Addis Ababa: Mercato Market Tour with Sustainability Focus
ID: GYG1285086-1965528
Category:
Country: Ethiopia
Duration:
02:00 hours
Description
Explore the Mercato market in Addis Ababa on a guided tour. Discover the local recycling culture, meet vendors who upcycle clothing, and learn about sustainable practices.
Meet your guide at the northern entrance of Mercato, the largest open market in Addis Ababa. Begin with a quick introduction to the market’s history, layout, and local recycling culture. Learn about etiquette, haggling tips, safety, and where restrooms are located.
Head to the textiles and repurposed fabrics alley. Visit stalls selling second-hand clothes and “remade” garments. Meet a vendor who upcycles clothing and watch a demonstration of a simple repair or patch technique.
Next, walk to small electronics repair shops that fix radios, chargers, and appliances. See how items are diagnosed and repaired rather than replaced. Listen to a short talk on common repairable items and local repair economics.
Continue to the metals and hardware recyclers. Explore stalls collecting scrap metal and tools. Observe sorting and small-scale metalworking, such as reshaping and welding. Learn how metals are valued and reused locally.
Browse vendors selling second-hand kitchenware, glass, and containers. Meet an artisan who makes new items from discarded materials, such as bottles into lamps. Take part in a quick hands-on demo to make a small craft or upcycled souvenir (optional; extra fee possible).
Visit a corner where vegetable and food waste is collected or distributed to farmers
and animals. Discuss informal systems for organic recycling and opportunities for improvement.
Then, a Drop off. End of Tour.
Highlights
- Discover the hidden corners of the Mercato market on a guided tour
- Learn about the local recycling culture and sustainable practices
- Meet vendors who upcycle clothing and create new items from waste
- See how electronics are repaired and metals are recycled locally
- Get tips on reducing waste while traveling and shopping sustainably
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The tour involves walking through a busy market area.
Be prepared for crowded and bustling environments.
Bring cash for purchases as not all vendors accept cards.
Optional hands-on demo may require an extra fee.
INCLUDED
- Live tour guide
- Visit to textiles & repurposed fabrics alley
- Visit to electronics & repair workshop corner
- Visit to metals & hardware recyclers
- Visit to reusable household goods & creative reuse stalls
- Visit to organic waste & composting practices corner
- Hands-on demo of upcycling (optional, extra fee)
NOT INCLUDED
- Tea/coffee break (optional, extra fee)
When should I book?
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.
Cancellations
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.
