Best time to visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Our verdict

The best time to visit Addis Ababa is July-August

Addis Ababa can be visited year-round, but based on the ideal climate conditions, cost of travel, and avoiding peak holiday periods, July-August is the best time to go.

In the summer months, temperatures tend to get to a maximum of around 25℃ (78℉). The weather at night in the winter can get down to temperatures as low as 5℃ (41℉).

The sun stays up the longest in Addis Ababa in January, so you’ll get the most out of your daytime activities if you visit around this time. The wet season in Addis Ababa usually falls during the months surrounding July each year. It’s not uncommon to get some decent rainfall or light showers during this time, but on some days the weather tends to be fine for a majority of the day, with only a few drops of rain falling from a passing shower.

Learn everything you need to know (and none of the stuff you don’t) about when to go to Addis Ababa below. Be sure to check out the handy tools we’ve included to help you search for flights and transport, accommodation, and everything else you need to plan and book your trip.

Warmest month

April

Least rainfall

December

Most daylight

January

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Addis Ababa seasons

Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Addis Ababa as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Addis Ababa is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:

Season Months
Summer June to August
Autumn/fall September to November
Winter December to February
Spring March to May

Average temperatures in Addis Ababa

If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Addis Ababa for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.

Addis Ababa climate by month

If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Addis Ababa for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.

Jump to:

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC

Addis Ababa in January

  • Average temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
  • Average high temperature: 22℃ (72℉)
  • Average low temperature: 8℃ (47℉)
  • Average humidity: 53%
  • Average sunny days: 23 days
  • Average rainfall: 7mm (0") over 5 days
23 days
of pure sunshine
5 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in January, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Addis Ababa in February

  • Average temperature: 16℃ (61℉)
  • Average high temperature: 23℃ (74℉)
  • Average low temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
  • Average humidity: 51%
  • Average sunny days: 18 days
  • Average rainfall: 16mm (1") over 8 days
18 days
of pure sunshine
8 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in February, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings, and t-shirts and light gear for the daytime.


Addis Ababa in March

  • Average temperature: 17℃ (63℉)
  • Average high temperature: 24℃ (74℉)
  • Average low temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
  • Average humidity: 53%
  • Average sunny days: 15 days
  • Average rainfall: 56mm (2") over 13 days
15 days
of pure sunshine
13 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in March, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings, and t-shirts and light gear for the daytime.


Addis Ababa in April

  • Average temperature: 17℃ (63℉)
  • Average high temperature: 23℃ (74℉)
  • Average low temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
  • Average humidity: 63%
  • Average sunny days: 8 days
  • Average rainfall: 93mm (4") over 18 days
8 days
of pure sunshine
18 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in April, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings, and t-shirts and light gear for the daytime.


Addis Ababa in May

  • Average temperature: 17℃ (63℉)
  • Average high temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
  • Average low temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
  • Average humidity: 62%
  • Average sunny days: 12 days
  • Average rainfall: 62mm (2") over 15 days
12 days
of pure sunshine
15 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in May, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Addis Ababa in June

  • Average temperature: 17℃ (63℉)
  • Average high temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
  • Average low temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
  • Average humidity: 66%
  • Average sunny days: 7 days
  • Average rainfall: 87mm (3") over 19 days
7 days
of pure sunshine
19 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in June, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Addis Ababa in July

  • Average temperature: 15℃ (60℉)
  • Average high temperature: 20℃ (68℉)
  • Average low temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
  • Average humidity: 81%
  • Average sunny days: 0 days
  • Average rainfall: 177mm (7") over 31 days
0 days
of pure sunshine
31 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in July, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Addis Ababa in August

  • Average temperature: 15℃ (58℉)
  • Average high temperature: 19℃ (67℉)
  • Average low temperature: 11℃ (51℉)
  • Average humidity: 85%
  • Average sunny days: 0 days
  • Average rainfall: 177mm (7") over 31 days
0 days
of pure sunshine
31 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in August, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Addis Ababa in September

  • Average temperature: 14℃ (58℉)
  • Average high temperature: 20℃ (68℉)
  • Average low temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
  • Average humidity: 79%
  • Average sunny days: 4 days
  • Average rainfall: 96mm (4") over 22 days
4 days
of pure sunshine
22 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in September, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.

Addis Ababa in October

  • Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
  • Average high temperature: 21℃ (69℉)
  • Average low temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
  • Average humidity: 63%
  • Average sunny days: 23 days
  • Average rainfall: 19mm (1") over 6 days
23 days
of pure sunshine
6 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in October, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Addis Ababa in November

  • Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
  • Average high temperature: 21℃ (70℉)
  • Average low temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
  • Average humidity: 60%
  • Average sunny days: 22 days
  • Average rainfall: 12mm (0") over 6 days
22 days
of pure sunshine
6 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in November, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Addis Ababa in December

  • Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
  • Average high temperature: 21℃ (70℉)
  • Average low temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
  • Average humidity: 56%
  • Average sunny days: 25 days
  • Average rainfall: 4mm (0") over 4 days
25 days
of pure sunshine
4 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Addis Ababa in December, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Top FAQs

The hottest month of the year in Addis Ababa is usually April, where temperatures tend to rise to around 24℃ (74℉) in the middle of the day or early afternoon.
The month with the least amount of rain in Addis Ababa is generally around December. The dry season often coincides with cooler weather, so you should check the temperatures in December first to make sure it’s still a good time to go.
The rainiest time of year in Addis Ababa is generally around July, although the wetter season can sometimes extend a few months either side of July too.
If you want to get the most out of your time visiting Addis Ababa, or if you're just afraid of the dark, the days in January are usually the longest between sunrise and sunset.

Addis Ababa map

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