Your stay — Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ
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 — Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ
Nigussie Dimamu is a no-frills 3-star guesthouse in the Kazanchis district, geared towards travellers who need a clean, functional base near the UN compound and AU headquarters. The lobby feels more like a well-kept private home than a hotel — modest seating, a small reception desk, and staff who remember your name. It suits budget-conscious business visitors and backpackers who prioritise location over amenities.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Empress Taytu Betul, who chose the hot springs at the base of Mount Entoto for their therapeutic waters. Emperor Menelik II moved the imperial court here the same year, and the city grew rapidly as a railway hub connecting Djibouti by 1917. Its architecture ranges from Italian-era fascist blocks to the modernist African Union headquarters, with little formal planning — street names are rare, and taxis navigate by landmark. Contemporary Addis is the diplomatic capital of Africa, its identity rooted in being a neutral meeting ground for the continent.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October and November — the main rainy season has just ended, so skies are clear and the landscape is green, but temperatures stay mild (18–23°C).
Peak / festival surge
Peak is late June through early September, during the Ethiopian rainy season (kiremt). Tourist numbers are lower than in dry months, but hotel prices stay stable because of UN and AU conference demand. The city's biggest event is Meskel (late September), which draws pilgrims for the Finding of the True Cross festival.
Budget shoulder season
March and April are ideal shoulder months — the second (smaller) rainy season (belg) means occasional showers but far fewer visitors, and rates can drop 15–20% below peak.
Weather & packing
Addis sits at 2,355 metres — evenings are sharply cool year-round, and afternoon rain is a daily certainty from June to September. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and a warm layer for morning/evening; leave shorts at home as locals dress conservatively.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Addis Ababa light rail system (green line) has extended its suburban service to Ayat and Kality, cutting journey times from the city centre to the hotel's area by about 20 minutes. Check for station closures on the blue line due to track upgrades through August.
- The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam filling continues; no direct impact in Addis, but the city's water supply remains steady — no need for bottled-water hoarding.
- New direct flights from London and Guangzhou to Bole International Airport started in early 2026, increasing hotel occupancy in the Kazanchis district. Book the Nigussie Dimamu at least two weeks ahead for July stays.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor at the back of the building – these are far enough from street level to cut the constant Addis traffic hum, but low enough that any staircase queue (if the lift is temperamental) isn't a hassle. The rear-facing rooms overlook the quieter inner courtyard rather than the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms – street noise from Addis Ababa's Bole Road traffic, honking, and diesel buses filters straight in, as the main entrance is flush with the pavement. Also skip any room directly opposite the lift shaft on lower floors – you'll hear the clank and chatter of other guests coming and going all night.
Best views
If you get a front-facing room on the 3rd or 4th floor, you can see across to the Sheraton Addis tower and the low-rise sprawl of the city – it's an urban view, but gives you a sense of the city's energy. Rear rooms look onto the hotel's own courtyard and the neighbouring residential blocks; more private but less interesting.
Quietest floors
The quietest spots are the 3rd floor and above, away from the street-side and the lift lobby. The 4th floor is also good if you don't mind the minor hum of the lift motor room above.
🔊 Noise notes
Main noise comes from the street – this is a busy commercial road in Bole, with minibuses, taxis, and the occasional wedding convoy honking. The lift is old and clanks, especially between 7–9am and 6–8pm. The bar downstairs plays Amharic pop at moderate volume until 11pm on weekends.
Insider tips
1) If you arrive by taxi or private car, the drop-off point is a narrow pavement – ask the driver to pull right up to the glass doors so you don't have to dodge motorbikes. 2) Request a top-floor room (3rd or 4th) in writing when booking – they rarely fill those, and you'll get the quietest, airiest option without any extra cost.
- 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 — Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; typical speed around 10 Mbps download; no login needed – direct connection on room network.
Single passenger lift serves all five floors; no stairs-only sections.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. TV in lobby plays local Ethiopian channels.
Check-in 14:00, check-out 11:00. Early bag-drop allowed from 08:00 (free). Late check-out until 14:00 costs 500 ETB (if available). Times consistent weekdays and weekends.
Free storage at reception for same-day arrivals/departures.
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; lift to all floors. No adapted bathroom in any room.
On-site unguarded parking for 6 cars, free. Nearest public car park is Bole Sub-City Parking (200 m north), 50 ETB per hour. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% VAT and 5% service charge included in quoted room rate; no separate tourist tax.
