Ethiopia: main airports
Ethiopia is served by Addis Ababa Airport (Bole International), the capital, a hub for Ethiopian Airlines and one of the main air crossroads of Africa, as well as Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rock-hewn churches, Bahir Dar, on Lake Tana, and Gondar, a former imperial capital.
Ethiopia: recommended activities
Ethiopia: visa and entry requirements
The e-visa (evisa.gov.et) is today the main entry channel, available for 191 nationalities: it must be applied for online before departure, with processing generally taking a few working days. The passport must have at least 6 months of remaining validity.
Ethiopia: safety
Addis Ababa is generally open to tourism, with the areas frequented by international visitors (Bole, Kazanchis, Africa Avenue) well lit, lively and with a strong security presence around the major hotels. Occasional security incidents and protests can nonetheless occur and evolve rapidly: check on the situation on the day. The Tigray region, in the north of the country, remains affected by intermittent armed conflict despite ceasefire agreements, with limited humanitarian access: it is not recommended unless specific updates confirm it is safe.
Ethiopia: health situation
A yellow fever certificate is required for those arriving from a country at risk of transmission. Routine vaccinations plus hepatitis A and typhoid are generally recommended. The altitude of Addis Ababa (over 2,300 metres) can cause mild altitude sickness in the first hours: take it easy. Malaria risk is present in the lower-lying areas of the country, less so in Addis Ababa itself given the altitude. The capital's private healthcare facilities are adequate for common emergencies; insurance with possible evacuation remains advisable for those visiting remote areas.
Ethiopia: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the Ethiopian birr (ETB); cash remains important outside international hotels, where credit cards are nonetheless accepted. Ride, the local ride-hailing app, operates in Addis Ababa alongside a growing number of official taxis. For connectivity, the state operator Ethio Telecom (recently joined by Safaricom Ethiopia) sells prepaid SIM cards, generally with passport registration. For driving, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is generally also required alongside the national one.
