Best of Addis Ababa Guided City Tour: Entoto to Merkato

Five to seven hours tracing Addis Ababa from its mountain origins down through markets and museums to the city center

A full-day guided tour of Addis Ababa starting at Mount Entoto and moving through the city's landmarks (Entoto Maryam Church, Emperor Menelik II's palace, ShiroMeda textile market, the National Museum, and Menelik II Square) with an English-speaking guide, hotel or airport pickup, ground transport, and lunch at Taitu Hotel included. The tour follows the chronological expansion of the city, beginning where it all started in the mountains and descending through culture, history and markets to the urban center. Children must be at least 8 years old. Infants sit on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mount Entoto1h · entry included
2. Entoto Maryam Church30m · entry included
3. National Museum of Ethiopia45m · entry included
4. Menelik II Square30m

Explore Addis Ababa's highlights

• Visit Entoto mountain viewpoint
• Walk around Entoto Maryam Church
• See Emperor Menelik II's palace
• Visit Ethiopia's largest textile market
• Explore National Museum of Ethiopia
• Drive through Old Piazza center
• Guided tour of largest open air market

The experience

The tour starts at Mount Entoto, where you get a sweeping viewpoint of Addis Ababa surrounded by the city's densest forestry, then moves to Entoto Maryam Church: a tranquil compound holding the first church built in and around Addis Ababa, with typical ancient Ethiopian architecture. From there you visit the palace of Emperor Menelik II, who kept Ethiopia independent from colonial powers. The palace itself is modest, a reflection of how much time the emperor spent fighting imperialists rather than building monuments.

On the way down from the mountains, you walk through ShiroMeda, Ethiopia's largest traditional textile market, where you see hand-crafted goods and local artisanship. The National Museum comes next, home to fossil replicas of Lucy, your ancestor. Then you drive through Old Piazza, the center of Addis Ababa, where Italian colonial buildings stand among crowds moving through different parts of the city, giving you a direct view of how the city actually works. Lunch is at Taitu Hotel, Ethiopia's first hotel, where the vegetarian buffet is known for its authenticity, variety and taste.

The tour ends with a guided walk through Merkato, Africa's largest open-air market. Your English-speaking guide has lived in Addis Ababa their whole life and leads the route in chronological order, from the mountain where the city began to the sprawling market at its heart. Pickup and drop-off happen at your hotel, house or airport anywhere in the city, and ground transport with a driver and fuel is included.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at your hotel, house or airport anywhere in Addis Ababa.
• ground transport with a car, driver and fuel.
• an English-speaking guide who has lived in the city their whole life.
• lunch at Taitu Hotel.
• entry to the National Museum and access to all stops including Mount Entoto, Entoto Maryam Church, Emperor Menelik II's palace, ShiroMeda textile market, Menelik II Square and Merkato.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (8 to 90 years) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 30

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.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by myGuzo

Is this one for you?An English-speaking guide leads the whole tour, so anyone comfortable following commentary in English can join. The five to seven hour pace suits travelers with a full day to spend and the stamina for walking through markets and climbing to a mountain viewpoint. Children must be at least 8 years old.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is Mount Entoto and why does the tour start there?

Mount Entoto is where Addis Ababa began, and it offers the best viewpoint of the entire city surrounded by dense forestry. The tour follows the city's chronological expansion, so it starts at the mountain where it all started.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Yes, lunch is included at Taitu Hotel, Ethiopia's first hotel. Their vegetarian buffet at midday is claimed to be one of the best for its authenticity, healthiness, variety and taste.

What can I see at the National Museum?

The National Museum holds fossil replicas of Lucy, your ancestor, and is one of the stops on the tour's path through Addis Ababa's cultural landmarks.

How does pickup work?

Pickup and drop-off are included at any location in Addis Ababa (your hotel, house or airport), so you don't arrange separate transport to the starting point.

What are ShiroMeda and Merkato?

ShiroMeda is Ethiopia's largest traditional textile market, where you see hand-crafted goods and local artisanship. Merkato is Africa's largest open-air market, and the tour ends with a guided walk through it to see the full range of goods and activity.