Massawa
Eritrea
- Safety rating
- 6/10
- Best time to visit
- Visit in the cooler winter months from November to February, as summers are brutally hot.
- Population
- 0.1M
Overview
An ancient Red Sea port, Massawa dazzles with crumbling Ottoman and Egyptian coral-stone architecture amid war scars and turquoise waters. It's the gateway to the Dahlak Archipelago's pristine diving and untouched islands.
Top attractions
Wander the Ottoman-era old town on Massawa Island, see the Imperial Palace ruins, and dive the Dahlak Archipelago.
Getting around
The compact port islands are walkable; shared taxis link the causeways and mainland.