Cheap Flights to Addis Ababa Airport

Discover Addis Ababa

Fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s fast and frenetic capital city.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD)

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is one of the busiest airports in the country, and is the hub of the country’s airline: Ethiopian Airlines. Passengers will find that this airport has enough amenities to make transiting through ADD comfortable. You will have access to a bank, a currency exchange service, public telephones, a travel agency as well as restaurants and gift retailers.

Airlines to Addis Ababa

If you are flying from Australia, there are no direct flights to Addis Ababa, and most likely your flight will be directed through an international Middle Eastern hub like Dubai (DXB) or Doha (DOH).

The airline carriers that operate along this route are Qantas, Emirates, Air India, Air China, South African Airways, ANA, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Asiana Airlines.

Getting into Addis Ababa

By taxi

There are taxis available outside of the terminal building, but it is advised to organize these through the arrivals hall taxi desk, which provides fixed tariffs into the city. However, if you think you can get a cheaper rate, you can haggle with the yellow cab drivers in the rank outside.

By public transport

There are minibuses that serve as the public transport in this city, and these are available at the airport. These are blue and white, and travel specific routes, and can let you off along their way into the city. They are usually very cheap, costing about 1.35-4ETB (10-25 cents).

By car

If you want to rent a car, this should be done in advance, either through your tour operator, travel agency or by using our excellent car hire search tool.

What can you do in Addis Ababa?

Addis Ababa is a large and energetic capital, with enough sights, sounds, smells and tastes to overwhelm the senses. One of the best places to start a tour of this city is to embrace a sensory feast by heading to the Addis Mercato where you can buy clothing, trinkets or street food.

Then spend some time in some of the city’s fantastic museums, like the Ethnological Museum, where you can learn about the indigenous tribes of Ethiopia and the impact of the coffee industry. Explore the National Museum of Ethiopia, where you can learn about the nation’s art and archeology, including seeing a model of perhaps the most famous fossil of all: ‘Lucy’ the early hominid skeleton, thought to date back 3.2 million years. It’s also worth dropping into St. George’s Cathedral, a landmark in the city. With a traditional octagonal Ethiopian design, this beautiful building is a sight to behold.

Of course, it would be criminal not to indulge in a little Ethiopian cuisine, which can be subtle and complex, or simple and comforting. Try the rich curries, tasty pancakes called injera, and the fresh, aromatic coffee.  

When should you go?

Addis Ababa tends to have fairly constant temperatures from season to season. It’s usually best to avoid the rainier months of June through September when the heaviest rain will fall. October through to March has average highs trending between 17-22°C and is a good time to visit. However, because of the altitude of this city you can find yourself in temperatures that are hitting the high 20s, and then when the sun goes down see the mercury drop to 2-3°, so make sure you pack layers.

What do you need to know?

Currency: The Ethiopian Birr (ETB)

Visas: Quite a few foreign nationals are now issued visas to Ethiopia on arrival, however this is only available for 33 countries. Please double check the requirements for your individual nationality, which you can do so on the Ethiopian Government Portal, where you can also apply for a visaif needed. Please be aware that you will not be allowed to board your flight without valid documentation.

Please note all information is current as of December 2015.