Addis Ababa City Tour: Lucy, Cathedral & Mount Entoto

Stand in front of Lucy, then climb to the city's edge

A guided tour of Addis Ababa's major landmarks in a single day, with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle. You visit the National Museum to see the famous Lucy fossil, explore Holy Trinity Cathedral and the tomb of Emperor Haile Selassie, take in views from Mount Entoto, browse Shiro Meda Market for traditional textiles, and finish at Merkato, Africa's largest open-air market, with Ethiopian coffee included throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. National Museum of Ethiopia2h · entry included
2. Holy Trinity Cathedral1h · entry included
3. Mount Entoto30m
4. Menagesha Suba Forest Park20m · entry included
5. Meskel Squarepassing by

Explore Addis Ababa's key landmarks

• Visit National Museum of Ethiopia
• See Lucy fossil exhibit
• Tour Holy Trinity Cathedral
• View tomb of Emperor Haile Selassie
• Enjoy panoramic views from Mount Entoto
• Shop at Shiro Meda Market
• Experience Tomoca Coffee tasting
• Explore Merkato Market
• Pass by Meskel Square
• See Lion of Judah statue

The experience

The tour picks you up from your hotel and moves through Addis Ababa's landmarks in sequence. The National Museum of Ethiopia holds Lucy (Dinkinesh), an Australopithecus afarensis skeleton that lived 3.2 million years ago: one of the oldest and most complete hominid remains ever found. The museum's collections span Ethiopia's archaeological and cultural history, and your guide walks you through what each piece means. From there, you head to Holy Trinity Cathedral, an architectural landmark and the burial site of Emperor Haile Selassie, a defining figure in Ethiopian history whose tomb lies inside the cathedral complex.

Mount Entoto sits 10 kilometers north of the city and offers a panoramic view of Addis Ababa and the surrounding landscape. After descending, the tour takes you to Shiro Meda Market, where vendors sell traditional Ethiopian clothing and handmade textiles: the habesha kemis (traditional dresses) and shawls are the main draw. Then comes Merkato, Africa's largest open-air market, covering more than a square kilometer with thousands of vendors selling spices, foodstuffs, electronics, clothing and crafts. The pace is fast and the scale can feel overwhelming, but it is where locals shop and where the city's commerce happens.

Ethiopian coffee appears twice: a tasting at Tomoca, one of Ethiopia's oldest and most respected coffee brands, and again as part of the tour's inclusions. Your guide is a live English speaker who brings context to each stop: the history behind Meskel Square, the significance of the Lion of Judah symbol, the layers of culture embedded in each market. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the full tour runs between six and eight hours depending on how long you linger at each site.

What’s included

• Ethiopian coffee and tea.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• admission fees to the National Museum and other sites.
• an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a professional English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (7 to 8 years) · Senior (12 to 95 years) · Youth (5 to 6 years) · Child (3 to 4 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Enat Ethiopia Tours

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you do not need a car or directions to start. Your guide arrives at your accommodation. This works well if you are staying in central Addis Ababa and want to see the major landmarks without navigating the city yourself or arranging separate transport between stops.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 6 years); Child (3 to 4 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

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

Lucy is the fossil skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis, a hominid species that lived around 3.2 million years ago. She is one of the oldest and most complete hominid skeletons ever discovered, and her remains revolutionized scientific understanding of human origins. The National Museum of Ethiopia houses her as its most famous exhibit.

Can I actually enter Holy Trinity Cathedral and see Emperor Haile Selassie's tomb?

Yes. Holy Trinity Cathedral is open to visitors, and Emperor Haile Selassie's tomb, along with graves of other royal family members, is located inside the cathedral complex. It is a place of respect and reflection for those who visit.

What is Merkato Market like, and how much time do I spend there?

Merkato is Africa's largest open-air market, covering more than a square kilometer with thousands of vendors selling everything from spices and foodstuffs to electronics, clothing and handmade crafts. It is fast-paced and colorful, and your guide will navigate you through it as part of the tour's itinerary, though the exact time spent depends on your interest and pace.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the tour's starting point?

No. Hotel pickup is included, so your guide will collect you from where you are staying in Addis Ababa and return you there at the end of the day.

Is the tour suitable if I have never been to Ethiopia before?

Yes. The tour is designed for all fitness levels and is built around first-time visitors to Addis Ababa. Your English-speaking guide provides context at each stop, so you learn the history and significance of the National Museum, the cathedral, Mount Entoto and the markets as you go.