Travel advisory: Ethiopia is in an active conflict, with fighting in the north resumed in late September 2026. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Tigray, Amhara and Gambela and to parts of Oromia, Afar and other regions, and the US State Department rates Ethiopia Level 3 (Reconsider Travel). Check the current UK FCDO and US State Department advice before you book and again before you fly. Addis Ababa itself is not in the FCDO’s advise-against list, but it warns of a high terrorism threat, crime hotspots including Meskel Square, Bole and Entoto, and security checkpoints. This guide covers Addis Ababa and the Bishoftu corridor only; the northern historic sites are not currently visitable.

Six-Day Itinerary for Exploring Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Day 1: Arrival & City Orientation

• Arrive at Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa Airport )
• Check-in at your hotel (Recommendations: Radisson Blu Hotel , Sheraton Addis )
• Lunch at Habesha Restaurant (Habesha 2000 ) - Traditional Ethiopian cuisine
• City Orientation Tour - Visit National Museum of Ethiopia and Holy Trinity Cathedral, and drive up Mount Entoto for a panoramic view of the city. The UK FCDO names Entoto as a crime hotspot, so go by car in daytime and in company.
• Dinner at Yod Abyssinia Restaurant (Yod Abyssinia) - Continuation of traditional Ethiopian cuisine with modern twist

Day 2: Historical & Cultural Attractions

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Visit the Ancient African Artifacts Museum for a look into Ethiopia’s rich history
• Lunch at Abyssinia Restaurant (Abyssinia ) - More traditional Ethiopian dishes
• Afternoon visit to the Ethiopian National Gallery & Tomoca Coffee Factory
• Dinner at Trattoria La Fenice (Trattoria La Fenice ) - Italian cuisine for a change of pace

Day 3: Market & Local Life Experience

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Morning visit to Mercato, Africa’s largest market, in daytime with a guide and minimal valuables; pickpocketing and bag snatching are common, so avoid it after dark, and the nearby Raguel Church
• Lunch at Mekanisa Restaurant (Mekanisa ) - Modern Ethiopian dishes in a cozy atmosphere
• Afternoon visit to the Ethiopian Women’s Cultural & Historical Museum and the nearby Pioneer Monument
• Dinner at Yod Abyssinia Kaldi’s (Yod Abyssinia Kaldi’s ) - Offers a variety of Ethiopian dishes in a contemporary setting

Day 4: Bishoftu Crater Lakes

• Early morning departure: Hire a car and driver for the drive of about 48 to 62 km southeast on the Addis-Adama Expressway to the Bishoftu (Debre Zeit) crater lakes, about 1 to 1.5 hours each way. Stay on the expressway corridor and do not go on to Adama or Awash.
• Lunch at the Kuriftu Resort & Spa or a lakeside restaurant, and a boat trip on Lake Hora
• Return to Addis Ababa before dark and relax
• Dinner at Abebe Bekila (Abebe Bekila ) - Authentic Ethiopian food in a rustic environment

Day 5: Leisure & Shopping

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Spend the day exploring the city’s shopping districts, such as Bole and Piazza, and visit Merkato only in daytime with a guide
• Lunch at Terrazza Nazionale (Terrazza Nazionale ) - Italian cuisine with a view over the city
• Afternoon visit to the National Archives & Library of Ethiopia
• Dinner at Yod Abyssinia Kaldi’s (Yod Abyssinia Kaldi’s ) - Recommended for a second visit due to its variety and quality

Day 6: Departure

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Free time for last-minute shopping or sightseeing. The UK FCDO warns of a high terrorism threat, crime hotspots including Bole Medhanealem, Bole Atlas, Meskel Square and Entoto, and security checkpoints. Travel door to door by car after dark.
• Depart from Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa Airport ) - Safe travels!