Lido Beach

Lido is Mogadishu's own beach, a stretch of sand on the northern edge of the city where cafes and restaurants have opened along the front and the capital comes to swim, eat grilled fish and walk in the evening. The Indian Ocean here is warm and the sand is white. It has become one of the clearest signs of the city's return to something like normal daily life. The beachfront was largely derelict for years and its rebuilding since has been one of the more visible changes in the city.

What you actually see

• The city beach - the sand on the capital's northern edge.
• The seafront cafes - the restaurants along the front.
• The evening walk - the city out on the sand after the heat.
• The grilled fish - the food the beachfront places are known for.

When to go

December to March is the cooler dry season. Fridays and evenings are busiest. The southwest monsoon from June brings heavy swell.

Honest expectations

Currents here are strong and there is no lifeguard. Facilities are the cafes rather than beach infrastructure. Travel within the city requires local arrangement.

Nearby

Mogadishu's centre is south, and Jazeera is further south.