festivites
Eritrea celebrates several cultural and religious holidays throughout the year. Some of the major festivities are:
1. Independence Day (May 24th) - Celebrates Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia in 1991. People celebrate with parades, cultural events, and public speeches.
2. Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) - A Muslim holiday celebrated at the end of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan. People gather for communal prayers, share food, and exchange gifts.
3. Christmas (January 7th) - Celebrated by the Orthodox Christian community in Eritrea. People attend church services, exchange gifts, and enjoy special meals with family and friends.
4. New Year's Day (January 1st) - Celebrated with fireworks, feasting, and music. People often spend time with friends and family to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the new one.
5. Meskel (September 27th) - A religious holiday that commemorates the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. Celebrated with bonfires, traditional dances, and processions.
6. Ashenda (August/September) - A festival celebrated by women in the Tigray and Tigre regions of Eritrea. Women dress up in colorful clothing, jewelry, and hairstyles, and dance and sing together to celebrate the end of the harvest season.
These festivities are usually celebrated with family, friends, and the wider community, and involve a range of traditions, including music, dancing, feasting, and religious ceremonies.
seasons
Eritrea has two main tourist seasons:
1. High Season - from late October to early April, with the peak season being from December to February.
Recommendations:
- This is the best time for sightseeing as the weather is dry and mild.
- Be prepared for colder temperatures at high altitudes.
- Book accommodations and tours in advance as they may fill up quickly during peak season.
2. Low Season - from May to September.
Recommendations:
- This is the low season due to hot temperatures and occasional rainfall, but it can be a good time to visit if you are prepared for the weather.
- Bring lightweight clothing and sunscreen to protect against the sun.
- Some attractions may have reduced opening hours or be closed entirely during this season.
visa
Citizens of all countries require a visa to visit Eritrea. Some special visa rules for Eritrea are:
1. All visitors must obtain an entry visa in advance from the Eritrean embassy or consulate in their home country.
2. Israeli citizens are not allowed to enter Eritrea.
3. Visitors may be required to show proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry.
4. Female travelers who are 32 weeks or more pregnant will not be allowed to enter the country.
The cost of an Eritrean tourist visa varies depending on the applicant’s nationality and the duration of stay, but it typically ranges between $50 to $100 USD. It is recommended to contact the Eritrean embassy or consulate in your country for specific information on visa requirements and costs.
souvenirs
1. Traditional woven baskets called "zikra" or "mesob" - can be bought at the Asmara Craft Center or local markets for around 300-500 nakfa ($20-$35 USD).
2. Handmade traditional jewelry made of silver and gold - can be found at the Gold Market in Asmara for around 800-1000 nakfa ($55-$70 USD).
3. Coffee beans - Eritrea is known for its high-quality coffee, which can be bought at local markets or cafes for around 200-300 nakfa ($14-$20 USD) per kilogram.
4. Eritrean traditional clothing, such as shawls and dresses - can be found at the Asmara Craft Center for around 600-800 nakfa ($40-$55 USD).
5. Incense - Eritrea has a variety of aromatic herbs and spices that are used to make incense, which can be bought at local markets for around 100-200 nakfa ($7-$14 USD).
Note: Prices may vary depending on the location and vendor. It's always best to negotiate prices before making a purchase.
If you have 1 week
As a DAN, I suggest that you consider visiting the following places during your one-week itinerary in Eritrea:
Day 1: Start your day by visiting the ancient city of Adulis. This historic port city was once a hub of trade and commerce in the Red Sea region. You can explore the ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and learn about its history and significance. Next, head to the Dahlak Marine National Park for some snorkeling, diving, and relaxation on the beach.
Day 2: In the morning, visit the city of Massawa, known for its beautiful Ottoman-era architecture and bustling markets. Take a stroll through the Old Town and visit the Bait Al-Haja Cultural Museum to learn more about Eritrean culture and traditions. In the afternoon, climb to the top of the Taulud Island for a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding sea.
Day 3: Make your way to Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea. Here, you can take a walking tour of the city's many art deco buildings, which were constructed during the Italian colonial period. Be sure to visit the National Museum of Eritrea and the Mai Jah Jah Memorial Palace to learn more about the country's history and culture.
Day 4: Explore the natural beauty of Eritrea by visiting the Semienawi Bahri National Park. This park is home to a variety of wildlife, including baboons, hyenas, and antelopes. You can also hike to the top of Mount Soira for stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Day 5: Take a day trip to the town of Keren, located in the highlands of Eritrea. Here, you can visit the famous Keren War Cemetery to pay your respects to those who lost their lives during World War II. You can also explore the colorful local market and sample some of the traditional Eritrean cuisine.
