Ethiopia

Africa

Ethiopia

Ethiopia feels unlike the rest of the continent, with its own calendar, alphabet, and ancient Orthodox Christian tradition carved directly into stone at the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. The Simien Mountains offer dramatic escarpments and gelada monkeys found nowhere else, while Addis Ababa's coffee culture — the country is often credited as coffee's birthplace — runs on elaborate ceremonial roasting rituals. Injera and richly spiced stews round out a trip built on history as much as landscape.

Why go thereSacred sites Culture & heritage Nature & landscapes Volcanoes Ancient ruins Wildlife Food Indigenous cultures Rural traditions Mountain hiking Adventure sports Markets & bazaars

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Injera

Sour teff flatbread fermented for days, used as plate, cutlery and staple at once.

Doro wat

Chicken and boiled egg stewed in berbere and a mass of onions, the festival dish.

Tibs

Cubed meat fried hard with onion, rosemary and chilli, served sizzling on clay.

Main destinations

Other destinations

Comfort in January · by notability

Food & drink to try

Injera

Sour teff flatbread fermented for days, used as plate, cutlery and staple at once.

Doro wat

Chicken and boiled egg stewed in berbere and a mass of onions, the festival dish.

Tibs

Cubed meat fried hard with onion, rosemary and chilli, served sizzling on clay.

Kitfo

Minced raw beef warmed in spiced butter with mitmita, eaten with ayib.

Shiro

Ground chickpea flour cooked into a smooth spiced stew, the fasting-day mainstay.

Misir wat

Red lentils stewed in berbere until thick, eaten on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Gomen

Collard greens cooked down with garlic, ginger and a little spiced butter.

Beyaynetu

A wheel of different vegetable stews served over one shared injera.

Key wat

Beef stewed in berbere and onion until it darkens, richer than doro wat.

Dulet

Minced tripe, liver and lean beef fried with chilli and butter, eaten raw or cooked.

Fir fir

Torn injera tossed with spiced butter and sauce, eaten for breakfast.

Ayib

Crumbled fresh cheese, mild and cooling, served beside anything with berbere.

Genfo

Barley porridge served as a mound with a butter and berbere crater in the middle.

Kolo

Roasted barley and chickpeas eaten by the handful with coffee.

Dabo kolo

Small spiced dough pieces baked hard, carried on journeys.

Berbere

Chilli blended with a dozen spices and sun-dried, the base of almost every wat.

Niter kibbeh

Butter clarified with cardamom, fenugreek and korerima, kept for months.

Buna

Beans roasted, ground and brewed in front of guests over three rounds and incense.

Tej

Honey wine flavoured with gesho, served in a round-bottomed berele flask.

Tella

Home-brewed barley beer, cloudy and low in alcohol, made for holidays.

Entry & health

Set your passport

iec.ch cia.gov numbeo.com

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Tipping isn't customary at humble local eateries, but is expected in tourist-oriented restaurants — around 10% is fair, and larger establishments may already add a service charge to the bill, in which case an extra small tip is optional rather than required.

Always greet people and ask after their health before starting any conversation, request, or transaction — skipping this is seen as rude.
Use only your right hand for eating, giving, or receiving items; the left hand is considered unclean.
Remove your shoes before entering a church, and follow separate entrances for men and women where they exist; women are barred from entering churches while menstruating.
Dress modestly, especially at religious sites and in rural areas — carrying a scarf (netela) for churches is wise.
Among friends and family, greetings often include multiple cheek kisses and a light shoulder bump/handshake — let locals set the pace of physical greetings.
Public displays of affection between couples are frowned upon, even though same-sex friends holding hands is normal and non-romantic.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Ethiopia — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA