Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, meaning “New Flower” in Amharic, is Ethiopia’s capital and largest city. Founded by Emperor Menelik II in the 1880s, it sits on a high plateau at the foot of the Entoto Mountains, at around 2,300–2,400 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world. Its elevation keeps daytime temperatures pleasant year-round, generally in the low-to-mid 20s°C, and it’s also part of why Ethiopia produces some of the world’s best coffee.

Often called the political or diplomatic capital of Africa, Addis Ababa hosts the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, along with representatives from nearly every country in the world. It’s a genuinely cosmopolitan city, home to people from Ethiopia’s many different ethnic groups as well as a large international community, giving it a unique blend of African and global character. Wikipedia

History runs deep here. The city has strong ties to the region’s ancient past, most famously as the home of the National Museum of Ethiopia, which houses the fossilised remains of Lucy, one of the oldest known human ancestors, discovered nearby in the 1970s. Visitors can also explore sites tied to more recent history, including the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the final resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie, and the Red Terror Martyrs’ Memorial Museum, which reflects on a difficult chapter of Ethiopia’s more recent past.

Addis Ababa is also a lively cultural hub, known for its Orthodox churches and mosques, vibrant Ethiopian jazz scene, and the sprawling Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa. Mount Entoto, overlooking the city, offers hiking, sweeping views, and historic sites tied to Emperor Menelik II. For most travellers, Addis Ababa serves as the natural starting point for a wider Ethiopian journey, whether that means Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches, the Simien Mountains, or further south into the Rift Valley.