Ethnological Museum
Ethnological Museum
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
589 reviews
Excellent
206
Very good
262
Average
104
Poor
12
Terrible
5
RichT529
Alexandria, VA333 contributions
Mar 2020
An interesting museum and well worth a visit. The museum provides information on different ethnic groups in Ethiopia as well as many historical artifacts. Unfortunately, many of the items displayed do not have descriptions in any language. Other items have descriptions only in Amharic. Despite these qualms, the museum is easy to recommend.
Written March 10, 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.
Ayman A.A
Amman, Jordan53 contributions
Feb 2020
I spent a couple of hours walking around and reading all the interesting history and stories about Ethiopia and the region around. Great place but I do hope they give it some more attention. Needs some renovation for sure.
Written May 28, 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.
Cassandra Tesch
Berkeley, CA151 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
Situated inside the iconic Addis Ababa University, in the former palace of Hailie Selassie this is a must visit if you are in the city. Not only does it tell the history of different leaders of the city - this museum is a tribute to decolonization across the continent. I particularly enjoyed the exhibit that highlights the different ethnic groups of Ethiopia. This is a great place for solo, travelers, groups, and children as well, I highly recommend you check it out.
Written January 3, 2024
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.
Mark S
London, UK88 contributions
Mar 2023
The museum, Selassie's palace, is a superb piece of relatively recent history and I reckon the most interesting site in Addis. It tells his story but also shows you the man and leader he was in a well presented format. Also, it is in the glorious grounds of the museum which, in itself, is a haven of tranquility in the bustling metropolis of Addis Ababa. When I went there were hundreds of beautifully turned-out schoolchildren filling the place with joy. Haile recommended (sorry about that.)
Written March 7, 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.
RKS
Oregon6 contributions
Mar 2022
I visited the museum on my last day in Ethiopia. Getting past security at the entrance to the University was a huge hassle. For reasons that are not important I had my passport with me and the guard was demanding I leave it with him. Other Ethiopian national ID’s were laid out I for all to see in a small metal shack completely unsecured. Of course I refused to hand over my passport and a long argument ensued. He even promised to keep it safe in his pocket. Finally, they let me pass after I tried to leave without visiting the museum. When you reach the museum itself you told to pay but if the cashier isn’t there then you are told to go ahead only to be promptly turned back to pay. I was also told to return for my “receipt” several times. This seemed to be an important step that I did not understand until after I visited and there was my very formal, stamped, typed on high quality paper receipt. This elaborated document was then handed over to the guard at the entrance of the university. It takes as long to enter and and exit as to visit the whole thing.
The museum itself is as others describe. Fascinating in how they weave various regional/tribal customs into the life cycle. I enjoyed that portion. Did not visit the top floor.
The museum itself is as others describe. Fascinating in how they weave various regional/tribal customs into the life cycle. I enjoyed that portion. Did not visit the top floor.
Written April 10, 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.
StotheN
Stockholm, Sweden538 contributions
Sep 2022
Lets be honest, I came here just to see Lucy. And it was worth it. But the museum has other exhibits which are interesting. Also, be careful that the museum does not allow in visitors at least 45min before closing time. I had to come here twice because of this.
Written November 20, 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.
Reza Sattarzadeh
Muscat, Oman2,541 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
Ethological Museum is located in the University of Addis Ababa and is home to displays related to the contemporary history of the country, specially the period of Haile Silase. The place used to be the residence of the king and certain areas have been kept in the same state in which they were used by him and his family.
It costs 200 Birr to enter.
It costs 200 Birr to enter.
Written December 2, 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.
shula m
israel129 contributions
Jan 2020
run down, ill lit, dusty show cases, with treasures, you can't appreciate, because you can't see properly. maybe we were tired from the flight to Addis Ababa, maybe our guide was not informative enough. i found the visit uninspiring
Written February 10, 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.
Minstrel115
Victoria, Canada387 contributions
Feb 2020
Located inside of Addis Ababa University. The superb collections of Ethiopia's cultural, religious, traditional artifacts as well as Emperor Haile Selassie's preserved bathroom and bedroom, as a reminder that it was a former palace. Wish to see cataloguing the objects with date and location.
Written March 16, 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.
cosmic_beancounter
Boston, MA108 contributions
Aug 2010
This is so much fun and a must see.
The Museum is in the old palace on the grounds of Addis Ababa University. The collections are wonderful. The ethnographic collection is well displayed .with good information of the different groups of people in Ethiopia. They have a little bit of archival video and interesting well thought out displays. The collection of musical instruments is amazing! The religious artwork is on the top floor (which is where you need to go to see the musical instruments) is pretty cool and the building itself is a classic.
Do take a walk through the grounds of the University and the little lunch spot in the big red double-decker London Bus at the University entrance serves good cheap food and nice coffee.
The Museum is in the old palace on the grounds of Addis Ababa University. The collections are wonderful. The ethnographic collection is well displayed .with good information of the different groups of people in Ethiopia. They have a little bit of archival video and interesting well thought out displays. The collection of musical instruments is amazing! The religious artwork is on the top floor (which is where you need to go to see the musical instruments) is pretty cool and the building itself is a classic.
Do take a walk through the grounds of the University and the little lunch spot in the big red double-decker London Bus at the University entrance serves good cheap food and nice coffee.
Written July 18, 2011
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.
Are the museum's open on Saturday afternoon after 1pm?
Written September 5, 2017
Where is the exact location.
Written September 17, 2015
Yes it is on the University campus as the previous person posted. It really is an unassuming building but worth the find.
Written September 18, 2015
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