Trip highlights
- 1National Museum (Lucy fossil)
- 2Ethiopian coffee ceremony
- 3Entoto Hill
- 4Holy Trinity Cathedral
- 5Injera and wat feast
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
Language preparation
15 min/day for 8 weeks ≈ 672 useful words and phrases
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & National Museum
Tuesday, January 12
Est. spend
$90
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Bole International Airport (ADD)
Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa
A taxi transfers from Bole International Airport to central Addis Ababa in roughly 30-40 minutes depending on traffic.
Agree on a fixed taxi fare before getting in, or arrange a hotel pickup in advance to avoid haggling on arrival.
☀️ Afternoon
National Museum of Ethiopia
King George VI St, Addis Ababa
Home to a replica of Lucy (Dinkinesh), the 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis fossil that reshaped understanding of human origins, alongside royal artifacts and ancient archaeological finds.
Hire one of the on-site English-speaking guides — exhibit labelling is sparse and the context they add is well worth the small tip.
🌙 Evening
Welcome dinner with injera and wat
Piazza district, Addis Ababa
A first introduction to Ethiopian cuisine: spongy injera flatbread served with doro wat (spiced chicken stew) and a variety of vegetable sides, eaten by hand.
Eat with your right hand only, and let a local show you how to tear and scoop with injera if it's your first time.
🍽️ Meals
Airport hotel breakfast
Ethiopian/International · $6
Museum café lunch
Ethiopian · $7
Piazza injera dinner
Ethiopian · $10
Coffee Ceremony & Holy Trinity Cathedral
Wednesday, January 13
Est. spend
$75
per person
🌅 Morning
Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony
Local home or traditional café, Addis Ababa
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and a full ceremony involves roasting green beans over coals, grinding them by hand, and brewing three rounds in a clay jebena — a ritual of hospitality lasting over an hour.
Stay for all three rounds (abol, tona, bereka) — leaving after the first is considered impolite.
☀️ Afternoon
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa
Ethiopia's grandest Orthodox cathedral, the burial site of Emperor Haile Selassie, featuring stained glass, intricate stonework, and a peaceful surrounding garden of monuments.
Dress modestly and remove hats before entering — this remains an active and deeply revered place of worship.
🌙 Evening
Mercato market wander and dinner
Mercato, Addis Ababa
Africa's largest open-air market sprawls through central Addis, selling everything from spices to handwoven textiles, best visited with a local guide for safety and navigation.
Keep valuables minimal and visit in a small group — Mercato is fascinating but can be overwhelming and pickpocket-prone.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Ethiopian/International · $6
Cathedral district lunch
Ethiopian · $8
Mercato area dinner
Ethiopian · $9
Entoto Hill & Panoramic Views
Thursday, January 14
Est. spend
$95
per person
🌅 Morning
Entoto Hill
Entoto Hill, Addis Ababa
A forested mountain ridge overlooking Addis Ababa at over 3,000m, home to Emperor Menelik II's original palace site and eucalyptus groves planted over a century ago.
Bring a light jacket — temperatures drop noticeably at this altitude even on a sunny day.
☀️ Afternoon
Entoto Maryam Church
Entoto Maryam Church, Entoto Hill
A historic church on the hill where Emperor Menelik II was crowned, with simple stone architecture and sweeping views over the entire Addis Ababa basin.
Local women carrying firewood down the mountain are part of daily life here — a respectful photo request is appreciated, not assumed.
🌙 Evening
Cultural dinner show
Cultural restaurant, Bole area
A restaurant featuring live traditional Ethiopian music and dance from different regions, paired with a tej (honey wine) tasting and a full injera spread.
Tej comes in varying sweetness levels — ask for a sample before committing to a full glass.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Ethiopian/International · $6
Entoto Hill packed lunch
Ethiopian · $8
Cultural restaurant dinner
Ethiopian · $20
Ethnological Museum & Departure
Friday, January 15
Est. spend
$90
per person
🌅 Morning
Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University, 6 Kilo Campus
Housed in Haile Selassie's former palace, this museum covers Ethiopia's vast cultural diversity across more than 80 ethnic groups, from masks to musical instruments.
Climb the staircase Haile Selassie reputedly survived an assassination attempt on — a small but memorable detail pointed out by guides.
☀️ Afternoon
Final shopping for coffee and textiles
Bole area, Addis Ababa
A last stop for roasted Ethiopian coffee beans, a jebena coffee pot, and handwoven cotton scarves before departure.
Buy coffee in whole bean form and ask vendors for vacuum sealing if flying onward to humid destinations.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Bole International Airport
Bole International Airport
Allow at least 3 hours before an international flight, as Bole Airport security lines can be lengthy during peak departure periods.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Ethiopian/International · $6
Bole area lunch
Ethiopian · $9
Airport food
Ethiopian/International · $12
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
October–March is the dry season with pleasant daytime temperatures around 20-25°C, ideal given Addis Ababa's 2,355m altitude. June–September brings the main rainy season.
🛂 Visas
Most nationalities can obtain an Ethiopian e-visa online before travel (evisa.gov.et) or a visa on arrival at Bole International Airport — the e-visa is faster and recommended.
💱 Currency
Ethiopian Birr (ETB). Cards are accepted only at upscale hotels; cash is essential elsewhere, and ATMs can run out of birr, so carry some USD as backup.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 991
ambulance: 907
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Addis Ababa sits at 2,355m altitude — take it easy on day one and stay well hydrated to avoid mild altitude effects.
- A full coffee ceremony involves three rounds and can take over an hour — it's a hospitality ritual, not a quick espresso stop.
- Tipping (10%) is appreciated but not always expected at smaller local eateries; check if service charge is already included.
- Ethiopia uses its own calendar (roughly 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar) and 12-hour clock starting at sunrise — don't be alarmed by date discrepancies.
- Fasting days (Wednesdays and Fridays for observant Orthodox Christians) mean many restaurants serve excellent vegan Ethiopian dishes by default.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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