Massawa

Massawa is a port city in coastal Eritrea.

Foro (8529062386) - People of Massawa Camel and Rider (8527949077) - Camel boy Red Sea (8527947681) - The Red Sea from Massawa

Travel to Massawa

Massawa International Airport (IATA Flight Code: MSW) is a newly built airport that has a greater capacity than Asmara and the capital. It is the hub of Nasair (local airline) and the only airline to use the airport as of March 2022. Nasair has regular international Flights from Massawa to Dubai, Doha, Khartoum, Jeddah and Nairobi. All other international Flights to Eritrea (Lufthansa from Frankfurt, Egyptair from Cairo and Yemenia from Sanaa) land in Asmara's older and smaller airport. Nasair has domestic Flights to Asmara from Massawa.

Massawa is accessible from Asmara and the rest of inland Eritrea via the Asmara-Massawa highway. Buses run many times daily (before dusk) between Asmara and Massawa. Minibuses also run as soon as they are full (which takes very little time) between the Asmara bus station and Massawa. Regional buses run from the Massawa bus station and around the area a couple of times a week. But other than the long coastal two-day voyage to the other port city of Assab and to the inland via Asmara and there is not much to see beyond Massawa within the region. Massawa also connects to Asmara by narrow gauge rail, but it is not open to any regular service as it is more or less a museum railway with trains running on a steam engine and only open to chartered tours.

Massawa road itself is an exotic experience where you ‘pass through three different climates’. You start from Asmara with three layers of jackets and remove two of them in Nefasit and Ginda and finally walk around in your T-shirt when you finally reach the port city of Massawa on the red sea. The climate of Massawa rises up to 45 degrees whereas in Nakfa it tends to go below zero degrees at least in the month of January.

How to get around in Massawa

Massawa is divided by the mainland neighbourhoods of Gurgusum Beach, Hitumlo, Amaterre and Salinas and the island neighbourhoods of Tualud and oldtown Massawa as well as the Abdelkadir peninsula. The only interesting areas of the city for Muslims are the two islands (Tualud and Oldtown) connected to each other and the mainland by causeways, and Gurgusum Beach which lies about 14 kilometers north of the city towards the airport. The two islands are walkable, but to Gurgusum beach one needs to take a taxi/car.

What to see in Massawa

Massawa's oldtown sits on an island (Batsi) that it shares with the nation's busiest deep-sea port (not very busy), a free trade area and as the name indicates; an oldtown consisting of medieval Ottoman style coral buildings separated by narrow alleys as well as an ancient mosque. The island is connected to the mainland via another island called Tualud, both separated by a causeway. On Tualud you will find most "downtown" hotels like the Dahlak, Red Sea, Central, Corallo etc. Tualud also hosts St. Mary's catholic church and the famous tank monument.

The Dahlak hotel offers boat services to the Green Island, a natural park in Massawa Bay within sight of the city and less than a 20 minutes ride away. The Green island has a pristine beach, mangroves and ruins of an ancient mosque and an abandoned pearlfishing settlement. Bring plenty of water, refreshments and sunscreen as there is literally nothing on the island. It is a natural park. Collect all your waste and bring it back with you when leaving the Green Island.

From Tualud Island where all the main hotels are and there is another causeway to the mainland, where there isn't much at all besides the central bus station, Segalet open air cinema and some public administration and residential buildings of varying standard.

Beaches To get to the closest (mainland) beach however, you'd have to head north of downtown Massawa along the mainland coast to Gurgusum Beach and Hotel of the same name, with the adjacent Hamassien hotel to its north. The GB Hotel has all amenities like beach chair with parasol, showers, cafe, restaurant and even air-conditioned bedrooms if you'd like to spend the night. The beach isn't much to write home about though. To get to the nicest beaches you have to head out to the farther Dahlak islands, on a chartered boat (expensive) or take the bus alt. drive a rental vehicle south of Massawa for a couple of hours to the Gel'Alo resort in the volcanic Danakil region on the way to Assab.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Massawa

Massawa's surrounding islands (the Dahlak and nearby Green Island) offer excellent snorkeling and scuba diving|diving opportunities and have pristine beaches with turquoise waters. But going there requires chartering a boat or joining one of the pricy diving tour groups which tend to be rather costly and to date there are no affordable alternatives. There is a decompression chamber in Massawa if you were to have any problems and you should obviously not get on a flight or travel up to Asmara at 2600 meters above sea level too soon after diving. Give it a day or two (of staying on land). There aren't many extraordinary beaches in or around mainland Massawa or the bridge-connected islands (apart from the Green Island). Gurgusum beach which lies only 14 kilometers north of town on the mainland is an average beach with adequate facilities.

The town itself comes to life "after dark" when temperatures cool down slightly. The oldtown becomes a bazaar of sorts with shops, restaurants and brothels opening up to clients.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Massawa

There aren't many souvenirs to buy in Massawa that are legal to bring out or even ethical to trade in (corals, mother of pearl etc). But if you're staying in Eritrea for a longer while, presumably up in Asmara, your hosts will greatly appreciate a great basket of sea-salt from Massawa.

Halal Restaurants in Massawa

You obviously have to eat Red Sea fish while in Massawa. The best place to do that is either at the Dahlak Hotel (somewhat pricy but well worth it) or at the rustic streetside restaurant in oldtown Massawa (there is only one) where the day's catch is grilled Yemeni style in a fired up clay-oven and served along with little limes and a side order of thin flat-bread and dates soaked in butter and honey.

Asmara Beer
Mineral water (pick your brand).

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Massawa

Massawa - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Massawa, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Massawa. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Massawa and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Massawa. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Massawa. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inMassawa: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Massawa.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Massawa: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Massawa, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Massawa.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Massawa, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Massawa, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Massawa and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Massawa, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Massawa, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Massawa without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Massawa is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Massawa.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Massawa is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Massawa, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Massawa Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Downtown Massawa has a few airconditioned and moderately priced hotels on Tualud Island (none with beaches):

Corallo
Central Hotel

Dahlak Hotel 1 5.607752, 39.468799
Red Sea Hotel 1 5.601162, 39.464736
Gurgusum Beach, on the mainland of course has the GB Hotel as well as the adjacent Hamassien Hotel, both airconditioned and on the beach, but the former offering more facilities.

Stay Safe

Bring tankloads of sunscreen and a good pair of sunglasses because the Red Sea sun is merciless. You will not find good sunscreen in Eritrea, and if you find any at all, it will be expensive and/or expired. Also bring plenty of insect repellent and mosquito net to place above your bed, especially in the winter months (November to February). Mosquito net can be purchased cheaply in Eritrea and it's called "Lamse" (LAM Monday - SUH) locally. Although you may be taking anti-malaria treatment and there are other insect-borne diseases for which there is no prevention or treatment other than avoiding insect bites, such as dengue fever. This is especially prevalent in the tropical climate zone along the Eritrean coast.

News & References Massawa

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