Ethiopia Travel Guide

All visitors must obtain an entry visa, except for nationals from Djibouti and Kenya, and foreigners in transit at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport for 12 hours or less to catch an international connecting flight and who do not leave the airport or pass the Immigration Desk. Visas-on-arrival are also available to citizens of all African Union countries.

Local currency is the Ethiopian birr, denoted by the symbol "Br" or "ብር " (ISO currency code: ETB). Wikivoyage articles use birr to denote the currency. It is one of the more stable African currencies. There are 100 santim to the birr and coins come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 25 and 50 santim and one birr. Banknotes of Ethiopia come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 200 birr.

By plane

Ethiopian Airlines is reasonably priced and has fairly comprehensive domestic services. Flights are often overbooked, so it is essential to reconfirm your tickets at least a day in advance and show up at the airport on time. If you forget to reconfirm, they may assume you aren't going to show up and give away your seats. Flights are frequently cancelled or rescheduled so allow extra time if transferring to an international flight.

Amharic is the first official language and lingua franca of Ethiopia. It is a Semitic language related to Hebrew and Arabic, and if you know either one you'll recognize some cognates. In all parts of the country, everyone speaks Amharic to some extent, no matter what their first language may be. The language is written in the Ge'ez script.

There are many ongoing inter-ethnic conflicts. Borders between ethnic regions tend to be high-risk areas. In addition, many groups are in conflict with the government. Due to the general security situation, expect a heightened security presence. Be prepared for checkpoints, having your identity and travel documents with you. As anywhere, take care to respect road blocks (even if they appear unattended), remain calm and follow instructions.

Don't drink the tap water. It's full of parasites, and hotels generally recommend guests not to drink it, nor to eat salads and uncooked foodstuffs that are usually washed in tap water. This applies to ice as well – unless it is distilled, or you are at a reputable Western hotel like the Sheraton, Radisson Blu, or Hilton. Bottled water for drinking is available almost everywhere in small, medium and big bottles – popular brands are Yes (flat water) and Ambo (sparkling water). Make sure you drink enough, especially when the weather is hot.

Telephone

The country code for calling Ethiopia is 251. The city code for Addis Ababa is 011 (or 11 from outside Ethiopia).

Mobile

Unlike most countries, even within Africa, roaming in Ethiopia with your home country's carrier is very expensive and is often not covered by discounted roaming packages, and many traveler eSIMs don't even support the country at all. As such it is highly recommended to get a local SIM card while in Ethiopia.

Ethiopians are very proud of their culture, identity, and country. Avoid criticizing their cultural lifestyle, especially their brand of Christianity (Ethiopian Orthodox). Avoid all contentious religious discussion, or you may risk all good will and hospitality you could have been afforded. Rather than argue about the merits of Orthodoxy or Islam, it's best to ask friends to explain their customs, festivals and beliefs and to listen with respect.