When to go · Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa in December

Great month. Dry; cold mornings.

Key facts

Verdict: Great
Temperature: 22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) / 5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C); average high / low
Rain days: 1
Crowds: High; Ethiopia overall
Prices: High; Ethiopia overall

Plan around it

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Addis Ababa

Dry; cold mornings.

All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.

No other month rates higher than December for Addis Ababa in this guide.

Long-term averages

Addis AbabaHighs around 22 °C (72 °F), lows around 5 °C (41 °F), rain on about 1 dayHighs around 72 °F (22 °C), lows around 41 °F (5 °C), rain on about 1 day
Central highlands, Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, Bale Mountains, and the northern plateaubest weather
Mild all year at altitude (days 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), cold nights); the big rains (kiremt) run June to September, with short rains around March–April.Mild all year at altitude (days 68–77 °F (20–25 °C), cold nights); the big rains (kiremt) run June to September, with short rains around March–April.

Long dry season season

Clear, cool mornings and mild, sunny days; the best window for walking and viewpoints.

Watch: Cold mornings and evenings, sometimes near freezing in December.

Ethiopia overall: Dry season peak; Christmas–New Year holiday flights fill up.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Addis Ababa, side by side.

First month

Second month

December: Dry; cold mornings.

January: Dry and sunny; Timkat (Epiphany) around 19 Jan brings crowds.

Addis Ababa: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.