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Sightseeing in Addis Ababa - what to see. Complete travel guide

The city is a large industrial and economic center of Ethiopia, which is also known as a famous resort rich in historic sights. The cultural program offered to guests of Addis Ababa is diversified and can fit any taste. In this city there are several museums, from which the Museum of Arts and the Ethnographic Museum are surely worth visiting, the National Theatre, multiple exhibition centers and galleries.
Best hotel choice for romantic escape, wedding or honeymoon in Addis Ababa
A choice of hotels with romantic atmosphere in Addis Ababa is also quite large. Capital Hotel & Spa would be ideal for couples. Besides romantically decorated rooms with pleasant lighting … Open
The majority of tourists, who visit Addis Ababa, visit the central square of the city which is named after the emperor Menelik II. The square is the location of the famous statue of the emperor, who is pictured riding a horse. Here you will also find one of the most beautiful religious buildings – the Church of St. George. Walk or ride just several quarters to the south and you will see another magnificent square devoted to Haile Selassie I. The square is a home for the monument of a lion – the main symbol of Ethiopia. The castle of Menelik II is just several kilometers from this square. It was built in 1894 and is considered one of the most beautiful architectural sights of this city.
By the way, don’t forget to visit the National Museum and the Archeological Museum, and if museums are definitely not among your passions, you will like the excursion to the “Castle of Africa” – one of the largest and richest markets of Addis Ababa is located around this castle. The suburbs of this city are full of recreational zones and unique relic forests. Visitors are allowed to enter the territory of these reserved forests only together with local guides. Here you will see amazing juniper groves, eucalyptus forests and tremendously beautiful lakes. Menegasha natural reserve remains the most popular and most frequently visited place by tourists of all ages. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Shopping in Addis Ababa - main shopping streets, outlets and boutiques
A colourful Merkato market operates in the city. On weekends it turns into the real Tower of Babel. You can literally buy everything here, from popular spices and sweets to dozens of … Open
The Dire-Dawa market is located within the city, the largest one in Africa that is also among the outstanding attractions. This market began operating in 1902, and today it sells hundreds of different products. Some tourists go here looking for local souvenirs, whilst others come to buy jewellery made out of gold and precious stones.
Among those who like lengthy tours, Mount Entoto hikes are very popular. The mountain is 3000 meters high, and travellers can get to its summit either by car or on foot. At the top of the mountain plenty of fascinating surprises await the tourists. Here they will be able to see a beautiful garden and take a stroll across the observation platforms, from which a wonderful view of the city opens. At the top of the mountain there is an interesting historical museum, as well as another outstanding religious monument - the ancient Mariinsky church. It was built in 1885 and has been preserved to our days unchanged.
Family holidays with kids in Addis Ababa. How to entertain your child, things to show to children.
Addis-Ababa is a typical colonial city with many preserved historical buildings. It is not so easy to find interesting entertainments for children. Nevertheless, you can organize an … Open
Those interested in historical sites will be curious to visit the Church of St. George. This Church was built in 1896 and then completely destroyed during the fire in 1937, to be eventually completely restored 4 years later. The Church is connected with many interesting facts from the history of the city, for example, in 1917 the Empress Zewditu was crowned in it. Currently, part of the church is a museum, which contains a fascinating collection of ancient weapons and other historical artefacts.
For those fond of nature, suitable sights can be in the Menagesha National Park, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the capital of Ethiopia. This national park is the oldest one in Africa, and it was founded in the 15th century by the order of Emperor Zera Yacob. On site of this park is the Mount Mugl, which rises to 3380 meters. For tourists there are many interesting hiking routes. Some of them can be traversed only with the help of a guide, while others are suitable for independent walks. In this park also live leopards, birds, and various kinds of monkeys, so some areas can be visited with a guide only.
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Sightseeing in Ethiopia: things to see

The city of Lalibela is an important religious centre of Ethiopia – it’s territory includes 11 ancient churches. All the churches are located on the hills and some were made from solid rock. House of the Saviour of the World is the biggest church in Lalibela, and House of Miriam/House of Mary is the oldest church that amazes visitors with its architecture. There are many more ancient churches in the city, such as House of the Cross, House of Virgins and Church of Saint George. Quite an interesting fact – all the churches are connected to each other by a system of tunnels, so visitors can easily see all the sanctuaries located on different hills. … Open
Reference information
Map of all parks
National and city parks around Addis Ababa
♥   National Park 'Awash' , 137.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sightseeing in regions nearby Addis Ababa

Lalibela
There was a settlement on the site of modern Lalibela already during the reign of the Zagwe king Gebre Mesqel Lalibela at the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century. The settlement had another name at that time – Roha. When the saint king visited ... Open »
Djibouti City
Among the most famous places of interest we should definitely underline the market named Le Marshe Central. Here visitors can buy various goods, including large choice of sea food and exotic fruits. The most beautiful and large-scale building of Djibouti is the ... Open »
Jibla
Queen Arwa Mosque is a large building with four entrances. If you walk along these entrances, you will notice a wooden door. Take a closer look at the door and you will see that it is entirely covered with quotes from the Quran. There are also two minarets for washing ... Open »
Nairobi
More than several hundreds of different reptiles live in the park. The collection is constantly growing because zoologists often find, confiscate, or save various African reptiles. Once, the park’s veterinary doctors had to save an octopus. Visitors can now see it ... Open »
Mecca
The choice of modern hotels and stylish restaurants is incredibly rich. There are also many picturesque markets and workshops that sell interesting items and handmade souvenirs. Tourists who love jewelry will be absolutely charmed by Mecca. Both men and women will find ... Open »
Jeddah
There are old quarters in simply each part of the city, so you can have an enjoyable walk on pavements and streets, looking at unusual houses and squares that have been the witnesses of significant historical events. The quarter located in the southern part of the city ... Open »
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