Arrival Day 1 Fly into Addis Int'l: T2 · Domestic: T1
Bole International Airport (ADD) is about 8 km from the centre and has two terminals, side by side: international flights use Terminal 2, domestic flights within Ethiopia use Terminal 1.
Fly into Addis
Buy a SIM in the baggage hall, then book a ride in the app: the fare is shown upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Time there: 15–30 Min. zu den meisten HotelsLocal tip: Kauf deine SIM-Karte in der Gepäckhalle, bevor du rausgehst.
DirectionsWatch first · Indigo Traveller So bereist du Äthiopien: Preise und Sicherheit
Take a ride to your hotel 25 minTake a ride to your hotel
25 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to your hotel· 25 min
Your hotel · Mid-range
A calm hillside hotel above Arat Kilo with views over the city, close to the museums and Piassa.
Directions
Take a ride to National Museum of Ethiopia 5 minTake a ride to National Museum of Ethiopia
5 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to National Museum of Ethiopia· 5 min
Afternoon
Meet Lucy at the National Museum Arat Kilo
The 3.2 million year old skeleton everyone comes for, plus royal thrones and early art. An hour is enough.
Time there: 1–2 Stunden Small foreigner feeLocal tip: An manchen Feiertagen geschlossen.
Directions
Walk to Holy Trinity Cathedral 15 min
Walk to Holy Trinity Cathedral
15 minShort and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.
Walk to Holy Trinity Cathedral· 15 min
Late afternoon
Holy Trinity Cathedral Arat Kilo
Haile Selassie's tomb and the city's grandest stained glass, a short walk down from the museum.
Time there: 1 Stunde Visitor feeLocal tip: Zieh dich zurückhaltend an; zieh die Schuhe aus, wo man dich darum bittet.
Directions
Take a ride to Yod Abyssinia 25 minTake a ride to Yod Abyssinia
25 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Yod Abyssinia· 25 min
Evening
Dinner show at Yod Abyssinia Bole
Music and dances from every region over a big shared platter, ending with a coffee ceremony. Book a table.
DirectionsWatch first · Mark Wiens Die ultimative äthiopische Food-Tour in Addis Abeba
Day 2 Take a ride to Ethnological Museum 10 minTake a ride to Ethnological Museum
10 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Ethnological Museum· 10 min
Morning
Ethnological Museum Sidist Kilo (Addis Ababa University)
Inside Haile Selassie's former palace at the university: Ethiopia's peoples, music and crafts, and the emperor's bedroom.
Time there: 1–2 Stunden Small feeLocal tip: Auf dem Hauptcampus der Universität; zeig dem Wachmann am Tor, dass du ins Museum willst.
Directions
Take a ride to Unity Park 10 minTake a ride to Unity Park
10 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Unity Park· 10 min
Afternoon
Menelik's palace grounds: the banquet hall, the old throne room, gardens and a small zoo. Closed on Mondays.
Time there: 2–3 Stunden USD 20, or 50 with the palace and a guideLocal tip: Di–So, Tickets 9–16 Uhr. Montags geschlossen.
DirectionsWatch first · Wode Maya Äthiopiens Hauptstadt wird zur Weltstadt
Walk to Fendika Cultural Center 15 min
Walk to Fendika Cultural Center
15 minShort and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.
Walk to Fendika Cultural Center· 15 min
Evening
Azmari night at Fendika Kazanchis
Live azmari singers, traditional dance and Ethio-jazz in an art-filled house. Tip the singer if they sing about you.
Time there: Abends Entry and drinksLocal tip: Gib dem Sänger Trinkgeld, wenn er über dich singt.
Directions
Day 3 Take a ride to Entoto Park 25 minTake a ride to Entoto Park
25 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Entoto Park· 25 min
Morning
Entoto Park and Entoto Maryam Entoto hills
Eucalyptus forest 3,000 m up: trails, viewpoints over the city and the church where Menelik was crowned. Bring a layer.
Time there: Halber Tag Small feeLocal tip: Kühler und höher gelegen (etwa 3.000 m). Nimm eine zusätzliche Schicht mit.
DirectionsWatch first · Kidus B. ICH ÜBERNACHTE IN EINEM NATURPARK IN ÄTHIOPIEN - (Entoto Park - VLOG)
Take a ride to St George's Cathedral 25 minTake a ride to St George's Cathedral
25 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to St George's Cathedral· 25 min
Midday
St George's Cathedral Piassa
The octagonal church where Menelik gave thanks for Adwa, with a small museum of crowns and paintings.
