Travel Essentials

Djibouti: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and E (European two-pin), 220 V. Emergency: Police 17, Fire 18. Tipping: Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants and give small tips to guides and drivers; prices are high by regional standards. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.

Open The Djibouti Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and E (European two-pin), 220 V

Emergency Numbers

Police	17
Fire	18

Tipping

Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants and give small tips to guides and drivers; prices are high by regional standards.

Water And Health

Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies
Malaria: Risk in the country, including urban areas; ask about preventive tablets

Apps To Download Before You Go

D-Money: Djibouti Telecom's mobile money service used for transfers, bills and small purchases.
Waafi: A mobile wallet from Salaam Bank that is widely accepted by shops and taxis in the capital.
Taxi by phone or hotel: There is no ride-hailing app; green-and-white taxis are hailed on the street or arranged by hotels, with fares agreed in advance.
WhatsApp: Tour operators, dive centers and guesthouses arrange everything via WhatsApp.
Djibouti Telecom: The sole mobile operator; its app manages prepaid SIMs and data, which are relatively expensive.
Ethio-Djibouti Railway (website): Tickets for the train to Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa are bought at the Nagad station rather than through an app.
Google Translate: French and Arabic are official, with Somali and Afar spoken at home; the offline French pack helps outside hotels.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. A handshake is standard; in this majority-Muslim country, men should wait for a woman to extend her hand first.

Dress and religion. Modest dress is expected, especially outside the capital; during Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours.

Right hand use. Use the right hand for eating, greeting, and giving/receiving items, as the left hand is considered unclean.

Safety And Scams

Djibouti is relatively safe for a country in its region, with low rates of violent crime against tourists, though petty theft occurs and border areas can carry security risks.

Unmetered taxi overcharging. Most taxis lack meters and drivers may quote inflated fares to tourists; negotiate and agree on the price before the ride.

Photo/permit demands. Locals or officials sometimes ask for payment to photograph people or sites; ask permission first and be prepared to skip the photo if declined.

Device and data theft. Petty theft of phones and laptops occurs, including via public Wi-Fi; keep devices secured and avoid unsecured networks for sensitive logins.

Women travelers. Women should dress conservatively and avoid walking alone at night; harassment is not common but modesty is expected and appreciated.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Use Caution

Same-sex sexual activity is technically legal, but there are no anti-discrimination protections and public displays of same-sex affection can lead to arrest under 'public morals' laws; society is broadly unaccepting, so discretion is essential.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	DJF 350	$2
Local shared taxi ride	DJF 500	$2.80
Mid-range restaurant meal	DJF 1,750	$10
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	DJF 8,800	$50
Mid-range hotel (night)	DJF 10,200	$58
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	DJF 17,600	$100

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

November to March is coolest and most comfortable, and coincides with whale shark season in the Gulf of Tadjoura; May to October is very hot and best avoided for outdoor activity.

Phrases

Basic French phrases · Basic Arabic phrases · Basic Somali phrases