Full Day City Tour in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa Full Day City Tour - Private Guided Tour by Drive – Long layover 8-hour tour of Addis Ababa city with free airport/hotel pickup and drop-offs

Private Entire Day Sightseeing City Trip in Addis Ababa with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours

🤔 YOU HAVE 1-DAY TO VISIT ADDIS ABABA SITES?

🤔 YOU WANT TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF YOUR DAY IN ADDIS ABABA?

🤔 DO YOU WISH TO CREATE AND ENJOY YOUR TOUR YOUR OWN WAY?

🤔 EM…, YOU ARE NOT QUITE SURE ON “HOW”? 

We are Ethiopian local tourism professionals in Addis Ababa. We're here to help you create your personalized Addis Ababa city tour itinerary.

We specialize in customizing private excursions in and around Addis Ababa. YES! It is what we do best and sets us atop from the rest!

“The right choice for experiencing Addis like a local!”

It's time to MEET Mule! Amazingly responsive, super flexible and easily the most competitively priced offers.

Kept in touch till the end of the tour and answered every query promptly. Mule gave us absolutely fabulous Layover tour ...thru Ermiyas who showed us the really local flavors of Addis.

Thank you Ermiyas and Mule for making our short trip to Addis, memorable!

TripAdvisor review: Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa
Soumik reviewed on Jun 10, 2023

See why TripAdvisor highly ranks our Full–Day City Tour in Addis Ababa.

Keep reading and find out how we do it. And Send us a Message on WhatsApp for any Addis Ababa city visit related inquires or booking this full day tour.

DESCRIPTION

This complete sightseeing tour covers the top places of interest in Addis Ababa. This customizable trip is a great way to see Addis's best tourist attractions. Tours begin in the morning and finish at the end of the day. An insightful local tour guide narrates the history and background of Addis Ababa.

Read reviews on TripAdvisor about this Full-Day City Tour in Addis Ababa.

To spend a great day visiting the best of Addis Ababa, book our private full-day city tour. To help us offer you the best tour in Addis Ababa, please inform us of your points of interest and your travel style.

Our private Addis Ababa City Tours allow flexible tour start and end times. Get a free pick-up from any hotel in Addis Ababa you are staying at. You are free to create your custom itinerary for visiting Addis.

We provide your ideal Addis Ababa trip, considering what you want to do and where to go in Addis Ababa.

Make the best of your time in Addis Ababa adapting this day transit trip to your specifications. Your private Addis Ababa city tours let you have a glimpse of the huge Ethiopian nation. Your tour guide adjusts the visits to your pace and interests.

Planning a private trip to explore the top sights and things to do in Addis Ababa is exactly what we do best.

The private, full-day city tour in Addis Ababa is best for first-time visitors. The itinerary includes visits to museums, churches, and local markets.

Driving on scenic routes of the city and trying unique Ethiopian cultural activities are part of the Addis Ababa city tour.

Addis Ababa (sometimes spelled as Addis Abeba) is the biggest and capital city of Ethiopia. “Addis Ababa - written as "አዲስ አበባ” means “New Flower” in Ethiopia's Amharic language. The 1880s mark the foundation of Addis Ababa. Emperor Menelik II takes credit for it. Please, see details of visiting Addis Ababa with us below.

This tour is with skilled local tour guides from Addis Ababa. It is by drive with a regularly sanitized private vehicle. The Full Day City Tour of Addis Ababa is the extension of our Half Day Addis Ababa City Tour.

Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours offers this flexible #sightseeing #tour of #Addis #Ababa. This trip to Addis Ababa is best for individuals, couples, families, and small groups of visitors.

Visit Addis's historical churches of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. Shop for interesting local markets like Merkato (or Addis Mercato). Learn Ethiopian history by visiting top museums and famous monuments in Addis Ababa.

Cultural activities include the traditional coffee ceremony of Ethiopia. The tour also includes learning to cook local meals. Meeting locals and sharing experiences are part of our Addis tours.

TOUR DETAILS

Duration – 8 to 9 hours

Means of Transport – For 1 or 2 travelers - Toyota Corolla and for 3 to 6 travelers – Toyota Minivan of 2016 Model

We operate with insured, clean, and comfortable vehicles for our Addis Ababa full-day trip. All of our vehicles have air conditioning and seat belts.