Day 6: Spend your day exploring the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on Earth. This extraordinary destination is home to a variety of otherworldly landscapes, including salt flats, sulfur springs, and active volcanoes. You can take a guided tour of the area and learn about the geology and history of this unique region.
Day 7: On your final day in Eritrea, head back to Asmara for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. Be sure to stop by the Medebar Market to pick up some souvenirs and gifts for your friends and family back home.
These are just a few of the many amazing places you can visit during your week-long stay in Eritrea. Each of these destinations offers something unique and memorable, from ancient history to natural wonders. I hope you have an incredible time exploring this beautiful country!
If you have 2 weeks
Hello! It's great to hear that you're looking to explore new places. Here's a two-week itinerary for you:
Week 1:
Day 1-3: Visit the Dahlak Archipelago, located in the Red Sea off the coast of Eritrea. You can take a boat trip to visit different islands and beaches, do some snorkeling or scuba diving to explore the beautiful coral reefs, and witness the local fishing techniques.
Day 4-6: Head to Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, where you can explore the Italian colonial architecture and enjoy the vibrant cafe culture. Visit the National Museum of Eritrea to learn about the country's history and culture.
Day 7-8: Take a trip to Keren, a historical city located in the highlands of Eritrea. Explore its unique architecture, visit the local markets, and hike up the nearby hills to see stunning views of the city.
Week 2:
Day 9-11: Travel to Massawa, the second-largest city in Eritrea located on the Red Sea coast. Visit the old town, which is known for its Ottoman-style architecture and narrow alleyways, and explore some of the oldest mosques in the region.
Day 12-13: Go on a safari in the Gash-Barka region, where you can see a variety of wildlife, including elephants, antelopes, and hyenas.
Day 14: Spend your last day relaxing at one of the many beautiful beaches in Eritrea, such as Ghinda'e Beach or Zula Beach.
I suggest visiting these places because they offer a diverse range of experiences that showcase the natural beauty and cultural richness of Eritrea. The Dahlak Archipelago is a must-see for its stunning scenery, while Asmara and Keren offer a glimpse into the country's fascinating history and architecture. Massawa showcases Eritrea's Ottoman-style architecture, while a safari in Gash-Barka allows for an opportunity to see wildlife in their natural habitats. Finally, relaxing at one of Eritrea's beautiful beaches is the perfect way to end your trip. I hope you enjoy your adventure!
Culture
One of the most recognizable parts of Eritrean culture is the coffee ceremony. Coffee (Ge'ez ቡን būn) is offered when visiting friends, during festivities, or as a daily staple of life. During the coffee ceremony, there are traditions that are upheld. The coffee is served in three rounds: the first brew or round is called awel in Tigrinya (meaning "first"), the second round is called kalaay (meaning "second"), and the third round is called bereka (meaning "to be blessed").
Traditional Eritrean attire is quite varied among the ethnic groups of Eritrea. In the larger cities, most people dress in Western casual dress such as jeans and shirts. In offices, both men and women often dress in suits. A common traditional clothing for Christian Tigrinya highlanders consists of bright white gowns called zurias for the women, and a white shirt accompanied by white pants for the men. In Muslim communities in the Eritrean lowland, the women traditionally dress in brightly colored clothes. Besides convergent culinary tastes, Eritreans share an appreciation for similar music and lyrics, jewelry and fragrances, and tapestry and fabrics, as many other populations in the region.
A typical traditional Eritrean dish consists of injera accompanied by a spicy stew, which frequently includes beef, chicken, lamb, or fish. Overall, Eritrean cuisine strongly resembles that of neighboring Ethiopia, though Eritrean cooking tends to feature more seafood than Ethiopian cuisine on account of their coastal location. Eritrean dishes are also frequently "lighter" in texture than Ethiopian meals. They likewise tend to employ less seasoned butter and spices and more tomatoes, as in the tsebhi dorho delicacy.
Additionally, owing to its colonial history, cuisine in Eritrea features more Italian influences than are present in Ethiopian cooking, including more pasta and greater use of curry powders and cumin. The Italian Eritrean cuisine started to be practiced during the colonial times of the Kingdom of Italy, when a large number of Italians moved to Eritrea. They brought the use of pasta to Italian Eritrea, and it is one of the main foods eaten in present-day Asmara. An Italian Eritrean cuisine emerged, and common dishes are "pasta al sugo e berbere" (pasta with tomato sauce and berbere spice), lasagna, and "cotoletta alla Milanese" (veal Milanese).
