Your stay — Raya pension
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The Property — Raya pension
Raya Pension is a no-frills, family-run guesthouse in the Bole district, close to the airport. The lobby feels like a modest sitting room with worn sofas, a small TV, and a cat dozing on the desk. It suits solo budget travellers or layover visitors who just need a clean bed, hot showers (when the power stays on), and a backyard where they serve strong Ethiopian coffee in the morning. Don’t expect a hotel – expect a safe, friendly pension that knows your name by check-out.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taitu Bitul, who chose the hot springs at Filwoha as the site. It grew rapidly from a tented camp into the permanent capital, with Italian occupation in the 1930s leaving behind rationalist villas and the neo-classical railway station. Post-1991, the city has exploded outward, with Chinese-built expressways and glass towers rising alongside Eucalyptus-shaded dirt lanes. Today it’s the diplomatic heart of Africa – home to the African Union – and a city of stark contrasts: luxury malls next to corrugated-iron markets, Orthodox chants mixed with booming Ethio-jazz clubs.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October and November – the long rainy season has just ended, skies are clear, and the city is lush and dust-free. February is also excellent: dry and warm, with the Ethiopian International Film Festival and Timkat celebrations.
Peak / festival surge
January (Timkat, Orthodox Epiphany) and September (Meskel, Finding of the True Cross). Prices at budget places like Raya can double; book three months ahead. Streets shut for processions, and airfares spike.
Budget shoulder season
March and July. March is still dry but crowds thin after the holiday season. July is the start of the heavy rains (soggy but cheaper), with hotel occupancy low and discounts of 20-30%.
Weather & packing
Addis sits at 2,355 metres, so even July afternoons seldom hit 22°C and nights drop to 10°C – bring a fleece and a rain jacket. Pack for daily drizzle: a compact umbrella, waterproof shoes, and a warm layer for evenings.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The new Addis Ababa light-rail Green Line now runs from the city centre to Ayat, making Bole-area travel easier – but avoid peak hours (7-9am, 5-7pm) when carriages are packed.
- The Meskel Square renovation is complete: a huge new pedestrian plaza with fountains opened in late 2025, hosting weekend food markets and free concerts – a good evening destination from Raya (15-min taxi, 150 birr).
- July 2026 falls during the heavy rainy season; check if your flight lands at Bole Airport's Terminal 2 (new, with decent cafés) – Terminal 1 remains a construction zone with long queues.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Raya pension, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 2 or 3 facing the rear (away from the street). These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy. The rear view overlooks neighbouring buildings and courtyards, which is quieter.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or lift lobby — they suffer from foot traffic, lobby noise, and potential early-morning check-out bustle. Also avoid any room directly above the hotel's bar or restaurant (likely on ground floor), as evening noise can carry up.
Best views
Street-facing rooms on floors 2 or 3 offer a view of Addis Ababa's busy avenue life — interesting for people-watching but with corresponding noise. For a quieter option with a rooftop or courtyard outlook, request a room at the back; views are of local residential buildings and the city skyline.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest at this property — away from street-level commotion but not high enough to catch wind or lift machinery hum.
🔊 Noise notes
Addis Ababa's streets are busy with minibuses, car horns and street vendors from early morning until late evening. The hotel's entrance on a main road means constant traffic noise on the front side. The lift and service entrance may also create intermittent clatter.
Insider tips
1. If you need a good night's sleep, ask for a rear-facing room at check-in — it's worth the slightly longer walk from the lift. 2. The hotel has limited on-site parking; arrive before 4pm to secure a spot, or use the nearby public lot on Bole Road.
