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For many tourists, the dates on which they choose to book flights to Ethiopia depend on the weather. The rainy season in Addis Ababa tends to last from March to September, and the wet conditions can make transport a little slower. Budget concerned travellers will be able to benefit from cheap flights to Ethiopia during these months. The dry season, which falls outside these dates, enables you to make the most of being outside in the city, though flights to Ethiopia can be a little more expensive in the drier months.
Take a flight to Addis Ababa during a national holiday in Ethiopia and you will be able to mingle with the locals who are in a festive mood, as well as fellow tourists. Gena, the Ethiopian Christmas, falls on January the 7th each year, and is traditionally a period of great festivity with various night long church services taking place. Many of the biggest and most popular events throughout Ethiopia take place in Addis Ababa such as the Ethiopian Film festival in May, the Summer Cycling Championships from July to September and Kullubi in December making Addis Ababa an all year round destination of entertainment.
An ancient city, Addis Ababa is one of the highlights of any visit to Ethiopia. Once you’re flight to Addis Ababa has landed, you will be able to experience the city’s famous historic edifices and its bustling markets and bazaars. This city has something to entertain all kinds of travellers. Visit the Ethnological Museum to find out about the culture and the rich past of this city. The Museum is housed within Haile Selassie’s one time palace, and includes some very elegant gardens. The St George’s Museum, dedicated to the country’s patron saint, is another fantastic place to spend an afternoon, as is the National Museum. If you want to experience the vibrancy and the hustle and bustle of a traditional Ethiopian market, then the Merkato is one of the best places to go as it is always very busy. Art lovers should make a point of visiting the Asni Gallery. This spacious building is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary Ethiopian art. It houses around 6 or 7 different exhibitions every year, so there is always something new to see, even if you have visited before.
The main mode of transport in the city is the ‘blue donkey’, i.e. a blue and white-coloured Toyota HiAce which acts much like a communal taxi. There are hundreds of these dotted throughout the city: just hail one, pay a small fare, and sit amid other commuters in the van as you get to your destination. When it comes to exploring the markets and similar sites though, the best way to go is on foot. That way you can weave through the jammed traffic and other pedestrians with ease.
Flights to Addis Ababa land at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) which is located a mere 4 miles from the city centre. There are shuttle buses from the airport to the centre of town, but you can also take advantage of the local taxis which you can catch outside the airport. Just make sure to haggle with the driver over the price, and to agree beforehand on how much you are going to pay for your trip to make sure that you get a fair deal. This will also be good practice if you plan to visit a market in the city, as bargaining and haggling is the order of the day here!