In addition to coffee, local alcoholic beverages are enjoyed. These include sowa, a bitter drink made from fermented barley, and mies, a fermented honey wine.
On 8 July 2017, the entire capital city of Asmara was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the inscription taking place during the 41st World Heritage Committee Session.
The city has thousands of Art Deco, futurist, modernist, and rationalist buildings, constructed during the period of Italian Eritrea. Asmara, a small town in the nineteenth century, started to grow quickly during 1889. The city also became a place "to experiment with radical new designs", mainly futuristic and art deco inspired. Even though city planners, architects, and engineers were largely European, members of the indigenous population were largely used as construction workers, Asmarinos still identify with their city's legacy.
The city shows off most early twentieth-century architectural styles. Some buildings are neo-Romanesque, such as the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Art Deco influences are found throughout the city. Essences of Cubism may be found on the Africa Pension Building and on a small collection of buildings. The Fiat Tagliero Building shows almost the height of futurism, just as it was becoming fashionable in Italy. In recent times, some buildings have been functionally built, which sometimes can spoil the atmosphere of some cities, but they fit into Asmara as it is such a modern city.
Many buildings such as opera houses, hotels and cinemas were built during this period. Some notable buildings include the Art Deco Cinema Impero (opened in 1937 and considered by the experts one of the world's finest examples of Art Déco style building, ) Cubist Africa Pension, eclectic Eritrean Orthodox Enda Mariam Cathedral and Asmara Opera, the futurist Fiat Tagliero Building, the neoclassical Asmara city hall.
A statement from UNESCO read:
It is an exceptional example of early modernist urbanism at the beginning of the 20th century and its application in an African context.
Eritrea's ethnic groups each have their own styles of music and accompanying dances. Amongst the Tigrinya, the best known traditional musical genre is the guaila. Traditional instruments of Eritrean folk music include the stringed krar, kebero, begena, masenqo and the wata (a distant/rudimentary cousin of the violin). A popular Eritrean artist is the Tigrinya singer Helen Meles, who is noted for her powerful voice and wide singing range. Other prominent local musicians include the Kunama singer Dehab Faytinga, Ruth Abraha, Bereket Mengisteab, the late Yemane Ghebremichael and the late Abraham Afewerki.
Football and cycling are the most popular sports in Eritrea.
Cycling has a long tradition in Eritrea and was first introduced during the colonial period.
The Tour of Eritrea, a multi-stage cycling event, was first held in 1946 and most recently held in 2013.
The national cycling teams of both men and women are ranked first on the African continent, with the men's team ranked 16th in the world as of February 2023.
The Eritrea national cycling team has experienced a lot of success, winning the African continental cycling championship several years in a row. In 2013, the women's team won the gold medal in the African Continental Cycling Championships for the first time, and for the second time in 2015 and third time in 2019. The men's team have won gold 8 times in the last 12 years in the African continental cycling championships, between 2010 and 2022.
More than six Eritrean riders have signed professional contracts to international cycling teams, including Natnael Berhane and Daniel Teklehaimanot. Berhane was named African Sportsman of the Year in 2013, while Teklehaimanot became the first Eritrean to ride the Vuelta a España in 2012. In 2015, Teklehaimanot won the King of the Mountains classification in the Critérium du Dauphiné. Teklehaimanot and fellow Eritrean Merhawi Kudus became the first black cyclists from Africa to compete in the Tour de France, when they were selected by the team for the 2015 edition of the race. In July of the year, Teklehaimanot also became the first rider from an African team to wear the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.
Mosana Debesay became the first black African female cyclist to compete in a Olympics, representing Eritrea in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics She is a multiple African female champion winning the African Continental Cycling Championships several years in different catogories.
In 2022, Biniam Girmay was the first black African rider to win both the Gent-Wevelgem and a stage in one of the Grand Tours. However, he was forced to abandon the race the next day, as he accidentally fired the cork of a Prosecco bottle into his own eye.
Eritrean athletes have also seen increasing success in the international arena in other sports. Zersenay Tadese, an Eritrean athlete, formerly held the world record in the half marathon. Ghirmay Ghebreslassie became the first Eritrean to win a gold medal at a World Championships in Athletics for his country when he took the marathon at the 2015 World Championships. Eritrea made its Winter Olympic debut 25 February 2018, when they competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea 2018. Eritrea's team was represented by their flagbearer Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda who competed as alpine skier.
