Private Tour
Addis Ababa - Half Day Cultural Experience
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Perfect for first-time visitors to Addis Ababa, this half day tour combines iconic landmarks, local markets, and authentic culinary delights.
Experience the essence of the Ethiopian culture on this immersive half-day tour.
With a flexible pickup from your hotel in Addis Ababa or the airport, drive with a private vehicle to interesting sites in the city.
Highlights:
- Explore the bustling Merkato market with a knowledgeable local guide
- Learn how to bake Injera bread during a private cooking class
- Enjoy the sweeping city views from the summit of Mount Entoto
- Indulge in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony
- Visit the palace of Emperor Haile Sellassie I at the Ethnological Museum
Our expert guides will take you beyond the typical tourist spots, offering a truly authentic and unforgettable experience.
This short tour allows customization of your itinerary.
Book a guided tour to Addis Ababa and leave with a deeper understanding of Ethiopia in a few hours.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Experience, bottled water and local snacks in the car
All Fees and Taxes
A glass of Tej (Ethiopian Honey Wine), similar to mead. It is the national drink of Ethiopia.
Local family visits
Have home cooked Ethiopian meals for lunch
Professional Experienced Tour Guide
Any other expense which are not mentioned in the "included" list above
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Ethnological Museum
During your half-day tour in Addis Ababa, take a guided visit to the Ethnographic (Ethnological) Museum. You’ll learn about the rich cultural heritages of Ethiopia and its diverse ethnic groups. Discover the pivotal moments that shaped Ethiopia’s rich and glorious history, including the remarkable victory over Italy at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. Explore the Life Cycle Exhibits to understand the profound customs and rituals surrounding birth, childhood, adulthood, and death of diverse tribes of Ethiopia. Tour to the Ethnographic Museum also includes visiting the bedroom of Emperor Haile Sellassie I. The museum’s building was the former palace of the emperor. Located at the main campus of Addis Ababa University, this museum also features an exhibit dedicated to Ethiopian religious and secular music. Learn about the different musical instruments used by various ethnic groups, and diverse musical culture of Ethiopia. Ethnographic Museum is a top site to discover in Addis Ababa.
Mount Entoto
Mount Entoto is the other interesting site you will explore on this guided half day tour to Addis Ababa. Drive north of Addis Ababa via the local market of Shiro Meda, where you can find beautiful hand woven cotton clothes and small gift items, to Mount Entoto. Stop at Entoto Park and walk to the best outlook near Addis to admire views of the surrounding mountains and see the city from above. With a private house visit, experience the Ethiopian cultural coffee ceremony, taste local food, and learn baking Enjera bread. Mount Entoto is one of the best places to experience local culture, enjoy the great panoramic view of Addis Ababa and walk in the Eucalyptus forest at the mountain. Mount Entoto, with its elevation of 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) above sea level, qualifies Addis Ababa as the highest capital city in Africa. On a customizable short tour of Addis Ababa, discover Mount Entoto with a professional tour guide and private vehicle.
Options
With Spanish-Speaking Guide
Tour in Spanish Language: Addis Ababa - Half Day Cultural Experience with professional and fluent Spanish-Speaking tour guide
Pickup included
With English-Speaking Guide
Tour in English language: Cultural half-day tour in Addis Ababa with professional English-Speaking tour guide
Pickup included
Reviews
29 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing Tour with Biruk in Addis Ababa!
Stay52407856979,
Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thank you so much to Biruk for an amazing tour! It was super personalized and perfectly adapted to everything I wanted to do. He gave excellent explanations, made the experience really fun and dynamic, and showed me Addis Ababa from a local’s perspective. Totally recommended — one of the best tours I’ve ever done!
Merit Half day tour (morning) of Addis during a long layover with Ethiopian Airlines
IrisCorreia,
Aug 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Me and my friend had a layover in Addis on route to Rwanda to attend a conference, so we decided to choose the long layover (sleep in Addis as part of the Ethiopian airline package) and arrange a half-day tour of Addis for next morning, before we left to Kigali in afternoon. Booking process was very smooth, Merit team assisted with itinerary and accommodated to our flight times. Henok was our guide, he and the driver (forgot his name, sorry!) picked us up from hotel at 9AM. We drove through the market, went to oldest coffee shop in town, to the Ethnological national museum to check on Lucy; followed by a drive to the mount Entoto and a tradicional lunch and coffee ceremony at a local family house. Back to airport by 2 PM, on time to our afternoon flight. I have being to Addis airport several times for layover, never went out of airport. This long layover and half day tour was the perfect solution to finally see a bit of Addis and learn a little about Ethiopia history (it is very rich!) and local costumes. I recommend Merit tours for that, if you had the chance to explore a bit. PS: Visa was smooth and free, as part of the long layover with Ethiopian airlines (they don't stamp the passport, it is done in boarding pass). You may have to sign a paper at your allocated hotel assuming responsibility for leaving the hotel, as the voucher from Ethiopian airlines includes hotel, meals and transfer from and to airport).
Fantastic tour of Addis.
yonahamster,
Aug 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a brief layover, and Enoch took such good care of us and our young children. He was up to do whatever we were interested in and really engaged our young children, and the teenagers. Very knowledgeable about history, politics, culture. Has such love and passion for showing people his country. Highly recommended.
Wonderful tour is Addis Ababa!
Mandielovestravel,
Jul 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic day exploring Addis Ababa with our guide Biruk and driver Addis. The highlights included a fun walk through the bustling Mercato, where we picked up a beautifully handwoven basket, and a scenic drive up Entoto Mountain with stunning views over the city. One of the most memorable moments was visiting a local family’s home for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, complete with delicious home-cooked food and honey wine. Biruk was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about Ethiopian history, which really brought the museum visit and city landmarks to life. We also made a fun stop at the old train station for another round of coffee. Overall, it was a well-paced, insightful, and thoroughly enjoyable day. Highly recommended!
Amazing 1/2 day tour in Addis Ababa
Megan N,
Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a layover in Addis Ababa and went on a half day tour of the city. We had an amazing time with our tour guide Biruk! It felt more like traveling with a friend. He shared so much info with us and gave us the best cultural experience! It was a way better day than sitting in the airport for a layover. We loved trying all the Ethiopian foods and exploring the fascinating city! Our only complaint was that the time was to short and we really hope we can come back one day and see more of Ethiopia!
Addis Ababa - short but great experience
Global10341054044,
Jun 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super easy to book. Very knowledgeable guide. Great introduction to Addis Ababa and Ethiopia. Well worth the value. We experienced the history, culture, food, and coffee with a great guide - Henok. Thanks MEET. We wouldn’t hesitate booking again with you.
Addis abeba tour
J4356HVkarinep,
Apr 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The day was enriching, a real immersive experience. We can see that our guide is invested in his tour. We had the chance to see a lot about Addis abeba and the culture. Every part of the tour was unique and we had a lot of memories. A big thank you!
Incredible experience 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
leonardofI5355DB,
Mar 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An increíble tour. Included principals highlights of Addis Ababa. An local experience where I enjoyed the Ethiopian cultura.
Fun day in Abbas
bradm675,
Jan 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really nice day out with Muluken. He was knowledgeable and flexible. We had to cancel a tour with him at the last moment a couple years ago and he was very gracious about it so we were glad he was able to take us out this time!
Great Transit City Tour
149mwm,
Jan 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an amazing Addis Ababa evening transit city tour. If was a wonderful time and was able to view many interest spots and locations. My guide was very flexible and we shared some hood laughs. Communication before my arrival was exceptional and the guide was waiting for me upon arrival at the airport. This was a travel writing assignment. Great experience!
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Operated by Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours