What to see, what to do Djibouti?

As in most Muslim countries, the weekly holiday is Friday. In Djibouti, the administrations are open from Sunday to Thursday from 7am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm. In the private sector, people generally work from Saturday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Overall, life is idle in the hot afternoon hours. Shops are open until noon and from 4 p.m. onwards. The department stores are open continuously every day until 10 pm. Some banks open on Saturdays. Exchange offices only close on Fridays. During Ramadan, businesses and the administration have adapted schedules and everything works more or less normally, except for small restaurants or food-related shops that only open at sunset

Life remains expensive in this country with a strong currency, where nothing is produced and everything is imported. Food and public transport are not too expensive, even though fares are much higher than in neighbouring countries. A meal in a restaurant in Djibouti City costs about 3,000 FDJ, and between 400 and 800 FDJ in a snack bar. For accommodation, if you want to avoid the low-end hotels in the capital, you will have to count an average of 80 € per person per night. Outside the city, for traditional camps or accommodation, you should count 40 € per person per day for full board. As for activities at sea or inland (diving, hiking, excursions, fishing), they are not within the reach of everyone. However, with a minimum of 4 people, if you opt for a trekking-discovery formula, for example, it is quite possible to do a ten-day tour for about 15,000 FDJ per person per day, all included (accommodation in traditional camps or bivouac, trekking, meals and transport in a 4x4 with a driver-guide), which is very reasonable.

All the festivals linked to the Muslim calendar are important events in the lives of Djiboutians: Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), the^1st Muharam (Muslim New Year), Mouloud (birth of the Prophet) and Al-Isra Wal Miraj (the ascension of the Prophet) Muslim holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar, so their dates vary from year to year.

Theoretically, smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants outside the specific areas set aside for smokers. The consumption of shisha is subject to the same ban. In fact, except in dedicated areas, you can smoke as you like, wherever you like. In some hotels, it is better to request a strictly non-smoking room if you want to avoid the smell of cold tobacco.

The heat requires light clothing. Women will not have any particular problem dressing up, even in the city. However, it is advisable to avoid plunging necklines and mini-shorts. With a minimum of common sense, respecting the local customs, paying attention to the way of dressing and signs of wealth that could contrast with the local standard of living, everything should go well.