Tours and Tickets
Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa
5

Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa

By Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours
Recommended by 100% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
Get the perfect introduction to Ethiopia’s capital and culture on this door-to-door day tour, with private guide and vehicle for a more tailored experience. Admire Haile Selassie’s tomb; join a family in their home for an Ethiopian coffee ceremony; see 3-million-year-old fossil Lucy at the National Archaeological Museum; and visit an abandoned rock church at Kiddus Raguel. Catch markets, monuments, and landmarks along the way: tour excludes church entrance fees.
from
$153.85
per group (up to 6)
from
$153.85
per group (up to 6)

Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99
Duration: 7–9 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English, French

Highlights
  • Soak up the highlights of Addis Ababa on an action-packed private day tour
  • Experience a warm local welcome: a coffee ceremony on Entoto Hill
  • Learn about Ethiopian Christianity, archaeology, and culture from your guide
  • Enjoy hotel or airport transfers in a safe, modern, air-conditioned vehicle

  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Professional experienced English speaking tour guide
  • Tour escort/host
  • Hotel/Airport pickup and drop-off with private air conditioned vehicle
  • Bottled water, local snacks, coffee and tea
  • Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Attendance
  • Home cooked Ethiopian meals
  • Entry/Admission - National Museum of Ethiopia
  • Entry/Admission - Mercato Market
What's not included
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Gratuities
  • Entry/Admission - St. George's Cathedral
  • Entry/Admission - Ethnological Museum


Departure details
  • Traveler pickup is offered.
  • Addis Ababa Bole International Airport if visitors are just arriving OR ANY HOTEL/LODGE in Addis Ababa
  • Airports:
  • Bole Airport, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
  • Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 10131P1

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

A note from Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa
  • All tour guides and drivers providing the Full Day City Tour in Addis Ababa are vaccinated for COVID-19. Tour guides make sure all safety measures are respected during the entire tour. Travel Safe!
What you can expect during your visit
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks provided for travelers
  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.

Which attractions will I visit with Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa?
How much is Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa?
Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa price starts from $153.85. Discover and book Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa on Tripadvisor
What is the Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa cancellation policy?
Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa?
Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa is hosted by Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa on Tripadvisor

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 10131P1

Reserve your spot
from $153.85
Itinerary
  • You'll get picked up
    See departure details
  • 1
    St. George's Cathedral
    Stop: 45 minutes - Admission excluded
    See details
  • 2
    National Museum of Ethiopia
    Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included
    See details
  • 3
    Mount Entoto
    Stop: 2 hours
    See details
  • 4
    Mercato Market
    Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included
    See details
  • 5
    Ethnological Museum
    Stop: 60 minutes - Admission excluded
    See details
    Pass by
    Lion of Judah
  • 6
    Meskel Square
    Stop: 10 minutes
    See details
  • You'll return to the starting point
+
About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

rianesha
rianesha
00
I had an 8 hour layover in Addis.
I was taken around the highlights of Addis. Both the tour guide Biruk and the driver were fantastic. I highly recom
kylekaufman23
kylekaufman23
00
Great day tour!
Had a great day tour with Biruk! Was an awesome day exploring Manau great parts of the city on our 13 hour layover.
C776GYsergiog
C776GYsergiog
00
Excellent day tour in Addis
I did the Addis Day Tour and it was super. I was taken around to see Addis from many angles and the guide Biruk and
132leelad
132leelad
00
Excellent and well organized tours to Addis and Lalibela
My husband and I took the City tour, 2 days trip to Lalibela and trip to Debre Libanos Monastery and Portuguese bri
Travel26439427120
Travel26439427120
00
Monastery and Gorge Tour
Excellent tour to Debre Libros Monastery and the Jemma River Gorge. Also included a stop at a farm. My guides were
Marcia V
Marcia V
00
Reliable, nice, knowledgeable and customer oriented! Go with Merit!
Muluken customized our one day tour so we could see the most of Ethiopia in the one day layover we had in Addis Aba
moniquesaintmarc
moniquesaintmarc
00
Fantastic review of Merit Ethiopian Experience Tour for Lalibela
I did the 2-day Lalibela tour with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours, and I found it to be an exciting, well-organis
Guendalina71
Guendalina71
00
Amazing experience!
I had the pleasure to experience and get to know Ethiopia with an amazing guided tour! A special mention to my guid
laurenyogish
laurenyogish
00
Amazing experience.
I was able to learn & experience so much during my quick, 2 day trip to Ethiopia thanks to our amazing guide, Biruk
moirad649
moirad649
00
Rift valley day tour
Our tour was excellent! Our day started off by being picked up from our hotel and grabbing some snacks for the road
barryh822
barryh822
00
Highly recommend this company
Very knowledgeable guide not just about sights but Ethiopian history, culture, people, politics. In my travels I de
ddna
ddna
00
Great organisation, indepth insights into local culture and a real interest in their clients.
If I could give Muluken Girma 10 out of 5 I would do that. Right from the start he was prompt with his emails, gave
Insiyabarot
Insiyabarot
00
Fantastic
It was very well planned and our guide Biruk was very helpful and knowledgeable. We had a lovely day.
Kenji K
Kenji K
00
A Wonderful, Memorable Day
I would highly recommend this day trip from Addis Ababa, which has given us many meaningful memories from start to
781letia
781letia
00
Fantastic experience in Addis!
We spent an awesome day in Addis with Muluken! Me and my family think that it was the perfect way to visit Addis. M
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

