4 / 5 - One review
How to get there
A 4 hour flight from Dubai.
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
2 to 3 days
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
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Loleh Rustenholz
Practical information on Addis Ababa
Reviews of Addis Ababa
Meaning "New Flower" in Amharic, the capital of Ethiopia bears witness to its name: an huge city undergoing constant change.
My suggestion:
A must-see destination for its museums, churches, traditional restaurants and Ethio-Jazz concerts. Sadly, it is also very polluted and overcrowded and so a few days here are enough.
My review
To get an idea of the size of the city, you must go to Mount Entoto. This peak offers a wonderful view over Addis Ababa, and also peace and quiet. At the top you will find a eucalyptus forest and a several churches.
On my way back to the city centre, I stopped off in Shiromeda, a roadside market selling shawls and traditional dress at very reasonable prices.
As transport can be somewhat chaotic, I advise you to get around on foot, particularly in the areas of Piazza and La Gare. Piazza is very popular and very busy. Here you will find jewellers, bars, music vendors... La Gare is a former Franco-Djiboutian train station. You can play French bowls in the former rail workers social club (they all still speak French there), admire the train carriages which are still there, as well as the Lion of Judah monument.
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Loleh Rustenholz
