Somalia Travel Guide | Tourist4Tourist

Local time: 21:04
Currency: Somali Shilling (SOS)
Capital: Mogadishu
Calling code: +252
Drive on the: right

Overview

The UK, Canada and the US advise against travel to Somalia because of terrorism and kidnapping. If you must go, plan your security first.

Before anything else: Canada advises against all travel to Somalia, the US rates it Level 4 (do not travel), and the UK advises against all travel to the whole country, including Somaliland, except the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil in the north-west, where it advises against all but essential travel. The reasons given are terrorism, kidnapping and continuing violence. Travel insurance may not cover you if you go against this advice, and consular help is very limited. The section on safety below has the details.

Somalia is on the Horn of Africa, a mostly desert country. Its history is old: ancient Egyptians traded here with what they called the Land of Punt, Arab and Persian merchants set up trading posts along the coast from the 7th century, and the traveller Ibn Battuta described Mogadishu in the 14th century. In the north, the forts of the Darawiish sultanate of Diiriye Guure stand at Taleh.

Somali and Arabic are the official languages, and English is widely taught. Somalis have a strong tradition of hospitality towards guests. The economy runs on US dollars in cash, and alcohol is banned.

Mogadishu: The capital and main port, with markets and beaches on the Indian Ocean.
Taleh: The former capital of the Darawiish sultan Diiriye Guure, with one of his forts.
Las Khorey: An ancient port town in the north.
Liido and Gezira beaches: Beaches near Mogadishu where local families go at weekends.
Bosaso: A port with some hotels of western standard.

Places to visit

City

Cities

Mogadishu: The capital, the largest city and the main port, with the international airport.
Hargeisa: The main city of Somaliland, in the Maroodijeh region, with an international airport and basic hospitals.
Berbera: A port in the Sahil region of Somaliland.
Bosaso: A port with a few hotels of western standard.
Garowe: With Hargeisa, one of the best-guarded cities, according to Wikivoyage.
Galkacyo: An important city in central Somalia.
Kismayo: A port city in the south, the second largest city of Somalia proper; Wikivoyage calls it too dangerous to visit.
Las Khorey: An ancient port in the north.
Taleh: The former capital of the Darawiish sultan Diiriye Guure.

Beyond the cities

Taleh garesa (site): A fort built in the time of the Darawiish sultanate.
Liido Beach (coast): A city beach in Mogadishu, busy with families at weekends.
Gezira Beach (coast): A beach near Mogadishu.

Regions

Southern Somalia: The south, with Mogadishu and Kismayo.
Galmudug
Puntland: A semi-autonomous region in the north.
Somaliland: A semi-autonomous region in the north, with Hargeisa and Berbera; the UK advises against all but essential travel to Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, and against all travel to the rest.
Gedo

Things to do

See

Taleh garesa Taleh: One of the forts built under the Darawiish sultan Diiriye Guure, who resisted the colonial powers.
Liido Beach Mogadishu: The city beach, where families go at weekends; local women swim fully clothed.
Mogadishu fish market Mogadishu: One of the markets of the capital. Wikivoyage stresses that foreigners in Mogadishu must go with security guards.

Eat

Rice with meat: Goat, lamb, beef or chicken, fried in ghee or grilled, spiced with turmeric, cumin and coriander, served with basmati rice, often with a sliced banana.
Canjeero and sambusa: Canjeero (laxoox) is a large, spongy pancake-like bread; sambusas are fried pastries filled with meat or vegetables.

Drink

Shah hawaash: The traditional spiced tea, made with cardamom and cinnamon.

Shop

Made-to-measure clothes: Somalia has many good tailors who make or copy clothes to measure.

Climate and best time to visit

Bosaso
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max °C	39	30	31	34	37	41	41	40	39	33	30	29
Min °C	20	20	21	23	25	29	30	29	28	23	20	20
Rain mm	0	0	0	4	1	0	0	0	1	2	3	0

Somalia is mostly desert, hot all year, with little and irregular rain and recurring droughts. On the northern coast at Bosaso the average maximum is about 29 to 31 °C in November, December, February and March, rises to 37 °C in May and reaches 40 to 41 °C from June to August. Almost no rain falls there: no month averages more than 4 mm.

