Begin your stopover tour with an stress-free pickup from the airport or your hotel. Meet your local guide in the arrival hall and enjoy a cold refresh towel, bottled water, and a light local snack. Receive a short briefing about timing to ensure a relaxed return for your next flight, then drive in a private vehicle towards the historical centre of Addis Ababa.
Stop at Unity Park, located inside the historic Grand Palace compound. Walk through restored imperial halls, learn about Emperor Menelik II and the formation of modern Ethiopia, and see royal furniture, historical photographs, and artefacts. Visit the Throne Hall and banquet spaces, and stroll through the beautifully landscaped gardens and botanical areas to enjoy indigenous Ethiopian plants and peaceful shaded paths.
Next, head to Tomoca Coffee, Addis Ababa’s most historic coffee roaster. Smell beans roasting, hear grinders at work, and watch locals performing their daily coffee ritual. Taste freshly roasted Ethiopian Arabica and learn about traditional roasting methods. Optionally, purchase vacuum-sealed coffee to take home.
Stop for a delicious lunch at Kategna Restaurant, where you can enjoy authentic Ethiopian cuisine in a calm, beautifully designed setting. Share injera with flavourful dishes such as doro wat, beef tibs, kitfo, and vegetarian platters. Complement your meal with traditional drinks like tej (honey wine) or locally made coffee.
Finally, explore a local market. Choose between Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa, Shiro Meda Market, known for handwoven cotton scarves and traditional attire, or Shola Market, a local area market featuring fresh produce, clay pottery, and local spices.
Please note that if your tour falls on a Monday, Unity Park will be closed. In this case, we can arrange for a visit to Entoto Park as an alternative.
