Addis Ababa walking tour & city guide

Neighbourhoods

Bole, near the airport, is the modern district of hotels, malls and nightlife along Bole Road. Piassa, the old centre founded under Emperor Menelik II, has Italian-era buildings and historic cafés, though parts of it have been rebuilt in recent redevelopment. Arat Kilo and Sidist Kilo, to the north, are home to the university, the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the National Museum.

To the west, Merkato is often called the largest open-air market in Africa, a city within the city where you can buy anything from spices to recycled metal.

A classic walk

Begin at the National Museum, home of the fossil skeleton known as Lucy, then walk to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where Emperor Haile Selassie is buried. Continue down through Arat Kilo to the Unity Park in the grounds of the old palace, and end the day with a traditional coffee ceremony, where beans are roasted, ground and brewed in front of you.

Good to know

Ethiopia uses its own calendar, about seven to eight years behind the Gregorian one, and its own way of counting hours from dawn, so always confirm times. The dry season from October to May is best. Bring a light jacket for the cool evenings. Check current travel advice before planning a trip.