Somalia · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Somalia
These are the beaches, markets, mosques, museums, food spots and stays that make a trip to Somalia, from Mogadishu and Hargeisa to Laas Geel, Berbera and Bosaso. Places marked unconfirmed may have changed or closed, so check with your hosts before you go.
Places to Visit in Mogadishu
Nature and Outdoors
- Lido Beach (Abdiaziz)
The city's social heart, packed with families, footballers and swimmers on Friday afternoons. - Jazeera Beach (Jazeera)
A quieter sweep of sand south of the centre where locals picnic and swim at weekends.
Arts and Culture
- Arba'a Rukun Mosque (Hamar Weyne)
One of the oldest mosques in the city, a reminder of Mogadishu's medieval trading past. - Fakr ad-Din Mosque (Hamar Weyne)
A thirteenth century coral stone mosque tucked into the old quarter. - Hamar Weyne old quarter (Hamar Weyne)
Narrow lanes, carved doors and coral stone houses in the oldest part of the city. - Mogadishu Cathedral ruins (Shingani)
The striking shell of the old Catholic cathedral, a landmark of the colonial era. - National Museum of Somalia (Hodan)
Reopened collections of Somali crafts, history and heritage. - National Theatre of Somalia (Hamar Jajab)
The restored home of Somali music, plays and comedy nights. - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Hamar Jajab)
A central monument and meeting point that features on many city photos. - Mosque of Islamic Solidarity (Hodan)
The largest mosque in the Horn of Africa, its white minarets dominate the skyline. - Sayid Mohamed Abdullah Hassan statue (Hamar Jajab)
A statue of the poet and resistance leader known to many as the Mad Mullah. - Somali National University (Hodan)
The country's national university, a symbol of the city's rebuilding.
Shopping and Markets
- Bakara Market (Howlwadaag)
The largest market in the country, selling everything from spices to phones. - Hamar Weyne Market (Hamar Weyne)
Gold, cloth, incense and perfume in the old quarter's busy market. - Mogadishu Fish Market (Hamar Weyne)
Watch the morning catch of tuna, kingfish and lobster come ashore by the old port. - Suuq Bacaad (Hodan)
A sprawling everyday market for clothes, household goods and food.
Restaurants
- The Village Restaurant (Hodan)
A well known Somali restaurant chain founded by a returnee, serving rice, goat and fresh juice. - Beach View Restaurant (Lido)
Seafood grills with sea views on the Lido strip. - Lido Seafood Restaurant (Lido)
Grilled fish, lobster and prawns a few steps from the sand.
Cafés
- Somali tea stalls on Maka Al Mukarama Road (Hodan)
Sweet spiced shaah from roadside stalls along the city's main artery.
Bars and Nightlife
- Elite Hotel rooftop (Lido)
Sunset views over the beach from a busy seafront hotel terrace.
Stays
- Elite Hotel (Lido)
A seafront hotel on Lido Beach built by a returnee, with sea views and its own security. - Jazeera Palace Hotel (Wadajir)
A long established business hotel near the airport used by visitors and officials. - Peace Hotel (Airport road)
A practical hotel close to the airport zone, popular with aid and business travellers.
Things to Do
- Mogadishu old lighthouse (Shingani)
The old lighthouse near the port, a striking photo stop on the seafront. - Peace Garden (Hamar Weyne)
A green park restored by the city as a place for families to relax. - Mogadishu Stadium (Abdiaziz)
Watch a local football match in the restored national stadium. - KM4 junction (Hodan)
The city's busiest junction, a snapshot of Mogadishu life, best seen from a car. - Lido Beach football games (Lido)
Join or watch the pickup football matches on the sand at sunset.
Events
- Mogadishu Book Fair (Mogadishu)
An annual celebration of Somali books, poetry and ideas that draws crowds of young readers. - Independence Day celebrations (Mogadishu)
Flags, music and gatherings on the first of July, the anniversary of union and independence. - Lido Beach Friday sunset (Lido)
The whole city seems to come to the sand as the sun drops.
Places to Visit in Hargeisa
Arts and Culture
- Hargeisa War Memorial (City centre)
The MiG fighter jet on a plinth, remembering the destruction of the city in 1988. - Hargeisa Cultural Centre (Ga'an Libah)
A library, archive and arts hub that organises the city's famous book fair. - Jamaca Weyn Mosque (City centre)
The main mosque in the heart of the city, beside the busy central streets.
