Private Tour

Addis Ababa Layover

Overview

Available languages

German

English

Italian

French

Spanish

Mobile ticket

What sets our Addis Ababa city tour apart is our focus on providing a deep, authentic experience that goes beyond the usual tourist spots. We offer a personalized approach, taking you through both well-known landmarks and hidden gems of the city, like the historic Bata Mariam Church with its underground crypts, and the bustling local markets where you can experience daily life firsthand. Our knowledgeable guides share insights into the rich history, culture, and traditions of Addis Ababa, giving you a deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s capital. Whether you're visiting historic sites, exploring vibrant neighborhoods, or enjoying traditional Ethiopian cuisine, our tours are designed to give you a truly immersive and memorable experience of the city.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Specialized infant seats are available

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Tour guide

All Fees and Taxes

Entry/Admission Meskel square

Bottled water

Entry/Admission Merkato

Ethiopian coffee

Entry/Admission Yekatit 12 monument

Entry/Admission Bata Mariam church

Admission/entry Entoto not in the park

Experienced driver

Entry/Admission National museum

Drinks

Food and drinks

Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Ramada by Wyndham Addis Ababa

Block #14, Africa Avenue, Bole Sub City Woreda 3 Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Bole Airport

Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Hilton Addis Ababa

Menelik II Avenue, Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Sheraton Addis, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Addis Ababa

Taitu Street Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Saro Maria Hotel

Bole Medhanialem, Cameroon Street Addis Ababa Ethiopia

What To Expect

Meskel Square

Meskel Square is a public square in the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is often a site for public gatherings or for demonstrations and festivals, notably, the Meskel Festival from which it takes its name.

Admission Not Applicable

Addis Ababa

Visit Bata Mariam Church in Addis Ababa, a historic Ethiopian Orthodox church known for its unique circular design and vibrant frescoes. Explore its peaceful atmosphere and admire the detailed murals depicting biblical scenes. Learn about the church’s significance in Ethiopian religious life and its architectural heritage. This visit offers a fascinating glimpse into the country’s deep-rooted Christian traditions and cultural history. The church also features underground crypts for Menelik and wife Empress Taitu, his daughter Empress Zewditu, and Emperor Haile Selassie’s daughter, who died at the young age of only 22.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Layover Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa city tour
Duration: 6 hours
Minibus
Pickup included

Reviews

4.95

134 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

130

Great layover experience!
tashar991,
Nov 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic experience with Henok! We saw the market, tasted authentic coffee (and had the authentic experience), went to the museum, among many other things! Super knowledgeable and great story teller. Highly recommend!
Shocking
franciscor210,
Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Arriving in the Ethiopian Capital and seeing its avenues lit by beautiful street lamps and its modern buildings and bright signs surprised us, and then already by day, when we tour the city reach Mount Entoto and have a wide panoramic view. You can’t miss the National Museum to see Mummy Lucy dating back three million years, and in the right place, participate in the Coffee Ceremony, traditional in Ethiopia, not forgetting the visit to the famous Merkato. An unforgettable experience we had with Essence Tours.
Great day tour
PapaCory,
Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We really enjoyed our tour with Biruk. For us it was important that we feel safe and he did a good job. He’s knowledgeable and local with good English.
Perfect layover itinerary
meaghan ca,
Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wow. This was a perfect layover tour! Addis is a must see city and this tour maximized time on the ground to see as much of the capital as possible. Wonde was a superb tour guide who knew how to make the most of the limited time we had before the next flight. The driver expertly navigated very narrow crowded streets around the market. We even got to try traditional Ethiopian coffee (included) and a traditional Ethiopian dinner with entertainment (extra small cost but well worth it). 100% recommend this tour and hope to get back to explore more of Ethiopia in the future.
Very accommodating guides
Udhanth M,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The agency provided a driver and a guide who accompanies you to all the sites. They were very accommodating with the itinerary, flight arrival, and pick up location. My guide Birukfro was very knowledgeable at each of the sites, helped take photos, and adjusted the tour based on my jetlag. He was very responsive to my messages and it was overall a seamless experience.
A wonderful idea when flying through Addis
Bryan C,
Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great morning out with our wonderful guide, Biruk. He was knowledgeable, personable, very friendly and just an overall great guide and person. We had limited time and he was flexible enough to adapt the tour to our preferences and time constraints
Highly recommended
LARRAITZ G,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Biruk guide very attentive and friendly. He adjusted the visit to the time we had and the explanations have been very good. In addition, he invited us to a delicious samosa and we felt very comfortable and well taken care of. The only catch is that we had booked the activity with a Spanish-speaking guide and it was in English. Thanks to one of us speaking English and translating the explanations we have been able to make the excursion (that inconvenience was certainly not the fault or responsibility of the guide).
Recommended excursion
anderb260,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Biruk was very nice and kind. He invited us to a delicious samosa. We also had a delicious coffee. We enjoyed the excursion very much.
Great for a layover of any length
NorthStar00305201689,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Henock was very nice and knowledgeable, edited the tour to fit the time frame we had. The sites and information were interesting, varied and beautiful. I learned a lot about Ethiopia and it was perfect for any length of layover.
Good way to spend time in Addis Ababa and learn a lot
Gal P,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour guide was really nice and was very enthusiastic and had great English, learned a lot and had a great time. Also it was very flexible with our flight time

From US$70.00