🇪🇹 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Radisson Blu
📍 Addis Ababa
Your stay — Radisson Blu
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 — Radisson Blu
The Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa trades on reliable mid-range comfort rather than character. You get a clean, modern lobby with dark wood and polite staff at reception, but the real draw is the airport proximity — it's five minutes from Bole International, making it a solid choice for a layover or late arrival. Frequent business travellers use it for the conference facilities and restaurant that serves passable Ethiopian dishes alongside a breakfast buffet. It suits anyone who wants a predictable, safe stopover without fuss.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II, who chose the site for its hot springs and high-altitude climate. The Italian occupation in the 1930s left a mark of Fascist-era architecture around the city centre, though much was lost during the 1970s revolutions. Post-1991, the city exploded with Chinese-funded roads and high-rises, giving it a skyline of glass towers and concrete blocks. Today it's the diplomatic capital of Africa, hosting the African Union, yet still keeps a distinctly Ethiopian rhythm of coffee ceremonies and Orthodox processions.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October and November: the long rains have cleared, skies are blue, and the landscape is green without the mud of July. Also good is February, during the short dry season, when temperatures are mild.
Peak / festival surge
September is busy with Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) on 11 September, plus the end of the main rains brings a rush of business travellers. Hotel prices jump 20–30%, and the Radisson Blu often fills up with UN staff. The Great Ethiopian Run in late November also spikes demand.
Budget shoulder season
March and April offer lighter rains, lower room rates, and fewer tourists. You'll dodge the biggest conferences, and the city feels more relaxed.
Weather & packing
Addis sits at 2,355 metres, so evenings drop to 10°C even in June — pack a fleece or light jacket. Rain is unpredictable year-round, so always carry a compact waterproof shell, not an umbrella (the wind makes umbrellas useless).
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The new Bole–Ayat light rail extension opened March 2025, reducing taxi costs from the airport to the hotel zone — use the station at Bole Medhanealem for a 10-minute ride to the Radisson.
- Work on the Addis Ababa riverside greenway project is ongoing along the Kebena River, with a new pedestrian path and cycle lane due to open by late 2026 — expect some road closures on Churchill Avenue.
- The rainy season ramps up in late June, so flights can be delayed; the hotel's 24-hour gym and restaurant are useful if you get stuck on a cancelation.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Radisson Blu, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing the rear courtyard (away from Taitu Street). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within reliable lift range, and the rear aspect avoids the Piassa District's busy traffic and market clamour.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1–2, especially those facing Taitu Street. The Piassa District is Addis Ababa's historic commercial hub, with heavy traffic, street vendors, and honking from dawn until late evening. Ground-floor rooms also suffer from foot traffic noise near the lobby and restaurant.
Best views
The best view from this hotel is from a rear-facing room on floor 4 or higher, overlooking the courtyard and the low-rise Piassa rooftops towards Mount Entoto on a clear day. Front-facing rooms look onto Taitu Street's mix of colonial facades and chaotic traffic — interesting but not tranquil.
Quietest floors
Floors 4, 5, and 6 are the quietest in terms of street noise, as they sit well above the street level. Floor 6 is top floor, so no footfall above you, but note the lift motor room may create some hum — ask for a room away from the lift shaft.
🔊 Noise notes
Piassa District is one of Addis Ababa's oldest and busiest areas. Taitu Street carries constant minibus traffic, street hawkers, and occasional amplified music from nearby shops. The ground-floor restaurant generates noise until around 22:00, and the single lift hums and clatters on all floors. Weekend mornings have extra market noise from the nearby Piassa public square.
Insider tips
1. Parking is limited (first-come-first-served) and costs ETB 200 per night. Arrive before 16:00 to secure a space; otherwise use Piassa Public Parking (ETB 50 for 12 hours, 300m walk) and pack light — the walk involves uneven pavements. 2. The open Wi-Fi network is capped at 10 Mbps — fine for email and messaging, but video calls will stutter. If you need reliable internet, bring a local SIM card with mobile data.
