Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia in East Africa. Close to 3 million people live in Addis Ababa. Commonly referred to as Addis, the city was founded by Emperor Menelik II in 1887. This big, sprawling, hospitable city still bears the stamp of his exuberant personality. More than 21,000 hectares in area, Addis Ababa is situated in the foothills of the 3,000 meters Entoto Mountains and rambles pleasantly across many wooded hillsides and gullies cut through with fast flowing streams.

 

Addis is the third highest capital in altitude in the world at 2440m. It's a sprawling city that takes some getting used to. Mud huts, Italian fascist architecture, glitzy hotels, cathedrals and Marxist billboards provide the backdrop to Africa's fourth largest city. Nightclubs and restaurants serving international cuisine rub shoulders with bars serving traditional honey wine (Tej). Despite its mix of wealth and poverty, tradition and modernity, Addis is a safe city with little violent crime but lots of petty theft.

 

Travel to Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport is the entry point for most visitors to Ethiopia and a major regional transport hub.

 

What to see
You'll need at least 2 days to enjoy the major sights of Addis, city tours are available.

• Ethnological Museum -- Cultural museum located in Haile Selassie's former palace

• St George's Cathedral -- Built to commemorate the defeat over Italy in 1896 and the site of Haile Selassie's coronation (as the King of Kings) in 1930.

• Holy Trinity Cathedral -- Important place of worship and final resting place of Haile Selassie.

• Merkato -- Shop 'til you drop in one of Africa's largest markets, but watch out for pickpockets and go with a local to guide you.

Getting around Addis:
Churchill Avenue is the main thoroughfare in Addis and it's best to orient yourself around it since street names either don't exist or have changed. Minibuses and taxis are readily available, give the driver the name of a place rather than an address.