Air
Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport (JIB) is the only international airport, about 5 kilometers south of the city center. Taxis into town are readily available.
The best connections are through the Middle East and East Africa. Ethiopian Airlines flies daily from Addis Ababa and connects onward to much of the world. Turkish Airlines serves Djibouti via Istanbul, and Air France operates flights from Paris. Flydubai and Air Arabia connect through the Gulf. There is no low-cost carrier serving Djibouti — expect to pay accordingly.
Rail
The modern electrified railway between Djibouti and Addis Ababa opened in 2018 and covers the 750-kilometer route in roughly twelve hours. Online ticket reservations were introduced in late 2025. The train runs several times a week and passes through some dramatic scenery as it climbs from sea level to the Ethiopian highlands. This is a genuinely worthwhile way to arrive or depart.
Road
The main highway runs west from Djibouti City through Dikhil and on to Ethiopia. The road is paved and in decent condition. There are also roads north to Tadjoura and Obock, though conditions deteriorate outside the main routes. Cross-border bus services to Ethiopia exist but are slow. Check current conditions and visa requirements before attempting overland crossings — the borders with Eritrea and Somalia can be unpredictable.
Sea
Djibouti is a major port, but there are no regular passenger ferry services for international travel. Small boats cross the Gulf of Tadjoura to Tadjoura and Obock from L'Escale in Djibouti City.