MogadishuCapital
Somalia · Country profile
Mogadishu is the ancient, resilient capital of Somalia, the great port city of the Horn of Africa that spreads along the wide white coast of the Indian Ocean, where the dunes and the old quarters of the historic seaport meet the enormous, fast-growing sprawl of the modern metropolis. One of the great trading cities of the ocean since the medieval sultanates, when its ships ran the gold, the ivory and the frankincense routes of the Indian world, it has endured an extraordinary history of the wealth, the war and the reconstruction, and today rebuilds its markets, its seafront and its government district with the stubborn recovery of its people. The old the city walls of the historic quarter, the great mosque of the ancient harbour, the beaches of the ocean and the markets of the hot town anchor the essential visits, along with the museum and the dhow harbour of the capital. Hot, vast and infinitely resilient, Mogadishu is the indomitable maritime heart of the Somali nation.
About Mogadishu
Mogadishu is the capital of Somalia. The city's documented population is around 2,600,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Somali Shilling (SOS) and Somali and Arabic are spoken; the dialling code is +252.
The Old Quarter of the Hamar and the Mosque of the Coasts
Mogadishu is a fast, crowded capital where the essential circuit moves between the historic quarter, the seafront and the great markets of the town, with the mosque, the old citadel and the museum of the country to the focus of the curated days. The white beaches of the ocean, the busy harbour of the dhows and the enormous market of the city, with their fabrics, their spices and their electronics districts, run the everyday life of the port. The rebuilt government quarter, the restored cathedral and the growing cafes and hotels of the recovery give the pulse of the new city, and the days are best organised with experienced local guidance across the metropolis.
The Cathedral and the Museum of the Republic
The climate of the capital is the hot, dry coastal tropical of the Horn, with the searing, dusty months of the early year, the two rainy seasons of the spring and the autumn, and the tempered ocean breezes of the beach front. The shilling is the currency, with the Somali and the Arabic the languages of the town and some English in the official and the aid world. The historic quarter, the seafront and the market make the core circuit, and movement requires the security guidance and the local planning of the capital. Light clothing, strong sun protection and a prepared, flexible itinerary complete the realistic essentials of the demanding city.
The Beaches and the Dhow Harbour of the Ocean
The old town of the historic quarter, the cramped lanes of the coral houses, the arched doors and the ancient towers of the walled settlement known as the Hamar Weyne, preserves the ancient face of the seaport, centred on the great white mosque of the thirteenth century with its leaning minaret and its Indian-plaster decorations. The cathedral of the capital, the once-grand Catholic cathedral of the Italian era that stands ruined on its hill, and the museum of the country with its collections of the archaeology and the Qoran of the region, frame the layered history of the city, while the white beaches of the ocean, the celebrated beaches of the Lido with the growing cafes and the lifeguards of the recovery, give the seaside pulse of the indomitable city. The great market of the centre, the main bazaar of the millet, the imported fabrics and the electronics of the Indian Ocean trade, completes the essential, draining, endlessly alive circuit of the Somali capital.
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- Country
- Somalia
- Population
- 2,600,000
- Capital
- Mogadishu
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Somali Shilling (SOS)
- Languages
- Somali, Arabic
- Calling code
- +252
- Country code
- SO
Frequently asked questions
Is Mogadishu the capital of Somalia?
Yes — Mogadishu is the capital of Somalia.
What currency do I need in Mogadishu?
The local currency is the Somali Shilling (SOS). Languages spoken in Somalia include Somali and Arabic.
What is the dialling code for Somalia?
The international dialling code for Somalia is +252.
Flying out of Mogadishu? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.