Ethiopia-2-day-itinerary

48 Hours in Addis Ababa: A Taste of History & Culture

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.

This itinerary offers a glimpse into Ethiopia’s history and culture from its capital. It is designed for travellers with limited time who want to experience the highlights.

Things to Know:

  • Visa: Most nationalities require a visa to enter Ethiopia. Apply through the official e-visa portal at www.evisa.gov.et before you travel.
  • Currency: The Ethiopian Birr (ETB) is the local currency, at about 160 to 165 birr to the US dollar in October 2026. Carry cash birr for taxis, markets and small shops.
  • Language: Amharic is the official language, but English is spoken in major cities and tourist areas.
  • Safety: The UK FCDO warns of a high terrorism threat, crime hotspots including Bole Medhanealem, Meskel Square and Entoto, bag snatching at traffic lights and pickpockets. Travel door to door by car after dark.

Transportation:

  • Taxis: Use hotel transfers or yellow or app-based taxis, not blue-and-white ones.
  • Flights: Ethiopian Airlines has halted flights to Tigray, and the FCDO says northern flights may be suspended or cancelled at short notice. This itinerary stays in Addis Ababa.

Day 1: Addis Ababa - History & Culture

  • Morning (9:00 AM): Start at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Arat Kilo, where the basement holds the hominid fossils and a cast of Lucy.
  • Lunch (12:30 PM): Enjoy a traditional Ethiopian lunch of injera with stews (wat) and tibs at a restaurant of your choice.
  • Afternoon (2:00 PM): Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where Haile Selassie and Empress Menen are buried. It is a solemn place, so dress modestly.
  • Evening (6:00 PM): Have dinner and listen to traditional music at Yod Abyssinia in Bole, travelling there and back by car.

Day 2: Addis Ababa - Unity Park & Entoto

  • Morning (9:00 AM): Visit Unity Park in Arat Kilo, open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Monday. Foreigner tickets are reported at about US$20 for regular entry and US$50 for the guided ticket; confirm at the gate.
  • Lunch (12:30 PM): Have a coffee and a snack at Tomoca (the Piassa branch) or a Galani Coffee cafe, and watch the three-round coffee ceremony.
  • Afternoon (2:30 PM): Drive up to the Entoto Maryam Church and its museum, with views over the city. Go by car in daytime and in company, as the FCDO names Entoto as a crime hotspot.
  • Evening (5:00 PM): Browse handwoven cotton and shawls at Shiro Meda on Entoto Road, where vendors often quote visitors higher prices, then return to your hotel before dark.

Additional Interests:

  • Bishoftu crater lakes: With a spare day, drive about 48 to 62 km southeast on the Addis-Adama Expressway to Lake Hora and the Kuriftu resort. Stay on that corridor.
  • Lalibela, Simien Mountains and Lake Tana: These are in Amhara, where the UK FCDO advises against all travel, so they are not part of this itinerary.
  • Coffee Ceremony: Experience a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, involving roasting, grinding, brewing, and serving the aromatic brew in a social setting.

This itinerary is a starting point. Allow more time in Addis Ababa and check the current UK FCDO and US State Department advice before you go.