Romantic Getaways in and Around Addis Ababa

Before you plan: an armed conflict is under way in Ethiopia. Federal forces and Tigray-aligned groups began fighting again on 23 September 2026, Ethiopian Airlines stopped flying to Tigray, and drones were reported over military sites in Addis Ababa on 1 October. The British FCDO tells travellers not to go to Tigray, Amhara or Gambela, or to parts of Oromia, Afar and other regions. It gives no warning against Addis Ababa itself, but it flags a high terrorism threat, security checkpoints, and crime around Meskel Square, Bole and Entoto. The US rating is Level 3, Reconsider Travel, at the time of writing. Couples should check gov.uk travel advice for Ethiopia and travel.state.gov before booking and again before departure.

Romance in Addis Ababa is a small-scale affair. The city is a busy capital and does not offer a long menu of couples’ experiences, but it does have two resorts with spas, live Ethio-jazz and coffee served in the traditional way. Each comes with a safety condition, listed below.

Kuriftu Resort & Spa, Bishoftu

This lakeside resort overlooks one of the Bishoftu crater lakes. It lies about 48 to 62 kilometres from the capital, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by car. Aggregators list rooms at about USD 115 a night, which can change, so check the live rate. There is a spa, and a water park was reported to have opened in 2020. The drive follows the Addis-Adama Expressway, which the FCDO exempts from its all-but-essential warning for East Shewa; being exempt is not the same as being secure. Use the expressway only and do not go on towards Adama or Awash.

Kuriftu Entoto Resort & Spa

Up in the Entoto forest, this lodge has city views and a spa. The FCDO names Entoto as a crime hotspot, so hire a driver for the whole trip, arrive in daylight and skip the quiet walking paths. At 2,600 to 3,100 metres the air is thin, so drink water and take your first evening slowly.

Dusk on Entoto

A drive to the heights at sunset is the simplest outing for two. Go with a driver who waits for you, stay by the car instead of wandering the paths, and be back in town soon after dark.

Coffee for two

The traditional ceremony runs through three rounds and takes a while, which suits an unhurried hour together. Many hotels and cafes offer it. Galani Coffee’s branches at Jackross, Lebu, Churchill and Entoto post their hours on galanicoffee.com , and they differ from branch to branch.

An evening of Ethio-jazz

Fendika, known for azmari singers and Ethio-jazz, now performs as Fendika@Hyatt at the Hyatt Regency on Meskel Square. No schedule is published, so see fendika.org or its social media pages. Meskel Square is a crime hotspot named by the FCDO, so travel by car door to door, keep phones out of sight and leave passports in the hotel safe.

Tips for couples

  • Keep bookings changeable, because the choice is small and the advisory may shift.
  • In October 2026 the exchange rate is roughly 160 to 165 birr for each US dollar.
  • Larger hotels and some restaurants take cards, but carry cash as well.
  • Use hotel transfers, or yellow or app taxis, and avoid blue-and-white cabs.

To compare rooms, search Addis Ababa stays on Booking.com .

Read more: the couples page , or the longer stays page .