Dire Dawa is the second largest city in Ethiopia, lying in the Dire Dawa Region in the east of the country. It is a commercial centre, and for many travellers it is a place to pass through on the way to somewhere else, or to spend a few unhurried days exploring a city with a distinctive character of its own.
What to expect
The city is known for its railway history, and the rail line is part of what gives Dire Dawa its shape and its sense of past activity. Visitors interested in transport heritage and the way a town grows around a railway will find the subject worth a look. The city is also known for its multicultural population, so the streets, markets and daily life reflect a mix of communities rather than a single tradition.
Why visit
- A large, working commercial city, useful for seeing everyday urban life in eastern Ethiopia.
- Railway history that sits at the heart of the city's development.
- A multicultural population that gives the city a varied and lively feel.
Dire Dawa may also be written as Dire Dewa, so you may see both spellings on maps, signs and travel material. Whether it suits you depends on your interests: if you enjoy cities with a commercial and historical rather than purely scenic character, it is a good stop to build into a wider trip through the region.