Addis Ababa City Guide - overview

Addis Ababa (sometimes spelt Addis Abeba) is a diverse and riotous capital city of nearly three million souls, with roughly 80 different nationalities, and a multitude of religious and language groups making up its colourful population.

Nestled at the foot of Mount Entoto, the city was founded in the late 1800s by Ethiopian emperor Menelik II and was later occupied by the Italians during the second Italo-Abyssinian War. When Ethiopians regained control, Emperor Haile Selassie immediately set about rebuilding the capital and formed the Organisation of African Unity, replaced by today's African Union, which has its headquarters in the city.

Addis Ababa is also home to the world-renown early hominid Lucy - her fossilised skeleton, as well as a replica, are housed in the Ethiopian National Museum. The city also boasts the largest open market in Africa (in the Merkato district), several interesting mosques and cathedrals, as well as the world's largest prefabricated building, Shengo Hall, and Menelik's old Imperial Palace, which is the official seat of the Ethiopian government.

Addis Ababa is an interesting mix of poverty and wealth, urbanisation and nature (the city is surrounded by forests and cultivated land). It is a dynamic capital, but has its fair share of unemployment, petty crime and destitution. Addis Ababa, however, is well worth exploring, as there are plenty of 'diamonds in the rough' to be uncovered.

Getting around: There is a large and efficient network of blue and white minibuses that cover the city which are easy to hail from the side of the road. The cost ranges from 0.65 Br for short trips, to 1.20 Br or more for a longer trip. It is worth having an Ethiopian guide with you if it is your first time using these taxis. Small blue coloured taxis are more expensive. They range from 10 Br for a very short journey, to about 35 Br for a cross-town trek. Negotiation is the norm and you often have to press quite hard to get a bargain as a foreigner. They can be contracted for a full day, just negotiate. Walking is still the preferred and more sensible method of transport around this city though beggars can be bothersome. The road names are few and often don't match the ones written on maps, so it is best to navigate by using landmarks. Car hire can be organised through international agencies in Addis Ababa and a full valid international licence is required and the licence from country of origin must be endorsed locally. Drivers must be a minimum of 18 years old. The only road which is well known is Churchill Avenue, which is the main thoroughfare and shopping street in Addis Ababa. Vehicle travel outside the city after dark can be risky. Autobus Terra, near Mercato, is where most of the national buses arrive and depart and is the main bus terminal. The only working railway line runs between Addis Ababa and Djibouti, via Dire Dawa and Harar. Travellers should be prepared for occasional delays.