Addis Ababa Sightseeing: Museums, Churches

October 19, 2026

Travel advisory, October 2026: Ethiopia is in an active conflict. Fighting in the north resumed on 23 September 2026, and the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Tigray, Amhara and Gambela, plus parts of Oromia, Afar and other regions. It does not advise against travel to Addis Ababa itself, but it warns of a high terrorism threat, reports of attacks on military sites in the capital, and crime hotspots at Meskel Square, Bole and Entoto. The US State Department rates Ethiopia Level 3, Reconsider Travel, in an advisory dated before the September fighting. Read the current UK FCDO advice and the US State Department advisory before you book and again before you fly. The FCDO also warns that places of worship and tourist sites can be terrorist targets.

Sightseeing in Addis Ababa centres on a few museums, two cathedrals and a palace compound, most of them around Arat Kilo and Piassa. A foreigner fee applies at nearly all of them, paid in cash, so confirm the price on the day. Several are places of mourning or worship, so dress modestly and keep your voice low.

National Museum of Ethiopia

At Arat Kilo, the National Museum holds hominid fossils and a display on Selam in the basement, ancient and medieval objects and Haile Selassie’s regalia on the first floor, art on the second floor and ethnography on the third. The art includes Afewerk Tekle’s African Heritage. The Lucy on display is a cast. Hours are reported as Tuesday to Sunday from about 9:00 to 17:00, closed Monday and major holidays.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Holy Trinity Cathedral, also at Arat Kilo, was begun in 1931 and completed in 1942 to commemorate the victory over the Italian occupation. Haile Selassie and Empress Menen are buried in the north transept, and Sylvia Pankhurst and Meles Zenawi are buried in the grounds. The cathedral also holds the remains of people massacred by the Italians in 1937, and a monument and tomb for officials executed under the Derg. Treat it as a working church and a place of remembrance, and be respectful around the graves. A foreigner entrance fee applies, so confirm it at the ticket office and be wary of anyone offering a tour from a booth.

St George’s Cathedral

St George’s Cathedral stands at Arada Giyorgis in Piassa. Menelik II commissioned this octagonal building after the 1896 victory at Adwa. Zewditu was crowned here in 1917 and Haile Selassie in 1930. Inside is work by Afewerk Tekle, and a small museum is attached. Confirm the fee at the door.

Adwa Victory Memorial Museum

This museum in Piassa lies between the Menelik II monument and St George’s. It was inaugurated on 11 February 2024 and opened to the public on 16 March 2024. It covers about 1.5 hectares in eleven blocks across five floors, with exhibits on the 1896 battle, Menelik II and Empress Taytu. One 2024 visitor report put the foreigner ticket at about USD 20, payable in dollars only, and photography is reported to be forbidden inside. It commemorates a battle, so visit quietly.

Entoto Maryam Church

Menelik II was crowned in 1889 at the octagonal Entoto Maryam Church, high above the city, and a museum nearby holds belongings of Menelik II and Empress Taytu. Entoto is a crime hotspot named by the FCDO, so go by car, in daylight, and with company. Fees may apply, and photography may be restricted.

Unity Park

Unity Park, at Arat Kilo, is Menelik II’s palace compound. Foreigners pay USD 20 for the regular ticket, which excludes the palace rooms. The USD 50 special ticket adds a guide, the rooms of Menelik II and Empress Taytu, and the Egg House. The park is closed on Monday. To compare guided sightseeing departures, browse Addis Ababa sightseeing tours on Viator .

Practical tips

Sights are 1 to 3 kilometres apart in the Arat Kilo cluster but traffic is heavy, so a taxi is easier than walking. Birr trade at about 160 to 165 to the US dollar in October 2026. Photography is illegal near military zones, soldiers and the Presidential Palace.