Planning or preparing for a trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia? Are you excited to try Ethiopian food and coffee, explore the rapidly developing city, and also wondering about what’s the best way to get around Addis? Do I need a visa to visit Addis? Is it best to use cash or card while in Addis? This article is for you!

Pulling from the recommendations that were shared with me prior to my trip and from my experience on the ground as a solo traveler in Addis, check out these 6 travel tips to help you prepare for your upcoming or future trip to Addis.

Things to know before visiting Addis Ababa:

1.) Getaround using the Car Hailing App, Ride

As a solo female traveler, safe and accessible transportation is always top of mind for me, prompting me to look up and determine transportation options before arriving in any destination for a trip.

What is Ride?

Founded and run by Ethiopian female tech entrepreneur, Samrawit Fikru, Ride is a car hailing app, providing similar services to Uber and Lyft. It’s Ethiopian built and run, catering to the unique needs of the local market. Samrawit built the app in response to the transport difficulties she experienced. She would find herself working late in the office at night and experiencing transport challenges when trying to head home. She felt unsafe in taxis...and on top of that, the drivers would ask her to pay double the trip price compared to what they charge during the day.

This is an experience I can relate to and I’m sure many women are familiar with...that feeling of uneasiness when accessing transport in the night, especially in countries that have not developed safe, consistent, and accessible public transportation systems and safe taxi networks. If you don’t have access to a car or private driver, the alternatives are taking public transportation that is unreliable, unpredictable, and unsafe or taxi’s, which can be overpriced and unsafe.

Using Ride

While in Addis I used Ride to get around. It eliminated the stress and fear of finding and using a taxi, and of having to negotiate the trip price, especially when I did not speak the local language. If you’re in search of options to get around around Addis Ababa, research Ride. As you consider using Ride or any car hailing apps, always be vigilant, keep track of the route to your destination, and consider sharing the details of the Ride app driver with family.

2.) Ensure you have internet access on the go

Finding places to connect to free Wifi in Addis Ababa can be challenging. If you need to do research on the go or plan on using apps that require an internet connection, such as car hailing services, social media, etc I highly recommend getting a local sim. Alternatively, you can research if your current telecom provider will roam in Addis and the cost implications of this (it’s often expensive).

To purchase a sim, simply stop by an Ethio Telecom office to buy a sim card and to charge it with data. Remember to carry your passport, as they require it for personal identification and use it for sim registration. Ethio Telecom offices are available in commercial areas, as well as the Addis Ababa airport, which is where I bought mine. It was a simple and hassle free process, which allowed me to have internet access while on the go.

3.) Be prepared to use CASH for everything

As you plan your trip to Addis, be prepared to use cash to pay for everything! Apart from my hotel, which I booked ahead online and paid for using a credit card, all other costs were paid for using the local cash currency, Ethiopian Birr.

How much cash is enough?

To determine how much cash you’ll need, research the local cost of things you’re interested in doing and use the information you find to create a budget. Develop your budget by allocating a “spend amount” for each trip cost, such as transportation, meals, entrance fees for tourist sites, local sim and credit, excursions, shopping, unexpected costs, emergencies, as well as any other category you see fit.

Are ATMs available?

Is it best to arrive with cash or use an in-country ATM to withdraw? While making this decision Keep in mind that although ATMs are available, they’re often unreliable and not functioning. If you need one, ATMs can be found at upscale hotels, banks, and at Bole International airport, and yes they accept international cards.

From my experience, I recommend it’s best to have cash accessible that you can easily exchange to Birr. To exchange foreign currency, stop by a foreign-exchange bureau to purchase Birr. You can leverage foreign exchange bureau’s located in Addis Ababa Bole Airport or at local banks in town. Some hotels also exchange foreign currency, however it might be at a higher rate. So be sure to check with your hotel ahead of time.

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4.) Check if a Visa is Required

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Before visiting Ethiopia, be sure to check if a tourist visa is required for your nationality and passport. For both American and Nigerian passport holders visiting Ethiopia, a tourist visa is required and can be obtained on arrival at Bole International airport or electronically, by applying ahead of time online. Be sure to check immigration regulations, as they may change.

Tips for getting a Visa online or on Arrival:

CAUTION: VISA ONLINE: If you’re applying for a visa online, be aware of fake and scamming websites resembling the Ethiopian Immigration Nationality and Vital Events Agency (INVEA) e-visa website and claiming to “process” visas. Below’s an image of the notable fake websites posted by INVEA. Another way to spot these fraudulent sites is by the costly visa fees they charge, they’re often higher than the fees listed on the official Ethiopian Government website.

VISA ON ARRIVAL: Although they’re often queues and it can be a long wait, obtaining a visa upon arrival at Bole international airport is a reliable option. Remember to research the documents required for your visa on arrival and come prepared with sufficient funds for the visa fee. Safe travels!

5.) Be aware of Public holidays or Major events

As you plan your trip to Addis Ababa, keep in mind and be aware of upcoming holidays and festivals. Ethiopia has national holidays, Christian Orthodox holidays, and Muslim holidays, which people observe by spending time with their families. As a public holiday, major institutions and tourist sites are closed, as well as many shops and restaurants.

Some notable holidays, that are celebrated in different months compared to the western calendar are Christmas and New Year. For example, Christmas is in January while New Years is in September.

6.) Be vigilant as you would be in any city

As the country’s political and commercial hub, Addis Ababa is a sprawling and bustling city. While there, be vigilant and take the same precautions you would while visiting any major city. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings, try and blend in - do not flash wealth, be aware of pickpocketing (especially pickpockets that work in pairs - one distracting while the other steals), secure your belongings in crowded areas, and avoid walking in the night, especially alone. It’s also important to have back up cash, credit card, ID, and copies of all important documents.

solo female travel in Addis Ababa

As a solo female traveler in Addis Ababa, I felt safe while visiting, however keep in mind that everyone’s comfort level, experience, and journey can differ. Throughout my trip I made sure to be present, observant, highly cognizant of my surroundings, and to listen to my instincts. In addition, I shared details of my whereabouts with family and friends. As shared above, my recommendations would be to stay alert as you would in any major city, move with a purpose, try and blend in, do not flash wealth or give away information about yourself, be aware of your belongings in crowded areas, plan your day and transportation (so you’re not confused, lost, or stranded), and avoid walking in the night, especially alone.

Preparing for solo travel

In preparing for any solo trip, my approach is twofold. First I do research beforehand and second, I make sure to have situational awareness while on the ground. While planning for my trip to Addis, I started out by learning about treatment of women in Ethiopia, before reading more specifically about traveler experiences and recommendations from solo female travelers who visited Addis. I then researched common threats, crimes, or scams to be aware of (mainly pick pocketing and muggings) and prepared for a “worst case scenario”, by developing an “emergency list”. This list contained contact details of my embassy and travel insurance provider, recommended hospitals, and other critical information.