Djibouti
Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east.
The country has an area of 23,200 km2 (8,958 sq mi).
Getting to Djibouti
Most nationals can get a visa on arrival for 15,000 DJF or 90 USD (as of November 2018), valid for one month. Transit visas are valid for 10 days and are available on arrival at the airport to nationals of the European Union, Scandinavian countries and the United States for 10,000 Fdj. If you plan to enter by land you have to arrange for visas in advance. Visas can be obtained from neighbouring countries (e.g.
- 01Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport
Worth seeing
Lake Assal, at 150 m below sea level, is the third-lowest point on Earth. You'll need to hire a car or ask someone who lives in Djibouti to drive you there. Expect a rough ride: the roads outside the capital are destroyed by the truck traffic between Djibouti and Ethiopia. The road passes within sight of the Devil's Island, and some impressive views. Expect to be awestruck.
Things to do
Scuba diving — Despite the country's arid landscape, off the coast lie several reefs teeming with all sorts of life. Sea kayaking — Sea kayaking allows you to enjoy the Gulf of Tadjoura and Ghoubet Kharrib in an eco-friendly way, with the possibility of observing whale sharks and sea turtles.
Where to eat
The city of Djibouti has many places to eat, including tourist traps. Western food is often expensive cuisine, with local cuisine being much cheaper. For example, the Ethiopian Community Center offers a wide variety of local, tasty and reasonably priced dishes. Average price per meal outside tourist areas is US$4 including drink.
Getting around Djibouti the local way
- Get inA minibus service operates in Djibouti, stopping on demand.
- Get inThere are ferry services connecting Djibouti to Yemen.
- Get aroundFerry services sail daily from L'Escale (Djibouti) to Tadjoura and Obock.
From Wikivoyage: Djibouti, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Mohamed Abdillahi Ahammad (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.