Getting to Assab is not straightforward. The city has an airport — Assab International Airport — but scheduled flights are infrequent and service varies; check with Eritrean Airlines before making plans that depend on it.
The overland route from Asmara is extremely long, passing through difficult terrain in the Danakil Depression. The road is passable but arduous, and travel permits are required for movement in the southern region. Most visitors who reach Assab are either working in the area or passing through by sea.