5.0
44 reviews
Excellent
43
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Moira D
Tucson, AZ31 contributions
Feb 2023
Our tour guide, Biruk along with our driver, Siruk (not sure if spelled correctly) provided us an amazing full day city tour! We started our day by checking out the national museum, followed by lunch at a local place with coffee ceremony! After telling Biruk what I wanted to buy for souvenirs, he took us to a pottery workshop followed by Merkato market and a local bakery. Biruk made sure we were buying our items for a fair price. We also went to Entoto park and got an amazing view of the city. We had an amazing day through out the tour and even decided to book a last minute tour the following day. I highly recommend booking through MEET, the owner, Moluken, responds quickly and is super helpful. Make sure to ask for Biruk as your tour guide!
Written February 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Hello Moira, Thank you so much for booking our Full-Day Private City Tour in Addis Ababa as a couple!! We at Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours are all grateful that you had a “Phenomenal and exciting time in Addis Ababa!” with Biruk (the guide) and Sirak (as driver). It is really a great pleasure to help visitors in their private guided tour in Addis Ababa city and earning such a fantastic feedback. Of course, Biruk is one of our best tour guides at MEET. I already shared your reviews with Biruk and Sirak. Thank you very much also for taking time to leave us the detailed 5-Star review of your private sightseeing city tour in Addis Ababa. We really appreciate it! Looking forward to seeing you again for a longer tour in Ethiopia someday Best wishes, Muluken G.
Written February 7, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

bhalljr56
Fort Worth, TX37 contributions
Jul 2022
We booked with this company for a day tour of Addis Ababa and had a wonderful experience! Muluken did a great job at coordinating our booking and making us feel welcome in his city.

We visited all of the main sites, with an exception of the National Museum (home of "Lucy"), which was closed. The highlight of our trip was a visit to a local home, where was also had lunch. It was interesting to see how the locals live and also try some local foods. We felt welcome in their home, and we would highly recommend this experience to everyone visiting Ethiopia.

Muluken was great to deal with! He provided excellent communication and was respectful of our own cultures as well.
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Hello bhalljr56, Thank you so much for booking our Full-Day Private City Tour in Addis Ababa as a couple!! We at Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours are all grateful that you had a “Great day in Addis!” with us. It is really a pleasure to host you on a private guided tour in Addis Ababa city and to know you enjoyed the experience. Thank you very much also for taking time to leave us the detailed 5-Star review of your time in Addis. Thanks again for everything, we really appreciate it! Looking forward to seeing you again for a longer tour in Ethiopia someday Best wishes, Muluken G.
Written August 2, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sara B
20 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
Informative in so many ways! Understand some aspects of Ethiopia’s unique position in history and the present. Excellent driver dropped us off and picked us up at every stop. Guide Belete “Bel” arranged the itinerary to our liking. He focused on the most important items in each museum and stayed with us at other places such as the hilltop park and mercato. I can’t think of a more efficient way to get an overview! Thank you!
Written February 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Dear Sara, Hello! We thank you really for booking your private Full day tour of Addis Ababa city with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours! It is a great pleasure to know you have found the city tour in Addis Ababa with guide Belete so informative, flexible to your needs and efficient! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedbacks on TripAdvisor. We are always here to make your visits to Ethiopia the best possible tour experience you can have here. With kind regards, Muluken
Written February 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

