20/02/2020
Ethiopia: Things to Do in The Capital City Of Addis Ababa
However, if time is not on your side and you only have time for a day or two in Addis Ababa, there are still a lot of fun and cultural things to do in the capital city. Here are my top recommendations:
1) Eat injera and wot every day!
Injera, which is our staple food, is made from an organic, gluten-free super grain (it even contains calcium, magnesium, phosphate and iron) endemic to Ethiopia called teff and topped with wot (sauces and stews that can range from chickpeas, beef, chicken, lamb, etc. That’s how amazing and in love you become with the cuisine here! There are lots of options that you will be favorite of with during your trip, like the shiro tegabino, which is shiro (roasted ground chickpeas, split peas, berbere spice and dried garlic) slow cooked twice. It’s AMAZING.
This is the “fasting” menu at popular local restaurants you will get for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who aren’t eating meat during this period. We fast (eat vegan) 180 days a year, usually every Wednesday and Friday, as well as 55 days before Easter and 40 days before Christmas. It’s delicious as well and great for vegetarians.
Addis also have almost all the kinds of meats, vegetables, cheeses/cottage + that you will find in many restaurants around Addis and even in the country. Indulge while you’re here! So good! And so abundant!
2) Look for Lucy and other fossils.
Surprise! Lucy, our famous human ancestor from over 3.2 million years ago - the oldest hominid to have been discovered - aka Australopithecus afarensis was originally from Ethiopia! The replica of her bones is in the National Museum of Ethiopia.
Lucy- Addis Ababa- Ethiopia
The replica of Lucy on display at the National Museum of Ethiopia. I’m told that the original bones are also in there but tucked away in the research center.
3) Go for a cultural dinner show at one of favorite traditional restaurants
Even though it may seem like a very “touristy” place, many of them was recommended even by my Ethiopian friends. The song and dance performances that last all night really give you a good glimpse into Ethiopian culture, which vary tremendously for each tribe and village. Don’t forget to try tej or honey wine.
One of the cultural performances at one of our traditional restaurants they invite guests onstage to join them on some numbers!
4) Go to Mount Entoto, the city’s highest peak, for the best views of the city.
Situated 3,200 meters above sea level, Entoto Hill offers the best “top view” of Addis Ababa. Emperor Menelik II resided and built his palace here during the founding of Addis Ababa. When driving up or down, slow down to check out the Shiro Meda Market for some shopping where you could find woven cultural dresses and souvenirs.
View of Addis Ababa from Entoto Hill
5) Have Ethiopian coffee - in the birthplace of coffee!
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. And here, having coffee, follows an almost ceremonial ritual. The apparatus is first arranged on grass before the coffee is roasted on a pan over the charcoal stove, before they are washed and grounded with mortar & pestle. The ground coffee is slowly stirred into the black clay coffee pot known as jebena, before it is strained on a sieve. And it’s always served with frankincense for good energy. Coffee is often had with sugar (sometimes salt or honey), hardly ever with milk.
6) … And then bring back some coffee beans as pasalubong!
If you want to bring home some beans back, Tomoca is the most well-known, described as “the gold standard for Ethiopian coffee in Addis Ababa.” They have 100g, 250g and 500g packs and come in beans or grounded. You can also grab a cup of coffee at the cafe, or even a macchiato. Delicious.
Tomoca is a modern cafe– no seats– it’s very much a sip and go concept (they don’t do take outs because they don’t have paper cups!) for those constantly on the go
Tomoca Coffee is everywhere from the Tomoca cafes to supermarkets to the airport!
7) Make friends with locals… and ask them to show you their life!
Love getting to know the locals and having them show you their way of life. Ask them to take you to somewhere local and to ride the “minibus” our version of Taxi! – how locals get around,
8) Go to the local markets.
Merkato is the most famous market here, and the largest open market in Africa. They sell everything here from spices to mattresses to electronics. It is overwhelming in the sense that there were way too many people. It’s nice to see but be very vigilant and best to go with a local.
9) Go on a day trip to Debre Zeyit
Debre Zeyit (also known as Bishoftu), an hour drive from Addis Ababa, with five beautiful crater lakes, it is a popular weekend getaway for locals for fresh air, calm, and change in weather.
