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Voykit pocket guide · Eritrea
Massawa
ማሳዋ
Spend 2 days in Massawa: explore the old‑town island, snorkel at Green Island and relax on Gurgusum Beach.
Massawa is Eritrea’s Red Sea port with a compact historic island, nearby snorkeling islands and a modest beach. Two days cover the main sights and a day trip to Green Island; longer stays are only for beach‑or‑diving enthusiasts.
- Country
- Eritrea
- Local name
- ማሳዋ
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Oct (very hot, limited water supplies)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ERN
- Money
- Currency is the Eritrean nakfa (ERN), fixed at about 15 per US dollar at official exchange offices (check).
- Daily spend
- Budget ₤15–25 · Mid ₤25–40 · High ₤40+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EriTel is the only operator; tourist SIMs are hard to get and mobile data is minimal or absent (check).
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Ambulance 114 · Fire 116
- Plugs
- Types C, L · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs fit most sockets; power cuts happen outside Asmara.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: About 10% if no service charge.; Driver day: US$5–10.; Guide: US$10–15 a day.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and cafés; basic on the road.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Red Sea fish plate | ₤15–25 |
| Coffee | ₤5–8 |
| Taxi (city centre to airport) | ₤20–30 |
| Boat charter to Green Island | ₤30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSW · Massawa International Airport
- No scheduled flights (mid‑2023); charter or private arrivals only (check).
Typical fares
- Taxi Massawa → Gurgusum Beach
- about ₤20 (≈40 ERN), 14 km (8.7 mi), 15 minabout ₤20 (≈40 ERN), 8.7 mi (14 km), 15 min
- Charter boat Green Island (round‑trip)
- about ₤30–50 per person, 20 min each way
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable islands (Tualud, Oldtown) and causeways; taxis or hired cars to Gurgusum Beach (≈14 km (8.7 mi) north); charter boats for Green Island (≈20 min).Walkable islands (Tualud, Oldtown) and causeways; taxis or hired cars to Gurgusum Beach (≈8.7 mi (14 km) north); charter boats for Green Island (≈20 min).
See and do
Known for
- Ottoman‑style coral architecture
- Snorkeling and diving around Green Island
- Red Sea fish cuisine
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Green Island | Charter boat from Tualud Island; about 20 min ride | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Corallo Hotel
- Air‑conditioned, central on Tualud Island; basic rooms.
- Central Hotel
- Air‑conditioned, central on Tualud Island; modest rates.
- Dahlak Hotel
- Air‑conditioned, Tualud Island; offers boat trips to Green Island.
- Red Sea Hotel
- Air‑conditioned, Tualud Island; simple amenities.
- GB Hotel (Gurgusum Beach)
- Beachfront on mainland; air‑conditioned rooms, showers.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ይቅርታyǝk’ǝrta |
| Thank you | ኣመሰግናለይamäsegənäy |
| How much is it? | ትንሽ እንዴት ነው?tǝnǝsh endet naw? |
| Can I pay by card? | ካርድ እትችል ይርዳል?kard itǝčǝl yǝrda? |
| Where is the toilet? | ቤተሰብ የት ነው?bätesäb yät naw? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake with a shoulder bump; long greetings; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Cafés: Take your time; linger over a macchiato; avoid: Loud phone calls
- Religion: Cover up in churches and mosques; avoid: Entering during prayers
- Talk: Cycling, coffee, food, the Italian buildings; avoid: Politics and national service
- Photos: Ask people first; avoid: Any official building or uniform
Scams and watch-outs
- No regular flights to MSW – plan entry via Asmara airport.
- Travel permit required for visits outside Asmara; obtain in Asmara.
- Sun protection essential; sunscreen expensive and often expired.
- Mosquitoes prevalent Nov–Feb; bring repellent and net.
Massawa is generally safe for tourists who stay in known hotels, avoid night travel on unlit streets and keep valuables secured.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Massawa yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ottoman‑style coral architecture
- Snorkeling and diving around Green Island
- Red Sea fish cuisine
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Massawa: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Massawa, revision 5244558 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244558
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/massawa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.