Religion
The two main religion followed in Eritrea are Christianity and Islam. However, the number of adherents of each faith is subject to debate. According to the Pew Research Center,, 62.9% of the population of Eritrea adhered to Christianity, 36.6% followed Islam, and 0.4% practiced traditional African religions. The remainder observed Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, other faiths (<0.1% each), or were religiously unaffiliated (0.1%). The U.S. Department of State estimated that,, 50% of the population of Eritrea adhered to Christianity, 48% followed Islam, and 2% observed other religions, including traditional faiths and animism. Christianity is the oldest world religion practiced in the country, and the first Christian monastery Debre Sina (monastery) was built during the fourth century.
Since May 2002, the government of Eritrea has officially recognized the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (Oriental Orthodox), Sunni Islam, the Eritrean Catholic Church (a Metropolitanate sui juris), and the Evangelical Lutheran church. All other faiths and denominations are required to undergo a registration process. Among other things, the government registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their membership to be allowed to worship.
The Eritrean government is against what it deems as "reformed" or "radical" versions of its established religions. Therefore, alleged radical forms of Islam and Christianity, Jehovah's Witnesses, and numerous other non-Protestant Evangelical denominations are not registered and cannot worship freely. Three named Jehovah's Witnesses are known to have been imprisoned since 1994 along with 51 others. The government treats Jehovah's Witnesses especially harshly, denying them ration cards and work permits. Jehovah's Witnesses were stripped of their citizenship and basic civil rights by presidential decree in October 1994.
In its 2017 religious freedom report, the U.S. State Department named Eritrea a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
Demographics
Sources disagree as to the current population of Eritrea, with some proposing numbers as low as 3.6 million and others as high as 6.7 million. Eritrea has never conducted an official government census.
There are nine recognized ethnic groups according to the government of Eritrea. An independent census has yet to be conducted, but the Tigrinya people make up approximately 55% and Tigre people make up approximately 30% of the population. A majority of the remaining ethnic groups belong to Afroasiatic-speaking communities of the Cushitic branch, such as the Saho, Hedareb, Afar, and Bilen. There are also a number of Nilotic ethnic groups, who are represented in Eritrea by the Kunama and Nara. Each ethnicity speaks a different native tongue but, typically, many of the minorities speak more than one language. The Arabic Rashaida people represent approximately 2% of Eritrea's population. They reside in the northern coastal lowlands of Eritrea as well as the eastern coasts of Sudan. The Rashaida first came to Eritrea in the nineteenth century from the Hejaz region.
In addition, there exist Italian Eritrean (concentrated in Asmara) and Ethiopian Tigrayan communities. Neither is generally given citizenship unless through marriage or, more rarely, by having it conferred upon them by the state. In 1941, Eritrea had approximately 760,000 inhabitants, including 70,000 Italians. Most Italians left after Eritrea became independent from Italy. It is estimated that as many as 100,000 Eritreans are of Italian descent.
Eritrea is a multilingual country. The nation has no official language, as the Constitution establishes the "equality of all Eritrean languages". Eritrea has nine national languages which are Tigrinya, Tigre, Afar, Beja, Bilen, Kunama, Nara, and Saho. Tigrinya, Arabic, and English serve as de facto working languages, with English used in university education and many technical fields. While Italian, the former colonial language, holds no government recognized status in Eritrea, it is spoken by a few monolinguals and Asmara had the Scuola Italiana di Asmara, an Italian government-operated school that was shut down in 2020. Also, native Eritreans assimilated the language of the Italian Eritreans and spoke a version of Italian mixed with many Tigrinya words: Eritrean Italian.
Most of the languages spoken in Eritrea belong to the Ethiopian Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic family. Other Afroasiatic languages belonging to the Cushitic branch are also widely spoken in the country. The latter include Afar, Beja, Blin, and Saho. In addition, Nilo-Saharan languages (Kunama and Nara) are spoken as a native language by the Nilotic Kunama and Nara ethnic groups that live in the western and northwestern part of the country.
Smaller groups speak other Afroasiatic languages, such as the newly recognized Dahlik and Arabic (the Hejazi and Hadhrami dialects spoken by the Rashaida and Hadhrami, respectively).
