Travel Smart
Honest, sourced guidance so you travel confident. Most of any country is calmer than the headlines suggest.
Safety
Countrywide advisory (Government of Canada)
Reconsider travelAvoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories) Regional advisories apply; see the source for zone-level detail.
Source: Government of Canada · Verified 2026-07-26
Asmara and immediate surroundings
Exercise increased cautionThe capital is secure and walkable by day. Nightlife and late evening travel are less common. The city is orderly but under close government surveillance.
Avoid: Avoid photographing government buildings, military installations, and security forces. Curfews may be in effect. Large gatherings and demonstrations are prohibited.
Common scams: Currency black market exists but is illegal; use official channels. Some vendors may overcharge tourists.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
Red Sea coast and Massawa
Exercise increased cautionCoastal areas, including the historic port of Massawa, are accessible but require travel permits. Tourism is low-key; infrastructure is basic.
Avoid: Western coastal areas near Sudan border; certain port facilities are off-limits.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
Interior highlands and border regions
Reconsider travelRemote highlands and all border areas (Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti) are off-limits to tourists. Military presence is heavy; travel permits are not issued.
Avoid: All border regions. Remote interior highlands without established tourism routes.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
4 zones rated separately against Government of Canada, UK FCDO. Oldest check on this page: 6 July 2026.
Emergency Contacts
Eritrean Police
police
The police number published by UK FCDO. Note that 111, which circulates widely, is not the number the Foreign Office gives.
SourceAmbulance
ambulance
The ambulance number published by UK FCDO. It is a six-digit Asmara number rather than a short code, so expect it to be of limited use outside the capital, where calling a hospital directly works better.
SourceOrotta National Referral Hospital
hospital · Asmara
Eritrea's main national referral hospital, from the UK FCDO medical facilities list. That list carries a third number for the hospital which is a digit shorter than these two and appears to be a transcription error, so it is not reproduced. Halibet Hospital in Asmara is the alternative on the same list, on +291 1 185 400 or +291 1 185 398.
SourceMassawa Hospital and Keren Hospital
hospital · Massawa and Keren
The regional hospitals for the Red Sea coast and the highlands north of Asmara, from the same UK FCDO list. The first number is Massawa, the second is Keren. Both matter because the road down to Massawa is a long descent and turning back for Asmara is not always the faster option.
Source