Private Tour
Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
This Viator’s “Badge of Excellence” awardee tour is prefect for stopover travelers at Addis Ababa.
With expert local tour guide, customize and enjoy the best first-time visitors’ overview to Addis Ababa.
Explore top things to do in the city with flexible airport pick up and/or hotel drop off.
Use a private air-conditioned vehicle on this door-to-door city tour.
Highlights include:
- Experience Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and learn cooking Ethiopian cuisine
- Savour home cooked meals for lunch at a local family house
- See the fossil remains of Lucy at the National Museum of Ethiopia
- Visit Holy Trinity Cathedral or Saint George Cathedral, Addis Ababa’s most notable religious sites
- Enjoy stunning city views from Mount Entoto
- City sightseeing drive to view notable landmarks
- Visit Merkato Market and Ethnological Museum
- Taste Tej - Ethiopian Honey Wine
Available in English, Spanish, German and French speaking guides, book this tour for a memorable experience in Addis Ababa.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
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
Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Experience
A glass of Tej (Ethiopian Honey Wine), similar to mead. It is the national drink of Ethiopia.
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel/Airport pickup and drop-off with private air conditioned vehicle
Professional experienced English speaking tour guide
Home cooked Ethiopian meals
Gratuities
Merkato Market is CLOSED on Sundays. National Museum of Ethiopia is NOT OPEN on MONDAYS.
This is extra payment for entrance fees at Holy Trinity Cathedral (~$12), Saint George Cathedral (~$3), and Ethnological Museum (~$2).
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
St. George's Cathedral
Step inside St. George’s Cathedral, one of Addis Ababa’s historical religious sites, built to commemorate Ethiopia's victory over Italians at the Battle of Adwa. On this private guided tour to Addis, examine its stunning octagonal architecture. Inside, admire vivid mosaics and paintings by Afework Tekle. With a professional guide, enjoy exclusive insider access to St. George’s Cathedral Museum.
Lion of Judah
Enjoy a scenic city sightseeing drive through Addis Ababa to see landmarks like the Lion of Judah. Standing as a bronze sentinel, the Lion of Judah Monument captures Ethiopia’s spirit of strength and freedom. Our Full-Day City tour in Addis Ababa offers a unique emotional connection with expert guidance revealing the monument’s deep roots in Ethiopia’s antifascist resistance and cultural heritage.
Options
Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa
Pickup included
Reviews
172 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
My husband and myself had...
Renee D,
Nov 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00My husband and myself had a longggg layover so we decided this would be a fantastic way to spend the day! We were NOT disappointed! Our guide was VERY knowledgeable, fun and flexible with the schedule! Thank you so much for a fantastic day!
COMPREHENSIVE, CUSTOMIZED AND FLEXIBLE TOUR, AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
Roberto G,
Nov 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Since I booked the tour I received contact from the operator, and on the eve I was informed the name of the guide. He arrived at the hotel on time, with the vehicle and the driver. Having a driver made it much easier for the stops. Already in the first contact, the guide asked what my interests were, and adapted the script to them, modulating the time in each place accordingly. The guide (Biruk) was very attentive and answered all my questions, showed himself kind and competent, leaving me at the hotel only when I was already satisfied with the magnificent experience of the day.
Addis Ababa Tour
Andrew I,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour was about 6 hours. We got a good sense of the city. Biruk was an excellent guide - very knowledgeable and helpful.
Spend and enriching day in Addis with Zele …
nadetoro,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an amazing city tour of Addis Ababa that exceeded all expectations! My guide, Zele, was absolutely fantastic—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the history and culture of the city. He explained everything with such clarity and enthusiasm that the experience felt both fun and deeply enriching. The itinerary was perfectly balanced. We explored key landmarks, learned about Ethiopia’s diverse heritage, and enjoyed a delicious local lunch. The traditional tea tasting was another highlight—relaxing, aromatic, and a wonderful window into local traditions. Thanks to Zele, the entire day felt effortless and incredibly enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Addis. If you can, ask for Zele—he’ll make your experience unforgettable! I will definitely be back to explore more of Ethiopia.
The REAL local experience! Phenomenal guides and hospitality!!!
613lawrencel,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely amazing and unforgettable tour of Addis Ababa with Biruk. Biruk was incredibly knowledgeable, has studied anthropology and hospitality. Really knew how to show off the country and city! Seamless airport pick-up, flexible itinerary, really great full day tour of the city that included breakfast in the Merkato, St. George's Cathedral, the National Museum, lunch, coffee and views in Entoto, the Ethnographic Museum and Holy Trinity Cathedral. Ticked off my entire list in one day in comfort, and learned a whole ton about this fascinating and complex country's history and current affairs from a wonderful guide. Highly recommend this tour agency, especially if you're looking for the REAL local experience!!! Thank you for the wonderful time!
Truly fulfilling.
egarr707,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tours were well organized, the guides were punctual and very interactive. It felt like family.. We really appreciated the inputs of BIRUK and ERMIAS the tour guides and the overall supervision and consistent communication with Mr Girma.
Best Tour!
dyem0ndc,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing, eye-opening and informative tour. Our guide Biruk was the perfect guide! Not only was he extremely knowledgeable about Addis Ababa and all of its wonders, Biruk was extremely kind and hospitable the entire tour. Definitely a tour that’s worth your time!
Great people to see around Adis
Akash P,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The guide Durke was very helpful and friendly. He was also very knowledgeable and shared lot of information during the visits. The food was great. Overall great experience
Addis+ tour
Holly R,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Biruk, our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and really provided good options to see in the time constraint that we had. The driver was also extremely good. They picked us up from where I was staying, which was not a conventional hotel, without any problem. We went to the National Museum, Mt Entoto where we saw a great view of the city and had a traditional coffee ceremony with food. We drove by the market and went to Holy Trinity Cathedral. It was the Muskel celebration day, so he also gave us perspective there-was a great experience before having to fly out that night.
Wonderful introduction to Addis Ababa
KStarTO,
Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a long layover in Addis Ababa and decided to embark on a city tour. Communication with Muluken before booking was via email and was prompt, clear, and they answered all of our questions and provided flexibility to our itinerary based on what we were interested in doing. The day of our tour, we connected with our guide, Biruk, via WhatsApp and were picked up from our hotel without issue. Biruk and our driver were professional and the vehicle was clean, comfortable, and well maintained. They also provided bottled water. Biruk was very knowledgable about Addis Ababa and Ethiopia, and answered all of our questions on a variety of topics ranging from the history of the city, city planning, religion, culture, language... The tour provided a very good overview of the city and we enjoyed our lunch at a local home where we were served home-cooked food and took part in the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This was a very immersive experience that we greatly enjoyed. Because we went on a Monday, the National Museum was closed. We instead visited the Ethnographic Museum which is housed at the former Palace (and now Addis Ababa University). The museum was larger than we expected and had lots to see. Biruk provided a very good overview of the highlights but there was plenty of English signage as well. Overall, we were very pleased with our city tour and would recommend it to others who may find themselves with a layover in Addis Ababa and looking for a guided experience and orientation to the city.
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From US$150.40Was US$160.00
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Operated by Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours