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Asmara (Asmera)
Agordat (Akordat)
Assab (Asseb)
Barentu
Dahlak islands
Dekemhare (Decemhare)
Ghinda (Ginda)
Keren (Cheren)
Massawa (Massauwa)
Mendefera (Adi
Ugri)
Nakfa (Nacfa)
Semenawi Bahri (Filfil)
Tessenei (Teseney)
Ministry of Tourism - Tourism Service Center
The Tourism Service Center (Next to the Sweet Asmara Cafe in Harnet Avenue) or the Zoba Administration Offices are the appropriate desk to obtain a Travel Permit for Foreigners, necessary for all foreigners traveling out of greater Asmara. Travel Permit for Foreigners will be issued for trips:
to Keren and surroundings
to Massawa and surroundings
to Decemhare and surroundings
to Mendefera and surroundings
through Filfil and surroundings
Other destinations cannot be visited by individual tourists. Some other destinations however may be visited if accompanied by an Asmara Travel Agency tour guide. Please contact the local travel agent for more information. For a visit to the monasteries you will need a permit issued by from the monastery's liaison (The Patriarchate of the Orthodox church of Eritrea / Orthodox Tewahedo Church Headquarters in Asmara tel. 18 20 98 or 18 65 44). For a visit to archaeological sites including the Dahlak Islands. another permit from the National Museum of Eritrea (Maryam Gmbi Street) is required. More information is to provided by the local travel agent that is providing your services from Asmara.
The application for the Travel Permit for Foreigners is a short questionnaire:
Passport & visa data
Destination(s) you will visit
Mode of transport (public bus, rental car, taxi, or other)
Number of days & nights to stay
Hotels accommodation(s) in case of overnight visit(s)
If one stays in a private residence instead of hotel, a copy of the Eritrean ID card is required (of the owner of the house) to accompany the application for the travel permit.
The charges for the Travel Permit for Foreigners are 20 Nakfa per destination plus a few Nakfa for photo copies of your passport & visa (February 2017 prices).
Travel Permit for foreigners (2009).
Ask for possible date and route limitations, to prevent problems at the checkpoints. Applications are usually processed the same day if you visit the office early in the morning.
The Tourism Service Center will also answer your questions on where to go, will give information about hotels and restaurants, the Eritrean Railway, as well as general information about Eritrea.
Ministry of Tourism - Tourism Service Center - Harnet Avenue Asmara.
(opposite to the Catholic Cathedral) Tel. +291 1 124871.
Tourism Information Office working hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00AM -12:00AM 2:00PM - 6:00PM Friday 8:00AM -11:30AM 2:00PM - 6:00PM Saturday 8:00AM -12:00AM
Apart from a few leaflets of tourism service providers, the Tourism Service Center does not have, nor does it sell books and video documentaries. Maps, tourist guides and books about Eritrea, as well as posters, flags, postcards, and music (video and audio) can be bought at the Awghet Bookstore at the Bahti Meskerem Square.
Eritrean Ministry of Tourism
The Eritrean Ministry of Tourism - Warsay Street Asmara
Asmara P.O. Box 1010 Phone 00291 - 1 - 154100-154111 Fax 00291 - 1 - 154081 Massawa Phone 00291 - 1 - 552797 Fax 00291 - 1 - 552898 Keren Phone 00291 - 1 - 401649 Asmara Phone 00291 - 1 - 124871 (Tourism Service Center)
