How To Travel To Addis Ababa

BY PLAIN

Bole International Airport, the busiest in East Africa and the hub of Ethiopian Airlines, is served by several international airlines with daily flights to Europe, the United States, Asia, and many African cities such as Accra, Bamako, Brazzaville, Cairo, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Khartoum, Harare, Johannesburg, and Nairobi. There are two terminals available. T1 (the older, smaller terminal) is used for all domestic flights and the majority of international flights (but not Kenya). T2 (the newer 2003 building) is for any other foreign flights — arrangements are subject to change, so please double-check beforehand.

Access to the terminals is prohibited as of July 2012. Anyone waiting to meet you at the airport, as well as taxis, will be in the parking lot. A dozen of the most prestigious hotels still maintain a booth within the arrivals area. Similar laws apply at the country’s other airports, for both arrivals and departures. A cab to the city costs 100-150 birr as of July 2011. Many hotels will send a car to pick up pre-booked guests from the airport if you make a previous agreement. The Sheraton Addis, Dreamliner, Hilton Addis, and the majority of other hotels provide frequent shuttle service to its clients. This is also true of many well-known guesthouses.

BY BUS

Terminals:

• Autobus Terra – Autobus Terra is located on the north-west side of Mercato, on the intersection of Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis St and Central African Republic St / Somalia St. This is the primary bus station, from which the majority of national buses arrive and leave.
• Ras Mekonin Avenue – Ras Mekonin Avenue is located near the train station. There are or were buses to/from Adama (Nazret), Debre Zeyit, Dire Dawa, Nairobi, Lalibela, Shahemene, Awasa, and Bahir Dar. Ras Makonnen – or La Gare – closed in July 2011 and relocated to the Akaki Kality District on Sierra Leone St. (Debre Zeit Rd).
• Buses go west from Asco on the ancient Ambo Road to Nekempte and beyond.

BY CAR

The majority of important roadways are in decent shape.