162 ETB/$1at the banks today12°Cin Addis Ababa, Cloudy

Enjoy your stay in Ethiopia like us locals.

A curated list of everything you need to know, from SIM cards, money and rides to the places worth seeing, to make your stay enjoyable and safe.

Start exploringWhere to visit
ZDF/Terra X/interscience film · CC BY 4.0
Lalibela
Guides

Everything you need for a safe, enjoyable stay.

What to sort out from the moment you land, in the order you'll need it.

01

Landing at Bole

Skip the taxi touts: book a RIDE, Feres or Yango car in the app. 15 to 30 minutes to most hotels.

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02

Get a SIM card

Two networks, both sold at the airport with your passport. Compare their visitor plans.

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03

Change money

Banks and licensed exchange bureaus only; street exchange is illegal. Compare today's bank rates.

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04

Pay and tip

Cash in birr for most things. Cards work in big hotels; telebirr and M-PESA work almost everywhere.

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05

Where to stay

Bole is the easiest first base: close to the airport, food and rides.

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06

Tours and guides

Long-running licensed operators, and how to check a guide's licence before you pay.

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07

Filming and vlogging

What you can film, where cameras aren't allowed, drone approvals, and asking people first.

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08

Get around the city

RIDE, Feres and Yango work; Uber doesn't. Pay the driver in cash.

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09

Travel beyond Addis

Fly with Ethiopian Airlines, book coaches in the Mengedegna app, or take the train to Dire Dawa.

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10

Is it safe to travel?

Addis is calm, but some regions aren't. See where to go and what to avoid, from the UK, US and Japan advisories.

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11

Your rights and the law

Show your passport when asked, don't film the police, and know your right to a lawyer and your embassy.

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12

Weather

Mild all year at 2,355 m. Big rains from June to September; dry and sunny from October.

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13

Shopping

Malls have fixed prices, markets expect haggling, and online it's Zemen Gebeya in telebirr. Never pay before you get it.

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14

Food and delivery

What to eat and drink, with photos, and the apps that deliver food and groceries to your door.

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15

What to bring

Phones and cameras are fine. Drones and binoculars need a permit before you fly.

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16

Basic greetings

Hello, thank you and how much, in Amharic script and Latin letters, with sound.

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17

Ethiopian time and date

Clocks start at sunrise and the calendar is 7 or 8 years behind. See the time now and convert any date.

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18

Vegan travellers

Often called a vegan paradise: Orthodox fasting food, free of meat, dairy and eggs, is served almost everywhere.

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19

Muslim travellers

Mosques in every part of Addis and halal meat everywhere from Muslim butchers. Find a place to pray with Musalla.

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20

Christian travellers

One of the oldest Christian countries, with almost every denomination: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and more, plus services in English.

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21

Jewish travellers

Beta Israel heritage, a synagogue in Addis, and kosher meals through Chabad Ethiopia.

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Where to visit

Where to go, and what it costs.

Tap a pin for the time you'll need, the price and directions. Need your embassy? Open Embassies, the last tab.

Be cautious.

Most visitors meet nothing but kindness, but a few tricks target newcomers: airport touts, "friendly" guides who lead you to overpriced bars, and street money changers. Agree prices first, change money at banks, and book rides in an app.

If anything goes wrong, contact the police or your embassy.

All emergency numbers
991Police907Ambulance
Through foreigners' lens

Discover Ethiopia through foreigners' lens.

Creators who came before you, filming the food, streets and people you're about to meet. There's even more on TikTok.

More vlogs on YouTubeEthiopia on TikTok

In Arabic · بالعربية

Apps for you

Apps to enjoy more of Ethiopia.

Install them before you fly.

Get a local SIM first

telebirr and M-PESA need an Ethiopian number, and ride apps work best with one.

Compare SIM cards

  • RIDERides

    Ethiopia's best-known ride-hailing app. Fare shown upfront; pay the driver in cash.

  • FeresRides

    Popular ride-hailing app with cars across Addis. Can also be booked by phone.

  • YangoRides

    International ride-hailing app operating in Addis Ababa.