←Ethiopia travel guide
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
Africa's diplomatic capital, where ancient history meets modern ambition
CultureFood & DrinkHistory & Heritage
Addis Ababa sits at over 2,300 metres above sea level in the Ethiopian Highlands, making it one of the world's highest capital cities. The National Museum houses Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis skeleton, while Merkato, one of Africa's largest open-air markets, pulses with the city's everyday energy.
Check Ethiopia visa requirements →
Best time to visit
October to March (dry season)
Region
Addis Ababa
Main airport
Addis Ababa (ADD)
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Addis Ababa
UNESCO World HeritageNature
Bale Mountains National Park
A highland wilderness in southern Ethiopia spanning Afroalpine moorland, forest and volcanic peaks. The park shelters rare endemic wildlife including the Ethiopian wolf and mountain nyala, making it a stronghold of the country's unique biodiversity.
UNESCO World Heritage
Wise
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Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for Ethiopia.
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4.7 ★ App Store·4.6 ★ Google Play
Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Addis Ababa
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
Compare fares from hundreds of airlines to find the best route in — search options are on the way.
Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Ethiopia
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Ethiopia page at Yoogo.
Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian Birr (ETB), and cash is the dominant payment method throughout the country. Credit and debit cards are accepted at some hotels and larger restaurants in Addis Ababa, but outside the capital you should carry sufficient birr, as ATMs are scarce and card acceptance is limited.
Ethiopia attracts many international visitors each year, particularly to the historic northern circuit and established national parks. Conditions vary significantly by region, so it is worth consulting your government's official travel advisory before your trip and staying informed throughout your stay.
Domestic flights are the most practical way to cover Ethiopia's large distances, connecting Addis Ababa with Lalibela, Gondar, Axum, and other key destinations. Within cities, metered taxis, ride-hailing apps such as Ride and ZayRide, and minibuses are widely available, while organised tours with private vehicles are common for reaching national parks and rural sites.
October to March is generally the most popular period for travel, when the dry season brings clear skies and comfortable temperatures across the highland circuit. The main rainy season runs from June to September, which can disrupt travel on unpaved roads but brings lush landscapes and significantly lower accommodation prices.
Amharic is the national official language and Oromo is the most widely spoken language by population, while more than 80 other languages are in daily use across the country. English is reasonably common in Addis Ababa, at tourist sites, and in hotels throughout the country, but is less reliable in rural areas, where a local guide is a practical asset.
Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, and proof of vaccination may be checked at the border. Malaria is present in most lowland areas below 2,500 metres, so antimalarial medication is recommended for travel outside highland cities, along with vaccinations for hepatitis A, typhoid, and tetanus as a baseline.
Tipping is not obligatory but is warmly appreciated, particularly in tourist-facing businesses. A tip of around 10 per cent is standard in restaurants accustomed to visitors, while tour guides typically receive 100–200 Birr per day and drivers 50–100 Birr per day as a customary acknowledgement of their work.