What lounges and facilities are there at Bole airport?

Bole's international terminal, Terminal 2, has four lounges. Three belong to Ethiopian Airlines and are for business-class passengers and frequent flyers; the fourth, the Plaza Premium Lounge, is the one any passenger can pay to use or enter with Priority Pass and similar memberships. Around them you'll find duty-free shops, coffee bars, restaurants, free Wi-Fi, banks and a hotel inside the terminal, all open to the rhythm of Ethiopian Airlines' round-the-clock schedule.

If you are starting or ending your trip in Addis rather than connecting, the easiest part is getting to and from the terminal. We meet you at Bole arrivals, drive you to your hotel, and bring you back for your departure with time to spare.

Which terminal will you use at Bole?

Terminal 2 handles all international flights and is where nearly everything in this guide is. It opened as a major expansion in 2019 and is built for around 22 million passengers a year. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights with Ethiopian Airlines and has been refurbished; it is smaller, with its own lounge and a few cafés.

Transit passengers stay airside in Terminal 2 and go through a security check before reaching the departures level. If you are flying out of Addis, expect a security check at the terminal door before check-in; our guide to how early to get to Bole covers timings.

What lounges are at Bole airport?

Sheba Cloud Nine Lounge

Ethiopian Airlines' main business-class lounge sits opposite Gate A13 on the departures level and is open 24 hours. It has hot and cold buffets with Ethiopian and international food, a bar, Wi-Fi, quiet areas, a children's corner, showers and a traditional coffee ceremony, which is the highlight for many visitors. Eligible passengers can enter up to five hours before departure.

Showers work on a first-come, first-served basis: you need at least 60 minutes before your flight to use one, with a 15-minute limit. The lounge gets very busy when Ethiopian's long-haul flights bunch together, typically in the evening and the small hours, so seats and food can run short at those times.

Platinum & Star Alliance Gold and Silver lounges

Next to Cloud Nine, a separate lounge serves ShebaMiles Platinum and Star Alliance Gold members, with similar facilities. ShebaMiles Silver members have a simpler lounge in the inner corridor of the departure hall with food, drinks and seating.

Can you buy access to an Ethiopian Airlines lounge?

Yes. Ethiopian Airlines sells lounge access passes for its Cloud Nine and Platinum/Gold lounges in Terminal 2, online, in its app, at its ticket offices and at the airport itself, including for transit passengers. Check the current price when you book.

Plaza Premium Lounge

The Plaza Premium Lounge is Bole's only independent, pay-per-use lounge. It is on the departures level after security, between Gates A6 and A7 near where the A and B gates meet, and it is open 24 hours. You can walk in, pre-book online, or get in with Priority Pass and some premium credit cards and airline tickets. It has a buffet, drinks, Wi-Fi, charging points, a business corner and shower rooms; alcohol and showers may cost extra.

It is compact, and recent reviews note it can fill up at the evening peak. There are no toilets inside; you use the public ones just outside. For far gates, allow 15 to 20 minutes to walk.

What is there to buy at Bole duty free?

Terminal 2 has duty-free shops selling fragrances, spirits, electronics and travel essentials, plus shops for jewellery, traditional clothing and Ethiopian crafts. Coffee bars serve Ethiopian coffee, and packaged beans are an easy last-minute gift.

If you want a wider choice or better prices on coffee, spices, scarves or crafts, buy them in Addis before your flight. With a driver by the day, you can stop at a market or shop on the way to the airport with your bags safely in the car. Keep receipts, and remember that antiques and some religious items need an export permit.

Where can you eat and drink at Bole?

Terminal 2 has a mix of international brand bars and restaurants and local Ethiopian dining, plus coffee bars across the departures level. It is a large terminal, so walk the concourse before settling. Expect airport prices to be higher than in town. If you arrive hungry after a long flight, it is often nicer to eat at your hotel or in Bole once you are through.

What other facilities does Bole airport have?

• Wi-Fi: free throughout the terminal.
• Money: banks and ATMs in the terminal; change only what you need at first.
• Phone: telecom service desks, useful if you want a local SIM on arrival.
• Health: pharmacies and an emergency clinic.
• Visas: dedicated visa-on-arrival counters in arrivals for eligible nationalities.
• Other: tourist information, hotel booking booths, car rental desks and baggage drop counters.

Can you sleep at Bole airport?

You can. The Ethiopian Skylight In-Terminal Hotel, past passport control in Terminal 2 near the departure gates, has 97 rooms and suits connections of roughly 8 to 24 hours. Rooms can be booked through Ethiopian Airlines' transfer desk, by email or on booking sites. Ethiopian's free transit hotel programme covers eligible connections on its own tickets; our layover guide explains the rules. For a short wait, the 24-hour lounges are the other option.

If you have a long layover and a visa, a few hours in Addis beats the terminal. We can pick you up at arrivals, take you for coffee, lunch or a museum visit, and have you back at Terminal 2 in good time.

Tips for a smoother time at Bole

• Ethiopian Airlines' long-haul flights arrive and leave in waves, so lounges and security are busiest in the evening and the small hours.
• Terminal 2 is long; check your gate early and allow time to walk to the far end.
• Keep your boarding pass handy for lounge and shower desks.
• Download offline maps and your hotel address before you land, in case Wi-Fi is slow.