All trip plans
Trip plan

3 days in Addis Ababa

The best of Addis: museums and palaces, the old town, the hills and the music. You sleep in Bole and ride between areas.

Days
3 days
Places
14
Your hotel
Best Western Plus Addis Ababa
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.

See this place on Explore

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: ज़्यादातर होटलों तक 15–30 मिनट

Local tip: निकलने से पहले बैगेज हॉल में ही अपना SIM ख़रीदें।

DirectionsWatch first · Nomad ShubhamMy First day in AFRICA (Ethiopia)
Take a ride to your hotel 5 min

Take a ride to your hotel

5 min

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

Your hotel · Mid-range

Best Western Plus Addis Ababa

Bole

A dependable mid-range base on Bole's restaurant strip, about ten minutes from the airport.

Directions
Take a ride to National Museum of Ethiopia 20 min

Take a ride to National Museum of Ethiopia

20 min

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

Morning

See this place on Explore

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 घंटे Small foreigner fee

Local tip: कुछ छुट्टियों पर बंद रहता है।

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 morning

See this place on Explore

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 घंटा Visitor fee

Local tip: शालीन कपड़े पहनें; जहाँ कहा जाए वहाँ जूते उतारें।

Directions
Walk to Unity Park 15 min

Walk to Unity Park

15 min

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

Afternoon

See this place on Explore

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 घंटे USD 20, or 50 with the palace and a guide

Local tip: मंगल–रवि, टिकट सुबह 9 बजे से शाम 4 बजे तक। सोमवार को बंद।

DirectionsWatch first · Wode Mayaइथियोपिया की राजधानी एक विश्वस्तरीय शहर में बदल रही है
Take a ride to Yod Abyssinia 20 min

Take a ride to Yod Abyssinia

20 min

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

Evening

See this place on Explore

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 Wiensअदीस अबाबा में इथियोपियाई खाने का सबसे शानदार टूर

Day 2

Take a ride to Entoto Park 40 min

Take a ride to Entoto Park

40 min

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

Morning

See this place on Explore

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: आधा दिन Small fee

Local tip: ज़्यादा ठंडा और ऊँचा (लगभग 3,000 मीटर)। एक गर्म कपड़ा साथ रखें।

Directions
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

See this place on Explore

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 मिनट Small fee

Local tip: बाद में पियास्सा की पुरानी गलियों में टहलें।

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

See this place on Explore

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 मिनट From 40 Br

Local tip: घर ले जाने के लिए सील बंद बीन्स ख़रीदें।

Directions
Take a ride to Arada Park 5 min

Take a ride to Arada Park

5 min

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

Afternoon

See this place on Explore

Arada Park

Piassa

A new green square in the old Arada quarter, a nice pause between Piassa's churches, cafés and jewellers.

Free
Directions
Take a ride to Fendika Cultural Center 10 min

Take a ride to Fendika Cultural Center

10 min

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

Evening

See this place on Explore

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: शाम Entry and drinks

Local tip: अगर गायक आपके बारे में गाए तो उसे टिप दें।

Directions

Day 3

Take a ride to Meskel Square 15 min

Take a ride to Meskel Square

15 min

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

Morning

See this place on Explore

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 मिनट Free

Local tip: भारी ट्रैफ़िक; सावधानी से सड़क पार करें।

Directions
Cycle to Friendship Park 10 min

Cycle to Friendship Park

10 min

Flat riverside paths, away from the traffic.

Morning

See this place on Explore

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 Mayaइथियोपिया की राजधानी एक विश्वस्तरीय शहर में बदल रही है
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

See this place on Explore

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 घंटा Free

Local tip: मेस्केल स्क्वेयर के साथ देखें।

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

See this place on Explore

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 घंटे Free; agree the guide fee first

Local tip: किसी स्थानीय गाइड के साथ जाएँ; क़ीमती सामान पीछे छोड़ दें।

Directions
Take a ride to Kategna 30 min

Take a ride to Kategna

30 min

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

Dinner

See this place on Explore

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: इथियोपियाई खाना जिसे आपको नहीं छोड़ना चाहिए
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: ज़्यादातर होटलों तक 15–30 मिनट

Local tip: निकलने से पहले बैगेज हॉल में ही अपना SIM ख़रीदें।

Watch first · Nomad ShubhamMy First day in AFRICA (Ethiopia)
3 days in Addis Ababa: a day-by-day plan · Guide.et