Getting to Addis Ababa and Around by Bole Hub, Light Rail and Ride

As the home base of Ethiopian Airlines, Addis Ababa is the best-connected aviation hub in sub-Saharan Africa, and its international airport sits remarkably close to the city's main hotels and restaurants.

Arriving at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD)

Unlike airports located far out in the countryside, Bole International Airport sits right on the southern border of the lively Bole district, just 5 to 7 kilometres from Meskel Square and Kazanchis:

• Complimentary hotel shuttles and yellow airport taxis: nearly all mid-range and upscale hotels in Addis Ababa provide a free 24-hour airport pick-up shuttle; simply look for your hotel's placard outside Terminal 2 arrivals. Official yellow metered/zoned airport taxis also wait on the kerb.
• Domestic flights at Bole Terminal 1: while international flights use modern Terminal 2, all domestic Ethiopian Airlines flights (to Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar, Axum, Arba Minch and Jinka) depart from neighbouring Terminal 1, a ten-minute walk or two-minute shuttle ride across the airport apron. Tip: if you fly into Ethiopia internationally on Ethiopian Airlines, you receive a substantial discount on domestic flights booked on the same ticket or quoting your international ticket number.

Getting around: Ride (8294), Feres and blue Lada taxis

For day-to-day movement between Bole, Kazanchis, Arat Kilo / Sidist Kilo and Entoto Park, download the two local ride-hailing apps: Ride (which you can also book without mobile data by dialling the short code 8294 from an Ethiopian SIM card) and Feres. Both show transparent birr fares paid in cash to the driver. On the street you will also see iconic blue-and-white Soviet-era Lada taxis (always agree the fare before getting in) and blue-and-white shared minibuses.

The Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit (LRT)

Opened in 2015 as sub-Saharan Africa's first modern urban light-rail system, the electric Addis Ababa LRT runs on two intersecting lines: the Blue-and-White East-West Line through Ayat, Megenagna, Bambis, St Estifanos (Meskel Square) and Mexico, and the Green-and-White North-South Line linking historic Menelik II Square (Piazza) and Autobus Tera (for Merkato) with Meshualekia and Kality. Buy a paper ticket in birr from the orange booth beside each station before boarding, and avoid peak weekday commuter hours.