Below are places to visit and things to do in Addis Ababa:

- National Museum of Ethiopia

- Ethnological Museum

- Holy Trinity Cathedral

- Merkato (Addis Mercato) Market

- St. George’s Cathedral

- Mount Entoto

- Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

- Scenic drive in Addis Ababa City

Road map showing places you visit in full-day city tour in Addis Ababa

☀ More attractions to explore and things to do

☀ Flexibility in choosing what to do and visit in Addis Ababa

☀ Visitors choose pick-up and drop off time

☀ Start tour from any hotel OR at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa

The Addis Ababa City Tour stops at Ethnographic Museum and Saint George Cathedral. Ethnographic (or Ethnological Museum) is one of the best museums in Africa. Saint George's Cathedral is one of Addis Ababa's oldest churches.

The Addis Ababa tour also includes driving to Mount Entoto for the panoramic view of Addis. Enjoy our 8-hour city tour in Addis Ababa with the guidance of highly skilled French, German, or English-speaking tour guides. 

The full-day Addis Ababa layover tour is ideal for transit or stopover passengers at Bole International Airport. If you are flying Ethiopian ET575 with a layover in Addis, this is your perfect tour to visit Addis Ababa.

On a transit 1 day trip to Addis Ababa, the sightseeing tour covers everything you need to see. Your Addis Ababa tour guide does more than just take you to the sights. The guide helps you gain deeper insights into places of visit included in the guided sightseeing city tour in Addis Ababa.

SAFETY AND OTHER SECURITY MEASURES ON ADDIS ABABA TOUR

On Feb 5th, 2021, Ethiopia received World Travel and Tourism Council Safe Travels Stamp. This creates peace in the minds of travelers to Ethiopia regarding safety issues related with COVID-19.

Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours [MEET] is a responsible tour company in Ethiopia. We adhere to all the safety measures advised by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. We comply with global and regional safety precautions to keep you SAFE in our full-day tours of Addis Ababa.

In response to the spread of Covid-19: -

✮ We keep a maximum group size of 6 visitors with a 12-seat tour bus
✮ We provide free hand sanitizers, facemasks, and wipes
✮ We avoid tours to places with big crowds
✮ Our tour guides make sure all attendees are safe on Addis Ababa full-day tours and others
✮ We use clean and regularly sanitized vehicles
✮ Social (physical) distancing regulations are respected on our tours

WHY BOOK THE FULL DAY CITY TOUR IN ADDIS ABABA WITH US?

✔ Free air-port pick up and drop off

✔ Flexible tour start and end time

✔ Visit sites of your preference

✔ Experience the diverse cultures and traditions of Ethiopians

✔ Gain insight into Ethiopian History and way of life from knowledgeable tour guide

✔ Visit the National Museum of Ethiopia, see the fossils of Lucy, and learn why Ethiopia is the "Cradle of Mankind"

✔ Get an unforgettable experience by visiting Merkato or Addis Mercato Market

✔ Learn about Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity at the Holy Trinity Cathedral

✔ Drive to Mount Entoto (3,200 meters above sea level) for the panoramic views of Addis Ababa

✔ Take a scenic drive for a photo shoot of the city's historical monuments

✔ See also major international buildings and the main squares of Addis Ababa city

All in all, our private citywide tour is your complete experience of Addis Ababa. We give you alternative places to explore such as visiting markets like Sholla local market instead of the most popular Merkato. You can always adjust this guided sightseeing event with us.

FULL DAY CITY TOUR IN ADDIS ABABA ITINERARY

In the morning, meet your tour guide at your hotel in Addis Ababa. If you are arriving in Addis Ababa, a tour guide waits for you at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD).

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ETHIOPIA

After a brief introduction to the city tour, hop on your private vehicle. Drive to the National Museum of Ethiopia. A typical itinerary of an all-day Addis Ababa tour starts with visiting the National Museum.

The National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa is famous for its archaeological exhibits. Start the tour of the National Museum by visiting amazing archaeological finds. It includes some of the oldest stone-made hand tools human beings ever invented and used.

