Addis Ababa: Full-Day City Tour with Coffee Ceremony

Explore Addis Ababa on a full-day tour. Visit the National Museum, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Merkato Market. Enjoy a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
Begin your day with a convenient pickup from your hotel or Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. After a short briefing about the day’s itinerary, your city tour begins.

Make your first stop at the National Museum of Ethiopia, one of the most important museums in Sub-Saharan Africa. Discover a wide range of archaeological and historical artifacts, including the famous 3.2-million-year-old hominid fossil, "Lucy" (Dinknesh), royal regalia, and artifacts from the Aksumite and Solomonic dynasties, as well as traditional Ethiopian art and contemporary works.

Next, visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the most important religious site in Addis Ababa. Built in the 1940s, it's the final resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen. Admire the beautiful stained-glass windows, wooden carvings, and the impressive dome and Gothic architectural style.

Continue to Entoto Hills for panoramic views of the city. At 3,200 meters above sea level, it offers a cool climate and historical significance. Visit Entoto Maryam Church, built by Emperor Menelik II, and see Menelik II’s old palace. Enjoy a scenic photo stop overlooking Addis Ababa.

Afterward, enjoy lunch at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant, with options like Kategna Restaurant, Yod Abyssinia Cultural Restaurant, and Taitu Hotel (vegan options available).

After lunch, explore Merkato, one of the largest open-air markets in Africa. It's a maze of stalls selling everything from spices and incense to electronics and clothing. Discover coffee beans, traditional coffee sets, local spices, and handwoven baskets. Visit the recycling area ("Menalesh Tera"), where scrap is creatively reused.

Alternatively, visit the Ethnological Museum, housed in the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie (now part of Addis Ababa University). Gain insight into the diverse cultures of Ethiopia through artifacts, tools, and musical instruments from different ethnic groups, traditional homes, and tribal stories. See Haile Selassie’s preserved bedroom and throne.

Next, visit the Red Terror Martyrs’ Memorial Museum, which documents the atrocities committed during the Derg regime (1974–1991). It’s a somber but important stop to understand Ethiopia's recent history. See photographs, letters, and personal items of victims, narratives explaining the political turmoil, and emotional tributes to those who lost their lives.

Wrap up your tour with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony at a local café or cultural restaurant. Watch as coffee is roasted, ground, and brewed in front of you served with incense and snacks like popcorn.

Finally, be dropped off at your hotel or the airport, depending on your schedule.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.