susanguilbault
Edmonton, Canada17 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
Our guide, Burika, shared his love and passion for the city of Addis Ababa with us! He read our particular travel preferences and provided us with a customized, what I like to call “the back street tour of Addis Ababa, off the beaten track”. We loved every minute of it and we were introduced to a city we knew nothing about and quickly fell in love with it. Our driver was also excellent and we met some unforgettable people along the way! Thanks to our amazing coffee ceremony hosts, I will never be satisfied with a Starbucks again!
Written November 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Hello Susan, What a lovely review of you we have here!? Thank you very much for choosing Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours to organize your private city tour in Addis Ababa! It is really heartwarming and rewarding to read such a great review. I am so excited to know you enjoyed visiting Addis as such! I will pass your feedback to Biruk and the driver. That keeps us delivering the best tours in Addis Ababa. Thanks a lot again Susan! Best wishes, Muluken
Written November 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Joanna Roguska
8 contributions
Dec 2022
Our full day tour of Addis Ababa was extraordinary. We were met by our friendly and knowledgeable tour guide Biruk at the airport and a day full of discoveries and adventure commenced.

We visited National Museum of Ethiopia where we marveled at 3.2 million years old remains of Lucy. Also, we could admire some of Ethiopia's modern art. We stopped at Holy Trinity Cathedral and paid our respects at the gravesite of Emperor Haile Selassie. We thoroughly enjoyed lunch with local family and attending coffee ceremony. People were very friendly and welcoming. The views at Entoto Park were stunning. The visit to Meskel Square and its market was a lot of fun. I was very impressed with modern architecture of the city, especially Abrehot Library and Science and Technology Museum. Our day amazing day culminated with a show at a cultural restaurant where we could appreciate spectacular dance and live music of Ethiopia.

We're very grateful to Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours for introducing us to Ethiopian rich culture, beauty and history. It was a very fulfilling, educational and thoroughly enjoyable day. We couldn't have asked for a better guide than Biruk. We will certainly travel with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours in the future.

Written January 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Hello Joanna, It is so pleasing to read your review! Thank you so much for booking the private full day tour in Addis Ababa city with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours!! It is very kind and considerate of you to remember and leave such a detailed feedback of your tour of Addis Ababa with us. I thank you a lot for the lovely review. That is helpful for visitors of Addis Ababa to imagine how they will enjoy visiting best sites of the city with us. I will pass your reviews to Biruk. He is among our top tour guides in Addis Ababa. We at Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours can’t wait to have you on a longer EthioPerience someday. Send our best greetings to William Thank you very much again, Joanna! Warmest regards, Muluken
Written January 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

