Asmara walking tour & city guide

Harnet Avenue and the modernist city

Harnet Avenue, the main boulevard, is lined with palm trees, cafés, bakeries and the famous Cinema Impero, whose 1937 facade is a masterpiece of Art Deco design. Evenings bring the passeggiata, when the whole city comes out to stroll.

Asmara's most famous building is the Fiat Tagliero, a 1938 service station shaped like an aeroplane, its concrete wings stretching out over the street. Other landmarks include the Bowling Bar, the Opera House and the old bus garages.

A classic walk

Start at the red-brick Cathedral of St Mary on Harnet Avenue, then walk along the boulevard past Cinema Impero and the cafés. Turn off to see the Fiat Tagliero, then visit the Great Mosque and the busy Medeber market, where craftsmen recycle old metal and tyres into tools and goods.

Good to know

Asmara's highland climate is pleasant all year, but October to April is driest. Travel outside the capital usually requires a permit, arranged in Asmara. The road down to the Red Sea port of Massawa, with dozens of hairpin bends, is one of the most spectacular drives in Africa.