Where to Stay in Addis Ababa: A Neighbourhood-by-Neighbourhood Hotel Guide

For most first-time visitors, the best area to stay in Addis Ababa is Bole. It sits about 2.5 kilometres by road from Bole International Airport, it has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants, and it is where most short stays and stopovers end up. Pick Kazanchis instead if you are in Addis Ababa for meetings, Old Airport or Sarbet if you want quiet for a longer stay, and Piassa only if you want the old city on your doorstep and can accept a district that is being rebuilt.

One thing the hotel booking sites won't tell you: the UK government lists two parts of Bole among the areas of Addis Ababa where crime against foreigners has risen. That doesn't make Bole the wrong choice. It does change how you get around after dark, and we cover it below.

The short answer, by trip

Your trip	Stay in	Why
First visit, a few nights	Bole	Closest to the airport, most hotels and restaurants
Overnight stopover or early flight	Bole, near the airport	2.5 to 3 kilometres from the terminal
Meetings and business trips	Kazanchis	International hotels in the business district
Longer stay, families, quiet	Old Airport or Sarbet	Residential, embassy districts, fewer crowds
History and the old city	Piassa	The historic centre, now partly demolished and rebuilt

The five areas compared

	Bole	Kazanchis	Piassa	Old Airport	Sarbet
Character	Airport district, malls, restaurants on Bole Road	Business district, ministries, international hotels	The old city centre, cathedral, cafés	Residential, embassies, international school	Residential, next to Old Airport
Hotels	The widest range, from guesthouses to international brands	Mostly upper range and business hotels	Mostly budget guesthouses	Fewer hotels than Bole or Kazanchis	Fewer hotels than Bole or Kazanchis
Noise	Busy, with traffic and restaurants along Bole Road	Busy by day, building work from redevelopment	Building work from redevelopment	Quiet	Quiet
Safety note	Two Bole areas named by the UK for rising crime	Meskel Square, nearby, named by the UK	Not named by the UK. Crowded around Merkato	Not named by the UK	Not named by the UK
Airport by road	About 2.5 km	About 5.5 km	About 10 km	About 10.5 km	About 9.5 km

Road distances are our own measurements from the airport to the middle of each area on OpenStreetMap. Travel time depends on traffic more than distance. Allow up to 45 minutes from the airport to the centre at busy times.

Bole

The airport takes its name from the district. Bole runs from the terminal into the city along Bole Road, which is lined with restaurants, cafés and shopping centres such as Edna Mall. This is where most visitors stay, and where the choice is widest, from small guesthouses to international hotels. The Ethiopian Skylight Hotel and the Golden Tulip are both here.

The case for Bole is convenience. You are minutes from the airport, there is food on every corner, and you can arrive late or leave early without crossing the city.

The case against is the one the hotel sites leave out. As of 25 September 2026, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office names Bole Medhanealem and Bole Atlas among five areas of Addis Ababa with an increase in reported crime against foreign and Ethiopian nationals, including knifepoint robberies. Its advice is not to walk alone in those areas if you can avoid it, and to use road transport, especially after dark. In practice that means booking a car or using an app-based taxi in the evening rather than walking back from dinner.

Kazanchis

Kazanchis is the business district, close to government ministries. The Hilton and the Radisson Blu are both in Kazanchis, and the Sheraton is just to the west. It suits anyone in the city for meetings: most of what you need is a short drive away, and the hotels are built for business travellers.

Two things to know. Kazanchis is being redeveloped under the city's corridor project, and demolition of parts of the area was announced in September 2024, so expect building work. And Meskel Square, a short distance away, is one of the five areas the UK lists for rising street crime.

Fendika, a well-known azmari bet where traditional Ethiopian music is played live, is in Kazanchis. Its building has been threatened with demolition, so check it is still open before you plan an evening there.

Piassa

Piassa, also spelt Piazza, is the old heart of the city, with St George's Cathedral and the Taitu Hotel, the oldest hotel in Ethiopia, founded in 1905 by Empress Taitu. Backpackers have long stayed here for the cheaper guesthouses and the old cafés.

It is also the area that has changed most. Since 2024 large parts of Piassa have been demolished for the corridor development project, with around 2,000 houses cleared and up to 11,000 people relocated. The old Piassa that older guidebooks describe is partly gone, and parts of the district are building sites.

Piassa is close to Merkato, the city's huge open-air market, which is worth a visit but is very crowded. Watch your bags, and expect brokers who try to steer you to particular shops.

If you want the history without staying among the building work, stay elsewhere and visit Piassa, Arat Kilo and the National Museum by day. Our Addis Ababa city tour covers the main sights.

Old Airport and Sarbet

Old Airport and Sarbet sit next to each other in the southwest of the city. They are residential districts with embassies and the International Community School, and they are the quietest of the five areas here.

There are fewer hotels than in Bole or Kazanchis, and you will drive to most things. In return you get quieter streets and a slower pace, which suits a longer stay, a family, or anyone working remotely for a few weeks. Both are around 9 to 10.5 kilometres from the airport by road.

Getting from the airport to your hotel

Whichever area you choose, the UK advice on arrival is the same: there is a risk of petty theft around Bole International Airport, so use a taxi arranged by your hotel or travel company. If you book your own, choose a yellow taxi or an app-based ride rather than the blue and white ones.

We run Bole airport transfers from 35 US dollars each way, day or night, with flight tracking so a delay doesn't leave you waiting. A meet and greet at arrivals is available on request.

Getting around once you are there

Addis Ababa sits at 2,355 metres and is spread out, so you will drive more than you walk. A car with a driver, or an app-based ride, is the easiest way to move between areas, and after dark it is the safest. The light rail is cheap but gets very crowded at peak times, and pickpocketing is common on it.

If you are only in the city for a day or two, see our 24 to 48 hour Addis Ababa itinerary. For a connection, our layover and transit visa guide covers whether you can leave the airport at all. For everything else, see our Addis Ababa guide.

FAQ

What is the best area to stay in Addis Ababa?

For most first-time visitors, Bole. It is closest to the airport and has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants. Kazanchis suits business trips, Old Airport and Sarbet suit quiet longer stays, and Piassa suits travellers who want the old city and can accept building work.

How far is Bole Airport from the city centre?

Bole International Airport is about 6 kilometres southeast of the city centre, or around 7 kilometres by road to Meskel Square. Allow up to 45 minutes at busy times, because traffic matters more than distance.

Is Bole safe for tourists?

Bole is where most visitors stay, but the UK government names Bole Medhanealem and Bole Atlas among areas of Addis Ababa with rising crime against foreigners. Avoid walking alone there, especially after dark, and use a booked car or an app-based taxi in the evenings.

Is Piassa a good place to stay?

It depends what you want. Piassa is the historic centre and has cheaper guesthouses, but much of it has been demolished and rebuilt since 2024, and it is busy and close to Merkato. Many visitors prefer to stay elsewhere and visit Piassa by day.

Where should I stay for a layover in Addis Ababa?

Near the airport in Bole, so you don't cross the city twice. Check first whether your layover lets you leave the airport.

How do I get from Bole Airport to my hotel?

Use a taxi arranged by your hotel or travel company, or a yellow or app-based taxi rather than a blue and white one. We run airport transfers from 35 US dollars each way, with flight tracking.

Plan it with us

Tell us your dates and what else you are seeing in Ethiopia. If you travel with us, we arrange the hotel as part of the trip, and the airport pickup with it. You will have a reply within two hours and a detailed itinerary with a quote within 24 hours.

Book a Bole airport transfer, hire a car with a driver, or browse our tours.