All trip plans
Trip plan

A week in Addis Ababa

Time to slow down. A quiet base above Arat Kilo, the city at an easy pace, a day at the crater lakes and evenings out.

Days
7 days
Places
22
Your hotel
Ras Amba Hotel
Comfortable
>USD 90 a day

ArrivalDay 1

Fly into AddisInt'l: T2 · Domestic: T1

Fly into Addis

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.

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Land at Bole

Bole

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 Hotels

Local tip: Kauf deine SIM-Karte in der Gepäckhalle, bevor du rausgehst.

DirectionsWatch first · Indigo TravellerSo bereist du Äthiopien: Preise und Sicherheit
Take a ride to your hotel 25 min

Take a ride to your hotel

25 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Your hotel · Mid-range

Ras Amba Hotel

Arat Kilo

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 min

Take a ride to National Museum of Ethiopia

5 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Afternoon

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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 fee

Local tip: An manchen Feiertagen geschlossen.

Directions
Walk to Holy Trinity Cathedral 15 min

Walk to Holy Trinity Cathedral

15 min

Short and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.

Late afternoon

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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 fee

Local tip: Zieh dich zurückhaltend an; zieh die Schuhe aus, wo man dich darum bittet.

Directions
Take a ride to Yod Abyssinia 25 min

Take a ride to Yod Abyssinia

25 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Evening

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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.

Dinner and show
DirectionsWatch first · Mark WiensDie ultimative äthiopische Food-Tour in Addis Abeba

Day 2

Take a ride to Ethnological Museum 10 min

Take a ride to Ethnological Museum

10 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Morning

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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 fee

Local tip: Auf dem Hauptcampus der Universität; zeig dem Wachmann am Tor, dass du ins Museum willst.

Directions
Take a ride to Unity Park 10 min

Take a ride to Unity Park

10 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Afternoon

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Unity Park

Arat Kilo

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 guide

Local tip: Di–So, Tickets 9–16 Uhr. Montags geschlossen.

DirectionsWatch first · Wode MayaÄthiopiens Hauptstadt wird zur Weltstadt
Walk to Fendika Cultural Center 15 min

Walk to Fendika Cultural Center

15 min

Short and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.

Evening

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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 drinks

Local tip: Gib dem Sänger Trinkgeld, wenn er über dich singt.

Directions

Day 3

Take a ride to Entoto Park 25 min

Take a ride to Entoto Park

25 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Morning

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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 fee

Local 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 min

Take a ride to St George's Cathedral

25 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Midday

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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 fee

Local tip: Schlendere danach durch die alten Straßen von Piassa.

Directions
Walk to Tomoca Coffee 10 min

Walk to Tomoca Coffee

10 min

Short and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.

Coffee

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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 Br

Local tip: Kauf verschweißte Bohnen zum Mitnehmen.

DirectionsWatch first · Urlaubsguru AT24h in ADDIS ABABA & der beste Kaffee der Welt ☕️
Walk to the Adwa Victory Memorial 10 min

Walk to the Adwa Victory Memorial

10 min

Short and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.

Afternoon

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Adwa Victory Memorial

Piassa

The new memorial in Piassa to the 1896 victory over Italy: a big, striking building with a museum underneath.

Small fee
Directions

Day 4

Drive to Bishoftu with a driver About 1 hour by road

Drive to Bishoftu with a driver

About 1 hour by road

Hire a trusted driver through your hotel or tour operator, and travel in daylight.

All day

Day out at the Bishoftu crater lakes

1 hour from Addis

An hour down the expressway: lakeside lunch, birds and boat rides on Lake Babogaya or Kuriftu. Check current advice first.

Time there: Ganzer Tag oder mit Übernachtung Lodges approx. USD 80–250 a night

Local tip: Bequeme Fahrt über die Schnellstraße. Prüf vorher die aktuellen Hinweise.

Check your government's travel advice for this trip the week you go.

Directions

Day 5

Take a ride to Meskel Square 10 min

Take a ride to Meskel Square

10 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Morning

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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 Free

Local tip: Viel Verkehr; überquere die Straße vorsichtig.

Directions
Cycle to Friendship Park 10 min

Cycle to Friendship Park

10 min

Flat riverside paths, away from the traffic.

Morning

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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.

Free
DirectionsWatch first · Wode MayaÄthiopiens Hauptstadt wird zur Weltstadt
Take a ride to Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum 5 min

Take a ride to Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum

5 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Late morning

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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 Free

Local tip: Lässt sich gut mit dem Meskel Square verbinden.

Directions
Take the light rail to Merkato 10 min

Take the light rail to Merkato

10 min

A few birr a ride. Buy a ticket at the station window.

Afternoon

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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 first

Local tip: Geh mit einem einheimischen Guide; lass Wertsachen zurück.

Directions
Walk to Grand Anwar Mosque 5 min

Walk to Grand Anwar Mosque

5 min

Short and easy on foot. Keep your phone in a front pocket.

Late afternoon

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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 Free

Local tip: Komm außerhalb der Gebetszeiten.

Directions

Day 6

Take a ride to Gullele Botanic Garden 30 min

Take a ride to Gullele Botanic Garden

30 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

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 fee

Local tip: Trag gute Schuhe; die Wege sind hügelig und hier oben ist es kühler.

Directions
Take a ride to Zoma Museum 45 min

Take a ride to Zoma Museum

45 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Afternoon

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Zoma Museum

Mexico

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 fee

Local tip: Prüf vorher die Öffnungstage; bei privaten Veranstaltungen ist es geschlossen.

Directions
Take a ride to Bole Road 25 min

Take a ride to Bole Road

25 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Evening

Bole Road at night

Bole

Rooftop bars, lounges and late food on Bole's main strip. Take a ride home rather than walking late.

Time there: Abends Varies

Local tip: Nutz nachts Fahrdienst-Apps, auch für kurze Strecken.

Directions

Day 7

Take a ride to Shiro Meda market 15 min

Take a ride to Shiro Meda market

15 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Morning

Shiro Meda weavers' market

North Addis

Hand-woven scarves and traditional dresses straight from the weavers. Haggle gently.

Time there: 1–2 Stunden From 600 Br

Local tip: Handgewebte Stücke kosten mehr; achte auf das Gewicht.

Directions
Take a ride to Galani Coffee 35 min

Take a ride to Galani Coffee

35 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Afternoon

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Galani Coffee

Gerji

A specialty café and gallery that runs cuppings of single-origin Ethiopian beans. Ask for a tasting.

Coffee and tasting
Directions
Take a ride to Kategna 15 min

Take a ride to Kategna

15 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Farewell dinner

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Lunch at Kategna

Bole

Traditional food done well: try the kategna (toasted injera with spiced butter) and a shiro. Vegan plates too.

approx. 250–1,200 Br
DirectionsWatch first · Mark WiensKategna: äthiopisches Essen, das du nicht verpassen solltest
Take a ride to Bole Airport 5 min

Take a ride to Bole Airport

5 min

Book it in a ride-hailing app: the fare shows upfront, so there's nothing to haggle.

Back to Bole for your flight

Leave about 3 hours before an international departure: security and check-in take time.

Time there: 15–30 Min. zu den meisten Hotels

Local tip: Kauf deine SIM-Karte in der Gepäckhalle, bevor du rausgehst.

Watch first · Indigo TravellerSo bereist du Äthiopien: Preise und Sicherheit
A week in Addis Ababa: a day-by-day plan · Guide.et