The UK gives April to June as the main rainy season in Somalia, with lighter rains in October and November, and warns that local floods can cut off parts of the country. In Mogadishu the south-west monsoon makes May to October the mildest season, and December to February is also relatively mild; the periods between the monsoons are hot and humid.

Holidays and events

1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
1 May 2026 · Labour Day
26 June 2026 · Independence Day
1 July 2026 · Republic Day

Getting around

Main airports	MGQ

Road travel is dangerous. Government forces, militias and other armed groups run checkpoints across the country, landmines and unexploded ordnance remain, and roads are in poor condition, with potholes and no lighting. Canada says that if you must travel overland, go with vetted, armed security guards, in a group, and never at night; the UK advises taking advice from a security firm or your sponsoring organisation. Traffic drives on the right. Wikivoyage notes that armed robbery is common on buses.

Where to stay

Western-standard hotels: A few in Bosaso and Hargeisa.
Hotels in Mogadishu: Chosen for their security above all.

Canada advises staying only in accommodation with robust security, and the UK lists hotels among the places where attacks could happen. Wikivoyage suggests arranging the whole journey, from the visa to the airport pickup and protection, through a hotel.

Eat and drink

Dishes to try

Meat with basmati rice: Goat, beef, lamb or chicken, fried in ghee or grilled, with turmeric, coriander, cumin and curry.
Canjeero (laxoox): A home-made bread like a large, spongy pancake.
Sambusa: Fried triangular pastries filled with meat or vegetables.

Drinks

Shah hawaash: Tea spiced with cardamom and cinnamon.
Fresh fruit juice: Made from fruit such as mango and guava.

Somali food is based on meat, with vegetables mostly as side dishes, and draws on Yemeni, Persian, Turkish, Indian and Italian cooking. All food is halal. Alcohol is banned, and so is pork. Drink only sealed bottled drinks, never well water.

Entry requirements and visas

Passport validity	At least 6 months after the date you arrive (UK)

Passport	Entry	Max stay	Notes
United Kingdom	Evisa		Apply for an eVisa before arriving at Mogadishu. At Hargeisa the eVisa is not valid for entry: you buy a single-entry visa on arrival, valid for one month. You may also need a letter of invitation.
Canada	Evisa		An e-visa is required; it might not be recognised in Somaliland and Puntland, so confirm with the local authorities or the people you are visiting.

Other nationalities: check the official source below.

UK and Canadian citizens need a visa. The UK and Canada both report a data breach in Somalia's eVisa system that may expose the personal details you enter. At Hargeisa airport you buy a separate visa on arrival, and at other entry points it is unclear whether visas on arrival are issued. You may be asked for a letter of invitation explaining the purpose of your visit.

Khat is legal in Somalia but illegal to take out of the country, and bags are searched at Hargeisa and Mogadishu airports. In Somaliland you must declare cash of USD 10,000 or more. Canada says you need a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country where the disease occurs. Rules depend on your passport and can change: check the official link or the Somali embassy before you book.

Money and payments

Currency	Somali Shilling (SOS)
Cards	Rare

Somalia runs on cash. Credit cards are not widely accepted and you cannot get cash advances with them, so bring cash. The US dollar is the main currency for exchange, and Wikivoyage reports that in April 2026 many businesses traded only in dollars and refused Somali shillings (SOS). In Hargeisa you can withdraw dollars from ATMs with international cards; be very careful when you do.

Health

Required vaccines	Yellow fever, only if you arrive from a country where it occurs (Canada); the CDC lists no requirement
Recommended vaccines	Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), diphtheria and polio (an adult booster, according to Canada), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, for most travellers, Rabies, for some travellers: rabid dogs are common and vaccine is rarely available after a bite, Cholera, for some travellers
Malaria	Widespread
Tap water	Not safe

Malaria is present throughout the country, and the CDC recommends prescription medicine to prevent it. Cholera is widespread, polio is circulating and the CDC has a notice on diphtheria in sub-Saharan Africa. Dengue, chikungunya and schistosomiasis are also risks. Drink only sealed bottled water. Talk to a travel health professional at least a month before you go.

