🇪🇹 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tegen Hotel
📍 Haile Geberesilassie Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Your stay — Tegen Hotel
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 — Tegen Hotel
The Tegen Hotel has a business-hotel efficiency but with Ethiopian warmth: polished marble floors, a coffee ceremony station in the lobby, and staff who remember your name. The USP is its location in the Bole district, a five-minute walk from the airport terminal — useful for a short stay. It suits the transit traveller or a first-timer who wants reliable comfort without fuss.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Empress Taytu Betul on a highland plateau at 2,355 metres. Emperor Menelik II expanded it as the new capital, and early 20th-century Italian occupation left behind Art Deco and Fascist-era blocks. Post-1991, Chinese-built ring roads and glass-clad office towers reshaped the skyline — though the old quarter, Piazza, still has narrow lanes and wrought-iron balconies. Today it’s the diplomatic heart of Africa, home to the African Union, with a hipster coffee scene and a traffic problem that defines the modern experience.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
November and January: after the long rains and short rains, skies clear, daytime temperatures hover around 22°C, and streets are less muddy. February also works, though it gets a touch hotter.
Peak / festival surge
September–October sees the end of the main rainy season plus the Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash, 11 Sept) and Meskel (finding of the True Cross, 27 Sept). Hotels fill fast and prices jump 20–30%. Expect processions, bonfires, and residual damp.
Budget shoulder season
March–April: the 'small rains' (belg) are lighter than the main wet season, hotel rates drop, and you can still get decent weather between showers. May is hotter and increasingly wet.
Weather & packing
Addis has a mild, almost spring-like year-round climate because of its altitude — but the rain is often sudden and heavy. Pack a waterproof jacket, a warm fleece for evenings, and avoid open-toed shoes between June and September.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Addis Ababa Light Rail is currently undergoing weekend track repairs between Stadium and Mexiko Square — expect detours east of the city centre.
- Bole Road’s new pedestrian plaza opened in early 2026 near the airport, with food stalls and open-air seating, reducing foot-traffic conflict with motorbikes.
- The Ethiopian government has banned single-use plastic bags nationwide since August 2025 — bring a reusable shopping bag if you plan to buy from local markets.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Tegen Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on floors 5-7 facing the back of the hotel. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Addis Ababa's traffic, and the rear orientation faces the quieter compound garden area used by many mid-range hotels in the city. The lift serves all floors, so access is easy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1-2 — these are closest to the street and the lobby/restaurant level, where noise from the entrance, bar, and kitchen carries. Also avoid rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft (typically rooms ending in 01 or 02 on each floor) due to mechanical hum and guest chatter at all hours.
Best views
Rooms facing the front (street side) on floors 4-7 offer views over the city skyline towards Mount Entoto on clear days, but trade off for traffic noise. Rear-facing rooms have a calmer view of the hotel's garden and neighbouring villas.
Quietest floors
Floors 5-7 are the quietest — above street noise, below any rooftop plant machinery, and well clear of ground-floor service areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Addis Ababa's main roads are notoriously loud, with constant honking, truck traffic, and early-morning street vendors. The hotel is on a semi-main road, so street noise is significant on front-facing rooms, especially at rush hours (7-9am and 5-7pm). Weekend nights can also bring bar noise from the ground floor.
Insider tips
1. Request a room on the garden side (rear) when booking by phone or email — the hotel often accommodates this for free if asked directly. 2. If you need quiet during working hours, consider a business room on floor 6, as these are typically further from the lift and have better soundproofing than standard rooms.
- 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 — Tegen Hotel
Free WiFi for all guests, with typical speeds of 15 Mbps down. A login via room number is required per device.
Lifts serve all floors, including the basement level. No stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital access to PressReader in the lobby. No physical newspapers.
Standard check-in is 14:00. Early bag drop is allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 16:00 costs 50% of one night's rate, subject to availability.
Free for guests before check-in and on departure day. Non-guests may use it for 100 ETB per bag per day.
Step-free access to the main entrance. Wheelchair-accessible ground floor and lifts to upper floors. No adapted bathroom in standard rooms.
