This is about 3-hours guided shopping experience and walking tour to Addis Mercato Market. Get picked up from your hotel in Addis Ababa to discover the hidden pockets of Addis Ababa's Merkato market with a local guide.
Explore fascinating sections of this huge market which are rarely visited by tourists. Find out and learn about unique crafts, local spices, Ethiopian coffee, and a lot more. Your guide teaches you the secrets of bargaining to shop at the best prices.
This walking tour is perfect for visitors who
- seek to experience unique Ethiopian culture meeting locals
- want to visit Merkato Market beyond the goods
- wish to get to deeper sites of Merkato, safely
Meet your guide at your hotel in Addis Ababa or the airport. With a private comfortable vehicle, drive on the most scenic road in Addis to Mercato Market.
Start your walking tour by visiting the Frankincense and other aromatic resins selling area. Frankincense is one of the top items used on a traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. Find a range of similar sustainable produces and shop here helping the local community.
Next, from a top floor of a nearby building, have a panoramic overview to Merkato. Get a sense of how big the market is.
Spend a few minutes exploring the chat (Khat) section of Merkato. This green leaf is widely chewed in Ethiopia for its stimulating effects.
Your sensory adventure in Merkato continues with visiting the Spice Market. Learn about the vast number of local spices used in cooking Ethiopian cuisine.
Visiting the grains and food market is the next part of this immersive cultural experience. Meet locals from Gurage tribe as they sell ingredients to make Kotcho bread. Kotcho is prepared from the roots of Enset (False Banana Tree) plant.
Here, learn and try chopping the roots of Enset. For many, this is the highlight of touring Addis Ababa Merkato Market. This spot is an ideal place to meet the Locals. Interact with people from different ethnic groups of Ethiopia, learning about their lives and traditions.
The walking part of Merkato then takes you to visit hand woven colourful grass baskets, diary produces, and coffee beans. Learn the art of bargaining to shop like a local. Buy unique Ethiopian souvenirs, spices, or handcrafts. Stroll by the second hand items selling section.
The final and most interesting part of this walking tour is visiting the recycling section. Learn how big circular economy for Ethiopians sustainable development. See arrays of items ready to be reused and their part in the ecosystem and waste management. The recycling area at Merkato is best for snapping great photos.
Conclude your unforgettable Merkato adventure with a delicious cup of Ethiopian coffee at the renowned Tomoca Coffee, savouring the lingering aromas and reflecting on your newfound knowledge of Addis Ababa's beating heart.
This tour is perfect for adventurous travellers seeking an authentic and unforgettable experience. Book now and unlock the secrets of Merkato!