Asmara public buses
Public transport is well organized in Asmara. with new Brazilian, Korean and Italian buses, and Toyota and Mitsubishi mini buses that have specific stops where they can be boarded.
The fare is one or two Nakfa (1.50 Nakfa for the mini buses).
The fare for a shared cab is 5-10 Nakfa within the city of Asmara (following the route of the bus). A contracted taxi will charge you 20 - 300 Nakfa. Negotiate the price in advance.
The buses are operated from 6.00 in the morning until 21.00 in the evening.
Long distance buses are operating between Asmara and various other cities in the country.
"Massawa, Massawa!", "Batse, Batse". Old Italian and new Mitsubishi
mini buses at the bus station north of the covered markets of
Asmara. They will wait until the seats are occupied and than leave
the bus depot for the three hours ride to Red Sea port Massawa.
The routes of the local buses are:
Line number 1
- Airport
- Sembel Housing Complex / Asmara Intercontinental Hotel
- Warsay Street / Expo grounds
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Government buildings / City park
- Cathedral
/ Harnet Avenue
- Biet Ghiorghis / Zoo
Line no 1 on Harnet Avenue Asmara heading for the airport.
Line number 2
- Gheza Banda
- Bahti Meskerem Square
- Harnet Avenue
- Government buildings / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Shida Square
- Mekane Hiwet Hospital / Orotta Hospital
- University of Asmara
- Paradizo / Stadium of Asmara
- Seghen / Mai Temenai
Line number 3
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Arabic School / Mai Bella Street
- University of Asmara
- Paradizo / Stadium of Asmara
- Emba Derho Ave / Road to Keren
- Village of Adi Abeito
Line number 4
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered Markets
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Government buildings / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Asmara Textile factory
- Godaif - Kahawta
Line number 5 (operated by the Asmara Bus Company)
- Adi Sogdo
- Stadium / University
- Menelik Street
- Nda Mariam Church
- Arbaete Asmara
Line number 6
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Menelik Street
- Edaga Hamus
- Main prison of Asmara
- Haz Haz
Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square) - Asmara Eritrea.
Line number 7
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Harnet Avenue
- Meskerem
- Mai Jah Jah
- Setante Oto
- Mai Welaku
- Kahawta / Halibet Hospital
Line number 8
- Nakfa House
- Martyrs Avenue
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Edaga Arbi
- Akrya
- Road to Adi Nefas
Gemel Public Transport
The mini buses follow the routes of the public buses.
They are faster, not numbered and generally more congested.
Line number 9
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered markets
- Edaga Hamus
- Covered Markets
- University
- Mekane Hiwet Hospital / Life Street
- Airport Road / Expo grounds
- Sembel Housing Complex / Asmara Intercontinental Hotel
- Sembel
Line number 10 (operated by the Asmara Bus Company!)
- Gheza Banda
- Meskerem
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Menelik Street
- Via Jeddah
- Akrya
Line number 10 to Akrya - operated by the Asmara Bus Company.
Line number 11
- Mai Chehot
- Menelik Street
- Edaga Hamus
- Harnet Avenue
- Seghen / Mai Temenai
Line number 12
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered Markets
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Government buildings / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Knowledge Street
- Airport Road / Expo grounds
- Sembel Housing Complex / Asmara Intercontinental Hotel
- Sembel
Line no 12 at the bus stop in Harnet Avenue Asmara.
Line number 13
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered Markets
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Government buildings / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Nda German / Bond
Line number 14
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered markets
- Harnet Avenue
- Gegeret
- Ras Alula Street
- Godaif
- Sembel
Line number 15
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Harnet Avenue
- Meskerem
- Mai Chahot
- Kahawta
Public Transport Zoba Maakel
Casher selling tickets in the back of an Asmara public bus
Line number 16
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered Markets
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Government buildings / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Nda German / Bond
- Kushet
Line number 17
- Bahti Meskerem
- Harnet Avenue
- Government buildings / City park
- Beirut Street / Barka Street
- Mekane Hiwot Hospital
- Villagio
- Biet Mekae
- Adi Sogdo
Line number 18
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered Markets
- Mai Bela Street
- University and Stadium
- Coca Cola factory (Mai Temenai)
- Emba Derho
Line number 19
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered markets
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Sematat Avenue / Cinema Roma
- Shida Square
- Nacfa House
- Gegeret
- Expo
- Kushet
- Tsa' edakristyan
Line number 20
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Covered Markets
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Government buildings / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Asmara Textile factory
- Godaif - Kahawta
- Village of Adi Guadad - connecting buses to Mai Nefhi
Line number 24
- Adi Guadad
- Adi Raessi
- Kutmowlie
- Barda
- Mai Nefhi Technology Institute
- Himbirti
Line number 25
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Adi Gombolo
- Adeb Zemat
- Adi Tsenaf
- Seladaero
Line number 26
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Adi Hakefa
- Adi Keshi
- Adi Hawsha
- Zgb
- Adi Ahderom
- Adi Kodaru
- Embeyto
- Covered Markets
Taxis can be hailed anywhere along the main city streets. If your destination is along a main route and you are in a shared cab, the fare is 5-10 Nakfa per person. Eritrean taxis are not metered. Therefore negotiate the price before getting into the taxi!
If your destination requires deviations from the regular routes (contract) you will be charged 20-70 Nakfa ($ 1.33 - 4.67).
Taxi fares are higher in the evening (70 Nakfa) and you pay extra for any luggage carried (transfer from airport to your hotel may cost up to 300 Nakfa).
Taxi's can also be contracted as an efficient means of transport to various Eritrean towns and villages. These are some examples of prices for the longer distances:
Asmara - Massawa or Adi Keih (120 km) 2000 Nakfa (per contracted taxi)
Asmara - Keren (90 km) 1500 Nakfa
Asmara - Mendefera (60 km) 1000 Nakfa
Asmara - Dekemhare (40 km) 1000 Nakfa
Asmara - Ghinda (50 km) 1000 Nakfa
Asmara - Nefasit (25 km) 600 NakfaAll prices quoted in June 2009 when 1 US$ = 15 Nakfa
Prices and exchange rates may be subject to changeThe prices of the contracted taxi's may vary, since they are dependent upon the fuel used, the mood of the driver and your own ability to negotiate a good price.
Long distance buses in Eritrea are not crowded because it is illegal for passengers to stand in the aisle. There are organized breakfast and/or lunch stops on longer trips. The driver will let everyone off the bus for 20 minutes or so for a meal, a drink and the use of a toilet. Calculate at least one hour for every 40 kilometer between the major destinations.
When traveling to remote places, like Assab, Nacfa, Tessenei or Senafe, make reservations for the return trip in advance, to prevent you will find yourself stuck in a remote place!
Long distance bus to Agordat (Edaga Hamus bus station)
Prices of the tickets for these buses:
Asmara - Assab (700 km partly dirt road) 200.50 Nakfa
Asmara - Massawa (120 km) 29.25 Nakfa
Asmara - Ghinda (50 km) 12.25 Nakfa
Asmara - Nefasit (25km) 6.25 NakfaAsmara - Keren (90 km) 23.00 Nakfa
Asmara - Agordat (150 km) 43.50 Nakfa
Asmara - Barentu (225 km) 60.25 Nakfa
Asmara - Tessenei (585 km) 90.50 NakfaKeren - Nacfa (130 km partly dirt road) 50.00 Nakfa
21/05/2004 Mendefera - Asmara 9.50 NakfaAsmara - Mendefera (60 km) 15.25 Nakfa
Asmara - Adi Quala (85 km) 23.25 NakfaAsmara - Dekemhare (40 km) 10.25 Nakfa
Asmara - Adi Keih (110 km) 28.00 Nakfa
Asmara - Senafe (135 km) 34.25 NakfaAll prices quoted in June 2009 when 1 US$ = 15 Nakfa
Prices and exchange rates may be subject to changeBe prepared that you may be expected to pay the full price for covering only part of the distance (for instance if you choose to take the Massawa bus to visit Ghinda). I should stress that you are not overcharged because you are a foreigner.
Larger and older buses may be terribly slow, every other vehicle on the road passing your choice of transport with amazing velocity. So judge the quality of the bus before buying your ticket (if alternatives are available). Fast Toyota mini buses may charge an up to 250% surcharge on prices mentioned above.
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| Main bus stations in Asmara and other landmarks |
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1 Mede Ertra bus
station
1 Kulafa Al Rashidin
2 Hospitem
10 Ambassador Hotel
Postoffice
5 Ibrahim Sultan School
1 President's Office