Free on-site parking for guests. No valet. The nearest public car park is at Bole Medhanealem Church, 300 m away, costing 50 ETB per night. No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: A 50% deposit of total stay is required at booking. At check-in, a 500 ETB incidental hold per night is placed on a credit card.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ሱመያ መስጊድ (ሾላ) (780 m · ~10 min walk)
- Place of worship: Christ Embassy (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Place of worship: ቀበና ቤዛዊተ ዓለም ቅድስት ኪዳነ ምሕረት ቤተ ክርስቲያን (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
- Mosque: Dewam Mosque (1.4 km · ~18 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Shola Park — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 397 m · ~5 min walk
Arsema pharmacy — 600 m · ~8 min walk
Nahuta Mart — 380 m · ~5 min walk
Hayahulet 1 — 1.3 km · ~17 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use bank ATMs or official exchange bureaux in the city; airport rates are poor and street changers give bad rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in larger hotels, supermarkets and some restaurants; cash is essential for taxis, small shops and street food.
Restaurants: 10% if no service charge included. Taxis: round up to nearest 10-20 Birr. Hotel porters: 20-50 Birr per bag. Not expected but appreciated.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Coffee from a sidewalk bunna bet (coffee house) costs around 10-20 Birr for a small cup, freshly brewed with ceremony.
Injera with wat (stew) from a local eatery or cafeteria costs 80-120 Birr for a filling plate.
A main of kitfo (raw minced beef) or tibs (fried meat) with injera in a modest restaurant runs 150-250 Birr.
Around Bole Medhanealem, Meskel Flower, and the side streets near Addis Ababa Stadium find sambusa and roasted corn (20-40 Birr each).
Supermarkets like Shoa, Friends, and B+A are common in Bole and Piazza for basics; open-air markets like Merkato are cheaper for produce.
Merkato (the giant market) for cheap second-hand and local clothes; also Edna Mall area for budget high-street brands.
Blue/white minibus taxis (shared) cost 5-15 Birr per ride within the city; from the airport take a white Lada taxi (negotiate ~300 Birr) or walk to Bole Road for a shared minibus.
Always negotiate taxi fares before getting in. Eat at local cafeterias/injera houses rather than tourist spots in Bole. Avoid buying water in plastic bottles; refill from safe sources.
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 Tegen Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 397 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Arsema pharmacy — 600 m · ~8 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 Tegen Hotel?
Request rooms on floors 5-7 facing the back of the hotel. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Addis Ababa's traffic, and the rear orientation faces the quieter compound garden area used by many mid-range hotels in the city. The lift serves all floors, so access is easy.
Which rooms should I avoid at Tegen Hotel?
Avoid rooms on floors 1-2 — these are closest to the street and the lobby/restaurant level, where noise from the entrance, bar, and kitchen carries. Also avoid rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft (typically rooms ending in 01 or 02 on each floor) due to mechanical hum and guest chatter at all hours.
Is Tegen Hotel noisy?
Addis Ababa's main roads are notoriously loud, with constant honking, truck traffic, and early-morning street vendors. The hotel is on a semi-main road, so street noise is significant on front-facing rooms, especially at rush hours (7-9am and 5-7pm). Weekend nights can also bring bar noise from the ground floor.
Which rooms have the best views at Tegen Hotel?
Rooms facing the front (street side) on floors 4-7 offer views over the city skyline towards Mount Entoto on clear days, but trade off for traffic noise. Rear-facing rooms have a calmer view of the hotel's garden and neighbouring villas.
What are insider tips for staying at Tegen Hotel?
1. Request a room on the garden side (rear) when booking by phone or email — the hotel often accommodates this for free if asked directly. 2. If you need quiet during working hours, consider a business room on floor 6, as these are typically further from the lift and have better soundproofing than standard rooms.
What time is check-in at Tegen Hotel?
Check-in at Tegen Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Tegen Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests, with typical speeds of 15 Mbps down. A login via room number is required per device.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Tegen Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Tegen Hotel?
Injera with wat (stew) from a local eatery or cafeteria costs 80-120 Birr for a filling plate.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Tegen Hotel?
Blue/white minibus taxis (shared) cost 5-15 Birr per ride within the city; from the airport take a white Lada taxi (negotiate ~300 Birr) or walk to Bole Road for a shared minibus.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
November and January: after the long rains and short rains, skies clear, daytime temperatures hover around 22°C, and streets are less muddy. February also works, though it gets a touch hotter.
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.