Things to Do at Mount Entoto
Complete Guide to Mount Entoto in Addis Ababa
About Mount Entoto
What to See & Do
Entoto Maryam Church
The octagonal church where Emperor Menelik II was crowned in 1889. The original structure is surprisingly modest, and the small museum houses crowns, religious artifacts, and royal regalia that give you a real sense of Ethiopian imperial history.
Menelik II Palace
The emperor's former residence is quite humble by palace standards - more like a large traditional house really. It's been converted into a museum with period furniture and personal items that make the history feel surprisingly intimate.
Panoramic viewpoints
Several spots along the mountain offer sweeping views over Addis Ababa. On clear days, you can see for miles across the city and surrounding highlands. Early morning and late afternoon tend to offer the best visibility.
Eucalyptus forests
The aromatic eucalyptus groves create a cool, shaded environment perfect for walking. You might encounter local women gathering firewood or see colobus monkeys in the trees if you're lucky.
Entoto Natural Park
The newer park area has developed hiking trails and picnic spots. It's become quite popular with locals on weekends, and there are efforts to balance recreation with forest conservation.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Generally accessible daily from sunrise to sunset. The church and palace museum typically open around 8:30 AM and close by 5:30 PM, though hours can be somewhat flexible.
Tickets & Pricing
Small entrance fees for the church museum (around 50-100 birr) and palace (similar amount). The natural park areas might have separate modest fees. Prices tend to be higher for foreign visitors.
Best Time to Visit
Early morning or late afternoon for the best views and cooler temperatures. Weekdays are generally less crowded than weekends. The dry season (October to May) offers clearer skies.
Suggested Duration
Plan on 3-4 hours if you want to see the main historical sites and do some walking in the forest. A quick visit to just the church and viewpoints might take 1-2 hours.
Getting There
Things to Do Nearby
The main campus has some interesting architecture and the Ethnological Museum, housed in Haile Selassie's former palace, which is definitely worth a visit on your way back down.
Traditional cloth and handicrafts market that's less touristy than Mercato but still offers good shopping for Ethiopian textiles and crafts. It's roughly on the route between the city center and Entoto.
Large open field area that's sometimes used for festivals and events. Not much to see normally, but it gives you a sense of how Addis Ababa has grown around these traditional gathering spaces.
A newer attraction on the slopes of Entoto that showcases Ethiopian plant species. Still developing but worth a stop if you're interested in the local flora and conservation efforts.