Events
- Hargeisa International Book Fair (Hargeisa)
One of the largest cultural festivals in the Horn of Africa, usually in the summer. - Eighteenth of May celebrations (Hargeisa)
Parades, music and flags across the city for Somaliland's national day. - Eid in Hargeisa (Hargeisa)
Prayers, new clothes, feasts and family visits fill the city at Eid.
Shopping and Markets
- Waheen Market (City centre)
The central market for spices, incense, cloth and everything else. - Hargeisa money changers (City centre)
Rows of changers sitting behind stacks of shilling notes, an unforgettable sight. - Hargeisa Livestock Market (Edge of town)
Herders trade camels, goats and sheep from early morning. - Hargeisa Gold Market (City centre)
Small shops selling gold jewellery for weddings and family gifts. - Hargeisa frankincense sellers (City centre)
Resin, burners and perfumes sold by the scoop in the market lanes.
Nature and Outdoors
- Naasa Hablood hills (Southern edge of town)
Twin hills outside the city with wide views over the plain. - Freedom Park (City centre)
A small central park where families gather in the evening. - Daallo Forest (Erigavo)
Juniper forest and cliffs high above the Gulf of Aden, far in the east of Somaliland.
Stays
- Ambassador Hotel Hargeisa (Airport road)
A comfortable, long running hotel near the airport used by many visitors. - Mansoor Hotel (Ga'an Libah)
A large hotel with gardens and a restaurant, a classic choice for visitors. - Damal Hotel (Jigjiga Yar)
A modern hotel with a popular restaurant and terrace. - Oriental Hotel (City centre)
A historic, simple hotel right in the middle of the city. - Maan-Soor Hotel gardens (Ga'an Libah)
A green, calm space for tea in the evening.
Restaurants
- Mansoor Hotel restaurant (Ga'an Libah)
Somali and international dishes in a garden setting. - Damal Hotel restaurant (Jigjiga Yar)
A modern menu and terrace that draw young families and couples. - Hargeisa camel meat restaurants (City centre)
Plates of camel meat and rice served fast in busy local canteens. - Canjeero breakfast stalls (Hargeisa)
Somali pancakes with ghee and sugar, eaten with tea at dawn.
Cafés
- Shaah stalls around Waheen (City centre)
Sweet spiced tea in small glasses, the city's favourite pause. - Hargeisa juice bars (City centre)
Mango, papaya and avocado juices blended to order.
Things to Do
- Hargeisa city walk (City centre)
A guided walk linking the MiG, the markets and the money changers. - Sheikh mountains drive (Sheikh)
A dramatic mountain road through cool hills between the plateau and the coast. - Hargeisa camel milk sellers (Edge of town)
Fresh camel milk sold from containers by herders, a Somali staple.
Places to Visit in Laas Geel
Arts and Culture
- Laas Geel rock shelters (Laas Geel)
Vivid Neolithic paintings of cattle and people, the most important site in the region.
Nature and Outdoors
- Laas Geel valley viewpoint (Laas Geel)
Wide views over the dry riverbeds and acacia from the upper shelters. - Camel herds near Laas Geel (Laas Geel)
Herders water camels in the river valley below the shelters.
Things to Do
- Laas Geel guided visit (Laas Geel)
The site guardians explain each panel and the history of its discovery.
Places to Visit in Berbera
Nature and Outdoors
- Batalaale Beach (Batalaale)
A long, wide and nearly empty beach just east of town. - Berbera coral reefs (Offshore)
Clear water and reefs for snorkelling on calm days. - Sheikh pass viewpoint (Sheikh)
A cool mountain stop on the road between Berbera and Hargeisa.
Arts and Culture
- Berbera old town (Old town)
Coral stone houses, mosques and carved doors from the Ottoman era.
Shopping and Markets
- Berbera Fish Market (Harbour)
The morning catch laid out by the old harbour. - Berbera frankincense and spice shops (Town centre)
Incense, spices and dates from the old trading port.
Restaurants
- Berbera grilled fish restaurants (Harbour)
Fresh fish split, spiced and grilled, served with rice and chapati. - Batalaale beach restaurants (Batalaale)
Simple seafood suppers with the sound of the waves.
Stays
- Maan-Soor Hotel Berbera (Batalaale)
A beachfront hotel used by many visitors on the coast.
Things to Do
- Berbera sunset on the seafront (Harbour)
The harbour glows as dhows come and go in the evening.
Cafés
- Berbera tea stalls (Old town)
Sweet tea in the shade during the hot afternoons.
