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Eritrea🇪🇷 | attractionsMedebar MarketOil-drum stoves, tin coffee pots, tire sandals, hammering sheds | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Medebar Market
👌 Worth visitingattraction ranked #9
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Medebar Market is best known for its rows of metalworkers who beat flattened oil drums, scrap sheet and old tin cans into stoves, buckets, cooking pots and charcoal burners. It sits on the western side of Asmara, Eritrea’s capital, within walking distance of the center. Work happens outdoors and in open-fronted sheds, so hammering starts early and the noise peaks in the morning. Go then, because many workshops slow down by afternoon. Ask before photographing a craftsman, since he is working and the stall is his livelihood, and a nod usually settles it. Prices are rarely marked because many items are made to order, so compare two stalls and pay in nakfa. A hand-riveted tin coffee pot is worth looking for.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #9 attraction in EritreaWhy visitors keep coming back

Medebar Market shows you how Eritrea makes things when imports are scarce, and that is the main reason to come. Almost nothing here is wasted: flattened oil drums become stoves, trunks and cooking vessels, and worn tires turn up as sandal soles. You watch the whole process at arm’s length, from cutting sheet metal to the last rivet, which is rare in a country where factory goods are limited.

It also sits well on an Asmara route. After the Art Deco boulevards and the cafes of the center, this is the working side of the capital, where residents buy practical goods for their own kitchens. Few tourists appear, so conversations with makers are easy and unhurried.

The third draw is the sound and texture. The constant hammering of metal on metal, the smell of hot solder and charcoal, and the corrugated-iron … read more 👉
Medebar Market shows you how Eritrea makes things when imports are scarce, and that is the main reason to come. Almost nothing here is wasted: flattened oil drums become stoves, trunks and cooking vessels, and worn tires turn up as sandal soles. You watch the whole process at arm’s length, from cutting sheet metal to the last rivet, which is rare in a country where factory goods are limited.

It also sits well on an Asmara route. After the Art Deco boulevards and the cafes of the center, this is the working side of the capital, where residents buy practical goods for their own kitchens. Few tourists appear, so conversations with makers are easy and unhurried.

The third draw is the sound and texture. The constant hammering of metal on metal, the smell of hot solder and charcoal, and the corrugated-iron sheds make this a very different morning from the colonial-era streets nearby.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Medebar Market

  1. Metalworking lanes: The core of Medebar Market, where rows of open sheds hold craftsmen hammering and cutting sheet metal. You can stand beside a bench and watch a stove take shape in a few minutes.
  2. Oil-drum stoves and charcoal burners: Drums are cut, flattened and shaped into the cooking stoves many households use. Each maker has a slightly different design, and finished stacks line the pavement.
  3. Tin pots, buckets and trunks: Hand-riveted pots, buckets and storage trunks made from scrap sheet. They are sturdy, plain and sold at bargaining prices, and a small pot makes a practical keepsake.
  4. Tire-rubber sandals: Cobblers cut soles from used tires and fit straps by hand. They are hard-wearing, and you can have a pair adjusted on the spot.
  5. Woodworking and furniture stalls: Carpenters work alongside
… read more 👉
  1. Metalworking lanes: The core of Medebar Market, where rows of open sheds hold craftsmen hammering and cutting sheet metal. You can stand beside a bench and watch a stove take shape in a few minutes.
  2. Oil-drum stoves and charcoal burners: Drums are cut, flattened and shaped into the cooking stoves many households use. Each maker has a slightly different design, and finished stacks line the pavement.
  3. Tin pots, buckets and trunks: Hand-riveted pots, buckets and storage trunks made from scrap sheet. They are sturdy, plain and sold at bargaining prices, and a small pot makes a practical keepsake.
  4. Tire-rubber sandals: Cobblers cut soles from used tires and fit straps by hand. They are hard-wearing, and you can have a pair adjusted on the spot.
  5. Woodworking and furniture stalls: Carpenters work alongside the metalworkers, producing simple chairs, tables and frames. The sawdust and hand tools make a useful contrast to the metal sheds.
  6. Street life on Asmara’s western side: Around the workshops, residents shop for household goods, mend tools and take tea breaks. Walk the side lanes to see how a working neighborhood of the capital operates.
Start with the metalworking lanes at Medebar Market in the morning, when the hammering is at full strength and the makers are most willing to talk.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