National Museum is best known for being home to the fossil remains of Lucy (3.2 million years old). Lucy is known as “Dinknesh (ድንቅነሽ)” in Ethiopia’s official language (Amharic). Lucy's scientific name is ‘Australopithecus Afarensis’. Lucy is the oldest hominid discovered in 1974 at Hadar, North East Ethiopia.

In addition to its archaeological exhibits, visiting National Museum helps you gain a deeper knowledge of Ethiopian Arts and Culture.

The National Museum of Ethiopia is among the top sites in Addis to visit on rainy days. The entrance fee of the museum is 50 Ethiopian Birr (about 1 US Dollar) per adult foreign tourist per person.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ETHIOPIA IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS

HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL

Holy Trinity Cathedral is your next destination in visiting Addis Ababa. Trinity Cathedral is among the oldest cathedrals in Addis. Holy Trinity Cathedral is the highest-ranking religious site in Addis Ababa. Trinity cathedral is unique for its architectural style.

Emperor Haile Selassie I is the founder of Holy Trinity Cathedral. Holy Trinity Cathedral has unique architecture and beautiful stained glass windows. Inside the cathedral, see the graves of Emperor Haile Selassie I and his wife – Empress Menen.

Visit also the small museum of the cathedral – Trinity Museum. See ancient religious artifacts. Have a look at the real royal seats of Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taitu. See the crowns of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen.

ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Before lunch, take a guided tour of the Ethnological (or Ethnographic) Museum. It was the former house of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Ethnological Museum is in the compound of Addis Ababa University. This university is Ethiopia's first university opened on March 20, 1950. 'Haile Selassie I University' was the first name of Addis Ababa University as he founded it. This museum is a great place to learn about Ethiopia’s history, culture, religion, and people.

At Ethnological Museum, learn about the cultural backgrounds of the people of Ethiopia. You will also visit the bedroom of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

LUNCH BREAK

Have lunch at Addis Ababa Restaurant, Finfine Adarash, or Taitu Hotel. These are a few of the best traditional Ethiopian restaurants in Addis Ababa. Take this chance to taste the healthiest most flavorful Ethiopian meals.

MOUNT ENTOTO

After lunch, head north of Addis Ababa to the peak of Mount Entoto (3,200 Meters above sea level). Enjoy a birds-eye view of Addis Ababa. At Mount Entoto, visit a family where you learn how to bake Enjera (Injera) – the flat Ethiopian bread. See how locals brew Tella – an Ethiopian home-brewed beer.

Visit locals at Mt. Entoto and experience Cultural Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. The traditional Ethiopian coffee-making ceremony starts with washing and roasting the coffee beans. After presenting the aroma of the roasting coffee to visitors, it is pounded by hand. Enjoy the best Ethiopian Coffee with a cultural ceremony. Contact us now to book Addis Ababa tours and experience the Ethiopian coffee culture.

SAINT GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL

The next attraction touring Addis Ababa takes you is Saint George Cathedral. It is one of Addis Ababa's oldest churches of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. St. George’s Cathedral is notable for its octagonal architecture. Inside the cathedral, see beautiful wall paintings and mosaics.

The St. George Cathedral Museum displays ancient religious and historical artifacts. The Cathedral of St. George is where Emperor Haile Selassie I was crowned at. Walk around the cathedral and take photos of the statue of Emperor Menelik II - the founder of Addis Ababa.

MERKATO (ADDIS MERCATO) MARKET

After visiting St. George Cathedral, head to Merkato or Addis Mercato Market. It is Africa's largest open-air market. Visit the spice market to buy Ethiopian spices. Walk in the market and shop for handwoven baskets. Continue to the Chat (Mild Stimulant Chewed by Locals) Market, as well as the secondhand stuff market.

Take half an hour's walk to Merkato (Addis Mercato) market. Learn what life is like for the people who live/trade/work at Merkato Market. For local market enthusiasts, shopping at Merkato is an additional experience of the full-day Addis tour.

SCENIC DRIVE IN ADDIS ABABA

Addis Ababa City Visit ends with driving on the famous streets of the city. With the scenic drive, see historical monuments including the Lion of Judah Statue, and major landmarks. Drive by the HQ of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Continue to the HQ of the African Union and Meskel Square (Addis Ababa's major events hub and Downtown Square).

