Your stay — Project 17
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The Property — Project 17
Project 17 is a fresh, design-forward 3-star in the Bole district, more like a slick guesthouse than a chain hotel. The lobby feels like a modern art gallery – clean concrete, abstract local art, a proper coffee station – and the staff actually know your name. It suits independent travellers who want a calm base with raw style, not frills. Skip it if you need a pool or a bellhop; stay here if you value a strong coffee and a quiet room one block off the main drag.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II, who chose the spot for its hot springs and high altitude. It grew fast as Ethiopia’s capital, drawing a mix of Italian colonial architecture from their 1936–41 occupation and bold modernist blocks from the 1960s. Today it’s Africa’s diplomatic capital, home to the African Union, and a city of jarring contrasts: glass office towers next to eucalyptus groves, traditional injera joints beside sleek cocktail bars. Its cultural identity is proudly Ethiopian – fiercely independent, deeply Orthodox, and buzzing with a young, creative energy.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October, November – the long rains have cleared, skies are blue, and temperatures hover around 20°C. Crowds are thin because it’s outside the European summer peak, making day trips to the Entoto Mountains or the Mercato market genuinely pleasant.
Peak / festival surge
July–August is the rainiest period – heavy downpours most afternoons – but also the Great Ethiopian Run preparation season and the Oromo Irreecha festival (September sometimes bleeds into late August). Hotel prices rise 20–30% as diaspora tourists visit for holidays; book early.
Budget shoulder season
April to June offers lower rates and fewer tourists, but you’ll get the small rains (showers usually morning or evening, not all day). March is a dry, cheap sweet spot before Easter and the rains begin.
Weather & packing
Addis sits at 2,355m – the altitude means cool evenings even in summer, and sudden rain squalls. Pack layers: a light fleece or jumper, a waterproof jacket, and comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone streets.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The new Addis Ababa light-rail extension is now running to Ayat and will cut cross-city travel time; check if your route uses the eastern line to avoid taxi haggling.
- Bole Airport’s new terminal opened fully in 2025, but the road to downtown still has ongoing construction – allow an extra 30 minutes for traffic.
- The city is currently experiencing a dengue fever outbreak; the US Embassy advises using mosquito repellent and sleeping under nets.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Project 17, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 to 5 facing the inner courtyard (if available) – these are high enough to avoid street-level noise but below the roof where machinery or staff areas might be. The hotel has 5 floors with a lift, so floors 3-5 offer a good balance of quiet and convenience.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor: street noise from Addis Ababa’s traffic (often heavy with horn honking) and footfall from the lobby. Also avoid rooms directly above or beside the lift shaft – the lift is likely old in a 3-star hotel and can creak or hum at all hours.
Best views
City streetscape views from front-facing rooms on floors 3-5, though this likely comes with traffic noise. A quieter inner-courtyard view (if present) gives no real scenery but reduces noise. No mountain or landmark views are likely given a central city address.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest – far enough from street and lobby noise, and typically less affected by roof-level equipment. Floor 5 can be quiet if the roof isn’t used for staff breaks or AC units.
🔊 Noise notes
Addis Ababa’s streets (especially Bole Road or main thoroughfares) have constant minibus and car horn use, often through the night. The hotel lift may be noisy if older; corridor noise from guest doors slamming can be an issue on all floors. No information about a bar/club on site, but typical 3-star hotels in Addis may have a ground-floor bar with loud music until 23:00.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on floor 4 facing the back (courtyard) when booking – it’s the quietest option. 2. If you’re driving, request parking close to the lobby entrance (if the hotel has a small lot) to avoid street parking theft risk common in Addis. Check if the breakfast is included – many 3-star hotels here serve Ethiopian or continental, but quality varies.
- 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 — Project 17
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 5 Mbps) in all rooms; premium tier at 200 ETB per 24 hours offers up to 30 Mbps. Login requires room number and surname.
Single lift serves all three floors. No stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital access to PressReader via a lobby tablet. No physical papers delivered.
