Addis Ababa city guided tours

5.0 (8 reviews) 7 h 30 min Free cancellation

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8 reviews

5.0

Addis Ababa city guided tours — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Addis Ababa city guided tours, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Experience the best of Addis Ababa on a comprehensive full-day tour that begins with a convenient pickup from your hotel or the airport. Visit the National Museum, home to the famous 3 million-year-old fossils of Lucy, and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Ethiopia’s capital from Enoto, and indulge in the rich flavors of traditional Ethiopian coffee and cuisine, making for a memorable exploration of the city’s cultural and historical highlights.

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At a glance

Duration: 7 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Glamour Omo Valley Tours

Ages: Adults (7–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Bottled water
Included: Lunch
Included: All Fees and Taxes
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: Tea and coffee: Coffee and/or Tea

Not included

Not included: personal interest like gift souvenir shops

Itinerary

National Museum of Ethiopia

one hour Admission included

You will start your city tour of Addis Ababa with the National Museum of Ethiopia. This is one of the best museums in quality and diversity of the exhibits. Archeological exhibits include the 3.5 million-year-old fossil of Lucy (or Dinkinesh – ‘thou art wonderful’- in the native language), a hominoid woman of the specious of Australopithecus Afarensis. The discovery of Lucy’s fossil in 1974 forced a complete rethink of human genealogy, providing that our ancestors were walking 2.5 million years earlier than had been supposed. The National Museum also contains many wonderful artifacts dating back to pre-Axumite civilization. Please note that the National Museum Will be closed on Monday.
Ethnological Museum

2 hours Admission included

We continue our tour of Addis Ababa with visit to the Ethnographic Museum which is found inside the compound of the Addis Ababa University. This museum is very different to the National Museum, but equally absorbing, this museum exhibit, a varied array of artifacts and daily objects related to most ethnic groups living in Ethiopia.
Mount Entoto

one hour Admission included

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, is working actively to change part of the mountain to its old state, a natural park. Entoto Natural Park is the northeastern rim of Addis Abeba, on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Entoto, covering an area of 1,300 hectares. It is situated at
Tiglachin Memorial

30 min

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293791-d1205703-Reviews-Tiglachin_Memorial-Addis_Ababa.html
Mercato Market

2 hours

Mercato is the largest open-air market in Africa, covering several square miles and employing an estimated 13,000 people in 7,100 business entities.[citation needed] The primary merchandise passing through the Merkato is locally grown agricultural products — most notably coffee.

Prior to the current Mercato, there was an open marketplace in Addis Ababa near St. George Church at the site where the City Hall stands now, but it ended with the Italian occupation of the 1930s. The occupiers moved the market further west to the area around the premises of Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde, which they named Merkato Dinagde. Thus, the present Addis Merkato was founded by the segregationist policies of the Italian occupational government.

Meanwhile, the Italians restricted the historic St. George Merkato to Europeans, renaming it Piazza, which featured European-style shops that displayed commodities through glass windows. The mostly Arab tradesmen who owned stores there eventually
Meskel Square

30 min

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meskel_Square
Menelik II Square

30 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.