Find places in Somalia

Must-Haves

• Lido Beach (Abdiaziz)
  The city's social heart, packed with families, footballers and swimmers on Friday afternoons.

Fun for Everyone

• Jazeera Beach (Jazeera)
  A quieter sweep of sand south of the centre where locals picnic and swim at weekends.

Must-Haves

• Arba'a Rukun Mosque (Hamar Weyne)
  One of the oldest mosques in the city, a reminder of Mogadishu's medieval trading past.
• Hamar Weyne old quarter (Hamar Weyne)
  Narrow lanes, carved doors and coral stone houses in the oldest part of the city.
• National Museum of Somalia (Hodan)
  Reopened collections of Somali crafts, history and heritage.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fakr ad-Din Mosque (Hamar Weyne)
  A thirteenth century coral stone mosque tucked into the old quarter.
• Mogadishu Cathedral ruins (Shingani)
  The striking shell of the old Catholic cathedral, a landmark of the colonial era.

Must-Haves

• Bakara Market (Howlwadaag)
  The largest market in the country, selling everything from spices to phones.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hamar Weyne Market (Hamar Weyne)
  Gold, cloth, incense and perfume in the old quarter's busy market.
• Suuq Bacaad (Hodan)
  A sprawling everyday market for clothes, household goods and food.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mogadishu Fish Market (Hamar Weyne)
  Watch the morning catch of tuna, kingfish and lobster come ashore by the old port.

Must-Haves

• The Village Restaurant (Hodan)
  A well known Somali restaurant chain founded by a returnee, serving rice, goat and fresh juice.

Great for Date Night

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Somali tea stalls on Maka Al Mukarama Road (Hodan)
  Sweet spiced shaah from roadside stalls along the city's main artery.

Great for Date Night

• Elite Hotel rooftop (Lido)
  Sunset views over the beach from a busy seafront hotel terrace.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Peace Hotel (Airport road)
  A practical hotel close to the airport zone, popular with aid and business travellers.

Must-Haves

• Mogadishu old lighthouse (Shingani)
  The old lighthouse near the port, a striking photo stop on the seafront.

Off the Beaten Path

• Peace Garden (Hamar Weyne)
  A green park restored by the city as a place for families to relax.

Fun for Everyone

• Mogadishu Stadium (Abdiaziz)
  Watch a local football match in the restored national stadium.
• Lido Beach football games (Lido)
  Join or watch the pickup football matches on the sand at sunset.

Low Cost and Authentic

• KM4 junction (Hodan)
  The city's busiest junction, a snapshot of Mogadishu life, best seen from a car.

Must-Haves

• Mogadishu Book Fair (Mogadishu)
  An annual celebration of Somali books, poetry and ideas that draws crowds of young readers.

Fun for Everyone

• Independence Day celebrations (Mogadishu)
  Flags, music and gatherings on the first of July, the anniversary of union and independence.

Great for Date Night

• Lido Beach Friday sunset (Lido)
  The whole city seems to come to the sand as the sun drops.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Jamaca Weyn Mosque (City centre)
  The main mosque in the heart of the city, beside the busy central streets.

Must-Haves

• Hargeisa International Book Fair (Hargeisa)
  One of the largest cultural festivals in the Horn of Africa, usually in the summer.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hargeisa Livestock Market (Edge of town)
  Herders trade camels, goats and sheep from early morning.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Naasa Hablood hills (Southern edge of town)
  Twin hills outside the city with wide views over the plain.
• Daallo Forest (Erigavo)
  Juniper forest and cliffs high above the Gulf of Aden, far in the east of Somaliland.

Fun for Everyone

• Freedom Park (City centre)
  A small central park where families gather in the evening.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Damal Hotel (Jigjiga Yar)
  A modern hotel with a popular restaurant and terrace.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Oriental Hotel (City centre)
  A historic, simple hotel right in the middle of the city.

Great for Date Night

• Maan-Soor Hotel gardens (Ga'an Libah)
  A green, calm space for tea in the evening.

Must-Haves

• Mansoor Hotel restaurant (Ga'an Libah)
  Somali and international dishes in a garden setting.

Great for Date Night

• Damal Hotel restaurant (Jigjiga Yar)
  A modern menu and terrace that draw young families and couples.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Shaah stalls around Waheen (City centre)
  Sweet spiced tea in small glasses, the city's favourite pause.

Fun for Everyone

• Hargeisa juice bars (City centre)
  Mango, papaya and avocado juices blended to order.

Must-Haves

• Hargeisa city walk (City centre)
  A guided walk linking the MiG, the markets and the money changers.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sheikh mountains drive (Sheikh)
  A dramatic mountain road through cool hills between the plateau and the coast.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hargeisa camel milk sellers (Edge of town)
  Fresh camel milk sold from containers by herders, a Somali staple.

Must-Haves

• Batalaale Beach (Batalaale)
  A long, wide and nearly empty beach just east of town.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Berbera old town (Old town)
  Coral stone houses, mosques and carved doors from the Ottoman era.

Must-Haves

• Berbera Fish Market (Harbour)
  The morning catch laid out by the old harbour.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Berbera frankincense and spice shops (Town centre)
  Incense, spices and dates from the old trading port.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Berbera grilled fish restaurants (Harbour)
  Fresh fish split, spiced and grilled, served with rice and chapati.

Great for Date Night

• Batalaale beach restaurants (Batalaale)
  Simple seafood suppers with the sound of the waves.

Must-Haves

• Maan-Soor Hotel Berbera (Batalaale)
  A beachfront hotel used by many visitors on the coast.

Fun for Everyone

• Berbera sunset on the seafront (Harbour)
  The harbour glows as dhows come and go in the evening.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Berbera tea stalls (Old town)
  Sweet tea in the shade during the hot afternoons.

Must-Haves

• Bosaso seafront (Seafront)
  The evening walk by the water when the heat eases.

Off the Beaten Path

• Cal Madow mountains (West of Bosaso)
  The frankincense mountains, seen from a distance under current conditions.

Must-Haves

• Bosaso Port (Harbour)
  Dhows and cargo ships loading livestock bound for Arabia.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bosaso central market (City centre)
  Spices, cloth, gold and frankincense in the main market.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bosaso frankincense traders (City centre)
  Sorted resin from the Cal Madow mountains sold by grade.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bosaso seafood restaurants (Seafront)
  Grilled fish and lobster with rice and lime.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bosaso juice bars (City centre)
  Mango and guava juice to beat the heat.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bosaso old harbour (Harbour)
  The original port area where the city began.

Must-Haves

• Laas Geel rock shelters (Laas Geel)
  Vivid Neolithic paintings of cattle and people, the most important site in the region.

Fun for Everyone

• Laas Geel valley viewpoint (Laas Geel)
  Wide views over the dry riverbeds and acacia from the upper shelters.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Camel herds near Laas Geel (Laas Geel)
  Herders water camels in the river valley below the shelters.

Off the Beaten Path

• Laas Geel guided visit (Laas Geel)
  The site guardians explain each panel and the history of its discovery.