Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa

4.9
(166 reviews)

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7 to 9 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: German and 3 more

This Viator’s “Badge of Excellence” awardee tour is prefect for stopover travelers at Addis Ababa.

With expert local tour guide, customize and enjoy the best first-time visitors’ overview to Addis Ababa.

Explore top things to do in the city with flexible airport pick up and/or hotel drop off.

Use a private air-conditioned vehicle on this door-to-door city tour.

Highlights include:
- Experience Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and learn cooking Ethiopian cuisine
- Savour home cooked meals for lunch at a local family house
- See the fossil remains of Lucy at the National Museum of Ethiopia
- Visit Holy Trinity Cathedral or Saint George Cathedral, Addis Ababa’s most notable religious sites
- Enjoy stunning city views from Mount Entoto
- City sightseeing drive to view notable landmarks
- Visit Merkato Market and Ethnological Museum
- Taste Tej - Ethiopian Honey Wine

Available in English, Spanish, German and French speaking guides, book this tour for a memorable experience in Addis Ababa.

What's Included

Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Experience
A glass of Tej (Ethiopian Honey Wine), similar to mead. It is the national drink of Ethiopia.
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel/Airport pickup and drop-off with private air conditioned vehicle
Professional experienced English speaking tour guide
Home cooked Ethiopian meals
Gratuities
Merkato Market is CLOSED on Sundays. National Museum of Ethiopia is NOT OPEN on MONDAYS.
This is extra payment for entrance fees at Holy Trinity Cathedral (~$12), Saint George Cathedral (~$3), and Ethnological Museum (~$2).

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

Instructions to Meet Your Guide at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport: If your pick-up location is at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, follow these simple steps to find your guide upon arrival: Exit the Terminal Building: After collecting your luggage, walk straight out of the terminal towards the car parking lot. Spot the Elevated Roadway: As you walk, look to your left-hand side, where you'll see a large elevated road supported by pillars. Locate the Guide Under the Bend: Follow the road as it curves to the left. Your guide will be waiting for you right under this bend in the elevated roadway. Look for Your Name Sign: The guide will hold a sign with your name for easy identification. To make it even easier, refer to the photos included with this tour, which show the exact meeting location with the guide.

Itinerary

Duration: 7 to 9 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    St. George's Cathedral

    Step inside St. George’s Cathedral, one of Addis Ababa’s historical religious sites, built to commemorate Ethiopia's victory over Italians at the Battle of Adwa. On this private guided tour to Addis, examine its stunning octagonal architecture. Inside, admire vivid mosaics and paintings by Afework Tekle. With a professional guide, enjoy exclusive insider access to St. George’s Cathedral Museum.

    45 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • Lion of Judah (Pass by)

    Enjoy a scenic city sightseeing drive through Addis Ababa to see landmarks like the Lion of Judah. Standing as a bronze sentinel, the Lion of Judah Monument captures Ethiopia’s spirit of strength and freedom. Our Full-Day City tour in Addis Ababa offers a unique emotional connection with expert guidance revealing the monument’s deep roots in Ethiopia’s antifascist resistance and cultural heritage.

    Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Mount Entoto

    Ascend to Mount Entoto in Addis Ababa. From the summit, enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of Addis Ababa—a perfect moment for reflection and photography. At Entoto, take time for a cultural experience for a warm, personal Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony in a local family visit. Learn baking Enjera (Injera) bread. During this flexible tour in Addis Ababa, have home cooked Ethiopian lunch with locals.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 3
    Mercato Market

    Enjoy a guided walking tour through the lively Mercato Market in Addis Ababa, the largest open-air market in Africa. Follow your local guide to discover sections selling spices, traditional foods, woven dresses, and handmade baskets. Shop while practicing friendly bargaining. This local market exploration a cultural experience for a deeper insight into everyday Ethiopian life. Benefit from guidance by someone who knows Merkato well, ensures you are safe and your visit to Addis Mercato is worthwhile.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 4
    Ethnological Museum

    Experience a captivating guided museum tour through the Ethnological Museum in Addis Ababa. Learn about Ethiopia's diverse peoples, their traditions, and history. This visit offers a unique, emotional connection to history, including insider access to Emperor Haile Selassie I's private bedroom. Your time at the Ethnological Museum will deepen your understanding and appreciation for Ethiopia's rich heritage.

    1 hour • Admission ticket not included
  • 5
    National Museum of Ethiopia

    Visit the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, a must-see stop for first-time visitors eager to explore the country’s ancient past. Walk with your guide among ruins of great archaeological merit. Examine and photograph a remarkable series of artifacts that trace Ethiopia’s story from ancient kingdoms to modern times. The focal point of the museum’s archaeological interest is Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old fossil whose presence touches every visitor with a powerful sense of human connection and wonder.

    1 hour • Admission ticket included
  • 6
    Holy Trinity Cathedral

    Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa for a memorable religious and cultural experience. Step inside to admire its magnificent stained-glass windows, royal crowns, and historic paintings that echo Ethiopia’s spiritual heritage. Walk through the peaceful grounds where Emperor Haile Selassie I, Empress Menen Asfaw, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and Sylvia Pankhurst rest—making the Holy Trinity Cathedral a powerful place of faith, history, and national pride. You can include visiting the Holy Trinity Cathedral in your full-day city tour in Addis Ababa with us. Entrance fee to visit this cathedral is 1,500 Ethiopian Birr (~10 United States Dollar) per person.

    1 hour • Admission ticket not included
  • 7
    Meskel Square

    Take short walks or drive by Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, the city’s cosmopolitan urban centre. During your city sightseeing tour, stand where grand celebrations, concerts, and the colorful religious Meskel Festival ignite the spirit of unity and joy. Near Meskel Square, you may want to take a quick visit to the Red Terror Martyrs’ Memorial Museum. Just ask your tour guide.

    10 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours

Tags

Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
4WD Tours
Walking Tours
City Tours
Layover Tours
Car Tours
Excellent Quality
Additional fees
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Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate
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Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

4.9 Based on 166 166 reviews
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