Time there: 45 Minuten Small feeLocal tip: Schlendere danach durch die alten Straßen von Piassa.
Directions
Walk to Tomoca Coffee 10 min
Walk to Tomoca Coffee
10 minShort and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.
Walk to Tomoca Coffee· 10 min
Coffee
A macchiato at Tomoca Piassa
Roasting since 1953. Stand at the bar like the regulars and buy a bag of beans to take home.
Time there: 30 Minuten From 40 BrLocal tip: Kauf verschweißte Bohnen zum Mitnehmen.
DirectionsWatch first · Urlaubsguru AT 24h in ADDIS ABABA & der beste Kaffee der Welt ☕️
Walk to the Adwa Victory Memorial 10 min
Walk to the Adwa Victory Memorial
10 minShort and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.
Walk to the Adwa Victory Memorial· 10 min
Afternoon
Adwa Victory Memorial Piassa
The new memorial in Piassa to the 1896 victory over Italy: a big, striking building with a museum underneath.
Directions
Day 5 Take a ride to Meskel Square 10 minTake a ride to Meskel Square
10 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Meskel Square· 10 min
Morning
Meskel Square and the riverside Meskel Square
The city's huge public square, with fountains and new riverside paths below it. Bonfires light it up at Meskel in September.
Time there: 30 Minuten FreeLocal tip: Viel Verkehr; überquere die Straße vorsichtig.
Directions
Cycle to Friendship Park 10 min
Cycle to Friendship Park
10 minFlat riverside paths, away from the traffic.
Cycle to Friendship Park· 10 min
Morning
Bike the riverside to Friendship Park Arat Kilo
The new riverside parks run from Meskel Square up to Friendship Park on flat, paved paths away from traffic. The calmest ride in the city.
DirectionsWatch first · Wode Maya Äthiopiens Hauptstadt wird zur Weltstadt
Take a ride to Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum 5 minTake a ride to Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum
5 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum· 5 min
Late morning
Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum Meskel Square
A small, moving museum on the Derg years, often guided by survivors. Free, donations welcome.
Time there: 1 Stunde FreeLocal tip: Lässt sich gut mit dem Meskel Square verbinden.
Directions
Take the light rail to Merkato 10 minTake the light rail to Merkato
10 minA few birr a ride. Buy a ticket at the station window.
Take the light rail to Merkato· 10 min
Afternoon
Merkato with a guide Merkato
One of Africa's biggest open-air markets: spices, baskets, recycled metalwork. Go with a guide and keep your phone in a front pocket.
Time there: 2 Stunden Free; agree the guide fee firstLocal tip: Geh mit einem einheimischen Guide; lass Wertsachen zurück.
Directions
Walk to Grand Anwar Mosque 5 min
Walk to Grand Anwar Mosque
5 minShort and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.
Walk to Grand Anwar Mosque· 5 min
Late afternoon
Grand Anwar Mosque Merkato
The city's largest mosque, on the edge of Merkato. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly.
Time there: 30 Minuten FreeLocal tip: Komm außerhalb der Gebetszeiten.
Directions
Day 6 Take a ride to Gullele Botanic Garden 30 minTake a ride to Gullele Botanic Garden
30 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Gullele Botanic Garden· 30 min
Morning
Gullele Botanic Garden Gullele
Quiet trails through native trees and a great view west over the city. Few people, lots of birds.
Time there: 2–3 Stunden Small feeLocal tip: Trag gute Schuhe; die Wege sind hügelig und hier oben ist es kühler.
Directions
Take a ride to Zoma Museum 45 minTake a ride to Zoma Museum
45 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Zoma Museum· 45 min
Afternoon
An artist-built museum of mud-and-straw walls, gardens and a café. Check opening days before you go.
Time there: 1–2 Stunden Entry feeLocal tip: Prüf vorher die Öffnungstage; bei privaten Veranstaltungen ist es geschlossen.
Directions
Take a ride to Bole Road 25 minTake a ride to Bole Road
25 minBook it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.
Take a ride to Bole Road· 25 min
Evening
Rooftop bars, lounges and late food on Bole's main strip. Take a ride home rather than walking late.
Time there: Abends VariesLocal tip: Nutz nachts Fahrdienst-Apps, auch für kurze Strecken.
Directions