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🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Medebar Market

  • Cool dry months (November to February): Mornings at this highland site sit around 8 to 12°C (46 to 54°F) and afternoons reach 22 to 26°C (72 to 79°F), with sharp light and almost no rain. Days run roughly 11.5 to 12 hours.
  • Hot spring (March to May): Afternoons climb to 28 to 32°C (82 to 90°F), dust builds, and haggling feels slower in the heat.
  • Summer rains (June to September): Short, heavy downpours hit most afternoons, turning dirt lanes to mud, with highs of 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F). Prices for rooms and rides stay flat, though road delays are more common.
  • Market days and holidays: Weekend mornings and the weeks around Eritrean Christmas in January and Orthodox Easter draw the biggest crowds and the best produce. Diaspora visitors can push up shared-taxi fares.
Arrive before 9 am, when stalls are fully set up and the air is still cool.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

The most practical base is Asmara, about 1 to 1.5 hours away by road, and it is the only place with a real choice of budget beds. Medebar Market has no backpacker scene of its own, so you sleep in the capital and go out early.
Central Asmara around Harnet Avenue: This is the safest, most walkable area, with small guesthouses and pensions at roughly US$15 to 30 a night. Cafes serve cappuccino and pastries until evening, and you can meet other travelers over a slow dinner. Minibus and shared-taxi stops are a short walk away.
Area near the Medeber bus station: Cheaper rooms (about US$10 to 20) and … read more 👉
The most practical base is Asmara, about 1 to 1.5 hours away by road, and it is the only place with a real choice of budget beds. Medebar Market has no backpacker scene of its own, so you sleep in the capital and go out early.
Central Asmara around Harnet Avenue: This is the safest, most walkable area, with small guesthouses and pensions at roughly US$15 to 30 a night. Cafes serve cappuccino and pastries until evening, and you can meet other travelers over a slow dinner. Minibus and shared-taxi stops are a short walk away.
Area near the Medeber bus station: Cheaper rooms (about US$10 to 20) and an easy morning departure, but it is rougher at night and quieter for socializing. It suits you if you leave at dawn.
The two areas are close enough that you can switch if one disappoints. Bring cash, since card payments rarely work.
Best hostels in Eritrea


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👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

Medebar Market costs a backpacker about US$38 to 60 a day, including a bed in Asmara and transport. The market itself charges no entry fee.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryFreeOpen to anyone, no ticket booth.
Accommodation (high season)US$15 to 30Basic guesthouse in central Asmara; low season often US$10 to 20.
TransportUS$3 to 10Shared minibus or taxi from the city, with a return trip; private taxis cost more.
FoodUS$6 to 12Injera with stew, fresh bread, tea and fruit from stalls.
Shopping and extrasUS$3 to 10Spices, baskets, cloth and small goods; bargaining is normal.
Travel permitUS$0 to 3Travel outside Asmara may need paperwork, arranged in advance.
Total Daily BudgetUS$38 to 60Cash only, so carry small notes.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Half a day is enough for Medebar Market, roughly 2 to 4 hours of wandering the stalls. Go in the morning, when produce is freshest and the temperature is mild. Add a full day if you travel from Asmara, since the road trip takes 1 to 1.5 hours each way.
Yes, because Medebar Market has no entry fee, so you only spend on what you buy. A morning of tea, fresh bread and a few spices usually costs US$5 to 12. You get a look at everyday trade that tourist sites rarely show.
Most travelers start from Asmara and take a shared minibus or taxi, a trip of about 1 to 1.5 hours. Expect to pay roughly US$3 to 10 each way, or more for a private car. Travel outside the capital can require a permit, so arrange it a few days ahead and leave early to be back before dark.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Medebar Market needs one good morning, two hours if you linger at the benches, and no more. Come early, bring small notes for a pot or a pair of sandals, and wear closed shoes because the ground is strewn with metal offcuts. Pair it with an afternoon in central Asmara.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Eritrea. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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