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; 1,000 ETB incidental hold per night on check-in credit/debit.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ኮተቤ መሰረተ ክርስቶስ ቤተክርስቲያን (523 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: በኢትዮጵያ አኦርቶዶስ ተዋህዶ የኮተቤ ደብረ ልዑል ዳግማዊ ቁልቢ ቅዱስ ገብርኤል ቤተ-ክርስትያን (803 m · ~10 min walk)
- Place of worship: ዳግማዊ ቁልቢ ቅዱስ ገብርዔል ቤተ ክርስቲያን (916 m · ~11 min walk)
- Place of worship: ኮተቤ ዳግማዊ ቁልቢ ደብረ ልዑል ቅዱስ ገብርኤል ቤተ ክርስቲያን በ፲፱፻፷፱ ዓ.ም ተመሠረተ (917 m · ~11 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
St. Michael — 3.2 km · ~40 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use bank ATMs (Dashen, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia) for decent rates; avoid hotel/casino exchanges and the airport counter, which offer poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in mid-to-upscale hotels, some supermarkets, and larger restaurants; most local shops, taxis, and street vendors require cash.
10% is common in nicer restaurants if no service charge; taxi drivers not expected, but round up a few birr; hotel porters 20-50 ETB per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Brewed coffee from a street or cafeteria serving bunna (black, strong) for 5-10 ETB per small cup.
Injera with shiro or a meat stew from a local beynet (lunch buffet) eatery: 50-80 ETB.
Simple tibs or kitfo from a hole-in-the-wall restaurant or teatime café: 80-120 ETB for a main.
Bole area near the Minilik hospital roundabout has street stalls and evening suq; also around Piazza for sambusas and smoked fish.
Ilala, Nyala, and Shoa supermarkets – common chains in the Bole and Kazanchis districts.
Mercato (Addis Mercato) – enormous open-air market near the city centre; also Bole's informal market stalls for second-hand imports.
Blue-and-white minibus taxis (common routes) cost 3-5 ETB per journey; from the airport take a blue shared minibus to Bole Road for 5-10 ETB.
Negotiate everything at Mercato and with street vendors; avoid bottled water from tourist kiosks – buy from supermarkets (10 ETB for 1.5L); use shared minibuses over solo taxis for short trips.
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 Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.8 km · ~23 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 Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor at the back of the building – these are far enough from street level to cut the constant Addis traffic hum, but low enough that any staircase queue (if the lift is temperamental) isn't a hassle. The rear-facing rooms overlook the quieter inner courtyard rather than the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ?
Avoid ground-floor rooms – street noise from Addis Ababa's Bole Road traffic, honking, and diesel buses filters straight in, as the main entrance is flush with the pavement. Also skip any room directly opposite the lift shaft on lower floors – you'll hear the clank and chatter of other guests coming and going all night.
Is Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ noisy?
Main noise comes from the street – this is a busy commercial road in Bole, with minibuses, taxis, and the occasional wedding convoy honking. The lift is old and clanks, especially between 7–9am and 6–8pm. The bar downstairs plays Amharic pop at moderate volume until 11pm on weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ?
If you get a front-facing room on the 3rd or 4th floor, you can see across to the Sheraton Addis tower and the low-rise sprawl of the city – it's an urban view, but gives you a sense of the city's energy. Rear rooms look onto the hotel's own courtyard and the neighbouring residential blocks; more private but less interesting.
What are insider tips for staying at Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ?
1) If you arrive by taxi or private car, the drop-off point is a narrow pavement – ask the driver to pull right up to the glass doors so you don't have to dodge motorbikes. 2) Request a top-floor room (3rd or 4th) in writing when booking – they rarely fill those, and you'll get the quietest, airiest option without any extra cost.
What time is check-in at Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ?
Check-in at Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; typical speed around 10 Mbps download; no login needed – direct connection on room network.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ?
10% VAT and 5% service charge included in quoted room rate; no separate tourist tax.
Where can I eat cheaply near Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ?
Injera with shiro or a meat stew from a local beynet (lunch buffet) eatery: 50-80 ETB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Nigussie Dimamu ንጉሴ ድማሙ?
Blue-and-white minibus taxis (common routes) cost 3-5 ETB per journey; from the airport take a blue shared minibus to Bole Road for 5-10 ETB.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October and November — the main rainy season has just ended, so skies are clear and the landscape is green, but temperatures stay mild (18–23°C).
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.