1-Day Addis Ababa City Tour with Lucy, Entoto Hill and Merkato

1 Day Round trip from Addis Ababa Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Ethiopia's most important Orthodox church and the burial place of Haile Selassie I
02 See Lucy's 3.2 million-year-old remains at one of sub-Saharan Africa's most important museums
03 Explore the Ethnological Museum's impressive collection of crosses, icons, and folklore instruments
04 Climb Entoto Hill, the former capital site of Ethiopia, and visit its museum of royal crowns
05 Wander through Merkato, believed to be the biggest marketplace in Africa
06 Enjoy traditional Ethiopian cuisine and a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony during the tour

Capture the essence of Ethiopia in its capital city, Addis Ababa, as you explore its history, heritage, and the story of our first ancestor, Lucy. Visit some of the city's most important cultural landmarks, including the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the National Museum, and the Ethnological Museum. Savour traditional Ethiopian food, climb Entoto Hill for a glimpse into the country's former capital, and get lost in Merkato, believed to be the biggest marketplace in Africa.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Addis Ababa, Aksum, Mount Entoto

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Addis Ababa Heritage, Museums, Entoto Hill and Merkato

Meet at a convenient place in Addis Ababa to start your tour with a visit to the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the most important church in Ethiopia. Inside the church is the mausoleum of Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie I, and his wife is also buried here.
Continue to the National Museum, one of the most important museums in all of sub-Saharan Africa. One of its most famous exhibits is Lucy, the 3.2 million-year-old bones of our grand ancestor. Visitors are also drawn to the rich collection of the emperor's insignia, church treasures, costumes, and weapons. Among the oldest exhibits are rock sculptures and inscriptions from Queen Saba's time, found near Aksum in today's Eritrea.
Then arrive at the Ethnological Museum, located within the university. It was founded and managed by the Polish scientist Professor Stanisław Chojnacki. Probably the most interesting part of the exhibition is the collection of crosses and icons. The museum is also especially worth visiting for anyone interested in folklore instruments, as its collection is impressive.
Take a lunch break and savour a meal at Lucy Gazebo Restaurant, which serves Ethiopian dishes.
After lunch, climb Entoto Hill, located 3200 m above sea level. This was the capital city of Ethiopia before Menelik II moved it to Addis Ababa. The local museum exhibits crowns belonging to kings.
Head over to Merkato, which is believed to be the biggest marketplace in Africa.
At the end of the tour, you will be escorted to your chosen hotel or the airport in Addis Ababa.