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Addis Ababa - Half Day Cultural Experience

icon 4 to 6 hours Mobile ticket Free Cancellation
Tickets from € 124.71

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September 2025
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Perfect for first-time visitors to Addis Ababa, this half day tour combines iconic landmarks, local markets, and authentic culinary delights. Experience the essence of the Ethiopian culture on this immersive half-day tour. With a flexible pickup from your hotel in Addis Ababa or the airport, drive with a private vehicle to interesting sites in the city. Highlights: - Explore the bustling Merkato market with a knowledgeable local guide - Learn how to bake Injera bread during a private cooking class - Enjoy the sweeping city views from the summit of Mount Entoto - Indulge in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony - Visit the palace of Emperor Haile Sellassie I at the Ethnological Museum Our expert guides will take you beyond the typical tourist spots, offering a truly authentic and unforgettable experience. This short tour allows customization of your itinerary. Book a guided tour to Addis Ababa and leave with a deeper understanding of Ethiopia in a few hours.
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  • Private transportation
  • Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Experience, bottled water and local snacks in the car
  • Local family visits
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Have home cooked Ethiopian meals for lunch
  • Professional Experienced Tour Guide
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Any other expense which are not mentioned in the "included" list above
Departure Point

Traveler pickup is offered

If your pick-up location is Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, here are the easy-to-follow instructions to find your guide at the Addis Ababa Airport on arrival:

Exit the terminal building, start walking straight towards the car parking lot.

Keep an eye out to your LEFT side, you'll notice a large road constructed on a bridge with pillars.

The road bends to the left. That's where you'll find your guide waiting right under the bend in the high road. Look out for a sign with your name!

