Discover the true heartbeat of Addis Ababa with a guided visit to the iconic Merkato Market, one of Africa’s largest and most vibrant open-air markets. explore a vast maze of narrow alleys and bustling stalls overflowing with color, energy, and culture. Experience the rhythm of everyday Ethiopian trade as you pass through sections filled with freshly roasted coffee beans, aromatic spices, handwoven textiles, leather goods, clothing, household items, and locally crafted products. With your expert local guide, learn how to navigate the market like a local—understand pricing, observe traditional bargaining, and interact with friendly traders who bring the market to life through stories and daily commerce. This immersive experience offers a powerful insight into authentic Ethiopian urban life, where culture, tradition, and trade come together in one of Africa’s most dynamic marketplaces.

If your tour is scheduled on a Sunday, we will implement an alternative arrangement, as Merkato Market is closed on Sundays. In its place, we will visit Shiro Meda Market, located near Mount Entoto. Shiro Meda is particularly renowned for its vibrant Sunday market and is a premier destination for Ethiopian textiles, offering a wide selection of handwoven cotton garments, traditional attire, scarves, and finely crafted local accessories and souvenirs. Alternatively, we may visit Sholla Market, an active open market on Sundays that provides a comparable range of goods to Merkato—including clothing, fresh produce, household items, and handicrafts—within a more relaxed and less crowded setting. This adjustment ensures the continuity of your tour while maintaining a rich, authentic, and high-quality local market experience.

Gain a deeper understanding of human evolutionary history with a visit to the National Museum of Ethiopia, home to the world-famous “Lucy,” a 3.2 million-year-old fossil of Australopithecus afarensis, highlighting Ethiopia’s key role in human origins. Explore the museum’s historical sections to learn about the rise and legacy of the Aksumite Empire, the influence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and modern Ethiopian history. The upper floors showcase Ethiopia’s artistic heritage, from ancient religious art to contemporary works, along with exhibits of traditional clothing, tools, and cultural artifacts from across the country.

Located in Piazza area, Tomoca is the oldest coffee shop in Ethiopia (since 1953). Ethiopians best test of original black coffee or coffee with milk makiato even Get the best rosted coffee or bag of powder at old Tomoca coffee shop in Piassa area

Whether you are starting or ending your day in Addis Ababa, enjoy an authentic Ethiopian culinary experience featuring vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes reflecting local food traditions and fasting culture. Vegetarian options include cabbage, potatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and beans, richly spiced and slow-cooked. Non-vegetarian highlight is Doro Wat, Ethiopia’s spicy chicken stew made with berbere, onions, garlic, ginger, spiced butter, and eggs. All meals are served with injera, Ethiopia’s traditional flatbread, shared communally. You will also taste traditional drinks such as Tej (honey wine), Tela (beer), and Araki (spirit), plus an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, a traditional ritual of roasting, brewing, and serving coffee. Your guide explains cultural meanings, preparation, and dining customs, with opportunities to interact with locals and experience Ethiopian hospitality.

The “Lion of Judah” is a deeply significant biblical and cultural symbol, originally referring to the Tribe of Judah and, in Christian tradition, to Jesus Christ. In Ethiopia, it holds special national importance as an imperial emblem of the monarchy, most notably associated with Emperor Haile Selassie. It represents authority, spiritual legacy, and Ethiopian identity, and remains one of the country’s most enduring and respected symbols. Black Lion statues are striking cultural icons found in Ethiopia, symbolizing strength, pride, and resilience. They reflect the long-standing tradition of the lion as a guardian figure in Ethiopian heritage, representing dignity, courage, and the proud spirit of the nation.