Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Things to Do
Sightseeing in Addis Ababa
There is plenty to see and do in Addis Ababa - but the journey to the attractions is frequently more interesting than the sights themselves. This is particularly the case should you choose to walk the city and navigate your way to the main museums and buildings yourself. It is probably a good idea to hire a taxi driver for a daily fee and have him drive you around.
You are likely to be offered seats at an alleged 'cultural show' which takes place at a backstreet restaurant or venue. Refuse these offers - they are the opening bid in a classic scam that ends with a thorough fleecing of their tourist victims. If you do wish to see traditional dancing and music simply dine at any decent and reputable restaurant where such attractions are provided free.
As for Addis Ababa's mainstream attractions, don't miss paying Lucy a visit at the National Museum, doing a bit of shopping at the Merkato - largest market in Africa, and seeing the wonderful cultural artifacts in the Ethnological Museum and relics of the early city in the Addis Ababa Museum. Its also worth keeping your eyes open for the numerous concrete Soviet statues and buildings that dot the city. The most overrated attraction in town is the Zoo - avoid it unless drawn to macabre sights.
There is a good tourist information booth off Meskel Square if you need some impartial advice or want a reliable tour guide.
Shopping in Addis Ababa
Addis is the perfect place to buy some emblematic souvenirs of your stay in Ethiopia. Top of your shopping list is likely to be a pack of Ethiopian coffee beans, preferably vacuum sealed to preserve their freshness. Decorative metalwork, in the form of crosses, and painted religious artworks on carved wooden boards are also popular. Filigreed silver and gold jewelry is also a great buy.
Other good buys are woven blankets and cloth, 17th century silver Marie Therese Thaler coins, and items bearing the image of Haile Selassie and the distinctive Rastafarian colors. If buying what you believe to be an antique ensure you obtain a clearance certificate from the vendor as Bole customs are always on lookout for smugglers of Ethiopian heritage items.
The most popular place to shop is the Merkato, which is an essential tourist experience although not for the fainthearted. This is a chaotic, thrilling flea market with a diverse range of both goods and people, including a fair number of shifty characters. All prices are negotiable. Another shopping area is Churchill Road, above the main post office on the right.
If bargaining is not your thing, and you don't mind being overcharged a bit, do your souvenir shopping in the boutiques at the Hilton and the Sheraton, where high quality examples of the classic Ethiopian souvenirs can be bought without the crush and fuss of the more typical shopping experience in Merkato. The shops are Bole are good too, but are only open when an international flight is departing.
Visit the Former Women Fuelwood Carriers Project for good quality souvenirs like woven hand shawls in support of a good cause. Similarly the alert Handicraft Shop makes sells beautiful embroidery in support of the Berhan Taye Leprosy Disabled Persons Work Group. Check out Sabahar, near the Salem nurses college, which makes extraordinary silk scarves. There are also some great bookshops in Addis. Try The African Bookshop for great second-hand reads, The Mega Book Shop for the most eclectic range you'll ever find, and Ethiopian Trading Enterprises for fantastic and cheap postcards.
Before burning all your remaining birr on a shopping spree remember that luggage is carefully weighed at the airport with hefty surcharges for those going over the specified limits of 44 pounds (20kg) for check-in luggage and 15 pounds (7kg) for hand luggage.
A note on finding your way around in Addis: a good taxi driver is a better option than a detailed map or GPS as street names change name/direction quite often. If your driver can double up as a guide and negotiator for your trip into Merkato, so much the better.
Attractions for Kids
There are a few havens of peace and familiarity for children and their parents. Chief among these are the Hilton and the Sheraton which both have swimming pools that non-guests can use for a fee. The food is also good there, although expensive. Kids also tend to enjoy the Addis Ababa museum with its stuffed animals and various curiosities. Some children will find Mercato to be a fascinating and exciting experience; others will loathe its chaos and congestion. In fact, much the same can be said for the whole of Ethiopia.
