Addis Ababa

The modern Addis Ababa descended from its original founding spot atop the close-by Entoto Hill. Back in the day, the city used to shift seasonally between its elevated and low-lying locations until the late 19th century. Addis Ababa has long taken root in the heart of Ethiopia, and grown to become not just the country's official capital, but the entire continent's diplomatic epicentre. An abundance of important international organisations based here, including United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union. The sprawling city's two neighbourhoods to keep on your radar are the Mercato and the Piazza. The Mercato is home to an enormous market selling everything under the sun, while the Piazza is the backpackers' favourite. Bole, the area in immediate vicinity of the airport, is an upper-class neighbourhood where the country's most affluent reside, along with a significant expat population. Outside of Addis, the natural wonderland of Menagesha forest, Debre Libanos monastery, archaeological site of Tiya and scenic crater lakes of Bishoftu make for excellent day trips.