Maekel Region district, Eritrea

Places to visit near Asmara

Asmara is a city in Maekel Region district, Eritrea, home to about 563,930 people. Within 50 km by road there are 159 places to visit — 78 churches, 23 hill stations & viewpoints, 10 forts & heritage and 10 mosques & dargahs. The must-see places are Nation Museum of Eritrea (1 km), Great Mosque of Asmara (1 km) and Fiat Tagliero (2 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Asmara on the map

Asmara, Eritrea
Asmara, Maekel Region district, Eritrea. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Asmara at a glance

Location
Maekel Region district, Eritrea
Population
about 563,930
Coordinates
15.3381° N, 38.9318° E
Places within 50 km
159 (5 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches and mosques & dargahs

Top places to visit near Asmara

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Asmara: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Asmara

Things to see near Asmara, by type

Churches near Asmara

101 churches within 100 km of Asmara. The closest is Ye’Inglīz Bēte Kristīyan (1 km); the best-known is Enda Mariam Coptic Cathedral (2 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Eritrea →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Asmara

53 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Asmara. The closest is Ambassadors of The Mountain (1 km); the best-known is Mont Debra 'Harēz (22 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Eritrea →

Forts & heritage near Asmara

28 forts & heritage within 100 km of Asmara. The closest is Government Palace (1 km); the best-known is Shida Monument (1 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Eritrea →

Mosques & dargahs near Asmara

14 mosques & dargahs within 100 km of Asmara. The closest is مسجد (1 km); the best-known is Great Mosque of Asmara (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All mosques & dargahs in Eritrea →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Asmara

10 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Asmara. The closest is Surwa Hāyk’ (9 km); the best-known is Beleza Lake (12 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Eritrea →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Asmara

6 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Asmara. The closest is City Park (1 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Eritrea →

A one-day trip from Asmara

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 43 km on the road.

  1. Start in Asmara
  2. 1 km Nation Museum of Eritrea · museum, Maekel Region
  3. 21 km Debre Bizen · church, Northern Red Sea Region
  4. 19 km Enda Mariam Coptic Cathedral · church, Maekel Region
  5. 1 km Great Mosque of Asmara · mosque, Maekel Region
  6. 1 km Casa Degli Italiani (Gallery) · museum, Maekel Region
  7. 0 km Back to Asmara

Plan a longer trip from Asmara — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Asmara

No traveller has reported from around Asmara yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Asmara

    All places near Asmara by distance

    Within 15 km of Asmara

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Asmara by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches78101Ye’Inglīz Bēte Kristīyan (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints2353Ambassadors of The Mountain (1 km)
    Forts & heritage1028Government Palace (1 km)
    Other attractions2227Hewenet (1 km)
    Mosques & dargahs1014مسجد (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs510Surwa Hāyk’ (9 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens66City Park (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves04T'walet Desēt (80 km)
    Museums23Casa Degli Italiani (Gallery) (1 km)
    Parks33ኮመሰራታ ሓማሴን (1 km)
    Beaches & coast03Airport Roundabout (75 km)
    Buddhist sites01Monastery Mariam Debre Sina (65 km)

    Asmara: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Asmara?

    Nation Museum of Eritrea (museum, about 1 km), Great Mosque of Asmara (mosque, about 1 km), Fiat Tagliero (attraction, about 2 km), Enda Mariam Coptic Cathedral (church, about 2 km), Debre Bizen (church, about 20 km), Casa Degli Italiani (Gallery) (museum, about 1 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Asmara?

    159 places on Spotwander: 78 churches, 23 hill stations & viewpoints, 10 forts & heritage, 22 other attractions, 10 mosques & dargahs.

    Which is the nearest church to Asmara?

    Ye’Inglīz Bēte Kristīyan, about 1 km by road; Ts’ets’erat Mīka’ēl Bēte Kristīyan (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Asmara?

    Ambassadors of The Mountain, about 1 km by road; Nefasit (10 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Asmara?

    Government Palace, about 1 km by road; Vigano (1 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Asmara?

    Start in Asmara, visit Nation Museum of Eritrea, then Debre Bizen, then Enda Mariam Coptic Cathedral, then Great Mosque of Asmara, then Casa Degli Italiani (Gallery), and drive back — about 43 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Asmara?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches and mosques & dargahs.

    Towns near Asmara

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Asmara’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Asmara on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.