Things to Do in Addis Ababa: Parks, Coffee, Music

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. Check gov.uk travel advice for Ethiopia and travel.state.gov before booking and again before departure. This guide covers Addis Ababa and the Bishoftu corridor only, and the northern historic sites are not currently visitable.

The capital offers a workable list of things to do, as long as you plan around altitude, traffic and the safety notes below. Addis Ababa lies at about 2,355 metres, and most visitors feel it for a day or two. Prices are quoted in dollars where foreigners pay in dollars, and in birr at about 160 to 165 to the dollar in October 2026.

Six things to do

  1. Unity Park. Menelik II’s old palace compound at Arat Kilo has been open to visitors since October 2019. A foreigner’s regular ticket costs USD 20 and the special ticket costs USD 50, which adds a guide, queue priority and the rooms of Menelik II and Empress Taytu. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, with the ticket desk running from 9:00 to 16:00. Expect black-maned lions behind glass, an aviary, an aquarium and botanical displays.
  2. A coffee ceremony. The host roasts and brews the coffee in front of you and serves it in three rounds. Galani Coffee publishes its opening hours on galanicoffee.com , and Tomoca, founded in 1953, has a Piassa branch.
  3. Live music. Fendika plays as Fendika@Hyatt at the Hyatt Regency on Meskel Square, since its old Kazanchis compound was demolished in October 2024. The Ghion Hotel’s African Jazz Village hosts Ethio-jazz, reportedly on Thursday evenings.
  4. Entoto Natural Park. The forest park rises to 3,100 metres and Kuriftu Entoto Adventure Park offers a zipline, rope courses, archery and horse riding, each priced separately.
  5. Shiro Meda. This textile market on Entoto Road sells cotton garments and shawls woven by hand. Vendors often name higher prices to foreigners, so bargain politely.
  6. Sabahar. The weaving company sells silk, cotton and linen, and opens weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 to 18:00. Call ahead if you want to see the looms.

Safety on the move

Most of the risks are practical. Robbery happens at knifepoint in Bole Medhanealem, Bole Atlas, Meskel Square and Entoto, so avoid walking alone there and take a car after dark. Bags and jewellery get snatched at traffic lights. Take yellow taxis or app-based cars and avoid blue-and-white ones, and carry small birr notes, because cards work only at larger hotels and some restaurants. Download offline maps because GPS drifts. The law forbids photographing military zones, soldiers or the Presidential Palace.

Entoto asks for extra care. Go by car, in daytime and in company, and take it gently on your first day at that height. Alcohol and smoking are banned in the park, and foreigners pay a separate, higher entrance fee, so ask at the gate.

For guided activity departures, search Addis Ababa tours on GetYourGuide .

Read more: the Addis Ababa sightseeing guide , or the attraction tours page .