Addis AbabaCapital
Ethiopia · Country profile
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia and one of the great cities of the modern Africa, the high-altitude metropolis of the new flower and the growing economy that spreads across the green hills of the central highlands at nearly two and a half thousand metres. The city is the seat of the African Union and the diplomatic capital of the continent, and its wide avenues, its monuments, its markets and its busy districts run the life of a nation that has kept its independence and its proud identity across the centuries. The museums of the city hold the history of the empire and the discovery of the hominid ancestors of the whole human family, and the churches of the city, from the cathedral and the great church of the Holy Trinity to the rock-hewn style churches of the hills, anchor the deep orthodox faith of the country. The great market of the Mercato, among the largest of Africa, and the mountain viewpoints of the city complete the picture of the extraordinary highland capital.
About Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia. The city's documented population is around 3,600,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB) and Amharic is spoken; the dialling code is +251. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
The High-Altitude Capital of the New Flower
Addis Ababa is a high-altitude, fast-growing metropolis that mixes the monuments of the grand imperial past with the energy of an African economy on the rise. The centre holds the museums, the university and the seat of the African Union, while the streets run with the blue-white taxis, the minibuses and the busy commerce of the everyday. The altitude is a real factor, so the days are best paced in the first time. It is a genuine, working capital, green and hilly, with the coffee culture of the country threading through everything, and it rewards the visitor who looks past the traffic to the museums, the markets and the mountain air.
The Birr, the Amharic and the Air of the Highlands
The climate of the high altitude is mild and spring-like all year, with the rains of the summer and the clear, crisp air of the dry season; the altitude, nearly two and a half thousand metres, asks for a gentle first day and plenty of water. The museums, the markets and the viewpoints of the city are the essential circuit. The birr is the currency, the Amharic is the language with the English spoken in the businesses and the tourism, and the cards work in the hotels while the cash is the practical way in the markets. The city is safe in its main areas with the usual care of the big city.
The Mercato, the Museums and the Entoto Viewpoints
The great market of the Mercato, one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, is the sensory heart of the city, a vast maze of the spice, the fabric, the craft and the everyday stalls, and it rewards a guided first visit. The national museum of the country, in the centre, holds the extraordinary fossil of the hominid ancestor and the collections of the imperial art and the archaeology, while the museum of the unity and the palace of the government tell the modern story. The cathedrals of the capital, the great orthodox churches of the Holy Trinity and the St George with their paintings and their ceremonies, are the deep spiritual anchors, and the viewpoints of the hills, from the Entoto with its forests and its imperial palaces, give the panoramas over the whole high plateau.
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- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 3,600,000
- Coordinates
- 8.9779, 38.7993
- Capital
- Addis Ababa
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
- Languages
- Amharic
- Calling code
- +251
- Country code
- ET
Entry requirements for Ethiopia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Ethiopia for tourism.
Getting to Addis Ababa
Airports we list for Addis Ababa:
Frequently asked questions
Is Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia?
Yes — Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia.
What currency do I need in Addis Ababa?
The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB). Languages spoken in Ethiopia include Amharic.
What is the dialling code for Ethiopia?
The international dialling code for Ethiopia is +251.
Which airport should I fly into for Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is the airport we list for Addis Ababa.
Do I need a visa to visit Ethiopia?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (e-visa), Canada (e-visa), France (e-visa), Germany (e-visa) and India (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Addis Ababa? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.