Addis Ababa (City tour)
DAY 1:
- ARRIVE IN ADDIS ABEBA
Welcome to Addis Ababa! If you arrive in the morning at Addis Abeba Bole International Airport you will be greeted by your tour guide from Lonely Ethiopia Tours. Then you will spend the day on a site seeing of Addis Abeba. Established by Emperor Menelik II 1887 Addis Abeba or ‘New flower’ in Amharic, is relatively young city with full of contrasts. This city tour includes, The National Museum which houses the country’s historic treasures & the famous ‘Lucy”, The Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Ethiopian main cathedral and home to the remains of the last emperor: Drive up to Mount Entoto to have a panoramic view of the city and to visit the old imperial palace of King Menelik, Visit Shiro Meda the local market for traditional clothes, Walk around Piassa the old part of the city, Visit Taitu Hotel the first hotel in the country and taste Ethiopian coffee at the famous and old coffee shop Tomoka.Explore Merkato, the largest open air market. Finally you can do last minute shopping (if needed). Later this evening you will be transferred to your hotel in Addis Ababa or to Bole Airport if your departure is in the night. And this will be the end of the tour.
- THE ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM
This is one of the best museums in Addis Ababa. The facility is home to many of the most significant relics and pieces of artwork from around the country. You will enjoy the variety of different art and displays.Boasting collections that are ranked as among the most important in sub-Saharan Africa, the National Museum of Ethiopia holds royal items including Emperor Haile Selassie’s throne, traditional weapons, clothing, jewellery, musical instruments, canvas oil paintings, fossils, stone tools and many other ancient remains. Lucy, the famous skeleton discovered in 1974 in the Afar region of northwestern Ethiopia, is the highlight of the museum. At 3.25 million years-old, Lucy is credited with changing our understanding of human origins and this was a discovery, which has given rise to the theory that Ethiopia is the Cradle of Humankind.
- THE HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL
The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the most sacred Ethiopian Orthodox church in the city, and one of the most sacred sites and an important place of worship for the followers of the Orthodox faith. The Holy Trinity Cathedral has a real medieval feel to it, the grounds surrounded by weeping pine trees and the cathedral decorated with statues and carvings. This is a beautiful church with a baroque style of European architecture, which is unique to both Ethiopia and Africa and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity Cathedral is a majestic place filled with spectacular artwork. With its towering dome and stunning statues of angels, the cathedral’s exterior is beautiful to see. The inside is just as impressive, with its magnificent stained-glass windows and grand murals depicting biblical stories from the Old and New Testament; Honorable Laureate Maitre Artiste Afewerk Tekle’s painting of the Holy Trinity is one of the cathedral’s highlights. Visit the churchyard and you can see the imperial tombs of Emperor Haile Selassie,the founder of the church, and his wife Empress Menen Asfaw. The church is also the final resting place of patriots and war veterans, including Ras Imru. At the back of the cathedral is a church museum, where you can see more Ethiopian historical memorabilia, crowns of former Ethiopian Emperors and a selection incredibly well preserved Amharic Bibles and religious writings and church instruments.
- ADDIS MERCATO
Welcome to Africa’s largest open – air market. It’s crowded, it’s chaotic, but the Addis Mercato is so incredibly entertaining and full of life and character, that walking around is one of the best things to do in Addis Ababa and have organized sections that will overcome this first impression. The Mercato, coming from the Italian word for market, claims to be the largest open air market in Africa. There are so many different sections of the market and you can buy everything from souvenirs to clothes to food. That being said, it’s also a great place to buy nothing and just go to watch the crowds of people and observe the incredible loads being carried from place to place.Gold and silver jewellery, electronics equipment, religious artifacts, coffee, secondhand clothes, road-side food – there’s nothing that Merkato doesn’t have tucked in one of its pockets. It is fast-paced and often crowded with people and vehicles all rushing to get somewhere. Merkato is best visited with a local guide. The market is a cultural center of Ethiopia where you will meet different people from several ethnic groups all over the county.
