Things to Do in Asmara

A modest but well-curated museum covering Eritrean history from prehistoric times through Italian colonisation to independence. Highlights include archaeological finds from the ancient port of Adulis and ethnographic displays. Entry is free but donat

🕐 Tue–Sun 09:00–12:00, 15:00–17:00; closed Monday

💡 Ask the caretaker to unlock the upstairs gallery – it holds the best artefacts and is often closed to casual visitors. Allow 45 minutes.

A Romanesque-revival Catholic cathedral built in 1923, with a distinctive campanile you can see from across the city. The interior has marble altars and stained glass. The adjacent Liberazione Avenue is a grand palm-lined boulevard perfect for a stro

🕐 Cathedral: daily 07:00–12:00, 15:00–18:00; campanile: ask at the parish office

💡 Climb the campanile for a small fee (around 20 nakfa) – the view over the city rooftops and hills is worth it. Mass at 6pm Saturday includes lovely local hymns.

A lively covered market selling spices, textiles, second-hand clothes and local produce. More everyday Eritrean life than a tourist trap. Expect bright piles of berbere, frankincense and woven baskets.

🕐 Daily 07:00–18:00

💡 Take small notes as vendors rarely have change. Try a glass of fresh sugarcane juice from the stall at the north entrance – only 5 nakfa.

A quiet public garden with mature trees, benches and a small fountain. Formerly the Italian social club, now a peaceful spot to escape the heat. Local families come for picnics in the afternoon. A few stray cats keep the place character.

🕐 Daily 08:00–18:00

💡 Bring your own water and snacks – there's no café. Best in late morning before the sun gets fierce. Watch out for the playful monkeys near the eastern wall.

A futuristic petrol station designed by Giuseppe Pettazzi in 1938, shaped like a concrete aeroplane with 30-metre cantilever wings. One of the best examples of rationalist architecture in Asmara. You can walk around the exterior for free; the buildin

🕐 Always visible from outside; interior not open to public

💡 Go late afternoon when the light catches the wings. The café opposite sells good macchiato for 10 nakfa.