Tourism
Ideally situated at one of the world’s great crossroads, Eritrea has vast opportunities as a tourist destination. The country’s 1200km (750 miles) coastline along the Red Sea with glorious deserted contrasting bays and pristine sandy beaches between two deep sea ports holds great potential and opportunities for tourism. Eritrea’s crystal-clear, pollution-free coastal waters are adorned by myriad small islands, historical and archaeological sites that are rich and intact, and spectacular coral reefs and abundant marine life that makes the development of facilities for tourist recreation opportune. Furthermore, in the area of water-based tourism much is needed to attract high end tourists with scuba diving and snorkeling ventures in the all-embracing coral reefs of the Red Sea islands. The existence of diverse ethnic groups and cultural, historical, and archaeological sites are also a rich asset for Eritrea as a tourist attraction center.
Asmara – The capital Asmara is known for its cleanliness and safety. A UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts a collection of art deco buildings, making it a tourists’ paradise.
Massawa – Often regarded as the pearl of the Red Sea, Massawa is a coastal port city with significant historical importance throughout history. It is home to the Sahaba Mosque, the first mosque in Africa, as well as Turkish and Egyptian architecture.
Keren – The culture capital of Eritrea. Sitting in the picturesque foothills of northern Eritrea, Keren is the country’s second-largest city and regional capital of the surrounding districts. Approximately 146,000 people belonging to various tribes and ethnic groups call the city home. The dominant tribes — Bilen and Tigre — represent over 80 percent of the city’s population.
Debre Libanos – This monastery (6th century) located in Hamm near the city of Senafe, is the second largest monastery in Eritrea after Debre Sina. It was founded by Abba Meta in the early 5th century. As a sign of courtesy to the sacred place, the monks in the monastery welcome you with bowls filled with water and invite you to wash your feet. Women are welcomed to the monastery.
Debre Bizen – This is the best-known monastery of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. It’s located at the top of Debre Bizen, the mountain near the town of Nefasit in Eritrea. Its library contains many important Ge’ez manuscripts.
Dahlak Islands – Some 200 of Eritrea’s islands belong to the Dahlak archipelago with a great opportunity for scuba diving and (pearl) fishing. Charter yachts are available for hire in Massawa. Only four islands are inhabited, with a small population who still maintain their traditional lifestyle of fishing and herding goats and camels. The isolated and uninhabited Dahlak Islands, and the rich feeding grounds which surround them, attract large numbers of nesting sea birds from all over the red sea.
Red Sea – With a 1,215-kilometer coastline, along with hundreds of kilometers of coast around its more than 350 islands, Eritrea is the proud owner of over 11% of the total area of the Red Sea.
Eritrea has an impressive checklist of over 560 species of birds.