Your stay — Aunt home
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Addis Ababa.
The Property — Aunt home
Aunt Home is a modest, three-star guesthouse in the Bole district, known for clean, no-fuss rooms and a leafy courtyard where guests eat breakfast. Its vibe is quiet and residential—more like staying at a local’s well-run home than a corporate hotel. Ideal for transit travellers or solo visitors wanting a safe, central base near Bole International Airport without the premium price.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and his wife Empress Taytu Betul, who liked the hot springs here. It grew from a military camp into Ethiopia’s capital in the early 20th century, with Italian occupation in the 1930s leaving a legacy of Art Deco and Fascist-era buildings. Today, it’s Africa’s diplomatic hub, hosting the African Union, and its skyline mixes glass towers with traditional tukul huts. The city’s identity remains deeply tied to Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, coffee ceremonies, and a fiercely independent cultural pride.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October, November, February: dry and sunny, with clearer skies for sightseeing and lower humidity. Crowds are thinner than at New Year or Easter.
Peak / festival surge
September (Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash) and January (Timkat, Epiphany) see the highest rates and full hotels. Expect prices to jump 30-50% as diaspora and pilgrims flood the city.
Budget shoulder season
March to May offers lighter crowds and discounts of 15-25%, though some afternoon rain arrives. Good for budget travellers who don’t mind short showers.
Weather & packing
Addis is at 2,355 metres, so July brings heavy ‘kiremt’ rain and cool 10-20°C days. Pack a waterproof jacket and warm layers—even in summer, evenings are chilly.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Bole–Mexico Square road expansion is causing lane closures and delays; allow 30 extra minutes for airport transfers.
- A new pedestrian plaza on Churchill Avenue opened in early 2026, linking the National Museum to the old railway station.
- July is peak rain season—many unpaved side roads in Bole become muddy; check if your taxi can handle the route.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Aunt home, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor at the rear of the building (away from the street). These upper floors reduce street-level noise and offer slightly better air circulation.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms and any room facing the main road; street noise from Addis Ababa's traffic and honking can be intrusive, especially during morning and evening rush hours.
Best views
There’s no notable view from this address; with a 3-star hotel in a built-up part of Addis Ababa, you’ll mostly see neighbouring buildings or the street. A rear-facing room at least gets you away from traffic din.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4—high enough to escape street noise but not so high that lift machinery or rooftop activity becomes an issue.
🔊 Noise notes
Main noise sources: street traffic (especially buses and shared taxis), morning call to prayer from nearby mosques, and occasional loud music from local bars or shops. The hotel's central location means construction noise is also possible.
Insider tips
1. If you arrive by car, ask the front desk whether they have a reserved parking spot—on-street parking is unreliable and may be watched by informal attendants expecting a tip. 2. Bring earplugs; even a quieter room can’t fully block Addis’s ambient noise, and the hotel may not provide them.
- 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 — Aunt home
Free WiFi for all guests, coverage throughout hotel, typical speed 20 Mbps download; login via room number and surname
Single elevator serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital press reader (PressReader) accessible via hotel WiFi; no physical newspapers
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 at reception. Check-out by 11:00; late check-out fee 500 ETB until 14:00, after charged half-day rate
Complimentary luggage storage at front desk, no time limit same day
Step-free ground-floor entrance; wheelchair accessible room on first floor; no grab bars in bathrooms; no braille signage
Free on-site parking for 12 cars, first-come first-served; nearest public car park (Bole Atrium) 100 ETB overnight; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% of room rate per night, included in quoted prices
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required for booking; 1000 ETB incidental hold at check-in, returned at check-out if no damages
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ደብረ ጽባሕ ቅዱስ ሚካኤል ቤተ ክርስቲያን (884 m · ~11 min walk)
- Place of worship: Synagogue of God, (1.4 km · ~18 min walk)
- Place of worship: Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and Bethel (1.6 km · ~20 min walk)
- Place of worship: የይሖዋ ምስክሮች ቅርንጫፍ ቢሮ (1.6 km · ~20 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
አቢሲኒያ ባንክ — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
St. Michael — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use commercial banks or licensed forex bureaux in town; avoid the airport and tourist hotel desks for poor rates.
Cards work in upmarket hotels, supermarkets and some restaurants, but cash is king for taxis, markets and small shops.
Round up taxi fares; 5-10% in restaurants if service charge isn't included; small notes for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A traditional coffee ceremony or espresso at a local kiosk: around 15-30 birr.
Injera with shiro or a meat combo from a neighbourhood cafeteria: 80-150 birr.
Tibs or pasta with a soft drink at a small restaurant: 100-200 birr for a main.
Around Bole Medhanialem or Piassa, stalls sell sambusas, boiled eggs and grilled corn for 10-30 birr.
Shi, Safeway and Hakim are common supermarket chains in Addis Ababa.
Merkato (the big market) for second‑hand or local textiles; cheaper chain stores at Bole Dildiy.
Blue minibuses (taxis) cost around 5-15 birr per short hop; from the airport, share a Lada taxi to Bole for about 200-300 birr.
Drink bottled water and eat local food from market stalls rather than tourist cafes. Haggle firmly but politely in markets. Use shared minibuses instead of private taxis.
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 Aunt home
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · አቢሲኒያ ባንክ — 1.2 km · ~15 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 Aunt home?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor at the rear of the building (away from the street). These upper floors reduce street-level noise and offer slightly better air circulation.
Which rooms should I avoid at Aunt home?
Avoid ground-floor rooms and any room facing the main road; street noise from Addis Ababa's traffic and honking can be intrusive, especially during morning and evening rush hours.
Is Aunt home noisy?
Main noise sources: street traffic (especially buses and shared taxis), morning call to prayer from nearby mosques, and occasional loud music from local bars or shops. The hotel's central location means construction noise is also possible.
Which rooms have the best views at Aunt home?
There’s no notable view from this address; with a 3-star hotel in a built-up part of Addis Ababa, you’ll mostly see neighbouring buildings or the street. A rear-facing room at least gets you away from traffic din.
What are insider tips for staying at Aunt home?
1. If you arrive by car, ask the front desk whether they have a reserved parking spot—on-street parking is unreliable and may be watched by informal attendants expecting a tip. 2. Bring earplugs; even a quieter room can’t fully block Addis’s ambient noise, and the hotel may not provide them.
What time is check-in at Aunt home?
Check-in at Aunt home is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Aunt home have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests, coverage throughout hotel, typical speed 20 Mbps download; login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Aunt home?
10% of room rate per night, included in quoted prices
Where can I eat cheaply near Aunt home?
Injera with shiro or a meat combo from a neighbourhood cafeteria: 80-150 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Aunt home?
Blue minibuses (taxis) cost around 5-15 birr per short hop; from the airport, share a Lada taxi to Bole for about 200-300 birr.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October, November, February: dry and sunny, with clearer skies for sightseeing and lower humidity. Crowds are thinner than at New Year or Easter.
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.