Things to do in Addis Ababa on an 8-hour stopover

Ethiopian Airlines just massively expanded their international flight offering, meaning they’re one of the most inexpensive options for flying into and out of South Africa this year. It also means that flights into and out of South Africa are more than likely to include a few hours – or even a full day – in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Sounds pretty good, right? Search your long-haul route on Cheapflights.co.za and see if it has this stopover.

Addis Ababa might not be the most obvious city break option, but it still has a lot to offer – even for casual travellers. Here’s our list of things not to be missed…

But first things first…

Visa

You will need a transit visa to leave the airport, but they are cheap and easy to obtain for South African citizens. Go to the Interline Desk on the first floor of the airport. The staff there will help you get everything in order. Some travellers have reported that Ethiopian Airlines will set you up free of charge for layovers over eight hours, but that it takes a little convincing.

Transport

Transportation from the airport into the city is usually via taxi or light rail. More seasoned travellers recommend hiring a driver for the day, but that option is expensive and tough to arrange on the kind of notice you’d have during a stopover. We recommend taking the light rail into the city (and back to the airport), and using cabs between destinations while in the city centre. Plan an hour in either direction.

With those details sorted, it’s time to see the sights.

Visit with Lucy at the National Museum

The National Museum at the nexus of Hailae Maryan Mamo, Sahie Silase and Welete Johanis isn’t the largest or most luxurious museum in the world, but it offers a wide collection of artistic, historical, and archaeological exhibits. The highlight of your visit will be the skeleton of Lucy, the most famous skeleton of Australopithecus remains- our oldest hominid ancestor. Admission is so cheap too, that it is essentially free.

For a longer stop, see also: The Ethiopian Ethnological Museum for a look at the nation’s cultural history, and the Red Terror Museum commemorating the hard times of the 1980s and 90s.

Get lost in the Merkado

Remember that scene in Indiana Jones where he chases the Nazis through an impossibly crowded and busy market in Africa? That market is a sedate public park compared to the scene at Addis Ababa’s Merkado. It’s the largest outdoor market in Africa and could eat up a week of tourist time all by itself. Come for the colours, the sounds, the scents, and the people-watching. Leave laden with foods and local souvenirs purchased after just the right amount of haggling.

For a longer stop, see also: Churchill Avenue shops (colloquially called Souvenir Street), or the less aggressive Shiromeda Market.

Eat at a “dancing restaurant”

It’s considered a bit touristy, but who are you kidding? You’re whipping through town on a stopover. Give yourself a couple of hours to fully enjoy this experience. You’ll sit down, watch traditional dances from several of Ethiopia’s tribes, and sample nibbles from across the spectrum of Ethiopian dishes. There’ll be drinks, too, naturally with beer less expensive than water and honey “haj” wine available at most eateries. Yod Abyssinia has an excellent reputation, but getting in on short notice is sometimes a challenge.

For a longer stop, see also: Raw meat dishes (think sushi, only with land animals), or sampling street food at the city’s open-air markets.

Coffee up at Tomoca

Early Ethiopian civilisation was the first to discover coffee and Addis Ababa celebrates the Good Stuff even more devotedly than the most caffeine-addicted Seattleite. Tourists can go to Kaldi’s, a chain modelled from Starbucks which will serve exactly what you expect. More adventurous coffee connoisseurs can try Tomoca, a citywide chain favoured by the locals.

For a longer stop, see also: Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies. You can find them at a variety of coffee shops throughout the city.

Catch some jazz at the Itegue Taitu Hotel

Not everybody thinks of jazz when they think of Ethiopia, but more people should. During the 1960s and 1970s, the city was a centre for innovative and classical jazz performances, until the communist regime of the 70s-90s shut it down. Since the 2000s, the musical style has seen a resurgence. The Jazzamba, located in the Itegue Taitu Hotel, is one of the best ballrooms to hear what’s happening jazz-wise in Addis Ababa, so if your stopover includes some evening hours check it out. Even if you can’t catch a show, the club and hotel are worth a visit for their own jazz-age vibe.

For a longer stop, see also: La Gazelle Piano Bar near the airport or dinner at the Ghion Hotel.

Of course, your Addis Ababa adventure begins with booking your flights. Maximise your savings — and leave more exploration funds in your budget — by using Cheapflights.co.za. Bundle it with your hotel and rental car for even more rands still in your pocket at the end of your trip.