The National Museum of Ethiopia sits on King George VI Street in Addis Ababa, the country's capital. It is Ethiopia's principal museum, and for many visitors it is the natural place to begin an understanding of the country's long past and its living culture. The museum is also known as the Ethiopian National Museum.
What you will see
The collections run from prehistoric times to modern Ethiopian history, so a visit moves through a wide span of time. The museum's best-known exhibit is the Lucy fossil, one of the most important finds in the study of human origins. Alongside it, the museum holds extensive archaeological finds and a broad range of cultural artifacts that show how Ethiopians have lived, worked and made things over the centuries.
What kind of visit it makes
- A good first stop if you want context for the rest of your trip, from archaeology to recent history.
- Well suited to anyone interested in human evolution, since the Lucy fossil draws many visitors to the museum.
- A chance to see cultural objects in one place, which can make visits to other sites in the country easier to appreciate.
Because the museum is in the capital, it fits easily into a stay in Addis Ababa. Plan your time around the collections you most want to see, and check the museum's contact details before you travel, as opening arrangements are not part of the information available here. The telephone number is +251-11-117-150.
