Things to Do in Asmara in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Asmara
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Crisp cloudless mornings give you postcard-ready views of the Art-Deco skyline from the rooftop of the former Cinema Capitol, something you won't see in the dusty haze of summer.
- + December nights hover around 4°C (40°F) so the city's legendary coffee houses, Bar Zilli, Bar Roma, Bar Impero, serve their macchiato scalding hot and locals linger inside instead of on sidewalks.
- + The dry air means Harnet Avenue stays spotless, no summer mud splattering those immaculate Fiat 500s parked in front of the old Alfa Romeo dealership turned cafe.
- + Hotel balconies overlooking Liberation Avenue are usable, not the summer ovens they become from March through September.
- − Temperature swings from 21°C (70°F) afternoons to 4°C (40°F) nights mean you're peeling layers on and off every few hours, locals have mastered this, tourists tend to overdress for one extreme or the other.
- − Most outdoor cafes on Segeneiti Street pack up their tables by 7 PM when the chill rolls down from the surrounding hills, cutting your evening people-watching short.
- − The Christmas build-up brings Ethiopian Orthodox pilgrims from the countryside, so the normally empty bus station by the cathedral gets chaotic with livestock and produce markets spilling onto the streets.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December's low humidity preserves every detail on those 1930s facades, the chrome lettering on Cinema Roma, the geometric patterns on the former Fiat Tagliero building, even the original paint colors on the Bar Tre Stelle. Morning light hits the pastel buildings at the perfect angle for photography around 9 AM, and you'll have the sidewalks mostly to yourself.
December is when coffee ceremonies move indoors to the historic Italian-style bars. Bar Impero's 1938 espresso machine still works, Bar Roma serves macchiato in the same ceramic cups since 1942, and locals explain why they drink three rounds of coffee in specific order. The warmth contrasts well with the cool morning air outside.
The dry December air makes the colors at Medeber Market pop, red onions, yellow lentils, the blue tarps over spice stalls. Morning light streams between the corrugated iron roofs at angles impossible during hazy summer months. The market stays active until 2 PM when afternoon shadows make photography difficult.
December's dry trails make the 3-hour hike to Debre Bizen monastery pleasant instead of a muddy slog. The 2,400 m (7,875 ft) elevation gives you views across the entire highland plateau, and monks serve hot berbere-spiced tea in the monastery courtyard when you arrive.
December evenings turn the old Italian restaurants along Harnet Avenue into warm havens, candlelit tables at Spaghetteria Moderna, the wood-fired oven at Luna Park Pizzeria working overtime, locals arguing over football in Tigrinya and Italian. The combo of cold outside and warm inside creates that classic Asmara evening atmosphere.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
December 28th brings thousands of white-robed worshippers from across the highlands to St. Mary's Cathedral for Geez Christmas. The procession starts at 4 AM, thousands of candles fill Liberation Avenue, and the chanting in Ge'ez creates a sound you won't hear any other time.
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Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
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