This page follows the first days of a trip, from landing to settling in. For a step-by-step airport guide, see your first two hours at Bole airport, and for a printable list, see the arrival checklist. This guide focuses on what happens after the airport: settling in, getting money and a phone, adjusting to altitude and planning your first week.
At the airport
Have your passport, your e-visa approval, your hotel details and your onward ticket ready for the immigration desk. After passport control you collect your bags and go through customs. You may be asked for health documents depending on where you travelled from, so check the requirements for your route before you fly. Rules change, so read the visa guide and the pre-trip checklist.
The arrivals area has bank counters, operator counters for SIM cards and transport desks. Do not hurry, and complete the formalities in order. See Bole airport.
Getting a phone connection
Make sure your phone is unlocked before you land, then buy a local SIM from an operator counter at the airport or from a service centre in the city. Ask the seller to activate it and test it before you leave. See buying a SIM card.
Money on arrival
The Ethiopian birr is the local currency, and it floated in July 2024, so rates are set by banks and licensed bureaus, not by a fixed rate. Change a modest amount at the airport for transport, a SIM and food, then compare rates in the city. Do not rely on old guides that quote a fixed exchange rate, because the rate has changed greatly since the float. Banks keep their own opening hours, which vary by branch, so check before you go. Keep your receipts. See exchanging money, the birr and using cards and ATMs.
Transport and your first night
Hotels often provide airport pickups if you arrange them in advance. Official taxis and ride-hailing apps are alternatives, and you should agree on the price before you start. Passengers who are only passing through Addis Ababa on a long layover can ask Ethiopian Airlines about hotel and transit arrangements. If you need a bed near the airport, the Bole district has many hotels, and your travel agent or the airline can help you book one. Confirm the details before you rely on any offer. See things to do in Addis Ababa for the main sights.
Adjusting to the altitude
Addis Ababa stands at about 2,350 metres, and many visitors feel tired or short of breath on the first day. Drink water, sleep well, avoid heavy meals and alcohol at first, and take it easy for a day or two before you plan long walks or high-altitude treks. Headache that does not go away, vomiting or severe breathlessness needs medical advice. See health and medical care.
Staying safe in the first days
- Carry a copy of your passport and keep the original in the hotel safe.
- Keep your phone and wallet out of sight in crowded places such as markets and minibuses, where pickpockets work.
- Avoid walking alone at night in the big cities, and use a taxi or ride app.
- Do not accept help with money from strangers.
- Follow your government’s current travel advice and local news.
Your first week
- Day 1: rest, eat well and get cash and a SIM.
- Day 2: see the capital: the National Museum, Entoto hill, Merkato and a coffee ceremony. See things to do in Addis Ababa and Markato.
- Day 3 onward: travel on. Domestic flights go to the northern historic route, and roads go to the lakes and the south. See Ethiopia attractions and the destination guides.
Customs to know on day one
Greet people politely, accept a cup of coffee, use your right hand for giving and receiving, and ask before you take photographs. Learn a few Amharic words. See Ethiopian people, Amharic phrases and being a guest.
Last checked: 25 October 2026.
On your first day you will also want a local SIM card and some birr — see exchanging money and ATMs and cards.