Finally, stop at a supermarket to buy the best Coffee from Ethiopia and local spices. For Coffee lovers, check out the best coffee shop in Addis Ababa - Tomoca Coffee.

OTHER INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT ON A CUSTOM TOUR OF ADDIS ABABA

We customize this Addis Ababa tour best according to visitors’ interests and travel styles. Following are other interesting places to visit in Addis Ababa:-

• Red Terror Martyrs’ Memorial Museum
• Addis Ababa Museum
• Mausoleum of Emperor Menelik II
• Shiro Meda Market
• Unity Park
• Zoma Museum
• Medhane Alem Cathedral
• Entoto Maryam Church
• Be’ata Mariam Church

You can do even more in Addis Ababa, after the full-day visit to the city. Extend your tour with Addis Ababa Cultural Nightlife Experience. Visit Cultural Ethiopian Restaurants to make your Addis Ababa tour a complete experience.

If you are around Bole Area, visit either Yod Abyssinia or the 2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant. At these restaurants, you can taste a variety of Ethiopian food. And watch the dances of the different Ethiopian tribal groups LIVE.

If interested in Ethiopian Jazz Music, stop at African Jazz Village. It is among the most interesting things to do in Addis Ababa at night.

Enjoying Ethiopian Jazz Music at African Jazz Village is an alternative place to stop in the evening at Addis Ababa City.

You can extend Addis Ababa City Tours with 1-day tours from Addis Ababa. We also have two days and one night tours from Addis Ababa.

See how popular our tour is on TripAdvisor. Read reviews about Full-Day City Tour in Addis Ababa. Tours in Addis Ababa can be reserved in advance for 6 months. Travelers have a choice of free cancellation of our tours 12 hours before tour start times.

PRICE OF FULL-DAY CITY TOUR IN ADDIS ABABA

Below is the per-person tour price of our Addis Ababa full-day city visits

Price of Full-Day City Tour in Addis Ababa City INCLUDES: -

• ✔ Insured private vehicle with AC – Toyota Minivan (3 to 6 visitors) or Toyota Corolla (1 or 2 travelers)
• ✔ Fuel (gasoline), private driver, and insurance
• ✔ English-speaking local tour guide
• ✔ All Entrance (Admission) fees
• ✔ Local family visits
• ✔ Lunch (home cooked Ethiopian food)
• ✔ Hotel/Airport pick up and drop offs
• ✔ Ethiopian Traditional Coffee Ceremony Experience
• ✔ Local snacks and bottled water
• ✔ Tea/Coffee
• ✔ And, all applicable taxes

Price DOES NOT INCLUDE: -

1. Entrance fees to visit other places of visits
2. Meals
3. And, any other expenses not mentioned in the “Included” list above

NOTE - Contact us for the updated Addis Ababa full-day tour price conforming to your private visits with us. The specific price of the tour depends on the places you visit, tour duration, and services included and excluded.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ADDIS ABABA CITY TOUR AND ANSWERS

WHAT TIME DOES ADDIS ABABA FULL DAY TOUR STARTS AND ENDS?

This tour takes 8 to 9 hours according to the itinerary above. To book the city tour as it is, we advise starting at 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, or 9:00 AM from your hotel in Addis Ababa. This way the tour ends between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM at your preferred destination in Addis Ababa. If you have only a few hours, book our half-day city tour in Addis Ababa.

DO YOU PICK ME UP FROM MY HOTEL IN ADDIS ABABA AND DROP ME OFF AT THE AIRPORT AT THE END OF THE TOUR?

YES, it is possible to start the full day Addis Ababa trip from any hotel in Addis Ababa or Bole Airport. And, finish the tour at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport or any place in Addis Ababa you want. This tour allows flexible tour start and end times.

IS IT SAFE TO WALK IN MERKATO MARKET IN ADDIS ABABA?

Merkato is a busy local market in Addis Ababa repeatedly mentioned for its ‘smart’ pickpockets. Aggressive crimes or robberies are very rare (or not) in the Merkato market in Addis Ababa. We always advise you to leave items you don’t want for immediate use in the vehicle. The tour bus driver is by the vehicle at all times and keeps visitors’ properties safe.

