City: Addis Ababa
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What to do and see in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The Best Museums
Sometimes referred to as the capital of Africa, Addis Ababa is a buzzing hub of economic, social and political activity and home to such notable offices as the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The diversity of its people is reflected in the many churches, mosques and museums, including the Ethiopian National Museum which houses the fossilized skeleton of Dinkinesh, or Lucy, the Australopithecine discovered in the area in the 1970s.
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1. The Africa Unbound Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
Pan-African museum
Reviewed By sammytesfu - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The visit to the Africa Unbound Museum was such a unique experience. I have heard about the Museum but what I saw was not what I was expecting. We booked in advance and we had a guided tour, where we had the opportunity to share our thoughts and experiences. I love how it was curated and how the story flows. How the world is connected and more than ever the importance of how we need to invest in our children. I highly encourage people to visit the museum but don't plan to go there for one hour, as you will be immersed in the discussion and time flies easily. The African Unbound Museum is a great addition to things to do and places to visit in Addis Ababa. Great work!!!!!
2. Zoma Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Zoma Museum is a dream inspired 25 years ago by the timeless and structurally sound vernacular architecture of Ethiopia and other parts of the world. The Museum aims to bring traditional construction techniques into the present, demonstrating their ability to withstand time while maintaining their grace and beauty. Facilities includes a gallery, a library, a children center, a botanical garden, a school, an amphitheater and a gift shop. Future development plans also include an art and vernacular architecture school.
Reviewed By drsteve99 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Visitors and residents of Addis Ababa with young children often find it challenging to find reasonably priced, suitable, safe green -space, holiday-season edutainment options. Fortunately, Zoma Museum is one of the excellent exceptions, and after today’s visit, I will place it in my top 3 recommendations for parents with young children visiting or living in Addis Ababa. My party of 3 adults and 2 young children found the under 600 Birr entry price quite reasonable, especially as we had just forked out 2400 to visit Unity Park 2 days before. Foreigners will breathe a sigh of relief not to be gouged with an additional fee like in so many of the cities quality attractions. After some fascinating photography and artwork amidst a lush tropical ambiance, my children immediately gravitated to the art cabin where developmentally appropriate-sized furniture and ample art supplies were available for small children to create, collaborate, communicate and connect. We had to drag the kids kicking and screaming out of the art hut but they soon settled down when they heard the Christmas music and saw other children enjoying sliding, jumping, twirling, blowing bubbles, etc on the central green space area, which featured inflatable jumping equipment, pictures with Santa, and of course, plenty of vendors to help separate that hard earned cash form parents pockets! Continuing on our merry way, we found ourselves surrounded by more lush greenery behind the central area as we entered the edible garden area. As an educator myself, I found the edible classroom concept particularly interesting and my children marveled at the numerous garden setups during our tour of the garden. The young students who attend the Zoma Museum school are truly fortunate indeed. After our garden tour we continued wandering around the many pathways and taking in all the scenery. Unlike so many other venues in the city, bathrooms at Zoma were plentiful and exceedingly clean. Overall, it was a wonderful afternoon of engaging developmentally appropriate, culturally informative entertainment. Zoma Museum. especially during their special seasonal event days is simply a must-see and must-do for all parents with young children in Addis Ababa!
3. Talari
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Talari is a traditionally Ethiopian antique store/gallery committed to collecting and showcasing Ethiopia’s past and present through art, design and crafted goods. Our name is derived from the first banknote of the country printed in the 18th century. Using Talari, we want to channel old commerce, where beautiful crafts, jewelry, and art were valued and traded.
Reviewed By RMMark95 - Vancouver, Canada
This is a one-stop-shop that transports and immerses you into the traditional Ethiopian culture and heritage through beautiful art and crafted goods.
4. Red Terror Martyrs Memorial Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 810 reviews
Reviewed By JMCN_180 - Madrid, Spain
This museum that we visited at the end of our trip to Ethiopia, helped us to complete the circule of Ethiopia’s history: the end of the Halie Selassie’s empire and the cruel period of communist regime in Ethiopia. Being Spanish and born during the Franco Regime, unfortunately I was familiar with the hard evidences of torture, massive killings, collective graves and “missing” civilians. The museum explains and illustrate very well this sad period of Ethiopia. My take away is: 1. The communist slogan of “Ethiopia First”, which sounds very popular now a days in other countries. 2. The picture of the dictator through if the bottle with blood to threaten the population of Addis and 3. That I hope that Ethiopia will remain in peace and no civil war will take place any more. All my support the Ethiopian and the current democratic government. Finally, a museum like this should exist in Spain to leave a track record our our recent history of dictatorship, Basque terrorism and government “dirty war”, three things that like in Ethiopia should never happen any more. The local guide made a great job!
5. Addis Fine Art Gallery
6. Tibeb Leather Works
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Tibeb Leather Works is a creative space where you can find unique handcrafted leather products that are sure to be a conversation piece. We offer a wide selection of designs and customization features that make our products perfect for gifting. We even have a gallery wall that features up and coming photographers in the city.
7. National Museum of Ethiopia
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,700 reviews
This museum’s greatest treasure is the partial skeleton of "Lucy," a tiny human believed to have lived over three million years ago.
Reviewed By thomaswhelan2 - Dublin, Ireland
Great historical pieces for Ethiopiasale beautiful history well worth a visit must see forget piassa prices too high for foreign visitors go to the national Museum if you want to learn anything about Ethiopian history and culture
8. Ethnological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 579 reviews
Reviewed By ckiarie2002ke - Nairobi, Kenya
Of all the museums I visited in Ethiopia I enjoyed this one the most as it gives a wide variety of history of Ethiopia and you also get to see the Lavish lifestyle of Haile Selassie.
9. Asni Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 24 reviews
10. Museum of Modern Art/Goethe Institut Ethiopia
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