Djibouti Region · Djibouti
Where to stay in Djibouti
Djibouti is a city in Djibouti Region, Djibouti, home to about 604,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- JIB5 km · Djibouti-Ambouli Airport
- Currency
- DJFDjiboutian franc
- Time zone
- Africa/Djibouti
- Language
- Arabic, French
About
About Djibouti
Djibouti (also called Djibouti City and Jibuti in early Western texts) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Djibouti. It is located in the coastal Djibouti Region on the Gulf of Tadjoura.
The city was founded in 1888 and was designated the capital of French Somaliland three years later. The city has some beaches along its eastern shore. Today it's mostly notable for its harbour, which accounts for much of the local economic activity.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Djibouti
Do
- Aden Bay Casino
- Bawadi Mall
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Djibouti to stay in
There are no budget options in Djibouti city because accommodation is very expensive for what you get.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Djibouti
5 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Hotel | 0.0 km | |
| Auberge Boulaos | 2.6 km | |
| Djibouti Palace Kempinski | 2.6 km | |
| Hotel Rayan Djibouti | 0.7 km | |
| Residence Lagon Bleu | 0.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Djibouti
Djibouti has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 41 °C; August is the wettest, with about 17 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Djibouti: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Djibouti-Ambouli Airport (JIB), about 5.4 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Get around by Green TaxiCabs. Some people will tell you to avoid taxis whose drivers are chewing khat, which is a natural, amphetamine-like stimulant. It gives the local Djiboutians and Somalis something called Merran, which is the Somali word for 'energy'. Taxis cost from 500 Fdj to any amount, depending on distance. For example: Camp Lemonier to the city centre cost 1,500 Fdj. Negotiate and you may get a lower price, but there are better things to do than to argue over 500 Fdj.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
JIB · Djibouti-Ambouli Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Djibouti
Stay safe
For taxis, make sure you go with someone who knows the city; otherwise, you will pay way more than you should. Agree on the price in advance, and only enter the taxi once you have agreed. Photography, particularly of people, in Djibouti city seems to be prohibited. If a policeman spots you taking a photo, you may be in for a stern warning, or worse.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Djibouti: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Djibouti?
Djibouti has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 41 °C; August is the wettest, with about 17 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Djibouti?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Djibouti-Ambouli Airport (JIB), about 5.4 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Djibouti?
Djiboutian franc (DJF).
Nearby
Destinations near Djibouti
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.