Place · Merkato
Anwar MosqueAnwar Mesgid
Ethiopia's largest mosque, at the edge of Merkato: visit outside prayer times, dress modestly, and combine with a Merkato morning.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Key facts
- Time on site
- 30–45 min
- p95 60 min
- Price
- Free; donations welcome
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- 06:00–20:006:00 AM–8:00 PM
- typical, check
- Best time
- morning
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- No
- Merkato: forbidden
- Getting there
- Car to the mosque gate, Merkato edge
- Ethiopia's largest mosque
- Avoid Friday midday prayers
- Modest dress required
- Go morning
- Free entry
- Shoes off inside
- 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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Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually 06:00–20:00Usually 6:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Crowds
Go morning
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun · busiest Fri · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: Free; donations welcome
- Time to spend
- 30–45 min · up to 60 min if you linger
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
20min
Worthwhile
30min
Typical
45min
p95
60min
Closed to visitors during the five daily prayer times and Friday midday prayers; ask locally for the current schedule.
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (45 min).
Nothing else in our notes is a short enough walk from here for the time that is left.
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Dress code
- Modest dress for all visitors; women should cover hair and shoulders with a scarf.
- Bags & lockers
- Leave large bags at the entrance if asked.
- Photos
- Ask before photographing worshippers or inside the prayer hall.
- What's closed
- During the five daily prayersVisitors are not shown around during active prayer times.
- Friday midday prayersVery busy; avoid a sightseeing visit around midday on Fridays.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free; donations welcome | — |
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Car to the mosque gate, Merkato edge
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- unknown
- Shoes
- Shoes off before entering the prayer hall.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Quiet outside prayer times; very busy at Friday midday prayers and during Eid.
- Sensory load
- 2/5
- Exposure
- low
Which month is quietest
- Janlight
- Feblight
- Marlight
- Aprpacked
- Maylight
- Junlight
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Seplight
- Octlight
- Novlight
- Declight
Quietest May–Mar · busiest Apr.
Estimate: desk reasoning from Friday-prayer and Eid patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Bailouts
heat
Nearest café (field-verify)
crowd
Return outside prayer times
Nearest rescue anchor: B — Café on the main street (field-verify)
What to have on you
- Clothing that meets the dress ruleModest dress for all visitors; women should cover hair and shoulders with a scarf.
- Footwear that suits the ruleShoes off before entering the prayer hall.
- A small bagLeave large bags at the entrance if asked.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partly
- Lifts: check · check
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Wheelchair: partly · partly
- Stroller: partly · partlycaution
Level prayer-hall floor; a few steps at some entrances.
Combine with
- 10 minMerkato market lanes
Walk the Merkato area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Red lines
- Modest dress; women should cover hair and shoulders.
- Do not enter the prayer hall during active prayers unless you are joining them.
- Ask before photographing worshippers.
More on the groundWith kids
With kids
- with kids
- Fine for children who can be quiet and follow the shoes-off, modest-dress rules; keep visits brief outside prayer times.
- child price
- free
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Can non-Muslims visit?
Yes, respectfully and outside prayer times; modest dress and a headscarf for women are expected.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- ClusterMerkato260 m · 4 min walk
- ClusterPiazza & Churchill Avenue660 m · 11 min walk
- PlaceSt George's Cathedral910 m · 15 min walk
- ClusterNational Museum & Holy Trinity2.1 km · 34 min walk
- PlaceHoly Trinity Cathedral2.3 km · 38 min walk
- ClusterMeskel Square & Kazanchisnearest point: Square benches3.2 km · 53 min walk
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Addis Ababa