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Sudan travel guide
Pyramids of Meroë, the Nile and the Red Sea.
Last reviewed 11 October 2026 · by the Travel Search Engine editorial team
Sudan is a large country in northeast Africa where the Blue and White Nile meet at Khartoum. It has more pyramids than Egypt, built by the ancient kingdom of Kush at Meroë and around Jebel Barkal.
Travel tools
Getting there
In normal times, Khartoum International Airport and Port Sudan were the main gateways, with overland routes to Egypt. Under current conditions flights and borders are severely disrupted, so check your government's travel advice.
Best time to visit: Nov–Feb – cooler, comfortable desert weather.
Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to Khartoum, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.
Tougher months: April to September – extreme heat across the country, with dust storms and summer rains in the centre.
Weather by month in Khartoum
- 31°J
- 33°F
- 37°M
- 40°A
- 42°M
- 41°J
- 39°J●
- 38°A●●
- 39°S●
- 39°O
- 35°N
- 32°D
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Africa/Khartoum. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 7 of 198 other passports can enter Sudan without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 191 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Sudan (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 4: Do Not Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-05-15). Read the advisory.
Stay
Most trips to Sudan are based around Meroë, Jebel Barkal or Naqa and Musawwarat es-Sufra. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$30–50 for a backpacker and US$80–160 mid-range, per person.
Connect
Plug types: C, D. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +249.
Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.
Do
- Meroë (Nile Valley · ancient royal city): Hundreds of pyramids and the ruins of a royal city, among Africa's most striking ancient sites.
- Jebel Barkal (Northern Sudan · sacred mountain): A UNESCO-listed mountain with temples and pyramids at its foot.
- Naqa and Musawwarat es-Sufra (Butana desert · temples): Remote temple complexes with fine carvings from the Meroitic era.
- Kerma (Northern Sudan · archaeological site): The ancient capital of the Kerma kingdom with its great deffufa.
- Khartoum (Centre · capital): The city where the Blue and White Nile meet, historically home to the National Museum.
- Sanganeb Marine National Park (Red Sea · coral reef): An isolated coral atoll known for sharks and pristine reefs.
- Suakin (Red Sea coast · historic port): A ruined coral-stone town that was once a major Red Sea port.
Things to do
- Learn about the Meroë pyramids. Discover the clusters of steep Nubian pyramids rising from the desert sands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Study Jebel Barkal. Read about the sacred flat-topped mountain at Karima, once believed to be the home of the god Amun.
- Explore Naqa and Musawwarat. Find out about desert temples carved with lions, gods and Kushite royalty.
- Read about Kerma's deffufa. Learn about some of the oldest monumental mud-brick buildings in Africa.
- Discover the Red Sea reefs. Read about Sanganeb and Dungonab Bay, a UNESCO marine site renowned among divers.
- Explore Sudanese music and food. Try Sudanese dishes like ful medames and kisra at diaspora restaurants abroad.
- Watch documentaries on Nubia. Explore films and museum collections about the ancient kingdoms of Kush.
- Visit Nubian collections abroad. See Kushite artefacts held in major museums around the world.
Eat and drink
- Ful medames – stewed fava beans with oil and spices
- Kisra – thin fermented sorghum bread
- Gurasa – thick, soft wheat bread
- Jebena coffee – spiced coffee with ginger
Money and safety
Currency: Sudanese pound (SDG). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Not expected but appreciated.
Emergency numbers: 999.
- The currency is the Sudanese pound.
- International cards and ATMs generally do not work for foreign visitors due to banking restrictions.
- Sudan is in the midst of armed conflict; most governments advise against all travel – check your government's latest travel advice.
- Consular assistance may be extremely limited or unavailable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Sudan?
Nov–Feb – cooler, comfortable desert weather. Hot desert climate in the north and hot tropical climate in the south, with summer rains.
What time zone is Sudan in?
Sudan uses Africa/Khartoum.
Do I need a visa for Sudan?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 7 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 0 need an e-visa or eTA and 191 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Sudan use?
Sudan uses plug type C, D at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Sudan?
The international calling code for Sudan is +249.
Do you tip in Sudan?
Not expected but appreciated.
What is the emergency number in Sudan?
999.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Sudan?
Traffic drives on the right.