Senior travel: Djibouti City
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
Was this useful?
Pace for a day
About 3 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 48 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Djibouti CathedralThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 20 min
- Hamoudi MosqueThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 25 min
- Place MénélikThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 40 min
- Plateau du Serpent evening walkThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 60 min
- Marché Central (souk)The guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 70 min
- Haramous cornicheThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 75 min
Getting around in Djibouti City
Djibouti City is hard on wheels: broken pavements, few ramps and a lot of heat. Plan taxi rides door to door and a hotel with a lift.
- Centre:
- Flat, but pavements are broken and kerbs high; arcades help with shade.
- Marché Central:
- Crowded and uneven; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
- Getting around:
- A taxi is the only practical step-free option; agree the fare first.
Medicines and health on the ground
The Djibouti guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Heat:
- May–Oct: shade and water every hour; dehydration and heat exhaustion come fast.
- Food and water:
- Bottled or filtered water only; eat at busy places with fast turnover.
- Sun:
- Strong sun all year; a hat, sunscreen and light long sleeves help.
- Insects:
- Ask a travel clinic about malaria and mosquito protection (check).
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.