​Getting There – Ethiopia

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Ethiopia.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Ethiopia.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Ethiopia.

Map of Ethiopia Map of Ethiopia
Ethiopia Map

All international flights arrive at Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa. Your safari operator will usually pick you up at the airport and take care of any travel arrangements from there.

As Ethiopia is a large country, most people get around using domestic flights. There are flights to most places of interest, including all the historical towns, but not to any of the parks. To visit the main parks, you can fly to a nearby town where you’ll be met at the domestic airport by your guide and driver.

Drive-around tours are also available (especially to southern Ethiopia). Even when flying around, covering some distances by car can be very rewarding as you'll see some of the Ethiopian countryside.

119 Ethiopia Tours

Flights & Airlines to Ethiopia

Check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Ethiopia, and what tickets would cost.

Domestic Airlines & Flights in Ethiopia

Domestic flights from Addis Ababa leave from Bole International Airport (ADD), 5km/3mi southeast of the city, and can be booked through Ethiopian Airlines.

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements

Entry requirements can change, so please contact your local Ethiopian embassy to verify that the information below is current.

  • A passport is required for all foreign visitors and must be valid for at least six months.
  • Passports must have a clean and a full visa page for endorsement.
  • Visas can be obtained in advance from Ethiopian embassies or high commissions.
  • You can also apply through the online visa-application portal, the official website of the Ethiopian Department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs.
  • A tourist visa can also be issued on arrival at Bole International Airport to travelers from certain countries. A list of countries that can obtain a visa on arrival is available from the Ethiopian Immigration Department. This visa needs to be paid for in cash (new notes only).
  • When arriving from a country in Africa or the Americas where yellow fever is present, a yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required.
  • For more information, including COVID-19 related entry requirements (if any), please check the website of your local Ethiopian embassy or the government travel advisories below:

Want To Visit Ethiopia?

119 Ethiopia Tours