Places to Visit in Bosaso
Nature and Outdoors
- Bosaso seafront (Seafront)
The evening walk by the water when the heat eases. - Cal Madow mountains (West of Bosaso)
The frankincense mountains, seen from a distance under current conditions.
Shopping and Markets
- Bosaso Port (Harbour)
Dhows and cargo ships loading livestock bound for Arabia. - Bosaso central market (City centre)
Spices, cloth, gold and frankincense in the main market. - Bosaso frankincense traders (City centre)
Sorted resin from the Cal Madow mountains sold by grade.
Restaurants
- Bosaso seafood restaurants (Seafront)
Grilled fish and lobster with rice and lime.
Cafés
- Bosaso juice bars (City centre)
Mango and guava juice to beat the heat.
Arts and Culture
- Bosaso old harbour (Harbour)
The original port area where the city began.
Places to Visit in Garowe
Arts and Culture
- Garowe city centre (Garowe)
Puntland's administrative capital, a calm inland city.
Places to Visit in Zeila
Arts and Culture
- Zeila old town (Zeila)
Ruins of one of the oldest ports in the Horn, near the Djibouti border.
Places to Visit in Kismayo
Nature and Outdoors
- Kismayo beaches (Kismayo)
Long beaches in the southern port city, visited mostly by family.
Places to Visit in Sheikh
Nature and Outdoors
- Sheikh town (Sheikh)
A cool hill town on the old road to the coast.
Places to Visit in Erigavo
Nature and Outdoors
- Erigavo highlands (Erigavo)
Cool highlands near the Daallo Forest.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Xamar Mall (Hodan, Mogadishu)
A modern mall popular with diaspora families for shopping and snacks. - Bariis iskukaris canteens around KM4 (Hodan, Mogadishu)
Simple canteens serving spiced rice and goat to workers at lunchtime. - Pizza House Mogadishu (Wadajir, Mogadishu)
A diaspora favourite for pizza and burgers with family. - Kaah Coffee (Hodan, Mogadishu)
A modern café chain for coffee, shakes and cake. - Lido shisha lounges (Lido, Mogadishu)
Evening shisha and fresh juice by the sea, the closest thing to nightlife in a dry city. - Decale Hotel (Airport road, Mogadishu)
A hotel near the airport with a pool and secure grounds. - Hotel Sahafi (KM4, Mogadishu)
A historic hotel long used by journalists and returning families. - Gezira Beach lagoon (Jazeera, Mogadishu)
Shallow turquoise water and rocks at the southern edge of the city. - Uruba Hotel ruins (Shingani, Mogadishu)
The shell of a famous seafront hotel from the city's golden era. - Saryan Museum (Hargeisa, Hargeisa)
A small private museum of Somali objects, crafts and memory. - Hargeisa Qat Market (City centre, Hargeisa)
The busy afternoon trade in the leaf chewed across the region, best seen not tried. - Hargeisa Independence Monument (City centre, Hargeisa)
A monument marking the eighteenth of May, Somaliland's national day. - Grand Hotel Hargeisa (City centre, Hargeisa)
A central hotel with a restaurant and city views. - Jirde Hotel (City centre, Hargeisa)
A budget friendly local hotel near the markets. - Summertime Restaurant (Jigjiga Yar, Hargeisa)
A popular spot for Somali dishes, pasta and juices. - Cup Cafe Hargeisa (Jigjiga Yar, Hargeisa)
A modern café for coffee, cakes and shakes. - Hargeisa shisha cafés (Jigjiga Yar, Hargeisa)
Evening shisha and juice in a city with no bars. - Dhubato village (Dhubato, Hargeisa)
Painted rock shelters and a small village a short way north of Laas Geel. - Somaliland National Library (Hargeisa, Hargeisa)
A new home for books and archives in the capital. - Hargeisa Zoo (Hargeisa, Hargeisa)
A small collection of local animals that children enjoy. - Hotel Esco Berbera (Town centre, Berbera)
A simple local hotel close to the town centre. - Berbera beach guesthouses (Batalaale, Berbera)
Simple guesthouses by the sand for a night or two. - Ottoman mosque of Berbera (Old town, Berbera)
A small historic mosque among the ruined coral stone houses. - Juba Hotel Bosaso (City centre, Bosaso)
A long running hotel used by business visitors. - Eyl coast (Eyl, Eyl)
A remote fishing town on the Indian Ocean coast of Puntland.