Explore Addis Ababa

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Despite being a relatively new capital, Addis Ababa has a wealth of interesting museums and historic sights to visit. Make the most of your time in the city by taking one of our guided tours to see some of the highlights of what Addis has to offer.

   4 h

2. The oldest museum in Ethiopia, its most famous exhibit is "Lucy", the 3.5 million year old skeleton whose discovery in 1974 demonstrated that bipedal hominids evolved much earlier than previously thought. The museum also holds many other palaeontological and archaeological artefacts, as well as ethnographic and modern art displays.

   2 hAdmission included

3. Built to commemorate Ethiopia's emancipation from the Italian occupation, the cathedral is an important focal point for the Ethiopian Orthodox church. As a place of worship, it is considered second only to the Church of Our Lady Zion in Axum (where the original Ark of the Covenant is believed to be held).

   1 hAdmission included

4. The site where Menelik II established his capital, Entoto mountain offers excellent views across the Addis Ababa and its surroundings, and a breath of (relatively) fresh air after the hustle and bustle of the city. Visit Menelik II's palace, the church of St. Mary and the Entoto museum.

   1 hAdmission included

5. A chance to shop at the traditional market of Shero Meda

   30 minAdmission included

6. The Mercato is reputedly the largest market in Africa, and is the commercial hub of Addis Ababa. A close-knit grid of streets crammed with stalls, kiosks and shops, you can buy virtually anything here, but be prepared to negotiate!

   1 hAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 6 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Addis Ababa

• Its from-price is 74% below the median of the 564 experiences we list in Addis Ababa.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 157 of 564.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, stands high on a plateau among eucalyptus-covered hills, with museums, markets, churches and African Union offices.

At around 2,400 metres, Addis Ababa is one of the highest capitals in the world, laid out on the slopes of the Entoto hills. The National Museum of Ethiopia tells the story of human origins through Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old partial skeleton found in the country in 1974, while the Ethnological Museum is housed in a former imperial palace. Holy Trinity Cathedral and Saint George Cathedral are important churches, and Meskel Square hosts large gatherings.

Top-ranked sights in Addis Ababa: National Museum of Ethiopia, Mt. Entoto, IES Ethnographic Museum (Addis Ababa University).

See all 564 experiences in Addis Ababa