Exclusive Travel Safety Guide For Layover In Addis Ababa

Are you having a connecting flight to Ethiopia and wondering if Addis Ababa is safe for tourists?  Then you must read our travel safety guide for layover in Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is one of the most usual airports for connecting flights, especially if you are taking Ethiopian Airlines. You may wonder whether it is safe to stay in Addis Ababa airport. Or you may even want to make use of the transit time for a day trip in Addis Ababa.

After all, Ethiopian Airlines provides a bunch of great layover benefits. That would make your day trip to Addis Ababa exceptionally economical. If you are staying over 8 hours, you can you leave the airport during layover in Addis Ababa. Question is whether it is safe to do so?

So before your flight, let’s check out our travel safety guide for layover in Addis Ababa.

Is it safe to stay inside the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport?

The Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is generally considered a safe place to stay within for travelers passing through. The airport has robust security measures in place and is monitored by Ethiopian authorities to maintain a secure environment for passengers.

Just similar to other international airports you can expect the common checking including metal detectors, x-ray machines, and other security checkpoints help to deter and detect any potential threats.  So it is in general very safe.

Inside the airport, the public areas such as the departure lounges, restaurants, and shops are also closely monitored. Security cameras are installed throughout the facility, and airport staff are trained to identify and respond to suspicious activity. Emergency protocols are in place to handle any security incidents that may arise. With all these security cameras, the risk of being pick-pocketed is also relatively low.

Location-wise the airport is situated in a relatively stable region of Ethiopia. The area has not experienced the same level of political unrest and conflict as some other parts of the country in recent years. Additionally, Addis Ababa, the capital city, is generally considered safe for visitors, with a low crime rate compared to other major African cities.

I have traveled to multiple African Countries using Addis Ababa Bole International Airport ( ADD) for transiting. And I have not come across any safety issues or even flight delays.

The only inconvenience is there are not many chargers in the airport and the water replenishing machine is limited and far. Other than that, I would say being prudent as you would have been in other international airports would be fine.

Staying at the airport is the safest option for you.

Plaza Premium Lounge at ADD

If you choose to stay in ADD for your whole transit time, I would recommend you also consider using the Plaza Premium Loung there. Inside the lounge, you would have an African buffet with unlimited soft drinks, tea, and coffee available. Along with the comfortable seat, charger, and unlimited wifi, you could spend a good couple of hours there.

Although, the African buffet is not grand. However, it is still decent enough to provide you with a taste of Ethiopia by including local dishes such as Injera, different kinds of wats, and Ethiopian spices. Other than that, there are also a wide range of bread and salad. It is a nutritious boost for your journey to come.

So before starting your journey, you should ensure that you have a credit card with complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge.

Is it safe to go outside the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport?

If you are having a long layover in ADD, you may want to go out exploring around. The good news is if you are taking Ethiopian Airlines, free hotel, meals, and transit are already included. Then you may need to consider the safety in Addis Ababa city center.

Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, is generally safe for visitors in comparative senses. Common street crimes such as pickpocketing and purse snatching usually happen there. Especially, if you want to head to crowded landmarks such as the Mercato market.

So you need to be alerted to your valuables from time to time to avoid any misfortune happening.

Other than that, we also heard a lot of “stone-throw children” problems in the city. It is a common phenomenon in Africa due to the lack of education. Although it may not cause a significant safety concern, you may still want to be aware of this.

Violent crime risk is low in the capital city. However, areas near the Country borders could be different due to political tensions, although you are not likely to go there given the limited layover time. As a precaution, you should also do an internet check for any political protest in the city before going.

Should I go out on my own or via a tour?

So based on the safety situation in Addis Ababa, shall explore the city by ourselves or via the tour?

In general, it would be a lot safer to choose the tour option. There are a lot of day tour options from GetYourGuide and Viator. Most of them cover the most-go landmarks such as Mercato market, National Museum, and Entoto Park in the city. They offer airport pick up and drop off with a licensed local tour guide and driver. If you are looking to explore the most items in a limited time, it would be a safe and ideal choice.

Compared to going to Addis Ababa on your own, the tour option would be more expensive (but still very affordable). Additionally, most of the tours would take 6 hours or so. It means that if your layover time is short, then it may not fit your schedule.

On the other hand, if you would like to just go outside to experience the local culture. Or you are good with going to only one or two landmarks. Then going out on your own would still be okay. Of course, you should be aware of the safety concerns mentioned above and try to avoid very crowded landmarks like Mercato market.

For the selection of transport, you should take a taxi as compared to a bus or minivan for safety and time concerns. During sightseeing, you should be aware of your surroundings and avoid deserted streets or alleys, especially if you are doing solo travel in Ethiopia.

Conclusion

Addis Ababa is safe to travel in comparison to a lot of African Countries. Of course, general precautions need to be applied, especially for solo female travelers. You should be aware of your surroundings, and refrain from going to deserted alleys and going out at late night.

After all, we are looking to spend a good and safe layover journey in Addis Ababa instead of risking to miss the next flight. I hope our travel safety guide for layover in Addis Ababa will help you to have an enjoyable journey.