Popular Airport | El Alto Intl. Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 15 hour |
Approximate Travel Distance | 12079 Km |
Transportation to Airport from Addis Ababa City Center
Bole Intl. Airport
The airport, which is approximately 6 kilometers of the city center, is located on Bole Road. In the city where public transportation is not very developed, you can use minibuses to reach the airport. Taxi is another transportation alternative that is frequently preferred by visitors. In addition to these, you can get to the airport from the city center by renting a car or by benefitting from the airport shuttle service in case your hotel offers this service.
Minibus
You can reach the airport by getting on a minibus from the minibus stops located in the city center. Minibuses generally carry passengers to the airport from 5:30 am to 09:00 pm. Although it is relatively cheaper compared to taxi, you should remember that drivers may demand higher amounts from tourists. The fare is about 5 Birr. They may also charge extra amount for each baggage.
Hotel Shuttle
Hotel shuttle service is the most comfortable alternative for your travel to the airport. In Addis Ababa city center, there are both small hotels and accommodation centers of chain hotels such as Hilton, Radisson and Sheraton. Some of these hotels offer airport shuttle service. If your hotel offers this service and you want to benefit from this service for your travel to the airport, you should definitely make a reservation in advance.
Taxi
There are two types of taxis that you can get on to reach the airport. Mercedes taxis of the National Tour Operator (NTO) operate under a company and offer service with more comfortable vehicles. With their predetermined tariffs, they create a more reliable image in terms of the fares. You can ask your hotel to call a NTO taxi for you.
There is no taximeter in the taxis operating in Addis Ababa, so it is advised to agree on the fare before getting on. These yellow taxis are approximately 10 times more expensive than blue-white taxis. You can also reach the airport in a short time with a blue-white taxi which you can find in the city center or waiting in front of hotels. The average fare is between 80 and 100 Birr. The owners of these taxis aren’t companies but individuals. Since there is also no taximeter in blue-white taxis and fares are not standardized by a company, they are more flexible in terms of fares and you should definitely bargain.
Car Rental
You can rent a car from one of the car rental companies that you can find in the city center or from the offices of tour operators. You can also get help from your hotel about renting a car.
Since some roads in Addis Ababa have no name, there isn’t sufficient number of traffic signs throughout the city and there is no traffic light on many roundabouts, traffic flow isn’t in order. For this reason, renting a car during your visit may not be a good option. If you want to rent a car only for travelling to the airport from the city center, you should prefer a company which has an office at the airport.
In order to get to the airport with the car you have rented, connect to Bole Road in the city center, drive southeastward and follow the airport signs.
Airport Information
There are 2 terminals at the airport. Terminal 1, which offers service for domestic flights, is located in the old building. Terminal 2 offers service for international passenger transportation in the new building.
At Bole International Airport, there are many restaurants and cafes in addition to stores and a duty-free shop where you can do some shopping before your flight.
At the airport, there is also a lounge for passengers looking for a comfortable environment and a much larger lounge is now being constructed. Although there is no left luggage service at the airport, you can find other standard airport services such as pharmacy, currency exchange office and ATM.
Transportation to La Paz City Center from Airport
El Alto Intl. Airport
From El Alto Airport to La Paz city center the most comfortable means of public transport are buses as well as taxis, transfers and car rental companies which can also be of assistant. Travelling to the city from the airport takes a maximum of 20 minutes.
Bus
At the exit of El Alto Airport main terminal building you will see a bus stop with buses departing at regular intervals to take you to La Paz city center. With these buses you can reach the point in the city that you want to go to in 10-20 minutes.
Taxi
Taking a taxi from El Alto Airport to La Paz city center will save you a lot of time. It will take about 10-15 minutes to reach the center and you will need to pay around $10 for this journey. If you use the airport taxis the fare can be up to $25.
Rent a Car
There are many local and foreign car rental companies at the airport terminal. It is best to pre-book with one these companies once you have choosen the one that best suits your budget, as that way you can have a look at more affordable price alternatives. After you have picked up your car at the airport, you can reach La Paz city center in 10-15 minutes.