Your stay — Sidama Inn
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The Property — Sidama Inn
Sidama Inn is a reliable 3-star business hotel in the Bole district, close to the airport. The lobby is functional and clean, with a front desk that handles arrivals in English and Amharic, and guests often sit in the small lounge area with a coffee from the machine. It suits transit travellers and business visitors who need a straightforward room, a decent breakfast included, and fast Wi-Fi – no frills nor pretence.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Empress Taytu Betul and Emperor Menelik II, chosen for its hot springs and high altitude (2,355 metres). The city grew rapidly after 1889 when Menelik made it his capital, and saw a building boom in the 1960s under Emperor Haile Selassie. Modern Addis is the diplomatic capital of Africa, hosting the African Union headquarters, and its streets mix Art Deco villas, brutalist government blocks and high-rise commercial towers. The contemporary cultural identity blends Orthodox Christian heritage with a lively café scene and a booming music and arts scene, especially in the Kazanchis area.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
November and January offer clear skies and moderate temperatures (15-23°C), plus fewer tourists as the main holiday season is past. Early February is also good if you avoid the African Union summit.
Peak / festival surge
Peak season is September-October (Meskel festival, Ethiopian New Year in September) and March-April (Easter week). Hotel prices can jump 30-40%. The Great Ethiopian Run in November also fills rooms.
Budget shoulder season
May and June are quieter, with lighter crowds and lower rates, though a short rainy season (belg) can bring afternoon showers. December before Christmas is another budget-friendly window.
Weather & packing
Addis Ababa has a mild subtropical highland climate with a rainy season from June to September. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and long sleeves; evenings and mornings can be chilly year-round.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Addis Ababa light rail has extended hours on the east-west line, but construction on the north-south sections still causes delays near La Gare and Meskel Square.
- Bole International Airport is mid-way through a terminal expansion; flight check-in times may be longer, so arrive at least three hours before departure.
- A new pedestrianised zone has opened around Meskel Square, with cafes and street art – it’s a pleasant detour if you have a few hours between meetings.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Sidama Inn, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard (if available). These are high enough to avoid street-level noise but within the range of the 4-floor lift, making access easy. Courtyard rooms are typically quieter in Addis Ababa hotels.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the lobby or restaurant – these take noise from foot traffic, group check-ins, and breakfast setup (likely starts 6:30–7am). Also skip rooms directly above the entrance facing the street: Addis traffic, honking, and early morning call-to-prayer from nearby mosques can be loud.
Best views
Inner courtyard view – likely to show the hotel's garden or patio, a common feature in Addis 3-star hotels. Upper-floor rooms facing the courtyard minimise street noise and give a calm outlook.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors are the quietest – above street bustle and away from ground-floor common areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Sidama Inn is on a main road in Addis Ababa (address implies street access). Expect honking, minibus hooting (blue and white taxis), and occasional loudspeaker announcements from nearby shops or religious sites. Breakfast rush in the restaurant creates clatter on the ground floor.
Insider tips
1) Request a courtyard-facing room when booking – call the hotel directly or note it on your reservation; it makes a big difference. 2) Bring earplugs or use a white noise app: even quieter rooms in Addis benefit from this during early morning call-to-prayer (around 5am). 3) If you have heavy luggage, ask for a lower floor lift-accessible room (the lift likely serves all floors, but ground-to-2nd may be walkable if lift is slow).
- 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 — Sidama Inn
Free basic Wi-Fi (2 Mbps) for all guests; premium tier (10 Mbps) at 200 ETB per 24 hours. No login constraints.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
No complimentary newspapers; lobby TV shows local news. No heritage quirks.
Check-in 14:00–00:00; early bag drop allowed from 10:00 on request. Check-out by 11:00; late check-out costs 500 ETB until 14:00.
Free for same-day guests; 100 ETB per bag for 24-hour storage.
Main entrance has a single step (no ramp); no step-free access. No wheelchair-accessible rooms. Lift is standard width but bathrooms are narrow.
