Ethiopia 3 Day Itinerary

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.

3-Day Itinerary for Exploring Addis Ababa and the Bishoftu Lakes

This itinerary stays in Addis Ababa and the Bishoftu corridor. Aksum, Gondar and the Simien Mountains are in Tigray and Amhara, where the UK FCDO advises against all travel, so they are not part of the plan.

Day 1: Discover Historic Addis Ababa

  • Morning: Start your day with a visit to the National Museum of Ethiopia in Arat Kilo, home to a cast of Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old hominid fossil.
  • Afternoon: Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the burial place of Haile Selassie and Empress Menen. It is a solemn place, so dress modestly.
  • Evening: Enjoy local Ethiopian cuisine at Yod Abyssinia, travelling there and back by car.

Things to know:

  1. Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, which runs seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar.
  2. English is widely spoken in Addis Ababa by younger generations.
  3. The local currency is the Birr (ETB), at about 160 to 165 to the US dollar in October 2026. Credit cards are accepted in some larger hotels and restaurants, so carry cash.
  4. Apply for your visa through the official portal at www.evisa.gov.et before you travel.

Day 2: Unity Park and Entoto

  • Morning: Visit Unity Park at Arat Kilo, open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Monday. Foreigner tickets are reported at about USD 20 for regular entry and USD 50 for the guided ticket; confirm at the gate.
  • Afternoon: Drive up to Entoto Maryam Church and its museum for views over the city. The FCDO names Entoto as a crime hotspot, so go by car in daytime and in company.
  • Evening: Enjoy a coffee ceremony at Tomoca or a Galani Coffee cafe, then dinner near your hotel.

Day 3: Bishoftu Crater Lakes

  • Morning: Hire a car and driver for the drive of about 48 to 62 kilometres southeast on the Addis-Adama Expressway to Bishoftu (Debre Zeit), about 1 to 1.5 hours each way.
  • Afternoon: Take a boat on Lake Hora or have lunch at the Kuriftu Resort & Spa, then return to Addis Ababa before dark. Stay on the expressway corridor and do not go on to Adama or Awash.
  • Evening: Enjoy a farewell dinner in Addis Ababa.

Things to know:

  1. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel in East Shewa except the Addis-Adama Expressway and 10 km either side of the Addis-Bishoftu stretch.
  2. The UK FCDO warns of a high terrorism threat and crime hotspots including Bole Medhanealem, Meskel Square and Entoto. Travel door to door by car after dark.
  3. Public transportation can be unreliable. Consider hiring a private car with a licensed driver.

Happy travels!