Ethiopia is a truly beautiful country with enormous, yet mostly untapped tourism potential. The old “Abyssinia” gives visitors an opportunity to take a step back, and be transported to an ancient time, experience colourful religious ceremonies and see the sights and relics of many centuries ago.

It is also a country of elaborate and dramatic natural beauty and has many national parks showing off a great variety of indigenous African animals, such as the Gelada Baboon and the Walia Ibex in the stunning highlands of the Simien Mountains.

Visiting Ethiopia offers great opportunities to experience ancient history from the churches at Lalibela – the so-called “New Jerusalem” - hewn out of massive monolithic rocks to the church of St. Mary of Zion and ancient stellae in the town of Axum marking the graves of kings and the palaces of long-gone rulers at Gondar.

Ethiopia is also a great travel destination for coffee lovers. The “Black Gold” has a place of honor in the country and attending a traditional coffee ceremony is a unique experience of true Ethiopian hospitality.

Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa is the main hub for Ethiopian Airlines. Domestic travel by plane is an easy way to get around the country, but delays might be possible in the rainy season.

There is a slow and uncomfortable railroad between Addis Ababa and Djibouti. The 780 km long journey takes two days at an average speed of 30km/h; you need to change train at Dire Dawa, on top of numerous stops along the way.

The country also features an affordable bus service which ranges from very basic transport to the new luxury busses called “Sky Bus” and “Selam Bus”. Taxis are available in cities and major towns. Travel by road is possible, but not safe at night due to many animals crossing the street.

It is not safe to travel around the Ethiopian borders with Sudan, Somalia and Kenya and the border with Eritrea is permanently closed. Also the Danakil desert should be avoided. Generally though there is not much crime in Ethiopia.  

There is a wide range of accommodation throughout the country and tourists will find something to suit every budget.

In some (lower) parts of the country, the drug-resistant malaria is present and for these areas visitors must have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Malaria is not present in the highlands above 2000 meters and in the capital Addis Ababa.