Djibouti City

travel guide

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Djibouti city is the capital and biggest city in the country of Djibouti. It is situated on the Gulf of Tadjoura in the coastal Djibouti Region.

The metropolis, which has a population of roughly 620,000 people, is home to more than 70% of the country’s population. The French constructed the hamlet in 1888 on territory leased from the governing Somali and Afar Sultans.

It served as the capital of French Somaliland and its successor, the French Territory of the Afars and Issas, for the next several decades.

Djibouti city, often known as the Pearl of the Gulf of Tadjoura, is strategically located in the world’s busiest shipping routes and serves as a refueling and transshipment hub. The Port of Djibouti is the main port for importing and exporting goods to and from Ethiopia.

In addition, the city is home to a number of foreign embassies and the headquarters of a number of international organizations, non-profits, and businesses. The principal domestic airport, Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport, connects the city to a number of key worldwide destinations.

The Djibouti area is the focus of Djibouti tourism. Historic structures, two prominent public squares, and the Hall of the People are all city landmarks. A number of private firms provide guided tours of these locations. The city’s sandy beaches, known as the “Pearl of the Gulf of Tadjoura,” are also popular tourist destinations.

Khor Ambado is a small town on the outskirts of Djibouti, around 15 kilometers from the city center. This beach, which is a major local attraction, includes a variety of restaurants with views of the sea. Doraleh is another beach approximately ten miles from the city, accessible through a paved road that passes over volcanic sand dunes. Doraleh is a popular hangout on Fridays leading up to the weekend, thanks to its main restaurant. Siesta Beach and Heron Beach are two more popular beaches in the city.

An hour’s journey from Djibouti City are the two tiny islands of Maskali and Moucha. They have a rich substrate and colorful algae, as well as madreporic mangroves. Groupers, jacks, and barracuda are among the fish species found in the nearby coral gardens.

La Place du 27 Juin, a street named after Djibouti’s independence day, is another important municipal monument. The Place Mahamoud-Harbi (previously Place Rimbaud) was also named after a significant local person, Mahmoud Harbi, the former Vice President of the Government Council.

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Djibouti city | Introduction

Djibouti city – Info Card

POPULATION :	City: 623,891
FOUNDED :	1881
TIME ZONE :	East Africa Time (UTC+3)
LANGUAGE :	Somali and Afar. Arabic and French
RELIGION :	Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
AREA :	630 km2 (240 sq mi)
ELEVATION :	14 m (46 ft)
COORDINATES :	11°35′18″N 43°08′42″E
SEX RATIO :	• Male: 50.24% • Female: 49.76%
ETHNIC :	Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)
AREA CODE :
POSTAL CODE :	ISO 3166 code: DJ-DJ
DIALING CODE :	+253

Climate of Djibouti city

Djibouti is one of the world’s hottest and driest cities.

The average high temperature ranges from 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit) in December, January, and February to about 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

There are two seasons: a hot, dry summer from May to October, and a colder, wetter winter from November to April (winter).

The rainy season on the coast is from November to March, whereas the rainy season inland is from April to October.

Temperatures typically surpass 40 °C (104 °F) in the summer, with relative humidity levels frequently topping 50%, even throughout the day. The city receives plenty of sunlight, averaging eight to ten hours per day all year.

There are few days without sunlight throughout the year, and there are plenty of clear days even in the winter.

Geography of Djibouti city

Djibouti City is the capital and biggest town in the Horn of Africa country of Djibouti. The city lies in eastern Djibouti, some 21 kilometers (13 miles) north of the Somalia border.

It is a seaport with the Gulf of Aden’s sole protected harbor on the western side. The city’s surroundings, as well as Djibouti’s coastal lowlands, are desert or semi-arid.

The city’s sandy beaches, including as Siesta Beach and Heron Beach, are famous tourist destinations. Because of its position, it is regarded as the “Pearl of the Gulf of Tadjoura.”

Economy of Djibouti city

Most local firms have their headquarters in Djibouti City, which is the capital and biggest municipality in Djibouti. The headquarters of Djibouti Telecom, the country’s major telecommunications firm, are located here. Djibouti Airlines had its headquarters in the city throughout its existence.

Many entrepreneurial enterprises, including construction, retail, import and export, Internet cafés, and firms that handle remittances from family overseas, call Djibouti city home.

Djibouti’s main economic activity is port activities in the neighborhood of Djibouti City. Ethiopian oil is transported and exported via the city’s port.

How To Travel To Djibouti City

Get In - By Plain

The city is served by Ambouli Airport (JIB), which has frequent flights from Air France (to Paris-CDG), Ethiopian Airways (Addis Ababa), and Kenya Airways (Nairobi through Addis Ababa). Fly Dubai also operates frequent flights (to UAE-Dubai-DXB terminal 2).