The two main religion followed in Eritrea are Christianity and Islam. However, the number of adherents of each faith is subject to debate. According to the Pew Research Center,, 62.9% of the population of Eritrea adhered to Christianity, 36.6% followed Islam, and 0.4% practiced traditional African religions. The remainder observed Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, other faiths (<0.1% each), or were religiously unaffiliated (0.1%). The U.S. Department of State estimated that,, 50% of the population of Eritrea adhered to Christianity, 48% followed Islam, and 2% observed other religions, including traditional faiths and animism. Christianity is the oldest world religion practiced in the country, and the first Christian monastery Debre Sina (monastery) was built during the fourth century.
Since May 2002, the government of Eritrea has officially recognized the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (Oriental Orthodox), Sunni Islam, the Eritrean Catholic Church (a Metropolitanate sui juris), and the Evangelical Lutheran church. All other faiths and denominations are required to undergo a registration process. Among other things, the government registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their membership to be allowed to worship.
The Eritrean government is against what it deems as "reformed" or "radical" versions of its established religions. Therefore, alleged radical forms of Islam and Christianity, Jehovah's Witnesses, and numerous other non-Protestant Evangelical denominations are not registered and cannot worship freely. Three named Jehovah's Witnesses are known to have been imprisoned since 1994 along with 51 others. The government treats Jehovah's Witnesses especially harshly, denying them ration cards and work permits. Jehovah's Witnesses were stripped of their citizenship and basic civil rights by presidential decree in October 1994.
In its 2017 religious freedom report, the U.S. State Department named Eritrea a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
Eritrea has achieved significant improvements in health care and is one of the few countries to be on target to meet its Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for health, in particular child health. Life expectancy at birth increased from 39.1 years in 1960 to 66.44 years in 2020; maternal and child mortality rates dropped dramatically and the health infrastructure expanded.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2008 found average life expectancy to be slightly less than 63 years, a number that has increased to 66.44 in 2020. Immunisation and child nutrition have been tackled by working closely with schools in a multi-sectoral approach; the number of children vaccinated against measles almost doubled in seven years, from 40.7% to 78.5% and the prevalence of underweight children decreased by 12% from 1995 to 2002 (severe underweight prevalence by 28%). The National Malaria Protection Unit of the Ministry of Health registered reductions in malarial mortality by as much as 85% and in the number of cases by 92% between 1998 and 2006. The Eritrean government has banned female genital mutilation (FGM), saying the practice was painful and put women at risk of life-threatening health problems.
However, Eritrea still faces many challenges. Although the number of physicians increased from only 0.2 in 1993 to 0.5 in 2004 per 1000 people, this is still very low. Malaria and tuberculosis are common. HIV prevalence for ages 15 to 49 years exceeds 2%. The fertility rate is about 4.1 births per woman. Maternal mortality dropped by more than half from 1995 to 2002, but is still high. Similarly, the number of births attended by skilled health personnel doubled from 1995 to 2002, but still is only 28.3%. A major cause of death in newborns is severe infection. Per-capita expenditure on health is low.
There are five levels of education in Eritrea: pre-primary, primary, middle, secondary, and post-secondary. There are nearly 1,270,000 students in the primary, middle, and secondary levels of education. There are approximately 824 schools, two universities, (the University of Asmara and the Eritrea Institute of Technology), and several smaller colleges and technical schools.
Education in Eritrea is officially compulsory for children aged 6 to 13 years.
Statistics vary at the elementary level, suggesting that 70% to 90% of school-aged children attend primary school; Approximately 61% attend secondary school. Student-teacher ratios are high: 45:1 at the elementary level and 54:1 at the secondary level. Class sizes average 63 and 97 students per classroom at the elementary and secondary school levels, respectively. Learning hours at school are often fewer than six hours per day.
Barriers to education in Eritrea include traditional taboos, school fees (for registration and materials), and the opportunity costs of low-income households.
The Eritrea Institute of Technology "EIT" is a technological institute located near the town Himbrti, Mai Nefhi outside Asmara. The institute has three colleges: Science, Engineering and Technology, and Education. The institute began with approximately 5,500 students during the 2003–2004 academic year.
The EIT was opened after the University of Asmara was reorganized. According to the Ministry of Education, the institution was established, as one of many efforts to achieve equal distribution of higher learning in areas outside the capital city, Asmara. Accordingly, several similar colleges are also established in different other parts of the country. The Eritrea Institute of Technology is the main local institute of higher studies in science, engineering, and education. The University of Asmara is the oldest university in the country and was opened in 1958. It is currently not in operation.
The overall adult literacy rate in Eritrea is 76.6% (84.4% for men and 68.9% for women). For youth 15–24, the overall literacy rate is 93.3% (93.8% for men and 92.7% for women).
Cities:
