Major city · Eritrea
Nakfa
Skip Nakfa: no travel permit available and taxi drivers refuse; reaching it requires a special permit and multi‑day van from Keren.
Nakfa is the historic EPLF stronghold and namesake of Eritrea's currency, but tourists cannot visit without a rare travel permit; transport is limited to a village van from Keren and the village lacks electricity and reliable phone service.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- ERN
- Best months
- check
- avoid check
- Airport
- Asmara (ASM)
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
- East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
- East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
- Eritrea ↗A visa must usually be arranged before travel through an Eritrean embassy or with a pre-approval letter obtained by a local agent (check); arrival without prior arrangements is generally not possible.
- Eritrea ↗Foreign visitors need a free travel permit from the tourism office in Asmara for any trip outside the city; allow a working day and carry several photocopies for checkpoints.
- Eritrea ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention for the lowlands and whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route.
- Eritrea ↗Foreign cards and ATMs do not work for visitors: bring the whole trip's budget in clean US dollars or euros, declare it on arrival and keep every official exchange receipt.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Nakfa113 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Nakfa, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?checkCurrency is the Eritrean nakfa (ERN), fixed at about 15 per US dollar at official exchange offices (check).Eritrea-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckEriTel is the only operator; tourist SIMs are hard to get and mobile data is minimal or absent (check).Eritrea-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere.Eritrea-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10% if no service charge.Eritrea-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/L. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Eritrea-wide
- SafetyTravel to Nakfa is unsafe for most tourists due to lack of transport, land‑mines and limited services.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and cafés; basic on the road.Eritrea-wide
- Emergency numbers113 police · 114 ambulance · 116 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany shops close for a long lunch (about 12:00–14:00) and on Sundays; government offices close on all holidays.Many shops close for a long lunch (about 12:00 PM–2:00 PM) and on Sundays; government offices close on all holidays.Eritrea-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportASM Asmara International Airport (The only international gateway; Nakfa has no airport and no scheduled flights.
- Getting aroundWalking is the only realistic option; stay on beaten tracks and watch for land‑mines.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedHotel room, a night, per roomERN 20,000
- Mid-range bedHotel room, a night, per roomERN 30,000
- High-end bedHotel room, a night, per roomERN 50,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ERN 5,000 · Mid ERN 8,000 · High ERN 12,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ASM Asmara International Airport (The only international gateway; Nakfa has no airport and no scheduled flights. Reaching Nakfa means road travel from Asmara via Keren and Afabet — about 10 h by taxi from Asmara, plus 1–2 days waiting for onward transport (check at the Asmara permit office).)
Map of Nakfa
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
Weather and climate
Nakfa: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2 rd
Mar
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
3 rd
Apr
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
Jun
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Jul
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
0 rd
Aug
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
0 rd
Sep
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
1 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
Nov
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Dec
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walking is the only realistic option; stay on beaten tracks and watch for land‑mines.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 10 h by taxi from Asmara; van legs add 1–2 days of waiting
Bus or shared van from Asmara toward Keren; onward village van to Afabet, then wait one to two days for transport to Nakfa
Wikivoyage reports no bus service to Nakfa and taxi drivers refusing the trip; a travel permit is required and is currently not issued to tourists — check at the Asmara permit office before planning.
Afabet
skipDoor to door: Half a day from Keren, plus 1–2 days waiting for the Nakfa leg
Village van from Keren, a few hours on a narrow winding road
Only a staging point; transport onward to Nakfa is unreliable.
Door to door: About 10 h
Taxi or private car over the escarpment roads
Long, rough drive; no scheduled service.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Hotel Nakfa Apollo
Modern facilities, no restaurant; price unknown – check
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₤5,000–8,000 ERN excl. bed
- Mid
- ₤8,000–12,000 ERN excl. bed
- High
- ₤12,000+ ERN excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel room1 × 1 night × ERN 20,000 | ERN 20,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × ERN 5,000 | ERN 5,000 |
| Trip total≈ ERN 25,000 per person per day, bed included | ERN 25,000 |
estimate for 2026
2026 estimate; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Injera with zignimeal price from local vendor | 10 ERN |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No regular transport – taxi drivers refuse to go
- Village has no grid electricity, only a solar generator
- Phone service is intermittent and works only on sunny days
- Land‑mines present on surrounding paths
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Ambulance
- 114
- Fire
- 116
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
NakfaNakfa
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ናብ እዚ ኣድራሻ ኣብዚ ኣብልናTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police113
- Ambulance114
- Fire116
Embassy
My embassy: —
Say or show
- ሰላም — Hello (selam)
- ኣመሰግናለይ — Thank you (amesegenallo)
- ብዝነብር እቲ ዋጋ እቲ ነይር? — How much? (bizinbir eti waga eti neyir?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Nakfa. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: check · avoid check · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Nakfa
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