WilmaJDDestinations
Cape Town, South Africa1 contribution
Sep 2022
As a travel agency we often search for collaboration with tour companies and other services in various countries.
We look at many aspects such as communication turnaround time, flexibility, quality and many more to guarantee our clients are looked after with only the best service.
I made contact with Muluken at Merti Ethiopean Tours through their Website and live chat and found him to be very responsive, he was able to tailor make my very demanding requests perfectly on round one of his proposal. Both myself and my clients were very impressed with the service. Not only during the booking process, but the actual tours during travel.
I was comfortable in the knowledge that my clients were well looked after. As my clients are well traveled, the feedback I received of their guide, Zely, was very impressive!
So much so, that they are planning to return to Ethiopia for a longer stay.
I most highly recommend Merit to anyone thinking of experiencing Ethiopia's many cultural and natural gems.
Thank you Muluken and Zely for taking such good care of my clients.
Looking forward to dealing with you again in future.
Written September 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Dear Wilma, Hello!! Thank you very much for organizing your group’s private tour in/near Addis Ababa with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours!! It is such a pleasure to know your clients enjoyed their tour with Zele. I thank you also for taking time to write such a detailed review and share your (your clients’) experience with us at Merit Ethiopian Tours. I really appreciate it! We are always committed to provide the best possible tour services in and around Addis Ababa. We look forward to welcoming your next clients to Addis soon. Thansk a lot again Wilma! With kindest regards, Muluken G.
Written October 1, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Li Z
1 contribution
Feb 2023
I booked a day tour of Addis Ababa with Merit before my departure from Chicago. Unfortunately, I got stuck in the Addis airport for my missing check-in luggage and missed the time window when Merit's driver was supposed to pick me up. What made it worse was my T-Mobile cell phone didn't work in Ethiopia. I couldn't call or text Mr. Mulukan, the owner of Merit. When I finally got out of the airport, I was more than two hours late for the appointment. I found someone to help and call Mr. Mulukan, who immediately dispatched my driver Mr. Ashu and my tour guide Mr. Biruk to pick me up from the airport. From there started one of the most memorable tour experiences I have ever. Biruk and Ashu are such warm and great people that they not only showed me the best their city have to offer but also became my friends and families in Ethiopia. At their suggestion, I had an amazing traditional dinner experience while enjoying the local music and dance. The final highlight of my dramatic day in Addis is this. After Ashu and Biruk have dropped me off at the airport at 10 pm for my departure flight and I have passed the security checkpoint, I realized that I had forgotten my cell phone and wallet in Ashu's car. I was devastated fearing that I might have lost my phone, all contacts, credit cards, and ID forever. Or I had to skip the departure flight to stay longer in order to keep the hope of finding my phone and wallet alive. When I finally found someone to get hold of Mulukan, and this was already 10:30 in the evening, lo and behold, Mr. Mulukan said Ashu was already on his way back to airport when he saw my phone and wallet in the car upon returned home, and he asked me to wait for Ashu outside the entrance. Needless to say, my gratitude for these great people are beyond words. Not only I got my phone and wallet back, I also made it for my connecting flight to Hong Kong without missing a beat.
Written March 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Dear Mr. Li, Hello from Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours, Addis Ababa!! What a detailed review of your experience in Addis Ababa with us! Thank you for booking your guided private tour in Addis with us! It is really a pride to have responsible guides and drivers like Biruk and Ashu, and earn such a review like yours. How you retrieved your credit cards, and phone in the last minute really shows honest and reliable the driver was. I already shared your reviews with the guide and the driver. We at Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours are always ready and set to make your future travels to Ethiopia a great success! Thank you so much again Mr. Li With best wishes, Muluken
Written March 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Márcia M
1 contribution
I had the opportunity to spend two days in Addis Ababa, which were spectacular due to the quality of service and care of Merit Ethiopian Experience Tour. Guide Biruk and driver Sirak did everything to make my experience the best it could be. Always very prepared, they turned my two days into an unforgettable experience, an immersion in culture, habits and everyday life. I strongly recommend the service. It was beyond amazing.
Written March 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Dear Marcia, Thanks a lot for booking your private tour in Addis Ababa with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours! I’m really glad to learn Guide Biruk and driver Sirak provided you with such unforgettable experience in Ethiopia. Thank you for leaving us such a great review!! I will share it with Biruk and Sirak soon. We are always at your service to help you with your private EthioPerience anytime! Thanks again and best wishes, Muluken Girma
Written March 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

cas2468
3 contributions
Dec 2019
Muluken was a wonderful and informative guide. He and our driver helped us see a lot of Addis Ababba in just one day. We loved seeing the city, various churches, Lucy, the African Union and having lunch and coffee ceremony at a local restaurant up in the hills with a great view! Muluken is very knowledgeable about the history of the city and Ethiopia, and we very much appreciated him sharing his knowledge with us. He and our driver were personable and professional, and we would recommend them to all.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Dear Visitor, Hello! Thank you so much for leaving such a wonderful review! It was really a pleasure to be your tour guide in Addis Ababa. And, I’m thrilled that you loved your private sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa with me. We always do our best to offer customized tours in and around Addis Ababa best fit for our visits as our priority. Your review is a reward for our work. Thanks a lot again for choosing Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours and we look forward to showing you more of Ethiopia again. With best wishes, Muluken G.
Written March 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Elisabeth S
Stavanger2 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Perfekt day with perfekt guide Biruk and driver😊
Biruk took exellent care of our family. He pointed out every attraction in Addis Abeba with knowledge and enthusiasm. He even invited us home to his lovely family. We got to see how his beautiful mother baked injera. And met his cute sisther. A memory for life. He took us to the stadium where we could buy football shirts. He met every wish we had for experience in AA.
We could not have been happier for our two days in AA with Biruk. We felt safe and taken care of.
If we could rate higher then 10 we would.
Biruk is your guide in Addis Abeba😊 He speaks perfekt english and has knowledge of all history. We are impressed😊🤩
Written November 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EthiopiaTours88
Dear Elisabeth, Hello! Thank you so much for booking your private city tour in Addis Ababa with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours!! It is really a pleasure you enjoyed visiting Addis Ababa for two days with one of our top tour guides – Biruk. It is an honor to have Biruk in our company! Thank you very much also for taking time to leave such a lovely review of your time in Addis Ababa with Biruk. I will pass your review to him. We are always in a position to provide you the best tours in or near Addis Ababa! Thank you again Elizabeth! With all the best wishes, Muluken
Written November 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa provided by Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours

Product Overview: Full-Day Private City Tour of Addis Ababa

Prices From$154
Number of Reviews44
Number of Photos60