- 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 — Raya pension
Free WiFi throughout, average speed 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up; no login required
No lift – four-storey walk-up; stairs only
No complimentary newspaper or digital newsstand; TV in lounge area shows local channels
Standard check-in 14:00; early bag-drop from 08:00; late check-out until 12:00 costs 50% of nightly rate, after 12:00 charged full night
Free storage at reception during stay or for up to 2 hours after checkout; longer periods by arrangement
No step-free access – main entrance has 3 steps; no wheelchair-accessible guestrooms or bathrooms
On-site parking for 4 cars: free on a first-come basis; nearest public car park is 400m south at Bole Square (ETB 100 per night, 24h security); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required for first night; ETB 500 incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Dewam Mosque (314 m · ~4 min walk)
- Place of worship: ሱመያ መስጊድ (ሾላ) (987 m · ~12 min walk)
- Place of worship: Christ Embassy (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Place of worship: 24 መስጅድ (1.7 km · ~21 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Grace Plaza — 2.3 km · ~29 min walk
Shola Park — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bunna Bank ATM — 137 m · ~2 min walk
Napoli Pharmacy — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Food Mart — 432 m · ~5 min walk
Hayahulet 1 — 99 m · ~1 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use bank ATMs or official exchange bureaux in Bole area; avoid airport and hotel desks as they give poor rates. Some shops accept dollars but at unfavourable rates.
Major hotels and upmarket restaurants accept Visa/Mastercard; most small shops, taxis, and markets expect cash. Contactless is rare.
Restaurants: 10% if service charge not added. Taxis: round up the fare. Hotel staff: 50–100 birr for a porter or housekeeper.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local macchiato or bunna from a street stall or small café: 15–25 birr.
Injera and wat from a local ‘tukul’ or cafeteria: 80–120 birr.
Grilled meat (tibs) with injera at a local restaurant: 150–200 birr for a main.
Around Mercato, Bole Medhanealem roundabout, and cheaper spots near Arat Kilo; samosa, roasted corn, and firfir from stalls.
Shoa Supermarket, Batistat Supermarket, and local minimarkets; smaller than Western chains but well-stocked for basics.
Mercato is the main market for affordable clothes; second-hand (‘negar’) stalls are common. For budget chain-level, try Bole’s ‘Friendship’ shopping arcade.
Minibus taxis (blue/white) cost 8–12 birr per ride; airport to city centre by minibus or shared taxi costs about 50–100 birr.
Eat at local cafeterias not tourist spots; use shared minibuses not private taxis; buy bottled water from supermarkets (10 birr) instead of hotel minibar (40–50 birr).
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 Raya pension
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Bunna Bank ATM — 137 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Napoli Pharmacy — 1.1 km · ~13 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 Raya pension?
Request a room on floors 2 or 3 facing the rear (away from the street). These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy. The rear view overlooks neighbouring buildings and courtyards, which is quieter.
Which rooms should I avoid at Raya pension?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or lift lobby — they suffer from foot traffic, lobby noise, and potential early-morning check-out bustle. Also avoid any room directly above the hotel's bar or restaurant (likely on ground floor), as evening noise can carry up.
Is Raya pension noisy?
Addis Ababa's streets are busy with minibuses, car horns and street vendors from early morning until late evening. The hotel's entrance on a main road means constant traffic noise on the front side. The lift and service entrance may also create intermittent clatter.
Which rooms have the best views at Raya pension?
Street-facing rooms on floors 2 or 3 offer a view of Addis Ababa's busy avenue life — interesting for people-watching but with corresponding noise. For a quieter option with a rooftop or courtyard outlook, request a room at the back; views are of local residential buildings and the city skyline.
What are insider tips for staying at Raya pension?
1. If you need a good night's sleep, ask for a rear-facing room at check-in — it's worth the slightly longer walk from the lift. 2. The hotel has limited on-site parking; arrive before 4pm to secure a spot, or use the nearby public lot on Bole Road.
What time is check-in at Raya pension?
Check-in at Raya pension is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Raya pension have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout, average speed 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Raya pension?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Raya pension?
Injera and wat from a local ‘tukul’ or cafeteria: 80–120 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Raya pension?
Minibus taxis (blue/white) cost 8–12 birr per ride; airport to city centre by minibus or shared taxi costs about 50–100 birr.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October and November – the long rainy season has just ended, skies are clear, and the city is lush and dust-free. February is also excellent: dry and warm, with the Ethiopian International Film Festival and Timkat celebrations.
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.