Ethiopia Travel Notes
My Addis Ababa stops, real opinions and places to explore.
- Languages
- Amharic · Many Local Languages
- Currency
- Ethiopian Birr · ETB
- Cash
- Essential For Everyday Spending.
- Cards
- Limited. Larger Hotels May Accept Them.
- Tap To Pay
- Do Not Rely Only On Tap.
- WiFi
- Available. Quality Varies.
- Mobile Data
- SIM Or eSIM · Check Coverage
- Small Shops
- Keep Cash Ready.
- Tipping
- Small Cash Tips Appreciated
What To Wear
What To Pack
For an Addis Ababa connection, keep a warm layer in your cabin bag. The city sits at altitude and can feel much cooler than a tropical layover. Modest clothes suit a landside stop or religious visit.
Money And Payments
Cash And Cards
Plan around birr cash for everyday spending. Some larger hotels and established businesses accept international cards, but a card is not a reliable payment method for the whole trip. Keep smaller notes for local purchases and tips.
Travel Cards
Do not build a landside stopover around a foreign travel card alone. Confirm the hotel’s accepted payment method and obtain usable birr for small expenses.
Tipping Culture
Rounding up and small cash tips for helpful hotel staff are appreciated. During an airside connection, there is no need to create a tipping budget for services you are not using. For any landside hotel help, use small birr notes rather than foreign coins.
Getting Around
Getting Around Locally
My Ethiopian stop was at Addis Ababa airport. Follow the international transfer signs and your airline’s instructions; a city ride means leaving the transit area and meeting entry requirements.
Traveling Between Stops
A connection within the terminal is different from an airline stopover hotel. Ethiopian Airlines offers hotel assistance on qualifying connections, but eligibility depends on the ticket and flight schedule.
Staying Connected
Using T Mobile In Ethiopia
Ethiopia is excluded from T Mobile’s included international roaming benefit and international passes. Check service and charges directly before relying on roaming.
Mobile Data For This Trip
Download boarding passes and onward flight details before landing. Airport WiFi can help during a transfer, but do not rely on it for a last minute document download at the gate.
Where To Stay
Choosing Your Area
Confirm whether any booked airport hotel is airside or landside. A room near the airport can still require immigration. I do not have a personally reviewed Addis city hotel to recommend here.
Before You Arrive
Before You Fly
Remaining airside and entering Ethiopia are different immigration situations. Check the official eVisa rules and airline stopover eligibility for your passport. Do not assume a long layover automatically includes entry or a free hotel.
Sources And My Visit
Practical information was researched and checked on 22 October 2026. My reviews describe my own visits. Area comparisons are planning advice, not hotels I claim to have inspected. Entry advice must match your passport, residency, route, and travel date.
Addis Ababa Airport
Plaza Premium Lounge (International Departures, Terminal 2)
This is a unique lounge compared to other plaza premiums. It’s not as big as others but it has everything you need. WiFi, showers, food, desktop areas and meeting rooms.