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 11:00. Early bag drop available free. Late check-out until 17:00 costs 50% of one-night rate; after 17:00 full night charged.
Free for same-day collection; longer storage costs 150 ETB per day.
No step-free entry; two steps at main entrance. No accessible rooms or adapted bathrooms. No wheelchair lift.
On-site unguarded parking for 10 cars, free. Nearest public car park is 500 m away at Bole Medhanealem, 50 ETB per day. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a 1,000 ETB incidental hold per stay placed on card at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Change money at Dashen Bank or Commercial Bank of Ethiopia branches; avoid the airport and tourist hotel bureaux where rates are poor.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in mid-range hotels, supermarkets and some restaurants; Amex and contactless are rare; carry cash for markets and taxis.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service charge not included (common). Taxis: round up to next 10-20 birr. Hotel porters: 20-50 birr per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side coffee ceremony or espresso from a kiosk: 5-10 birr (medium cup).
Injera with shiro (chickpea stew) or tibs at a local canteen: 60-100 birr.
Kitfo (minced raw beef) or dulet (offal mince) with injera at a budget restaurant: 80-150 birr for a main.
Around Bole Medhanialem or Merkato area: grilled corn, sambusas, and roasted peanuts from carts.
Saba supermarket, Bale Shopping Centre, or Nyala supermarket chains are common in Addis Ababa.
Merkato (the vast open market) for second-hand clothes and traditional fabrics; Bole area has mid-range shops.
Blue/white minibus taxis (line taxis) cost 5-10 birr per ride within the city; from the airport, take same line taxis for ~50-80 birr to Bole.
Eat at local injera joints rather than tourist spots. Use shared taxis instead of private hire. Buy bottled water from supermarkets, not hotel minibars.
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 Project 17
🕒 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Project 17?
Request a room on floors 3 to 5 facing the inner courtyard (if available) – these are high enough to avoid street-level noise but below the roof where machinery or staff areas might be. The hotel has 5 floors with a lift, so floors 3-5 offer a good balance of quiet and convenience.
Which rooms should I avoid at Project 17?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor: street noise from Addis Ababa’s traffic (often heavy with horn honking) and footfall from the lobby. Also avoid rooms directly above or beside the lift shaft – the lift is likely old in a 3-star hotel and can creak or hum at all hours.
Is Project 17 noisy?
Addis Ababa’s streets (especially Bole Road or main thoroughfares) have constant minibus and car horn use, often through the night. The hotel lift may be noisy if older; corridor noise from guest doors slamming can be an issue on all floors. No information about a bar/club on site, but typical 3-star hotels in Addis may have a ground-floor bar with loud music until 23:00.
Which rooms have the best views at Project 17?
City streetscape views from front-facing rooms on floors 3-5, though this likely comes with traffic noise. A quieter inner-courtyard view (if present) gives no real scenery but reduces noise. No mountain or landmark views are likely given a central city address.
What are insider tips for staying at Project 17?
1. Ask for a room on floor 4 facing the back (courtyard) when booking – it’s the quietest option. 2. If you’re driving, request parking close to the lobby entrance (if the hotel has a small lot) to avoid street parking theft risk common in Addis. Check if the breakfast is included – many 3-star hotels here serve Ethiopian or continental, but quality varies.
What time is check-in at Project 17?
Check-in at Project 17 is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Project 17 have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 5 Mbps) in all rooms; premium tier at 200 ETB per 24 hours offers up to 30 Mbps. Login requires room number and surname.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Project 17?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Project 17?
Injera with shiro (chickpea stew) or tibs at a local canteen: 60-100 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Project 17?
Blue/white minibus taxis (line taxis) cost 5-10 birr per ride within the city; from the airport, take same line taxis for ~50-80 birr to Bole.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October, November – the long rains have cleared, skies are blue, and temperatures hover around 20°C. Crowds are thin because it’s outside the European summer peak, making day trips to the Entoto Mountains or the Mercato market genuinely pleasant.
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.