Your stay — Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም
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 — Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም
A no-frills condo-hotel in the Bole district, aimed at budget-conscious travellers who want a self-contained base near the airport. The lobby is a functional space with a reception desk, a few chairs, and a notice board; the rooms are basic but clean, with a kitchenette. There is no restaurant or bar on site, so you will be relying on nearby eateries or cooking for yourself. This works best for a short stopover or for someone who values location and practicality over atmosphere.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul, who chose the site for its hot springs and temperate climate. The city grew rapidly in the 20th century, becoming the headquarters of the African Union in 1963 and a diplomatic hub. Its architecture mixes Italian fascist-era blocks, 1960s modernist towers like the Africa Hall, and recent Chinese-built high-rises. Contemporary Addis is a young, fast-growing metropolis with a vibrant music and coffee culture, where traditional injera restaurants sit alongside glitzy malls and new flyovers.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
November and February are ideal: the long rains have passed, skies are clear, and crowds are thin. January can also be good, though it coincides with the Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) celebrations, drawing some visitors to Lalibela rather than Addis.
Peak / festival surge
September is peak season, driven by the Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) on 11 September and the pleasant weather after the main rains. Hotel prices jump by 20–30% in the weeks around this period. The city also hosts the Great Ethiopian Run in November, which fills hotels briefly.
Budget shoulder season
April and May are the best shoulder months: the short rains are patchy but light, hotel rates drop noticeably, and the city is greener. You get moderate weather without the peak-season haggling.
Weather & packing
Addis Ababa sits at 2,355 metres, so the weather is cool and variable year-round: sunny mornings often turn to brief, sharp afternoon showers. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and long trousers; skip shorts entirely, as they mark you as a tourist and the evenings are chilly.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Addis Ababa light rail network has extended its east-west line to Ayat, improving connections from Bole to the city centre and the Merkato district. Delays are still common, so allow extra time if relying on it.
- The new Bole Expressway flyovers near the hotel have reduced traffic jams to the airport, but road work continues on adjacent streets, creating occasional dust and detours. Use motorbike taxis (bajaj) for short local hops.
- July is the middle of the long rainy season (kiremt), so expect heavy downpours most afternoons. The city’s drainage is poor, and some streets can flood temporarily; a sturdy umbrella is mandatory.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 4 to 6 facing the courtyard or inner side of the building. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough to use stairs during busy lift times. The interior-facing rooms offer quieter nights.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor and floors 1–2 facing the street, especially at the front near the entrance. Street noise from Bole Road traffic and taxis is constant, and the ground floor can pick up lobby and reception sounds.
Best views
Upper-floor rooms facing north or east offer decent views over the Bole district skyline and distant hills. South-facing windows look onto the busy main road, which is less attractive.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 through 6 tend to be quietest, with less street noise and fewer passing guests, as most foot traffic and lift activity concentrates on lower floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from vehicles, horns, and minibuses is persistent on the front side. The lift can be loud up to floor 3, and the bar or common area hums until late on weekends. Occasional loud music from nearby shops.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on floor 4 or 5 with a northern aspect when booking – these are the quietest and have better air circulation. 2. Check-in after 3pm when the reception queue has cleared; weekend arrivals are calmer. Parking is limited to a small lot – arrive early to secure a space.
- 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 — Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም
Free for all guests, 10 Mbps, login via room number and surname
One lift serving all 6 floors; no stairs-only sections
No physical newspapers; complimentary digital access to Ethiopian Herald via lobby tablet
Standard check-in 14:00–23:00, early bag drop from 07:00; late check-out until 12:00 for 50% of nightly rate, after 12:00 charged full night
Free for same-day collection; ETB 500 per day for longer storage
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door; lifts are wheelchair-capable; no adapted guest rooms
Free on-site gated parking for 12 cars, first-come; no valet; nearest public car park is Bole Millennium Hall car park (ETB 150 per night); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; ETB 2,000 incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ዑመር መስጅድ (አራብሳ) (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Place of worship: ቃጥላ ማርያም (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Place of worship: ቦሌ አራብሥ አቡነ ገብረ መንፈስቅዱስ ቤተ ክርስቲያን (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
- Place of worship: ቦሌ አራብሥ ቅድስት አርሴማ ቤተ ክርስቲያን (1.3 km · ~17 min walk)
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use official bank or Dashen Bank exchange booths in Bole area for fair rates; avoid airport or hotel exchange counters where rates are worse.
Visa and Mastercard accepted at mid-range hotels, supermarkets, and some restaurants in Bole; otherwise cash is king — ATMs are common but often run dry.
Not expected but appreciated: round up taxis (5-10 birr), leave 10% at nicer restaurants, give 20-50 birr to hotel porters or cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side coffee ceremony or small kiosk coffee — around 10-20 birr a cup.
Injera with shiro/misir wot at a local cafeteria — roughly 80-150 birr including a drink.
Grilled meat (tibs) with injera or bread at a neighbourhood spot — about 150-250 birr for a main.
Bole area near Meskel Square and along Bole Road at dusk has stalls selling sambusa, kitfo, and fried fish for 20-60 birr.
Supermarkets like Safeway or Nyala in Bole area are common for basics.
Large bazaar at Shiro Meda or Merkato (worth haggling) for second-hand and new clothing at very low prices.
Blue and white minibus taxis (routes fixed, flat rate ~10 birr); from Bole Airport, take a minibus route 1 or 3 to the city centre (~10 birr).
Use minibuses instead of taxis; eat at local kiosks and cafeterias rather than tourist restaurants; buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets.
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 Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም?
Request a room on floors 4 to 6 facing the courtyard or inner side of the building. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough to use stairs during busy lift times. The interior-facing rooms offer quieter nights.
Which rooms should I avoid at Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor and floors 1–2 facing the street, especially at the front near the entrance. Street noise from Bole Road traffic and taxis is constant, and the ground floor can pick up lobby and reception sounds.
Is Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም noisy?
Street noise from vehicles, horns, and minibuses is persistent on the front side. The lift can be loud up to floor 3, and the bar or common area hums until late on weekends. Occasional loud music from nearby shops.
Which rooms have the best views at Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም?
Upper-floor rooms facing north or east offer decent views over the Bole district skyline and distant hills. South-facing windows look onto the busy main road, which is less attractive.
What are insider tips for staying at Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም?
1. Ask for a room on floor 4 or 5 with a northern aspect when booking – these are the quietest and have better air circulation. 2. Check-in after 3pm when the reception queue has cleared; weekend arrivals are calmer. Parking is limited to a small lot – arrive early to secure a space.
What time is check-in at Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም?
Check-in at Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, 10 Mbps, login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም?
Injera with shiro/misir wot at a local cafeteria — roughly 80-150 birr including a drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Bole Ararbssa ቦሌ ኣራብሳ ኮንደሚንየም?
Blue and white minibus taxis (routes fixed, flat rate ~10 birr); from Bole Airport, take a minibus route 1 or 3 to the city centre (~10 birr).
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
November and February are ideal: the long rains have passed, skies are clear, and crowds are thin. January can also be good, though it coincides with the Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) celebrations, drawing some visitors to Lalibela rather than Addis.
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.