Asmara public buses
Public transport is well organized in Asmara. with new Brazilian, Korean and Chinese buses, and Toyota and Mitsubishi mini buses that have specific stops where they can be boarded.
The fare is 2 Nakfa in Asmara up to 5 Nakfa for the 15km trip to Arbarobu.
The fare for a shared cab is 10-20 Nakfa within the city of Asmara (following the route of the bus). A contracted taxi will charge you 40 - 200 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". King Long and 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.
Public Transport Zoba Maakel - Edaga Arbi Asmara Eritrea.
The routes of the local buses are:
Line number 0
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Edaga Hamus / Afabet Avenue
- Second Police Station
- Edaga Arbi
- Akrya
Line number 1
Line no 1 on Harnet Avenue Asmara heading for the airport.
Line number 2
- Gheza Banda
- Bahti Meskerem
- Harnet Avenue
- Cinema Roma / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Shida Square
- Mekane Hiwet Hospital / Orotta Hospital
- University of Asmara
- Paradizo / Asmara Stadium
- Seghen / Mai Temenai
Line number 3
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church
- Edaga Hamus / Afabet Avenue
- Arabic School / Mai Bela Street
- University of Asmara
- Paradizo / Asmara Stadium
- Emba Derho Ave / Road to Keren
- Village of Adi Abeito
Line number 4
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Cathedral
/ Harnet Avenue
- Cinema Roma / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Tegadelti Street / Asmara Textile factory
- Godaif / Bloko Godaif
Line number 5
Line number 6
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Edaga Hamus / Afabet Avenue
- Main prison of Asmara
- Haz Haz
Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square) - Asmara Eritrea.
Line number 7
- Covered Markets / Afabet Avenue
- Harnet Avenue
- Bahti Meskerem
- Mai Jah Jah
- Setante Oto / Melotti
- Mai Welaku
- Kahawta / Halibet Hospital
Line number 8
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
Line number 10 (operated by Public Transport Zoba Maakel)
- Bahti Meskerem
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Second Police Station
- Edaga Hamus / Afabet Avenue
- Via Jeddah
- Akrya
Line number 11
Line number 12
Line no 12 at the bus stop in Harnet Avenue Asmara.
Line number 13
- Arbaete Asmara
- Edaga Hamus / Afabet Avenue
- Cathedral
- Cinema Roma / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Warsay Street / Alla Scala Hotel / Expo grounds
- Nda German / Bond
Line number 15
Public Transport Zoba Maakel
Casher selling tickets in the back of an Asmara public bus
Line number 16
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Cinema Roma / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Nda German / Bond
- Kushet
Line number 17
- Bahti Meskerem
- Harnet Avenue
- Cinema Roma / City park
- Beirut Street / Barka Street
- Mekane Hiwet Hospital / Orotta Hospital
- Villagio
- Biet Mekae
- Adi Sogdo
Line number 18
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church
- Mai Bela Street
- University of Asmara and Asmara Stadium
- Coca Cola factory (Mai Temenai)
- Emba Derho
Line number 19
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Cinema Roma / City park
- Shida Square
- Nacfa House
- Gejeret
- Warsay Street / Alla Scala Hotel / Expo grounds
- Kushet
- Tsa' edakristyan
Line number 20
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church
- Harnet Avenue / Cathedral
- Cinema Roma / City park
- Martyrs Avenue / Nyala hotel
- Asmara Textile factory / Tegadelti Street
- Godaif - Kahawta
- Village of Adi Guadad - connecting buses to Mai Nefhi
Line number 22
- Mede Ertra bus station (Eritrea Square)
- Mai Bela Street
- University of Asmara and Asmara Stadium
- Coca Cola factory (Mai Temenai)
- Emba Derho
- Beleza
Line number 24
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church
- 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
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church / Mosque
- Bloko Godaif
- Adi Hakefa
- Adi Keshi
- Adi Hawsha
- Zgb
- Adi Ahderom
- Adi Kodaru
- Embeyto
Line number 29
- Nda Mariam Orthodox Church
- Arbaroba (Road to Massawa)
Asmara Bus Company
- Abba Shaul
- Woki Duba
Abba Shaul - Woki Duba - operated by the Asmara Bus Company.
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 10-20 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 40-200 Nakfa.
Taxi fares double in the evening and you pay extra for any luggage carried (transfer from airport to your hotel may cost up to 500 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) 3000 Nakfa (per contracted taxi)
Asmara - Keren (90 km) 2500 Nakfa
Asmara - Mendefera (60 km) 1500 Nakfa
Asmara - Dekemhare (40 km) 1000 Nakfa
Asmara - Ghinda (50 km) 1200 Nakfa
Asmara - Nefasit (25 km) 1000 NakfaAll prices quoted in May 2018 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!
Local private bus (Edaga Hamus bus station)
Prices of the tickets for these buses:
Asmara - Assab (700 km partly dirt road) 205 Nakfa
Asmara - Massawa (120 km) 32 Nakfa
Asmara - Ghinda (48 km) 13 Nakfa
Asmara - Nefasit (25km) 7 NakfaAsmara - Keren (91 km) 26 Nakfa
Asmara - Agordat (172 km) 46 Nakfa
Asmara - Barentu (238 km) 64 Nakfa
Asmara - Tessenei (357 km) 96 NakfaKeren - Nacfa (130 km partly dirt road) 50 Nakfa
21/05/2004 Mendefera - Asmara 9.50 NakfaAsmara - Mendefera (60 km) 18 Nakfa
Asmara - Adi Quala (85 km) 26 NakfaAsmara - Dekemhare (40 km) 12 Nakfa
Asmara - Adi Keih (110 km) 31 Nakfa
Asmara - Senafe (135 km) 38 NakfaAll prices quoted in May 2018 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.
Public Transport Zoba Maakel also rents mini buses (30 persons) for 3000-4000 Nakfa per day (driver inclusive).
Asmara / Zoba Maakel Public Transport Phone +2911 Fax PO Box Asmara Bus Company 118025/114207 127670 853 Eritrea Public Transport 118443 Gemel Public Transport 161348 Public Transport Service of Eritrea 159246 Public Transport Maakel Region 200205/200207
201072
118902
182942121483 Satae Company 161567 814
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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
