Can You Leave the Airport During Layover in Addis Ababa?

Yes, you can leave Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during a layover — but it depends on the length of your layover and your visa status. Following conditions:

• You have a visa, or you're from a country eligible for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry.
• Your layover is long enough (ideally 6+ hours) to allow time for immigration and city travel.
• You go through immigration and customs successfully.

If you don’t meet visa requirements or have a short layover, you’ll need to stay inside the transit area.

Visa Rules for Leaving the Airport

Here are the details:

1. Visa Requirements

If your layover is short and you remain within the international transit area without passing through immigration, you do not need a visa, but you cannot leave the airport.

If your layover exceeds 12 hours and you want to exit the airport, you will need a transit visa or a tourist visa to leave the airport and enter Ethiopia.

For Ethiopian Airlines passengers with a layover between 8 and 24 hours, the airline often provides a complimentary transit visa along with hotel accommodation, allowing you to leave the airport during the stopover.
If you plan to leave the airport during your layover but do not qualify for any visa exemption, you should apply for an Ethiopian tourist visa in advance or on arrival if eligible.

Visa Requirements for Leaving the Airport

2. Layover Duration

You should have at least 6–8 hours of layover time if you plan to leave the airport. This allows time for:
Immigration and customs

• Travel to/from the city center (about 20–30 minutes)
• A short tour, meal, or rest
• Rechecking security before your next flight
• If your layover is less than 6 hours, it’s best to stay at the airport.

What is a short layover in Addis Ababa?

A short layover is typically considered under 4–5 hours. In that case, it's best to stay inside the airport, as there may not be enough time to leave, go through immigration, and get back through security before your next flight.

Important Tips for Leaving the Airport

• Keep your boarding pass & visa handy because re-entry security checks are strict.
• Traffic Alert: Addis has heavy traffic, so allow 1+ hour to return.
• Money: Exchange some cash to ETB (Birr)—many places don’t accept cards.
• Safety: Stick to central areas and avoid walking alone at night.

Pro tip: If short on time, enjoy the airport lounges (some offer showers and local food).

In summary, you can only leave the airport during your layover in Addis Ababa if you have the appropriate visa (transit or tourist), and your layover is long enough to accommodate the visa and border formalities. If you do not have a visa or if your layover is short, you must stay within the airport’s international transit area.