For safe walking and a pleasant visit to Merkato (Addis Merkato),

✺ Hang your cameras in the neck.

✺ If you’re using your phone for taking photos, keep it in your pockets/purse and take it out only when you want to use it. Merkato is also popular for snatch-and-run thieves.

✺ Ask permission in advance if you are taking portraits of people.

✺ Ask your tour guide how to bargain for a price if you want to shop at Merkato. Bargaining for buying price is the rule of the game at Merkato.

✺ Practicing a few common Amharic words with locals at Merkato makes your visit more interesting.

✺ Don’t spend too long at one spot as you draw people’s attention and attract the crowd around you. Move around.

✺ If you are not sure about doing anything in Merkato, ask your local tour guide.

IS THE FULL-DAY ADDIS ABABA TOUR FLEXIBLE?

The tour allows flexibility in terms of substituting places of visit, tour start/end time, and pick-up and drop-off places in Addis Ababa. You can even custom this trip with a short excursion out of Addis Ababa.

WHICH ATTRACTIONS IN ADDIS ABABA ARE LESS CROWDED TO VISIT?

After the outbreak of Corona Virus, many tourist attractions in Addis Ababa were closed for public visits. Now, all places of visit are open to visit but not crowded at all.

Regarding local markets, Shola (Sholla) market is less crowded to visit than the gigantic and busy Merkato Market.

IS ENTOTO PARK INCLUDED IN ADDIS ABABA TOUR?

The scheduled Full day city tour in Addis Ababa does NOT include a complete visit to Entoto Park. But, the tour has a stop at Entoto Park to enjoy/take snapshots of Addis Ababa City. If interested in visiting Entoto Park, let us know so that we customize the tour for you.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED TO VISIT ADDIS ABABA?

You can visit the top attractions of Addis Ababa city for half a day (4 to 5 hours) to two days. Within 5 hours travelers can have the highlights of Addis Ababa - visiting the National Museum of Ethiopia, Holy Trinity, and Merkato Market. For a comprehensive citywide tour of the famous tourist attractions in Addis Ababa, you need at least two days.

If you are not in Addis during the daytime, we have an interesting night layover tour in Addis Ababa to visit the city after sunset.

HOW DO I BOOK AND VISIT ADDIS ABABA CITY FOR 1 FULL DAY?

To book this tour, contact Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours by email or WhatsApp.

You can also book online this Full-day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa via Viator.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN ADDIS ABABA AT NIGHT?

You may be wondering what you can do in Addis Ababa if you are an overnight transit passenger with a stopover at Addis. Here are a few activities you can enjoy at night (after sunset) in Addis Ababa.

☛ Dine at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant to experience the food culture of Ethiopia

☛ See LIVE cultural dance shows of Ethiopians at 2000 Habesha Traditional Ethiopian Restaurant

☛ Stop at one of the few LIVE Ethiopian Jazz Clubs in Addis Ababa

☛ Take part in Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

☛ Shop for quality Ethiopian Coffee and local spices at one of the best supermarkets in Addis Ababa

☛ Experience Traditional Ethiopian bars known as ‘Azmari Bet’ where a band of two (a couple normally) entertain guests playing Masinko (Ethiopian Fiddle), singing and dancing

Have an exciting private city experience in Addis Ababa with a professional local tour guide. Booking nightlife tours in Addis Ababa makes your layover in our city a complete success. Read online reviews on how other visitors loved tripping our city in this full-day visit tour.

Contact us on WhatsApp if you are on a short layover at Addis Ababa in the evening and want to try one of the above cultural nightlife activities in Addis. We customize this evening excursion to suit your time in Addis and your interests.

With day trips from Addis Ababa, indulge yourself in unique culture, and enjoy great scenery. With our excursions near Addis Ababa, learn the history and religious facts of Ethiopia. Enjoy beautiful views and explore some wildlife in Ethiopia.

For details about our full-day city tour in Addis Ababa or booking, contact us soon.

Did you book the Full-Day City Tour in Addis Ababa with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours? Please click the link below and take a minute to share your time in Addis Ababa with us on TripAdvisor. 

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