There are basic hospitals in Hargeisa and Mogadishu; elsewhere, medical care is extremely limited and often far away. Get insurance that covers treatment, evacuation by air ambulance and repatriation, and check that it is valid for Somalia. For an ambulance call 999, but the emergency numbers can be unreliable.

This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.

Safety

United States: Level 4: Do Not Travel (2026-10-20)
Canada: Avoid all travel (2026-10-20)
United Kingdom: Advises against all travel to parts of the country (2026-10-20)

The official advice is the starting point: Canada says to avoid all travel, the US rates Somalia Level 4, and the UK advises against all travel except to Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil in Somaliland, where it advises against all but essential travel. Consular help is severely limited: the UK has no in-person support and serves its citizens from Nairobi or, in Somaliland, Addis Ababa; Canada has no office in the country. Mogadishu airport has closed at short notice, so you could find it hard to leave.

The UK and Canada say terrorist attacks are very likely, including in Mogadishu and Somaliland, at hotels, restaurants, airports and crowded places. There is a high threat of kidnapping throughout the country, armed militias commit violent crime, and landmines remain. Political and community violence can flare up with little warning: avoid crowds and demonstrations and leave if unrest starts.

Anyone who does travel needs professional security: accommodation with robust protection, vetted armed guards for road travel, no travel at night and a personal emergency plan that does not rely on your government. Always carry your passport and visa.

Customs and etiquette

Somalia is a Muslim country and religion matters a great deal. During Ramadan do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public during the day, even in your car, and do not play loud music. Alcohol is banned, drug offences bring long prison sentences, and same-sex relations are illegal, with harsh penalties. It is illegal for Somali Muslims to convert or to promote another religion.

Use your right hand to eat, shake hands and pass things, and do not show the soles of your feet. Men should not shake hands with local women: put your hand on your heart and bow slightly. Women are usually expected to wear traditional Islamic dress. Ask before photographing people, especially women, and never photograph anything guarded by soldiers or police. Hospitality is a point of honour: accept the snacks you are offered and let your hosts pay if they insist. Staring at foreigners is common and is not meant as an insult.

Language

Official languages	Somali, Arabic
English	Common

What to pack

Passport valid 6 months, visa and letter of invitation: You may not be allowed in without them, and you must carry your passport and visa at all times.
US dollars in cash: Cards are rarely accepted, and many businesses take only dollars.
Insurance that covers Somalia and air ambulance evacuation: Medical care is extremely limited, and ordinary policies may not cover travel against official advice.
Malaria tablets and insect repellent: Malaria is present throughout the country.
Modest, covering clothes: Local custom expects them, for women especially.

Quick reference

Country facts

Capital	Mogadishu
Population	19,654,739 (2025)
Area	627,340 km²
Time zone	Africa/Mogadishu (UTC+3)
Calling code	+252
Driving side	right

Staying connected

SIM and eSIM	Wikivoyage lists several mobile operators, including Hormuud Telecom, Golis Telecom and Telsom, with very cheap calls. Canada notes that international phone and internet services are limited to the larger cities and unreliable.

Emergency numbers

Police	888
Ambulance	999
Fire	555

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to travel to Somalia?

Canada advises against all travel, the US rates Somalia Level 4 (do not travel) and the UK advises against all travel to most of the country and all but essential travel to Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil. Read the official advice before making any plans.

Do I need a visa for Somalia?

Yes. An eVisa is needed to arrive at Mogadishu, while at Hargeisa you buy a visa on arrival. Check with the Somali embassy before you book.

What currency is used in Somalia?

The official currency is the Somali shilling, but the economy runs on US dollars in cash, and cards are rarely accepted.

Do I need malaria tablets for Somalia?

Yes. Malaria is present throughout the country and the CDC recommends prescription medicine to prevent it.

Is alcohol allowed in Somalia?

No. Drinking and selling alcohol is banned.

Suggest an update

Travel rules, prices and timetables change. If something in this guide is out of date, tell us: we check every suggestion against an official source before changing the page.

Somalia