Free on-site parking for up to 10 cars (unsecured, first-come-first-served). Nearest public car park at Bole Dembel Mall, 800 metres away, 30 ETB per hour, no overnight rate. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a 1000 ETB incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ቦሌ መስጅድ (716 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Eastridge Church Addis (938 m · ~12 min walk)
- Place of worship: ደብረ ሰላም መድኃኔዓለም ወመጥምቁ ቅዱስ ዩሐንስ ወአቡነ አረጋዊ ቤተ ክርስቲያን በ፲፱፻፸፪ ዓ.ም ተመሠረተ (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Bole Medhanialem Church (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Grace Plaza — 239 m · ~3 min walk
Shalla Public Park — 396 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 636 m · ~8 min walk
Nile Pharmacy — 512 m · ~6 min walk
Almi Mini Market — 588 m · ~7 min walk
St. Urael — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Change money at banks or licensed forex bureaus in Bole area; avoid airport and tourist hotel desks — they give worse rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted at mid-range hotels, supermarkets and some restaurants; Amex rarely taken. Contactless works in newer terminals but cash is king for taxis and market stalls.
Restaurants often add 10% service charge; if not, round up 10%. Taxis: round up to nearest 20-50 birr. Hotel porters: 50-100 birr.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A short black (macchiato) from a local kiosk or road-side stand — around 15-25 birr.
Injera with shiro or a meat combo from a 'buna bet' — about 100-150 birr.
A main of tibs or kitfo at a local restaurant — roughly 200-350 birr.
Street food is thin on the ground in Addis; for cheap eats head to the Bole area around the Edna Mall or the market stalls near Merkato for grilled corn and spiced bread.
Shola Market or similar local supermarkets in the district; check out the small neighbourhood kiosks for basics.
Budget clothing shopping at the Merkato (open-air market) or at chain stores like Edna Mall's lower floors.
Blue/white minibus taxis (shared) — 5-10 birr per ride within district. From Bole Airport, take a blue taxi (approx 400-500 birr) or negotiate an Uber-equivalent (ride-hailing app) for around 300-450 birr.
Eat at 'buna bets' (coffee houses) for cheap, filling local meals; use shared minibuses instead of taxis; change money at a bank not the airport.
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 Sidama Inn
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 636 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Nile Pharmacy — 512 m · ~6 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 Sidama Inn?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard (if available). These are high enough to avoid street-level noise but within the range of the 4-floor lift, making access easy. Courtyard rooms are typically quieter in Addis Ababa hotels.
Which rooms should I avoid at Sidama Inn?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the lobby or restaurant – these take noise from foot traffic, group check-ins, and breakfast setup (likely starts 6:30–7am). Also skip rooms directly above the entrance facing the street: Addis traffic, honking, and early morning call-to-prayer from nearby mosques can be loud.
Is Sidama Inn noisy?
Sidama Inn is on a main road in Addis Ababa (address implies street access). Expect honking, minibus hooting (blue and white taxis), and occasional loudspeaker announcements from nearby shops or religious sites. Breakfast rush in the restaurant creates clatter on the ground floor.
Which rooms have the best views at Sidama Inn?
Inner courtyard view – likely to show the hotel's garden or patio, a common feature in Addis 3-star hotels. Upper-floor rooms facing the courtyard minimise street noise and give a calm outlook.
What are insider tips for staying at Sidama Inn?
1) Request a courtyard-facing room when booking – call the hotel directly or note it on your reservation; it makes a big difference. 2) Bring earplugs or use a white noise app: even quieter rooms in Addis benefit from this during early morning call-to-prayer (around 5am). 3) If you have heavy luggage, ask for a lower floor lift-accessible room (the lift likely serves all floors, but ground-to-2nd may be walkable if lift is slow).
What time is check-in at Sidama Inn?
Check-in at Sidama Inn is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Sidama Inn have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (2 Mbps) for all guests; premium tier (10 Mbps) at 200 ETB per 24 hours. No login constraints.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Sidama Inn?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Sidama Inn?
Injera with shiro or a meat combo from a 'buna bet' — about 100-150 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Sidama Inn?
Blue/white minibus taxis (shared) — 5-10 birr per ride within district. From Bole Airport, take a blue taxi (approx 400-500 birr) or negotiate an Uber-equivalent (ride-hailing app) for around 300-450 birr.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
November and January offer clear skies and moderate temperatures (15-23°C), plus fewer tourists as the main holiday season is past. Early February is also good if you avoid the African Union summit.
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.