6 Tips for Visiting Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

…..Are you planning or preparing for a trip to Addis Ababa. And looking forward to basking in Ethiopian food, exploring the rapidly developing city, or visiting some museums to learn about the country’s history? Look no further! This article is all about tips and recommendations that will make your visit to Addis smoother, so that you can spend your trip getting to know the city vs dealing with logistics.

I recently took a solo trip to Addis and in preparation for my trip, I found it helpful to have leveraged tips and recommendations from friends based in the country and those who had visited before. Having suggestions on where to stay, how to get around, and things to do, made my planning easier, and also provided me with insights of what to expect. It was the ultimate pre-trip guide. you know those travel guides that provide you with all the insights and answer ALL the questions you have? . Yes, it was that and I am forever grateful to all those that contributed!

Pulling from the wise wisdom that was shared with me and from my experience on the ground, below’s a list of tips to help you prepare for your upcoming or future trip to Addis! Hope it helps alleviate some stress in your trip planning 😉

Here are the….Tips Tips Tips:

1.) Getaround using the Car Hailing App, Ride

Founded and run by Ethiopian female tech entrepreneur, Samrawit Fikru , Ride is a car hailing app, providing similar services to Uber and Lyft. It’s Ethiopian built and run, catering to the unique needs of the local market. Samrawit built the app in response to the transport difficulties she experienced. She would find herself working late in the office at night and experiencing transport challenges when trying to head home. She felt unsafe in taxis. and on top of that, the drivers would ask her to pay double the trip price compared to what they charge during the day.

This is an experience I can relate to and I’m sure many women are familiar with. that feeling of uneasiness when accessing transport in the night, especially in countries that have not developed safe, consistent, and accessible public transportation systems and safe taxi networks. If you don’t have access to a car or private driver, the alternatives are taking public transportation that is unreliable, unpredictable, and unsafe or taxi’s, which can be overpriced and unsafe. As a solo female traveler, safe and accessible transportation is always top of mind for me, prompting me to look up and determine transportation options before arriving in any destination for a trip.

Using Ride removed the stress and fear of finding and using a taxi, and of having to negotiate the trip price, especially when I did not speak the local language. With Ride, as I’ve done when using car hailing apps while traveling, I shared the details of my Ride app driver with my family and kept track of the route to my destination.

2.) Get a Local Sim Card

Normally when I travel I avoid the “headache” of getting a local sim (laziness!? ) and opt to use wifi when available. BUT if you read step 1 and plan on using a car hailing app or other services that require internet on the go, look into procuring a local sim. Alternatively, you can research if your current telecom provider will roam in Addis. as well as the costs associated with it.

To purchase a sim, simply stop by an Ethio Telecom office to buy a sim card and to charge it with data. Remember to carry your passport, as they require it for personal identification and use it for sim registration. Ethio Telecom offices are available in commercial areas, as well as the Addis Ababa airport, which is where I bought mine. It was a simple and hassle free process, which allowed me to have internet access while on the go. You should have seen me.. hailing rides, researching spots on the fly, and most importantly. uploading FIRE pictures and videos of my time in Addis. You know what they say…..“if it’s not on the gram, did it really happen?”

3.) Be prepared to use CASH for everything

As you plan your trip to Addis, be prepared to use cash to pay for everything! Okay, almost everything…. Apart from my hotel, which I booked ahead online and paid for using a credit card, all other costs were paid for using the local cash currency, Ethiopian Birr.

You’re probably wondering, how much cash do I need? To determine how much cash you’ll need, research local costs and use the information you find to create a budget. Develop your budget by allocating a “spend amount” for each trip cost, such as transportation, meals, entrance fees for tourist sites, local sim and credit, excursions, shopping, unexpected costs, emergencies, as well as any other category you see fit.

Now that you have your budget. do you carry cash or use an in-country ATM? Keep in mind. that although ATMs are available, they’re often unreliable and not functioning. It’s best to have cash accessible that you can easily exchange to Birr. If you’d like to use an ATM, they’re available at upscale hotels, banks, and Bole airport, and yes they accept international cards.

To exchange foreign currency, stop by a foreign-exchange bureau to purchase Birr. You can leverage foreign exchange bureau’s located in Addis Ababa Bole Airport (accessible right after exiting immigration) or at local banks in town. Some hotels also exchange foreign currency, however it might be at a higher rate..so be sure to check with your hotel ahead of time. Now that you have your finances in check, there’s nothing stopping you. oh wait, lack of a visa might 😉 read on, to hear more!

4.) Check if a Visa is Required

Before visiting Ethiopia, be sure to check if a tourist visa is required for your nationality and passport. For both American and Nigerian passport holders visiting Ethiopia, a tourist visa is required and can be obtained on arrival at Bole International airport or electronically, by applying ahead of time online.

CAUTION: VISA ONLINE: If you’re applying for a visa online, be aware of fake and scamming websites resembling the Ethiopian Immigration Nationality and Vital Events Agency (INVEA) e-visa website and claiming to “process” visas. Below’s an image of the notable fake websites posted by INVEA. Another way to spot these fraudulent sites is by the costly visa fees they charge, they’re often higher than the fees listed on the official Ethiopian Government website.

VISA ON ARRIVAL: Although they’re often queues and it can be a long wait, obtaining a visa upon arrival at Bole international airport is a reliable option. Remember to research the documents required for your visa on arrival and come prepared with sufficient funds for the visa fee. Safe travels!

5.) Be aware of Public holidays or Major events

This tip seems obvious right?! …Well as obvious as it is, this tip comes straight from the Tiffy play book of oversights, as yours truly visited Addis Ababa during the period of Ethiopian Christmas. You may be wondering, “what’s wrong with that?” or thinking, Christmas holiday, “how lovely!”. wait for it…. Ethiopian Christmas is a public holiday, which locals celebrate by spending time with family and loved ones (how lovely right?). As a public holiday, all museums and tourist sites are closed, as well as many shops and restaurants. You see how this can greatly impact exploration plans?

. Due to my short time frame in Addis and the public holiday, I didn’t get to visit all the museums and historic sites as planned. No worries though, I’ll just have to visit when I’m back 😉 To avoid my mistake, prepare by doing research into significant events before visiting! Be aware of any upcoming public holidays, festivities, events (both political and social), or weather changes that could impact your plans while in Addis. Safe travels!

6.) Be vigilant as you would be in any city

As the country’s political and commercial hub, Addis is a sprawling and bustling city. While there, be vigilant and take the same precaution you adopt when visiting any major city. For my fellow female travelers, who are interested in travel safety tips, read below on how I prepare for upcoming travel and “don’t succumb to the fear” .

My approach is twofold, by doing research beforehand and being cautious while on ground. In preparation for my trip to Addis, I did my usual research. I first began by learning about gender and treatment of women in Ethiopia, before reading more specifically about traveler experiences and recommendations from solo female travelers who visited Addis. I then researched common threats, crimes, or scams to be aware of (mainly pick pocketing and muggings) and prepared for a “worst case scenario”, by developing an “emergency list”. This list contained contact details of my embassy and travel insurance provider, recommended hospitals, and other critical information.

While on ground, I took precaution by being vigilant and aware of my surroundings and by sharing details of my whereabouts with family. From my personal experience, I felt safe throughout my trip in Addis. My only recommendations would be to stay alert as you would in any major city, try and blend in, be aware of your belongings in crowded areas, and avoid walking in the night, especially alone.

…..Now that you have all the tips, GO!

These were the recommendations that guided me throughout my time in Addis. May they guide you through your visit and help make your trip smooth.