Full Day Addis Ababa City Tour with Hotel Pick Up And Drop Off
Description
Welcome to Ethiopia! Experience Addis Ababa’s highlights on one comprehensive full-day tour. Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s geographic, political and cultural hub. Addis is distinct from many other African capitals because it was not founded or developed under colonial rule. On arrival we will meet you at the airport or from your hotel and begin your Addis Ababa city tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
National Museum is ranked among the most important in sub-Saharan Africa, Far and away the highlight is the paleontological exhibition in the basement, the home of world-famous Lucy. Her 1974 discovery in the Afar region of northwestern Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins forever. also here is the fossilized evidence of some amazing extinct creatures, like the massive sabre-toothed feline Homotherium and the gargantuan savannah pig Notochoerus. The periphery of the ground floor focuses on the pre-Aksumite, Aksumite, Solomonic and Gonderian periods. The wide array of artefacts includes an elaborate pre-1st-century-AD bronze oil lamp showing a dog chasing an ibex, a fascinating 4th-century-BC rock-hewn chair emblazoned with mythical ibexes, and ancient Sabaean inscriptions. On the 1st floor, there’s a vivid display of Ethiopian art ranging from early (possibly 14th-century) parchment to 20th-century canvas oil paintings by leading modern artists.
The Ethnological Museum of Addis Ababa is one of the best ethnographic museums in East Africa. It makes visitors understand everything about the different cultural groups of Ethiopia with its great display which focuses in the life cycle - from Birth to Death. History, religion, food culture, and natural facts of the country is described so nicely.
Mercato is the biggest outdoor market not only in Addis Ababa or Ethiopia but in the whole of Africa. The must see parts of Merkato include the Spice Market, the hand made baskets market, and second hand items market.
Entoto Natural Park towers high above the Capital and is a historical sanctuary. Nature from the Veiled Ancient Era. a unique place to discover the most breathtaking ancient mountain nature, with streams flowing from clear springs and waterfalls.
Commissioned by Emperor Menelik II to commemorate his stunning 1896 defeat of the Italians in Adwa, and dedicated to St George (Ethiopia’s patron saint), whose icon was carried into the battle, this Piazza cathedral is one of Addis' most beautiful churches. The grey stone exterior is easily outdone by the interior’s flashes of colour and art. Sections of ceiling glow sky-blue and boast gilded stars, while the outer walls of the innermost shrine are covered in paintings and mosaics by the renowned Afewerk Tekle. The church, built in traditional octagonal form and with a severe neoclassical style, was completed in 1911 with the help of Greek, Armenian and Indian artists. Empress Zewditu (in 1916) and Emperor Haile Selassie (in 1930) were both crowned here.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Bole International Airport. pick up time 8.00 am. Our guide will meet you on your way out at terminal 1 holding your name on the placard.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(11)
This was an excellent way to see the highlights of Addis Ababa. Dagi was an excellent guide. The highlight was seeing Lucy! We enjoyed everything about the day. The traditional Ethiopian lunch was a great way to introduce us to real Ethiopian food. Thanks Dagi for a great day.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed exploring Addis Ababa and that your time with Dagi made the experience so special. Seeing Lucy is truly unforgettable, and we’re glad it was a highlight for you. We’re also happy you enjoyed the traditional Ethiopian lunch—it’s always a pleasure to introduce our guests to authentic local flavors. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Dagi. Thank you again for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back to Ethiopia someday!
I have a great time touring city of Addis Ababa on Nov 29 2025. The guide Dagi pick me up from hotel lobby on time. He is fluent in English. He possesses an easy going personality. He has great knowledge of Ethiopia and Addis Ababa on history, culture and current affairs. He explains things very clearly. I gain a lot knowledge from him by listening and asking questions. We have a traditional Ethiopian meal and coffee which is a plus for the exposure of the Ethiopian culture. The driver Suta is polite and professional. He keeps the car clean and comfortable. When I try to take photos from the road, he always slow down and find a good spot for me. His driving skill makes me feeling confident. In addition, he is fairly good in English. He can also provide some valuable insights of Addis Ababa. I highly recommend the tour without reservation.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review of your Addis Ababa city tour. We are truly delighted to hear that you had a great experience. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Ethiopia in the future.
Really enjoyed this tour. I felt safe and did everything I wanted to do. The guide was knowledgeable enough and aware of our surroundings.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and felt safe and well taken care of throughout your experience. It’s great to know our guide helped make your trip both informative and enjoyable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another adventure!
It was an amazing tour. Borook the tour guide was very knowledgeable, We got a lot of information about the culture and history of Ethiopia. I highly recommend this excursion!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that Borook helped make your experience memorable with his knowledge and insights into Ethiopia’s rich culture and history. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
I had an amazing experience on my tour of Addis Ababa with my wonderful guide, Teddy. We visited Entoto Mountain, the National Museum of Ethiopia where I got to see Lucy, the world-famous Australopithecus skeleton, the lively “Mercato,” and the beautiful Saint George Church. Each stop was fascinating and full of history, and Teddy made the whole experience even better with his knowledge, kindness, and professionalism. It was truly a beautiful tour, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Addis Ababa!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour of Addis Ababa and that Teddy helped make your experience so memorable. It’s great to know you loved exploring Entoto Mountain, the National Museum, Mercato, and Saint George Church — they’re truly special parts of our city. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Teddy. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Ethiopia for more adventures in the future!
We took our tour with Teddy and Sultan. Teddy is very knowledable about Ethiopian History and an excellent guide. Our tour included the Mercato, the palace of the Emperor Haile Selassie, coffee house and a traditional Ethiopian Meal at a local coffee house/restaurant. Very personalized and we had a great time. Would recommend this tour, you will not regret it.
We are incredibly grateful that you took the time out to leave us a 5-Star review! We take pride in knowing our customers are happy with their experience. Thanks, we really appreciate it! Looking forward to seeing you again soon, Regards.
Excellent tour by Teddy. He showed around main city points and explained all in detail. Lucy was the highlight of the tour. Thank you Teddy.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your needs in experiencing our beautiful City. It is always a pleasure to serve you again!
The guides and drivers are all very nice! We felt safe and really enjoyed the tour! The guides not only guide us to the places but also taught us many local culture things. No extra fee, the price is reasonable and they’re honest to us. We must go to Ethiopia again with this tour company. Really appreiated:)
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re thrilled everything worked out so well and that you enjoyed your trip. We love to welcome you again soon!
The tour was excellent, I enjoyed every part of it, especially the lunch in the mountains in a traditional house. Thank you!
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your needs in experiencing our beautiful City. It is always a pleasure to serve you again!
We had the most incredible experience with Armaye Ethiopia tours. With the recommendation of my friends who live in Germany, we contacted Armaye to book a layover tour of Addis Ababa. Armaye really knows a lot about the country, people and history. We were picked up and dropped off at the airport on time. We enjoyed Ethiopian food in a good traditional restaurant. Everything went according to our schedule. The highlight for me was the national museum of Ethiopia where our ancestor Lucy is. In addition to the sights on the list, we even got to immerse ourselves in the culture by having coffee and traditional food with the locals. If we visit Ethiopia again, we will surely use Armaye Tours services. We would like to thank all for your authentic service!
We would like to thank you for your wonderful review. It is always great to read that we were able to meet your expectations. Hope to see you again!
