What to do in Addis Ababa when it rains
When Addis Ababa turns grey, head for the indoors — centuries of history in its museums, art to lose an hour in, and markets and cafés out of the rain.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Unity Park 2QF7+7H, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- National Museum of Ethiopia 185 Haile Selassie St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Ethnological Museum Algeria St, Addis amama, Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Science Museum 15/16, አዲስ አበባ, Ethiopia
- Palace Museum (National/Jubilee Palace of Ethiopia) 2Q87+F38, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum የቀይ ሽብር መታሰቢያ ሙዚየም 2Q67+272, Africa Ave, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Zen Apartments | Olompiya | ዜን አፓርትመንትስ | ኦሎምፒያ House 220, Kirkos Subcity, Woreda 01, አዲስ አበባ, Ethiopia
- The blue hen | Kazanchis Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- St.George Golla Art Gallery Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Abdi Negash Antique Store Key Bahir Condominiums, Dej. Jote St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Makush Art Gallery Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Golla Art Gallery Golla Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Meskel Square Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Unity Park 2QF7+7H, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Emperor Tewodros II Square 2QG2+RMF, Mahatma Gandhi St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Miyazya 27 Victory Statue 2QM7+585, Adwa St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Abune Petros Memorial የአቡነ ጴጥሮስ ሐውልት 2PPX+4RX, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Lideta square 2P6M+HPP, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Merkato Dubai tera building, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Tana Market | Merkato | ጣና ገበያ | መርካቶ | 2PJQ+8PC, Kenya St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- FREEDOM Traditional Cloth Market | Shiro Meda | ሽሮ ሜዳ የባህላዊ ልብስ ገበያ | ሽሮ ሜዳ 3Q76+3GJ, Intoto St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Africa Traditional dresses ሽሮሜዳ አደባባይ, Shiro meda market, አዲስ አበባ, Ethiopia
- Noc Building 18 Roundabout Kolfe 2PM7+GGX 10, 11, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Minaleshtera 2PHP+MQV, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- Choke Burger & Coffee ጮቄ በርገር ና ቡና ( Kazanchis Branch) Tito St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Filwuha Agelglot /SPA Service Enterprise Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Aware Tomoca coffee Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Tomoca Coffee Wawel St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Chaka Coffee Mickey Leland St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Tryst Addis | Kazanchis | ትሪስት አዲስ | ካዛንቺስ Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Dembel City Center 2Q38+XQC, Africa Ave, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Addisu Gebeya 3P5P+4Q2, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Getu Commercial Center. 2Q29+VRW, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Ambassador Mall Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 4 Kilo Plaza | 4 ኪሎ ፕላዛ 2QM7+7FQ, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- KKare Building | Mexico | ኬኬር ህንፃ | ሜክሲኮ Mexico, ጽለረ ህንጻ, Mozambique St, አዲስ አበባ, Ethiopia
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.