Get In - By train

Train services from Dire Dawa have returned, with two weekly trains and a connecting bus from Addis Abeba. Travel times might last up to 20 hours. A first-class ticket costs roughly 150 bir.

How To Get Around In Djibouti City

Green TaxiCabs are a great way to get around. Some individuals will urge you to stay away from cabs whose drivers are chewing khat, which is a natural stimulant with an amphetamine-like effect. Because of this, the Djiboutians and Somalis in the area have something called Merran, which is the Somali term meaning ‘energy.

Taxis range in price from 500fr to any amount, depending on the distance traveled. In the case of Camp Lemonier, the cost of transportation to the city center was 1,500FRA. Negotiate and you may be able to obtain a better deal, but there are more important things to do than dispute about 500fr.

Prices in Djibouti City

MARKET / SUPERMARKET

Milk	1 liter	$ 1.75
Tomatoes	1 kg	$ 1.17
Cheese	0.5 kg	$ 16.00
Apples	1 kg	$ 2.80
Oranges	1 kg	$ 3.00
Beer (domestic)	0.5 l	$ 2.50
Bottle of Wine	1 bottle	$ 21.00
Coca-Cola	2 liters	$ 1.55
Bread	1 piece	$
Water	1.5 l	$ 0.80

RESTAURANTS

Dinner (Low-range)	for 2	$ 20.00
Dinner (Mid-range)	for 2	$ 40.00
Dinner(High-range)	for 2	$ 56.00
Mac Meal or similar	1 meal	$ 12.00
Water	0.33 l	$ 0.70
Cappuccino	1 cup	$ 5.40
Beer (Imported)	0.33 l	$ 7.00
Beer (domestic)	0.5 l	$ 5.60
Coca-Cola	0.33 l	$ 1.25
Coctail drink	1 drink	$ 16.00

ENTERTAINMENT

Cinema	2 tickets	$
Gym	1 month	$
Men’s Haircut	1 haircut	$ 5.00
Theatar	2 tickets	$
Mobile (prepaid)	1 min.	$ 0.23
Pack of Marlboro	1 pack	$ 1.20

PERSONAL CARE

Antibiotics	1 pack	$ 10.00
Tampons	32 pieces	$
Deodorant	50 ml.	$ 3.80
Shampoo	400 ml.	$ 3.40
Toilet paper	4 rolls	$
Toothpaste	1 tube	$ 2.70

CLOTHES / SHOES

Jeans (Levis 501 or similar)	1	$ 30.00
Dress summer (Zara, H&M)	1	$ 20.00
Sport shoes (Nike, Adidas)	1	$ 45.00
Leather shoes	1	$

TRANSPORTATION

Gasoline	1 liter	$ 1.45
Taxi	Start	$ 2.80
Taxi	1 km	$ 1.70
Local Transport	1 ticket	$

Food & Restaurants In Djibouti City

Melting Pot is a fusion cuisine restaurant situated in Heron not far from the harbor. On the menu, camel meat, sushi, sashimi, seafood, lobster, crab, and tastiest steaks in Djibouti. Beer, mojitos. Nice environment with outdoor and indoor setting. Organises events including all you can eat sushi night, attracting huge groups.
La Mer Rouge Restaurant, ambouli (near camp lemonier, airoport), +25321350299. 11-23. A restaurant that specializes on seafood. This property has a fantastic position, within walking distance to Camp Lemonier, as well as the airport and BA188. Both the outdoor and interior surroundings are lovely. Crabs, lobsters, fresh fish, clams, and other seafood from the Red Sea are among the items on the menu. The fish is cooked in an acacia wood-fired clay oven, which is a traditional Yemenite cooking method. Website http://www.lamerrougedj.com. Call or send an email to lamerrougedj@gmail.com or dial +253 21340005.

Nightlife In Djibouti City

Melting Pot is a fusion cuisine restaurant situated in Heron not far from the harbor. On the menu, camel meat, sushi, sashimi, seafood, lobster, crab, and tastiest steaks in Djibouti. Beer, mojitos. Nice environment with outdoor and indoor setting. Organises events including all you can eat sushi night, attracting huge groups.
La Mer Rouge Restaurant, ambouli (near camp lemonier, airoport), +25321350299. 11-23. A restaurant that specializes on seafood. This property has a fantastic position, within walking distance to Camp Lemonier, as well as the airport and BA188. Both the outdoor and interior surroundings are lovely. Crabs, lobsters, fresh fish, clams, and other seafood from the Red Sea are among the items on the menu. The fish is cooked in an acacia wood-fired clay oven, which is a traditional Yemenite cooking method. Website http://www.lamerrougedj.com. Call or send an email to lamerrougedj@gmail.com or dial +253 21340005.