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Activity Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa Historical Cultural Guided Tours

5.0 (3 reviews) 7 hours Free cancellation
Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Addis Ababa Historical Cultural Guided Tours

About this activity

Addis Ababa’s the best highlight of on one comprehensive full-day tour. After a convenient hotel or airport pickup, explore the National Museum, where the 3 million-year-old fossils of Lucy is kept, and Merkato, the giant open-air market. Catch amazing views of Ethiopia’s capital city from Enoto, enjoy a delicious Ethiopian coffee and cuisine.

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At a glance

Duration
7 hours
Confirmation
Instant confirmation
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group
Up to 15 people
People per booking
1–15
Guide
English
Operated by
Papyrus Tours

Ages: Adults (1–90 years)

What is included

Included

  • Included: Government tax
  • Included: Bottled water
  • Included: Lunch
  • Included: All Fees and Taxes
  • Included: Guide
  • Included: Tea and coffee: Coffee and/or Tea
  • Included: Transportation

Not included

  • Not included: personal interest souvenir

Itinerary

  1. National Museum of Ethiopia

    one hour Admission included

    National Museum of Ethiopia, It contains many precious local archaeological finds such as fossilized remains of the most famous of which is "Lucy," the partial skeleton. Selam, found between 2000 and 2004. The basement is dedicated to archaeological and paleoanthropological sections. . The first floor contains objects from ancient and medieval periods, as well as regalia and memorabilia from former rulers, who include Emperor Haile Selassie. The second floor shows art work in a chronological order, from traditional to contemporary works. Afewerk Tekle's massive African Heritage is one of the most notable pieces. The second floor contains a collection of secular arts and crafts, including traditional weapons, jewellery, utensils, clothing and musical instruments. Finally, the third floor has an ethnographic display. Here, the museum tries to give an overview of the cultural richness and variety of the peoples of Ethiopia.

  2. Mount Entoto

    one hour Admission included

    Mount Entoto (Amharic: እንጦጦ) is the highest peak on the Entoto Mountains, which overlooks the city of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. It reaches 3,200 meters above sea level.

    Overview

    It is a historical place where Emperor Menelik II resided and built his palace, when he came from Ankober and founded Addis Ababa. It is considered a sacred mountain and has many monasteries. Mount Entoto is also the location of a number of celebrated churches, including Saint Raguel and Saint Mary.[1]

    The mountain is densely covered by eucalyptus trees that were imported from Australia during the reign of Menelik II, and mostly planted during Emperor Haile Selassie's reign. Thus, it is sometimes referred to as the "lung of Addis Ababa". The forest on the mountain is an important source of firewood for the city. It was also a source of building material in earlier times.The Ethiopian Heritage Trust, a non-profit, non-governmental organization,

  3. Shiro Meda Market

    15 min

    Why locals love it

    Shiro Meda local market located near the US Embassy in Addis Ababa is one of the best local markets to shop handwoven cotton clothes mainly for women. It is also famous for buying small gift items like Tshirts, necklaces, earrings, etc

    Why you should visit it

    At Shiro Meda, visitors can buy colorful handwoven locally made scarves, and dresses for women which are made from cotton and decorated with colorful embroidery. Here at Shiro Meda, bargaining for price is the order of the game.

    Special tip

    If visitors have time, they can visit the small startups working on weaving these colorful Ethiopian traditional clothes in the yellow condominium.

  4. Mercato Market

    2 hours Admission included

    Google refers to Mercato (Merkato) Market as “Merkato”. The attractions part of TripAdvisor use the name "Mercato Market". For this post, I used both the common terms for the market – Mercato and Merkato.

    No one denies that Merkato is a huge trading area. I did my own research online to measure the area of Merkato Market (መርካቶ) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Shop in Addis Ababa Market of Mercato

    I used Google Earth to measure the area of this shopping place. I considered using four aggregable coordinates. I found out that it covers at least a total area: of 4.85 km² (1.87 mi²)

    Mercato is one of the top ranking Things to Do in Addis Ababa. More than 20,000 people shop at this market daily, except Sundays.

    As a tour guide, I frequently lead walking tours through Merkato. I find the following aspects particularly fascinating:

    The variety of items available for sale

    The diversity of peoples background I encounter

    The surprising order within the market's chaotic and complex environment

  5. Menelik II Square

    15 min

    Menelik II Square is located in the heart of Addis Ababa, the area locally known as Arada. At the center of the square stands a magnificent equestrian statue of the Emperor. The monument was erected by Emperor Haile Selassie I, in 1930, just before his coronation.

  6. Holy Trinity Cathedral

    30 min Admission included

    oly Trinity Cathedral, also known in Amharic as Kidist Selassie, is the highest ranking Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was built to commemorate the Ethiopian victory over Italian occupation and is an important place of worship in Ethiopia, alongside other cathedrals such as the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum.The cathedral bears the title "Menbere Tsebaot", or "Pure Altar". Built in 1942,[1] the church compound was the burial place for those who fought against the Italian occupation, or those who accompanied the Emperor Haile Selassie into exile from 1936 to 1941. The Emperor and his consort the Empress Menen Asfaw are buried in the north transept of the cathedral. Other members of the Imperial Family are buried in the crypt below the church. The High Altar of the cathedral is dedicated to 'Agaiste Alem Kidist Selassie' (Sovereigns of the World the Holy Trinity). The other two altars in the Holy of Holies on either side.

  7. Ethnological Museum

    one hour Admission included

    The Ethnological Museum, Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, is a public institution dedicated to ethnology and culture. The Ethnological Museum houses anthropological, musicological and cultural objects. The Ethnological Museum is the first university museum in Ethiopia.[1] The Museum is located in the main Campus of Addis Ababa University which houses the Institute of Ethiopian Studies.

    Establishment

    The Ethnological Museum in Addis Ababa was established in 1950, largely based on the collections of old Italian zoological species and ethnographic artifacts by the first batch of graduates of the College. The initiator of the idea of the museum came from Stanislaw Chojnaki who was the former chief librarian of the University College of Addis Ababa.

  8. Meskel Square

    Passing by

    The Meskel Festival has been celebrated for over 1,600 years.[1] The word "Meskel" means "cross" and the festival commemorates the moment when the crucifix was revealed to Empress Helena of Constantinople, mother of Constantine the Great

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

  • We will pick all clients from the hotel,guest house and any other accommodation requested for pick up

    We will pick all our clients also from Addis Ababa Bole Int Airport based on the flight time

    We will pick any guests stays in Addis Ababa either from their home or home stays ...

End point

  • We will pick all clients from the hotel,guest house and any other accommodation requested for pick up

    We will pick all our clients also from Addis Ababa Bole Int Airport based on the flight time

    We will pick any guests stays in Addis Ababa either from their home or home stays ...

Pickup points

  • Bole Airport
  • Best Western Plus Addis Ababa

We will pick all clients from the hotel,guest house and any other accommodation requested for pick up

We will pick all our clients also from Addis Ababa Bole Int Airport based on the flight time

We will pick any guests stays in Addis Ababa either from their home or home stays ...

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel You get back
At least one day before 100%
Less than a day before 0%
  • The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Traveller ratings

5.0 out of 5 · 3 reviews
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Addis Ababa Historical Cultural Guided Tours

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