The short answer: book a car. For visitors, a ride-hailing app such as RIDE or Feres, a taxi arranged by your hotel, or a driver for the day is the simplest and safest way to get around Addis Ababa. Uber does not operate in Ethiopia. Minibuses, city buses and the light rail are cheap and used by huge numbers of residents, but they are crowded, hard to navigate without Amharic, and official travel advice is wary of them.

The city is big and hilly, and the places visitors want to see are spread out: Piassa and Arat Kilo in the north, Meskel Square in the middle, Bole and the airport in the south-east. Walking between them is not realistic, and traffic can be slow, so the choice of transport shapes your whole day.

What are the options at a glance?

How do ride-hailing apps work in Addis Ababa?

Uber's own list of cities does not include Ethiopia. Instead, local companies run apps that work in much the same way. The two most widely used are RIDE and Feres, and Australia's official travel advice names both as a sensible way to book a registered car.

• RIDE offers sedans, minivans and 12-seat minibuses through its app, and runs a call centre on the short code 8294. Its app listing says it accepts M-PESA mobile money.
• Feres says it runs 24 hours a day with GPS-tracked cars, and takes bookings through its app or its call centre on 6090. Its website lists cash, mobile money and cards as payment options.
• Both call centres use local short codes, so plan on calling from an Ethiopian number. A local SIM or eSIM also gives you data to book and track the car.

The app shows an estimate before you book, which avoids haggling. Check that the plate number and driver's name match the app before you get in. If a pickup pin is confusing, drivers often phone to find you, so keep your phone switched on and have the name of a nearby landmark ready.

Are street taxis a good idea?

Official advice is consistent here: don't just flag down any car. The UK FCDO says that if you book your own taxi, choose yellow or app-based taxis rather than the blue-and-white ones. Canada says to use yellow licensed taxis from a reputable source, never to hail one on the street and not to share with strangers. Australia says to use registered taxis arranged through your hotel or an app such as RIDE or Feres. If a taxi has no working meter, agree the price before you set off.

Should you use minibuses and city buses?

Blue-and-white minibus taxis carry a large share of everyday passengers. They run on set routes, stop almost anywhere and fill up fast. For visitors the downsides are real: routes are not signed in English, they are packed at rush hour, and petty theft is common on public transport.

The big city buses, including the city-owned Anbessa fleet, are slow and crowded and mainly useful if you live here and know the routes. Official advice is cautious about all of this. The US State Department calls public transport in Ethiopia unregulated and unsafe and tells visitors to hire private transport instead, and Canada describes minibuses and large buses as unsafe and overcrowded.

Is the light rail useful for visitors?

Addis Ababa's light rail opened in 2015. According to the Ethiopian Railways Corporation, it has two lines and 39 stations:

• North–south line: from Menelik II Square, near Piassa, south to Kality.
• East–west line: from Ayat in the east to Tor Hailoch in the west.
• The two lines share a short central section that includes Meskel Square.

It does not go to Bole airport or along Bole Road. It also runs far fewer trains than it was built for. A 2024 report by the business site 2merkato said only 15 of the 41 original trains were still running, because of a shortage of spare parts, maintenance problems and power cuts, so waits can be long and cars crowded. It can work for a daytime hop along its route, but it is not a way to get around the whole city, and pickpockets work on crowded trams and buses.

Can you walk around Addis Ababa?

Within one neighbourhood by day, yes, and it is a good way to see street life. The city sits high on a plateau, so hills can tire you quickly in your first days. After dark is different: Canada, Australia and the US all advise against walking at night.

The UK FCDO reports more crime against foreigners in Bole Medhanealem, Bole Atlas, Meskel Square, Yeka Hills and Entoto, including knifepoint robberies, and suggests using road transport where possible, especially after dark. It also warns of bag and jewellery snatching from cars at traffic lights, so keep windows closed and valuables out of sight even when you are riding.

When does a private driver make sense?

Apps are ideal for single trips. A driver for the day is simpler when you want to link several sights in different parts of town, travel with children or older relatives, carry shopping, or head up to Entoto and back. You are not searching for a car outside a museum at closing time, and one person knows the whole plan.

What else helps when getting around?

1. Get a local SIM first. Ride apps and their call centres work best with an Ethiopian number and mobile data.
2. Carry small notes. Even if you plan to pay in the app, some birr in small notes helps if a mobile or card payment fails.
3. Start early. Traffic builds through the morning and again in the evening. Early starts save a lot of time.
4. Watch for road closures. Big holidays and events close roads around Meskel Square and major churches. The US Embassy warned of closures and checkpoints for Meskel in September 2026.
5. Have a backup. Authorities can restrict mobile data and internet during unrest. Save your hotel's and driver's numbers for ordinary voice calls.
6. Use landmarks. Directions are usually given by nearby landmarks, so share a map pin or a well-known building close by.