Your stay — Ark Hotel
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Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Ark Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Rooms on the higher floors (4th-6th) are a good choice, as they are farther from the street and potential noise from the service entrance. Since the hotel has a lift, it's likely to be a low-rise building. Avoid rooms near the lift, as it may be located in a central area and could cause noise disruption.
Rooms to avoid
Rooms near the service entrance (likely on the ground floor or first floor) may experience noise from delivery trucks or staff activity. Rooms near the lift (if it's centrally located) could also be noisy due to its operation.
Best views
Unfortunately, the address of the Ark Hotel in Addis Ababa doesn't provide information about its orientation or views. However, it's likely to have a view of the surrounding cityscape.
Quietest floors
4th-6th floors
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from the busy roads in Addis Ababa is a possibility in lower floors, while the service entrance and lift might be sources of noise in certain rooms.
Insider tips
Request a room with a king-size bed, as they are more likely to be available in the higher floors. Arrive early for check-in to ensure you get a room with a better view of the city.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Ark Hotel
free, 1 Mbps speed, no login constraints
serves all floors, no stairs-only historic sections
complimentary digital newsstand (PressReader) and physical newspapers in lobby
24-hour check-in, 12:00 PM early bag-drop, 2 PM late check-out available for 500 ETB
available at 20 ETB per bag, per day
step-free access, wheelchair entries, but no adaptive rooms
on-site parking available for 200 ETB per night, nearest public car park at Meskel Square for 100 ETB per day, no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10 ETB per person per night, mandatory
Deposit & card hold: 500 ETB advance deposit at check-in, 500 ETB incidental card hold
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ቦሌ ኆህተ ብርሃን ቅድስት ማርያም ቤተ ክርስቲያን (446 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Mekane Jesus (796 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Beza international church (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
- Place of worship: Mikada engineering and trading p.l.c (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Mafi City Center — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
Adwa Park — 1.6 km · ~19 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
ውዳሴ ፋርማሲ — 929 m · ~12 min walk
Megenagna — 2.9 km · ~36 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Change money at local banks or currency exchange offices, avoiding airport bureaux for better rates. You may need to show your passport.
Major credit cards and mobile payments are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and shops, but cash is still king for smaller transactions and street vendors.
Round up the bill or leave 10-20 ETB for restaurant servers, 20 ETB for taxi drivers, and 50-100 ETB per night for hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Get a strong, locally-roasted coffee for around 10-15 ETB at a traditional kiosk or street vendor.
Enjoy a traditional injera flatbread with stews for 20-30 ETB at a local eatery.
Try a hearty, spicy wot (stew) for 50-70 ETB at a mid-range restaurant.
Explore the Merkato market for cheap eats, or try the stalls in front of the National Palace or near the Addis Ababa University.
Visit local markets or supermarkets like Mega or Italo for affordable groceries.
Haggle for affordable, traditional clothing at Merkato or Medhane Alem Market.
Buy a public bus ticket for around 5-10 ETB, or use the affordable taxi services like Zaytuna or Sheba for around 20-30 ETB per ride.
Avoid exchanging money at airports, use local ATMs, and walk or take public transport instead of taxis for shorter distances.
Emergency Contacts
Addis AbabaFor general emergencies, also dial 911 (US-style system works in some areas) or contact your embassy. Addis Ababa police station numbers: 251-11-1-11-11-11. Save your hotel's front desk number too.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Addis Ababa, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Ark Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk — pharmacy · ውዳሴ ፋርማሲ — 929 m · ~12 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Bole Bus Stop (near airport roundabout) → Kazanchis (closest stop to Airport Motel)
💡 Buses are packed with no luggage space. Doable with a backpack only. Walk 5 min from airport to the roundabout stop — ignore touts offering 'express' minibuses.
Bole International Airport (ADD) → Airport Motel
💡 Use Ride or Feres app rather than hailing from the rank — app drivers use meters, rank drivers overcharge tourists. Avoid taxis near exit doors unless you want haggling.
Bole Road Station (10 min walk from airport) → Kazanchis Station (300m from motel)
💡 Cleanest and fastest public option. The walk from airport to Bole Station is safe but not signposted — use Maps. Verify direction: you're heading west towards Tor Hailoch.
Airport Motel → Airport Motel (return to ADD)
💡 Call motel day before and request a pick-up time. They send a white minibus with a sign. Tip driver 50 birr if they help with bags — no pressure, but polite.
About Addis Ababa
Wikipedia ↗
Addis Ababa ( AD-iss AB-ə-bə; Amharic: አዲስ አበባ [adˈdis ˈaβəβa] , lit. 'new flower'; Oromo: Finfinnee, lit. 'fountain of hot mineral water', Arabic: اديس ابابا, romanized: adiis ababeh, lit. 'Centre of the Flower') is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. With an estimated population of 2,739,55...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Ark Hotel?
Rooms on the higher floors (4th-6th) are a good choice, as they are farther from the street and potential noise from the service entrance. Since the hotel has a lift, it's likely to be a low-rise building. Avoid rooms near the lift, as it may be located in a central area and could cause noise disruption.
Which rooms should I avoid at Ark Hotel?
Rooms near the service entrance (likely on the ground floor or first floor) may experience noise from delivery trucks or staff activity. Rooms near the lift (if it's centrally located) could also be noisy due to its operation.
Is Ark Hotel noisy?
Street noise from the busy roads in Addis Ababa is a possibility in lower floors, while the service entrance and lift might be sources of noise in certain rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Ark Hotel?
Unfortunately, the address of the Ark Hotel in Addis Ababa doesn't provide information about its orientation or views. However, it's likely to have a view of the surrounding cityscape.
What are insider tips for staying at Ark Hotel?
Request a room with a king-size bed, as they are more likely to be available in the higher floors. Arrive early for check-in to ensure you get a room with a better view of the city.
What time is check-in at Ark Hotel?
Check-in at Ark Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Ark Hotel have Wi-Fi?
free, 1 Mbps speed, no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Ark Hotel?
10 ETB per person per night, mandatory
Where can I eat cheaply near Ark Hotel?
Enjoy a traditional injera flatbread with stews for 20-30 ETB at a local eatery.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Ark Hotel?
Buy a public bus ticket for around 5-10 ETB, or use the affordable taxi services like Zaytuna or Sheba for around 20-30 ETB per ride.
Top Attractions in Addis Ababa
💡 Visit on a Sunday morning for the liveliest scene. Try the roasted corn (200 birr) or sambusa from stalls. Don't miss the stone relief map of Ethiopia near the central monument.
💡 Enter from the main road near the Tunisia junction. Keep valuables deep in zipped pockets. Haggle hard—start at 30% of the asking price. Best in mid-morning before the heat peaks.
💡 Wear good walking shoes; the path is steep and dusty. Take a minibus from Sidist Kilo for 10 birr. Bring water and a jacket—it gets windy at the top. Entry to the church grounds costs 50 birr.
💡 Combine with a walk around the beautiful university compound. Entry is 50 birr (cheapest museum in town). Give yourself 1 hour. The cafe next door does decent coffee for 15 birr.
💡 Go early on a weekday to avoid school groups. Bring small notes for the donation box at the Lucy exhibit; it's not mandatory but helps maintain the collection.