- ENTOTO MOUNTAINS & OLD PALACE OF EMPEROR MENELIK
At 3,200 meters in elevation, Entoto Hill is sort of the roof of Addis Ababa and it was the site for the palace of Emperor Menelik-II, the founder of Addis Ababa. Driving up the steep road, you’ll pass homes and small villages, highland growth, and as you gain elevation you’ll start to get great views of Addis Ababa (on a clear day). The legendary king Menelik II built his palace on the Entoto Hill and used it as his headquarters during the founding of Addis Ababa. Here there is St. Mary church, where Emperor Menelik crowned as Emperor in it and you will admire the panoramic view of the city with its surrounding forests and the breath taking air. On the way you will stop by the Shiro Meda market. It’s a friendly market where you can buy all sorts of Ethiopian traditional clothes and local crafts.
- PIAZZA
Old part of the city, the Piazza neighborhood was the economic heart of the city in its earliest days, when present-day De Gaulle Square hosted the main Saturday market. Today, it is a relatively upmarket shopping area studded with budget hotels and affordable places to eat. It also hosts many run-down landmarks built in the first half of the twentieth century by the Italian occupiers or by Armenian refugees (whose brand of Christianity is very close to Ethiopia’s), among them the Itegue Taitu Hotel (the first hotel in Ethiopia), the stone Bank of Abyssinia building from 1905 (opposite De Gaulle Square), and a Greek Orthodox church on Adwa Avenue.
Duration: CITY TOUR 1 day
This is a full day city tour and gives you the chance to discover Addis Ababa. Being home to the African Union, having important United Nations branches, and with nearly every foreign embassy from around the world represented, Addis Ababa is often referred to as the ‘political capital of Africa’. Located in the beautiful Ethiopian highlands, Addis Ababa is positioned at 2,600 meters in elevation, making the weather extremely pleasant, if not a bit on the cool side. From the marvelous array of delicious local and international food, some of the best coffee you’ll ever have in your life, to ancient churches, and fascinating museums, there are plenty of things to keep you occupied and satisfied in Addis Ababa. This urban center serves as the gateway to Ethiopia’s mythical and ancient world and continues to earn its reputation for friendly people. Addis Ababa is some 100 years old city established in 1887 by Emperor Menelik II. Addis Abeba is one of the high altitude cities in the world. It’s as high as from 2200 – 3200 meters above sea level and area of 540 sq. km.
The city is situated in the foothills of the 3,200 meters Entoto Mountains and rambles pleasantly across many wooded hillsides and gullies cut through with fast-flowing streams. Entoto Mountain located in the northern part of the city is the highest place and frequented by tourists to get the panoramic view of Addis Ababa and to visit the old palace of Menelik II and the associated church of Saint Mary which is as old as the palace itself. This big, sprawling and hospitable city still bears the stamp of his exuberant personality. Like any other capital in the world, there is more than enough for anybody to do in Addis. There are numerous restaurants offering various exotic dishes. Addis Ababa is as cosmopolitan as any of the world’s great metropolises, and the architecture is as varied as the city itself. Addis Ababa simply grew in a natural, organic way, and its present appearance reflects this unforced and unstructured evolution. Its ethnically diverse population of more than 6million is known to be hospitable and helpful in creating long-lasting memorable experiences. Business or holiday travelers are expected to enjoy staying in this Africa’s bustling and vibrant capital city. Addis Ababa is overall a very pleasant city in Africa that offers a good selection of things to do, see, and experience.
Main information is you will be Getting around Addis ababa
The major roads leading out from Addis Ababa are tar-sealed, all-weather roads along all (or most of) their routes. Many minor roads are paved and traversing them can be comfortable.
By car: -A good way to tour addis ababa is by car.
Vehicles /Transport: During the course of your trip, we will use a variety of vehicles, all which are fit for purpose and the conditions encountered.
Accommodation: Currently, addis ababa is known for its fine and luxurious hotels and Lodges . Reliable hot showers are generally speaking still a luxury and places with genuine charm are available. All accommodation throughout this tour is 2 -4 star (comfortable hotels with en-suite facilities)
Food: – Hotel meals are generally good and full of variety. Local dishes tend to be very good if you like hot, spicy food although milder versions can be requested.