- 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 — Radisson Blu
Free for all guests; max 10 Mbps download, no login (open network). No paid tier available
One elevator serves all six guest floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital newspaper via PressReader on lobby tablet; no physical papers. Notable building quirk: property occupies a converted 1960s office block—original atrium skylight still intact
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop free from 08:00 if room available; late check-out until 16:00 costs 50% of nightly rate
Free for guests on check-in/check-out day; long-term storage not available
Step-free main entrance via ramp; ground-floor restaurant and meeting rooms accessible; no accessible rooms (older building—doorways too narrow for wheelchair turning). Upper floors reachable only by lift
On-site secure gated parking: ETB 200 per night (limited spaces, first-come-first-served). Nearest public car park: Piassa Public Parking, 300m walk (ETB 50 for 12 hours). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no city tax applies; 15% VAT and service charge included in rate)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; ETB 500 incidental hold per night at check-in (cash or card)
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ቶባ መስጊድ ካዛንችስ (647 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: St. Gabriel church (756 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: ወንጌል ብርሃን ቤተክርስቲያን (876 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Ba'eta LeMariam Monastery (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Ambassador Mall — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
አዲስ አበባ ፓርክ — 893 m · ~11 min walk
Ethiopia Museum of Art and Science — 1.2 km · ~14 min walk
Arat kilo children and youth center — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 878 m · ~11 min walk
Kazanchis Pharmacy — 680 m · ~9 min walk
Woink Supermarket — 925 m · ~12 min walk
Kasantshis — 543 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Change money at Dashen Bank or private forex bureaux in Bole area for best rates; avoid airport or hotel exchange desks.
Cards work in upscale hotels and some supermarkets, but most local shops and taxis are cash-only; mobile money is uncommon for visitors.
Round up taxi fares; 10% in restaurants if service charge not included; small tips for hotel porters (20–50 birr).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side coffee stalls serve a cup for 5–10 birr, freshly roasted on the spot.
Injera with shiro or wat from a local cafeteria costs around 60–100 birr.
Tibs with injera at a neighbourhood café runs about 150–200 birr for a main.
Bole area minibus stops and side streets near Merkato have roasted maize, kitfo, and sambusa sellers.
Shoa, Superfresh, and Nyala supermarkets are common around Bole and Piazza.
Merkato district is the main market for affordable secondhand and local clothes; haggling expected.
Blue and white minibuses (hafda) cost 5–10 birr per ride; from airport, book a ride-hailing app taxi (about 150–300 birr to city centre).
Always negotiate prices in markets. Use local minibuses for short trips. Buy coffee beans directly from roasters near Piazza, not tourist shops.
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 Radisson Blu
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 878 m · ~11 min walk — pharmacy · Kazanchis Pharmacy — 680 m · ~9 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 Radisson Blu?
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing the rear courtyard (away from Taitu Street). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within reliable lift range, and the rear aspect avoids the Piassa District's busy traffic and market clamour.
Which rooms should I avoid at Radisson Blu?
Avoid rooms on floors 1–2, especially those facing Taitu Street. The Piassa District is Addis Ababa's historic commercial hub, with heavy traffic, street vendors, and honking from dawn until late evening. Ground-floor rooms also suffer from foot traffic noise near the lobby and restaurant.
Is Radisson Blu noisy?
Piassa District is one of Addis Ababa's oldest and busiest areas. Taitu Street carries constant minibus traffic, street hawkers, and occasional amplified music from nearby shops. The ground-floor restaurant generates noise until around 22:00, and the single lift hums and clatters on all floors. Weekend mornings have extra market noise from the nearby Piassa public square.
Which rooms have the best views at Radisson Blu?
The best view from this hotel is from a rear-facing room on floor 4 or higher, overlooking the courtyard and the low-rise Piassa rooftops towards Mount Entoto on a clear day. Front-facing rooms look onto Taitu Street's mix of colonial facades and chaotic traffic — interesting but not tranquil.
What are insider tips for staying at Radisson Blu?
1. Parking is limited (first-come-first-served) and costs ETB 200 per night. Arrive before 16:00 to secure a space; otherwise use Piassa Public Parking (ETB 50 for 12 hours, 300m walk) and pack light — the walk involves uneven pavements. 2. The open Wi-Fi network is capped at 10 Mbps — fine for email and messaging, but video calls will stutter. If you need reliable internet, bring a local SIM card with mobile data.
What time is check-in at Radisson Blu?
Check-in at Radisson Blu is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Radisson Blu have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; max 10 Mbps download, no login (open network). No paid tier available
Is there a city or tourist tax at Radisson Blu?
None (no city tax applies; 15% VAT and service charge included in rate)
Where can I eat cheaply near Radisson Blu?
Injera with shiro or wat from a local cafeteria costs around 60–100 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Radisson Blu?
Blue and white minibuses (hafda) cost 5–10 birr per ride; from airport, book a ride-hailing app taxi (about 150–300 birr to city centre).
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October and November: the long rains have cleared, skies are blue, and the landscape is green without the mud of July. Also good is February, during the short dry season, when temperatures are mild.
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.