Addis Ababa Arrival Checklist: Your First Day in Ethiopia

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Your first-day arrival checklist

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• Passport and entry documents are easy to reach.
• Hotel name, address and contact number are saved offline.
• Onward-travel details and important contacts are available offline.
• Your airport pickup or transport plan is confirmed.
• Your phone is unlocked and you know how you will get connected.
• You have a small amount of cash and a second payment option.
• Someone you trust knows your arrival plan.

Entry rules, transport availability and airport services can change; check current official information before departure.

Use this checklist to make your first day in Addis Ababa calmer. Save it on your phone before you land, because the airport Wi-Fi and your new SIM may take a while to work. Entry rules and conditions can change, so check them against current official sources before each trip.

A week before you fly

• Print your documents. Carry a paper copy of your e-visa approval, your hotel booking and your onward ticket, as well as saving them on your phone. Read the visa guide and the pre-trip checklist for the full list.
• Check your health requirements. Ask your doctor or travel clinic which vaccinations and malaria advice apply to your route, and whether you need a yellow fever certificate for the countries you are travelling from. See health and medical care.
• Tell your bank. Let your card issuer know you will use the card in Ethiopia, and save its international phone number offline.
• Unlock your phone. A phone locked to your home carrier cannot use a local SIM. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you leave.
• Pack a plug adapter. Ethiopia uses 220-volt, 50 Hz power, and the sockets are mostly the round-pin European types. A power bank is useful because power cuts happen.
• Save offline copies. Download an offline map of Addis Ababa, and save your hotel address in English and Amharic so a taxi driver can read it.

On the plane

Fill in any arrival forms the airline hands out, and keep your passport and a pen in your hand luggage. Drink water and avoid too much alcohol, because you are about to land in a city at high altitude. Addis Ababa stands at about 2,350 metres, so you may feel a little breathless or tired on the first day.

At Bole airport

1. Immigration. Have your passport, e-visa approval and onward ticket ready. Answer questions briefly and honestly.
2. Baggage. Check the screens for your belt. If your bag does not arrive, report it at the airline desk before you leave the hall and keep the reference slip.
3. Customs. Use the channel that matches what you carry. If you are unsure whether something must be declared, ask an officer.
4. SIM card. Compare the options and buy only from an authorised counter. See buying a SIM card.
5. Money. Change or withdraw only enough for the first day. See exchanging money and using cards and ATMs.
6. Transport. Meet your hotel pickup, or agree the price of an official taxi before you get in. The full walk-through is in your first two hours at Bole airport.

Leaving the airport

Confirm your hotel’s name and phone number, and send your arrival time and the car details to someone at home. Keep your main wallet in a front pocket or bag and a small amount of cash separate, so you never need to open your wallet in a crowd. At night, arrange the pickup before you land.

Your first afternoon and evening

• Rest first. After a long flight and a climb to 2,350 metres, an hour of sleep and a lot of water do more good than an early sightseeing trip.
• Eat simply. A light meal at your hotel or a busy local restaurant is a good start. See Ethiopian dishes to try first and eating out.
• Get small notes. Taxis, tips and street snacks are easier with small birr notes.
• Learn a few words. A greeting opens many doors: see Amharic phrases for travellers and how to greet people.
• Check the time. Locals sometimes name the hour on a different clock. Read Ethiopian time before you arrange a meeting.

Your first morning

Walk around your neighbourhood, find a pharmacy and a cash machine, and confirm your plans for the next days. Then see things to do in Addis Ababa for ideas that suit a first visit.

If something goes wrong

• Missing baggage: keep the report reference and give the airline your hotel address.
• Card declined: try another card or a different bank’s ATM, and contact your issuer.
• SIM not working: return to the seller with your passport and receipt.
• Late arrival: call your hotel before you leave the airport so someone is waiting for you.
• Anything urgent: follow the instructions of local authorities and read your government’s current travel advice.

Quick list for your hand luggage

Passport, printed e-visa, hotel address, onward ticket, a pen, some cash in a separate place, a phone charger, a power bank, medicines in their original packaging, a light jacket for cool mornings and evenings, and a small bottle of water.

Source check: review the official entry requirements and current travel advice before each trip. Last checked: 25 October 2026.

Just passing through on a connection? Read the layover guide for Bole Airport and whether you need a visa to leave the airport on a layover.