If you’re interested in history or ethnography—or if you just really like to eat and shop—you’ll find plenty of things to do in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia’s capital city is home to the country’s most interesting museums, including the National Museum of Ethiopia and the Ethnological Museum, as well as beautiful Orthodox cathedrals and the largest open-air market in Africa. It’s a fantastic place to try out local Ethiopian specialties such as injera (spongy flatbread), tej (honey wine), and the country’s most celebrated export: coffee.
You'll have the best weather if you plan your Addis Ababa visit between October and May when there’s usually not too much rain (July and August are best avoided due to regular downpours). January is a great month to visit if you want to experience local festivities. Christmas in Ethiopia is celebrated on January 7, while Timkat—which honors the baptism of Jesus—is held on January 19 (or January 20 during leap years).
While some of Addis Ababa’s attractions are within walking distance of one another, the best way to get around the city is usually by taxi. You can typically hail one on the street or ask the front desk of your hotel to call one for you, but it’s just as easy to book one through the RIDE taxi app. Addis also has a light rail, but there are only two lines.
If you’re feeling peckish and looking for a good place to have a sumptuous and filling lunch, make your way over to the historic Itegue Taitu Hotel, the first hotel to open in Ethiopia. The Taitu offers an all-you-can-eat buffet of Ethiopian fare, served in the historic dark-wood dining room, and draws in throngs of locals and tourists. Per Ethiopian Orthodox fasting traditions, the buffet is entirely plant-based.
