Addis Ababa City Tour + Bishoftu Crater Lakes: Customizable day

See Lucy's skeleton and Mount Entoto's view, then choose your own stops.

A full-day private tour of Addis Ababa and Bishoftu Crater Lakes that you shape as you go, built around the National Museum, Mount Entoto, and crater lake excursions. Your English-speaking guide takes you through Ethiopia's history and culture at the pace that suits your interests, mixing museums, churches, mountain views and countryside stops. The tour includes private transport and all entry fees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Addis Ababa and Bishoftu Lakes Tour

• Visit National Museum of Ethiopia
• Drive to Mount Entoto lookout
• Stop at Bishoftu Crater Lakes
• Optional boat excursion on lakes

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. National Museum of Ethiopia Entry included 1h
2. Mount Entoto 40m

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup.

Times

• Every day 09:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 10

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Book up to 3h before

Ages Adult (25 to 40 years) · Senior (45 and older) · Youth (12 to 24 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available Pets welcome

Operated by Aspire Ethiopia Tours

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

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Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 18 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

The National Museum of Ethiopia is the anchor. It houses Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old fossil skeleton that anchors human history, along with antiquities, crafts, contemporary paintings and archaeological finds from across the nation. From there, the day branches: Mount Entoto rises above Addis Ababa covered in eucalyptus and juniper, with a lookout that frames the whole city below. The drive up is steep but the view justifies it.

What makes this tour different is the flexibility built in. Your guide keeps the major sights in mind (the museums, the churches, the mountain), but builds the rest around what interests you. That might mean longer stops at cultural sites, detours through neighborhoods tourists usually skip, or countryside sections that show how people actually live outside the city center. The itinerary adapts to how the day unfolds and how much time you want to spend at each place.

Bishoftu Crater Lakes sit outside the city, and depending on timing, you can take short stops around them or arrange a boat excursion on one of the lakes. Private transport means no other passengers and no fixed schedule beyond the guide's arrival and your hotel pickup. Six hours covers the main sights and the crater lakes if you move at a steady pace. The guide will tell you what fits if you want to linger somewhere.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 24 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Lucy and why is it in the National Museum?

Lucy is a 3.2-million-year-old human skeleton (one of the oldest known fossil remains of our species), and the National Museum displays it alongside antiquities, archaeological findings and contemporary Ethiopian art. It is the centerpiece of the museum's collection.

Can I actually take a boat on the Bishoftu Crater Lakes?

Bishoftu Crater Lakes offer boat excursions depending on how much time the tour has left after the Addis Ababa stops. Your guide will confirm what is possible once the day is underway and you know your pace.

What is the view like from Mount Entoto?

Mount Entoto is the highest point around Addis Ababa and has a lookout over the entire city. The drive up passes through eucalyptus and juniper forest, and the landscape is peaceful and open once you reach the top.

Will the guide take me to neighborhoods outside the tourist areas?

Yes. The tour is designed to show guests both the major sights and the realistic, everyday parts of Addis Ababa. Your guide will include countryside and neighborhood stops based on your interests, not just the museums and monuments.