Djibouti

The French founded the city of Djibouti in 1888, after they were granted the rights to settle in the area. It was the capital of French Somaliland from 1892 to 1945 and later of the French territory of the Afars and Issas (1945-1977). After Djibouti's independence, the city beacme the country's capital. Nowadays around 70% of the country's total population lives in the capital. The city is not very large and it's easy to get around in, the streets are laid out in a mathematical grid, so you won't get lost easily. Djibouti has a small harbor where you will see dhows, small fishing boats and yachts. The city lies in the east of the country on the coast, on an isthmus in the Gulf of Tadjoura, not far from the Somalian border.

Not far from the city's center, to the south is Le Marché Central, the central marketplace. It is the place to look for a mild drug called qat, freshly brought in from neighboring Ethiopia. The Aquarium Tropical de Djibouti shows the underwater life of the Red Sea. Other sights in the capital include the presidential palace is and the Plâteau du Serpent, an elevated area that offers great views over the city. There are a few beaches nearby of which the ones at Doralé and Khor-Ambado are the best.

The Quartier Africain is the liveliest part of town. Most of the cheaper accommodation is situated there as well. The best place to go if you want to eat some local dishes, is the area around the souk (market). There are many small restaurants there that serve spicy, oven-baked or barbecued fish, which is the local specialty. If you brought your own tent you could camp on the islands of Maskali and Moucha, not too far out in Gulf of Tadjoura.

Hours from UTC: 3
Daylight savings time: n/a

City phone code: Not required
Country phone code: 253