Most of our customers meet us for the first time at Bole arrivals at three in the morning. Here is everything we wish they had known before landing.
Where the airport is
Bole International Airport (ADD) sits inside the city, in the south-east. Bole Road, with most of the newer hotels, starts practically at the terminal gate. Kazanchis and the UN area are 20 minutes away, Piassa and the old centre 30 to 40 minutes in daytime traffic, and 15 minutes at night when the roads are empty.
Your options, compared
| Option | Time | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked private pickup (us) | Waiting at arrivals | Fixed quote, agreed before you land | Night arrivals, families, first time in Ethiopia, going straight on to another city |
| Ride / Feres app | 5–15 min wait | Metered in the app | If you already have an Ethiopian SIM and data |
| Hotel shuttle | Depends on hotel | Often free at bigger hotels | If your hotel offers it; confirm the night before |
| Yellow airport taxi | Immediate | Negotiated, ask before you get in | Short hops to Bole area in daytime |
Step by step after you land
- Visa. Most nationalities get an eVisa online before flying (evisa.gov.et) or a visa on arrival at the counter before immigration. Have a printed hotel address and the fee in US dollars.
- Immigration and bags. Usually 20 to 40 minutes at night, longer when several flights land together.
- SIM card. Ethio Telecom and Safaricom both have counters in the arrivals hall. Bring your passport. Ten minutes and you have data.
- Money. There are ATMs and exchange counters in arrivals. Change a small amount; your hotel and most restaurants take cards or birr.
- Meet your driver. If you booked us, look for your name on a sign right outside the arrivals doors. We confirm the flight number and track the landing, so a delay changes nothing.
Arriving at night: what is different
Ethiopian Airlines' long-haul flights land between 1 and 4 am, so a lot of first impressions of Ethiopia happen in the dark. The city is quiet and the roads are empty, so the drive is quick. What changes is the choice: fewer app drivers, no hotel shuttles for smaller hotels, and taxi drivers who know you have few alternatives. A pre-booked pickup with a fixed quote is the simple answer, and it is what we do most nights of the week.
Going straight on to another city
If you are not staying in Addis, we can drive you straight from arrivals to Bishoftu, Hawassa, Bahir Dar or wherever you are headed. For anything more than three hours away, we suggest a night in Addis first unless you slept well on the plane.
Questions people ask us
How far is Bole airport from the city centre?+−
About 5 km to Bole Road, 7 km to Kazanchis and 8 to 10 km to Piassa. In time that is 15 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
Is there Uber in Addis Ababa?+−
No. The local apps are Ride and Feres. They work well but need an Ethiopian SIM and mobile data.
Can I get a visa on arrival at Bole?+−
Many nationalities can, at the counter before immigration, but the eVisa applied for online before you fly is faster and avoids the queue. Check the rules for your passport before travelling.
What if my flight is delayed?+−
We track the flight number. If it lands late, we are late. If it lands early, we are already there. There is no extra charge for waiting.
Do you do the airport drop-off as well?+−
Yes. We pick you up from your hotel with enough margin for traffic and the security check at the airport entrance.
Written by the Ethiopia Driver team, Addis Ababa. A family-run driver service. We only write about roads we drive ourselves and we update these answers regularly. Something changed? Tell us on WhatsApp.
