evening Passeggiata on Harnet Avenue
Join locals for the beloved Italian-legacy evening stroll along UNESCO-listed Harnet Avenue, stopping at historic cafés and admiring Art Deco architecture at no cost.
Massawa Old Town Exploration
Wander freely through the Ottoman coral-stone streets of Massawa's Old Town, past the Sheikh Hanafi Mosque, damaged colonial buildings, and harbour waterfront — entry is free.
Asmara Architecture Walking Tour (Self-Guided)
Download or print a self-guided map of Asmara's Art Deco buildings — Fiat Tagliero, Cinema Impero, Cathedral, Opera House — and explore on foot for free.
Asmara Central Market (Biassa) Visit
Browse the bustling central market for fresh produce, spices, textiles, and local life at no entry cost — a rich cultural experience even without buying anything.
Bahti Meskerem Liberation Square
Sit in Asmara's main public square surrounded by Italian colonial buildings and watch daily Eritrean life unfold — entirely free and excellent for people watching.
Medebar Market Browsing
Watch craftsmen transforming scrap metal into household objects at the unique recycling market — entry is free and observing the work is fascinating.