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Holy Trinity Cathedral

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Place · National Museum & Holy Trinity

Photo: EvgenyGenkin, CC BY 2.5
Kidist SelassieNational Museum & Holy Trinity, Addis Ababago at hour · morningadmission: unknown

Ethiopia's grandest Orthodox cathedral and the burial place of Emperor Haile Selassie: go in the morning, dress covered, and check whether a service is in progress before entering.

Time on site45–65 minp95 100 min
PriceETB 100–200bring cash
Best hourmorningquietest window
28″ bagsPainful WarningNational Museum & Holy Trinity
Step-freePartial Warning
  • Haile Selassie's burial place
  • Ethiopia's grandest Orthodox cathedral
  • Headscarf expected for women
  • Go morning
  • Bring cash
  • Works with kids
  • Mostly indoors

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

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  • Ethiopia ↗Apply for the Ethiopian e-visa only on the official portal before you fly; visas on arrival have been suspended for most foreign visitors (check the current status for your passport).
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Usually 08:00–18:00
More
Map & directions
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Directions
From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Plan

Open now, best time to go, opening hours

Go now?

hours and prices: check on the day
Open
Usually 08:00–18:00
Crowds

Go morning

Quietest Tue–Fri · busiest Sun · desk estimate

Tickets
  • Adult: ETB 100–200 (2026 estimate)
Time to spend
45–65 min · up to 100 min if you linger
Directions Add to a day →

Best time to go

Quiet on weekday mornings; busy on Sundays and during Orthodox festivals (Timkat, Meskel).

By weekday: quietest Tue–Fri, busiest Sun.

Opening hours
Hours
08:00–18:00 (typical, check)
Note
Hours are not printed here until verified; services can close the nave to visitors — ask at the gate.
Hours note
Desk estimate; confirm before you go, especially around services and festivals.

Which month is quietest

desk estimate · not counted
  1. Janbusy
  2. Febpacked
  3. Marlight
  4. Aprlight
  5. Maylight
  6. Junlight
  7. Jullight
  8. Auglight
  9. Seppacked
  10. Octlight
  11. Novlight
  12. Declight

Quietest Mar–Aug · Oct–Dec · busiest Feb · Sep.

Estimate: desk reasoning from Sunday-service and festival patterns (Timkat in January, Meskel in September); not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.

Weather here, next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).

On the ground

Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work

Getting in

Stop
Car to the cathedral gate, Museum Quarter
Ticket
on site · official site · bring cash
Stairs
Not recorded
Shoes
Shoes on in the nave; a headscarf is expected for women.

Accessibility

  • PartialStep-free entrance
  • Check firstLifts
  • Check firstAccessible toilet
  • PartialWheelchair
  • PartialStroller · caution

Sensory load

  • Sensory load2/5 Low

Exposure: low

What to bring and the rules

  • Cash · The ticket desk is likely to take cash only.
  • Clothing that meets the dress rule · Shoulders and knees covered; women should bring a headscarf.
  • Footwear that suits the rule · Shoes on in the nave; a headscarf is expected for women.
  • A small bag · Large bags may be checked at the gate (check on arrival).
  • Shoulders and knees covered; women should bring a headscarf.
  • Large bags may be checked at the gate (check on arrival).
  • Ask before photographing worshippers or the tombs of Haile Selassie and Empress Menen.

Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.

Bailouts

  • heat: Nearest café (field-verify)
  • rain: Stay inside: the nave and small museum section are indoor

Nearest rescue anchor: B — Café on the main street (field-verify)

Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).

Map and nearby

Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it

Holy Trinity CathedralHoly Trinity CathedralSt George's CathedralRed Terror Martyrs Memorial MuseumAnwar Mosque

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Map layers
Show only
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Directions
From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Nearby places

More detail

Everything else we know about this place

Tickets, prices and entry

Tickets & entry

2026 estimate · check the posted board
Where to buy
  • Buy at the entrance on the day.
  • Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
  • Bring cash; cards may not be taken (check).

Official site ↗

Dress code
  • Shoulders and knees covered; women should bring a headscarf.

What to wear: dress-code checker

Bags & lockers
  • Large bags may be checked at the gate (check on arrival).
Photos
  • Ask before photographing worshippers or the tombs of Haile Selassie and Empress Menen.
What's closed
  • During servicescheckThe nave may be closed to sightseeing visitors during Mass; ask at the gate.
  • Major Orthodox festivalscheckVery busy around Timkat (19 Jan) and Meskel (27 Sep); expect crowds rather than closure.

“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.

TicketPriceNote
EntryETB 100–200 (2026 estimate)Confirm at the gate; a guide is often available for an extra fee.
Time on site, inside and your plan

Time on site

minutes

Minimum

30min

Worthwhile

45min

Typical

65min

p95

100min

How much time do you have?

from the time-on-site figures above

Enough for a typical visit (65 min).

With the other 25 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):

Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.

Step-free check, who it suits, facilities

Step-free check

wheelchair: caution
  • Step-free entrance: partly · partly
  • Lifts: check · check
  • Accessible toilet: check · check
  • Wheelchair: partly · partly
  • Stroller: partly · partlycaution

Steps at the main entrance; the grounds are mostly level.

With kids

kids: okstroller: caution
with kids
The grand interior and imperial tombs usually hold children's attention for 20–30 minutes; ask them to stay quiet if a service is on.
child price
check
Combine with

Combine with

nearest first
  1. 12 minNational Museum of Ethiopia — Or a short car ride.

Walk the National Museum & Holy Trinity area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes

Best photo time

Deep dive

Questions, photos, and where our facts come from

Questions and answers

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated
Who is buried here?

Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen Asfaw, among other notable Ethiopians.

Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk

Can I take photos inside?

Ask first; rules vary by area and whether a service is in progress.

Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.
Photos

Photos

1 · free licences, credited
Deep dive

Sources

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Directions
59 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Not saved offline