  • Ethnological Museum, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    During your half-day tour in Addis Ababa, take a guided visit to the Ethnographic (Ethnological) Museum. You’ll learn about the rich cultural heritages of Ethiopia and its diverse ethnic groups. Discover the pivotal moments that shaped Ethiopia’s rich and glorious history, including the remarkable victory over Italy at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. Explore the Life Cycle Exhibits to understand the profound customs and rituals surrounding birth, childhood, adulthood, and death of diverse tribes of Ethiopia. Tour to the Ethnographic Museum also includes visiting the bedroom of Emperor Haile Sellassie I. The museum’s building was the former palace of the emperor. Located at the main campus of Addis Ababa University, this museum also features an exhibit dedicated to Ethiopian religious and secular music. Learn about the different musical instruments used by various ethnic groups, and diverse musical culture of Ethiopia. Ethnographic Museum is a top site to discover in Addis Ababa.
    60 minutes
  • Mount Entoto, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    Mount Entoto is the other interesting site you will explore on this guided half day tour to Addis Ababa. Drive north of Addis Ababa via the local market of Shiro Meda, where you can find beautiful hand woven cotton clothes and small gift items, to Mount Entoto. Stop at Entoto Park and walk to the best outlook near Addis to admire views of the surrounding mountains and see the city from above. With a private house visit, experience the Ethiopian cultural coffee ceremony, taste local food, and learn baking Enjera bread. Mount Entoto is one of the best places to experience local culture, enjoy the great panoramic view of Addis Ababa and walk in the Eucalyptus forest at the mountain. Mount Entoto, with its elevation of 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) above sea level, qualifies Addis Ababa as the highest capital city in Africa. On a customizable short tour of Addis Ababa, discover Mount Entoto with a professional tour guide and private vehicle.
    120 minutes
  • Haron Tower, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    Take a break at the historic Tomoca Coffee (1953), the first roasting company in Ethiopia. Enjoy one of the best coffees in your life brewed from high-quality highland-grown Arabica coffee from the birthplace of coffee itself, Kaffa. At Tomoca Coffee, you have the chance to try ‘macchiato’, a shot of espresso with a small dollop of foamed milk on top. Don’t miss the opportunity to shop the best Ethiopian Coffee Beans, praised for their freshness, vibrant flavors, and unique Ethiopian character. Tomoca Coffee House is among the top authentic coffee spots in Addis Ababa we take you on this brief guided tour.
    30 minutes
  • Lion of Judah, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    As part of your half day sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa, you’ll see iconic monuments of the city like the Lion of Judah Statue. On a scenic drive, your guide explains the background and importance of the two monuments of Lion of Judah in Addis Ababa – the monumental bronze sculpture of a roaring lion and the stone made statue next to the National Theatre. In addition to the Lion of Judah, you will see and learn about the historical monuments in Addis Ababa like Yekatit 12 Martyrs Square, Menelik II Statue, Tiglachin Memorial, and Meyazia 27 Square Monument. As popular as the Lion of Judah monument, you’ll drive by famous squares of Addis Ababa like Meskel Square, Alexander Pushkin Square, Menelik II Square, Mexico Square, and the square dedicated to the French President Charles de Gaulle, near Piazza. See famous sites in Addis Ababa, including the Lion of Judah Statue, booking a guided half-day sightseeing tour.
    30 minutes
  • Addis Mercato, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    Walk through Merkato market (Africa’s biggest) with a knowledgeable guide by your side. Discover Merkato’s back alleys which you might miss as a solo visitor without guide. With about 1hour tour of Addis Ababa’s Merkato market, gain insider access to sights tucked away from the main pathways. Have unique cultural insights and way of life of local Ethiopians. Learn how shopping at Merkato market works and practice your bargaining skills. Interact with locals with the help of your multilingual fluent tour guide. Visit food and Ethiopian spices sections of to feel the delicious aspect of the market experience. Merkato is a heaven for photography. Capture the vibrant atmosphere and your unique moments. NOTE - Crowded markets like Merkato in Addis Ababa can be overwhelming for some visitors. You can always tell your guide if you prefer to visit Mercato market by driving through instead of driving. Visit Merkato Market in our half-day cultural and sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa.
    60 minutes
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
IrisCorreia
27 Aug 2025
Me and my friend had a layover in Addis on route to Rwanda to attend a conference, so we decided to choose the long layover (sleep in Addis as part of the Ethiopian airline package) and arrange a half-day tour of Addis for next morning, before we left to Kigali in afternoon. Booking process was very smooth, Merit team assisted with itinerary and accommodated to our flight times. Henok was our guide, he and the driver (forgot his name, sorry!) picked us up from hotel at 9AM. We drove through the market, went to oldest coffee shop in town, to the Ethnological national museum to check on Lucy; followed by a drive to the mount Entoto and a tradicional lunch and coffee ceremony at a local family house. Back to airport by 2 PM, on time to our afternoon flight. I have being to Addis airport several times for layover, never went out of airport. This long layover and half day tour was the perfect solution to finally see a bit of Addis and learn a little about Ethiopia history (it is very rich!) and local costumes. I recommend Merit tours for that, if you had the chance to explore a bit. PS: Visa was smooth and free, as part of the long layover with Ethiopian airlines (they don't stamp the passport, it is done in boarding pass). You may have to sign a paper at your allocated hotel assuming responsibility for leaving the hotel, as the voucher from Ethiopian airlines includes hotel, meals and transfer from and to airport).
yonahamster
19 Aug 2025
We had a brief layover, and Enoch took such good care of us and our young children. He was up to do whatever we were interested in and really engaged our young children, and the teenagers. Very knowledgeable about history, politics, culture. Has such love and passion for showing people his country. Highly recommended.
Mandielovestravel
09 Jul 2025
We had a fantastic day exploring Addis Ababa with our guide Biruk and driver Addis. The highlights included a fun walk through the bustling Mercato, where we picked up a beautifully handwoven basket, and a scenic drive up Entoto Mountain with stunning views over the city. One of the most memorable moments was visiting a local family’s home for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, complete with delicious home-cooked food and honey wine. Biruk was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about Ethiopian history, which really brought the museum visit and city landmarks to life. We also made a fun stop at the old train station for another round of coffee. Overall, it was a well-paced, insightful, and thoroughly enjoyable day. Highly recommended!
This tour in Addis Ababa is organized by Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours

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