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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. How we verify
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

Place · Meskel Square & Kazanchis

Red Terror Martyrs Memorial MuseumQey Shibir Museum

A sobering museum documenting the Derg regime's 1977–1978 Red Terror campaign, near Meskel Square: a heavy but important indoor hour, best combined with a lighter morning stop.

go at hour · morningadmission: unknownNot field-verified
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

Add to a day →

Key facts

Time on site
45–60 min
p95 90 min
Price
Free; donations welcome
adult, 2026 estimate
Hours
09:00–17:00
typical, check
Best time
morning
quietest window
28″ bags
Painful
Meskel Square & Kazanchis: painful
Getting there
Car to the museum entrance, Meskel Square area
  • Derg-era history
  • Free entry, donations welcome
  • Graphic content: not for young children
  • Go morning
  • Free entry
  • Mostly indoors

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

Rules in force · 13Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…Do not photograph government buildings, military sites, p…
  • Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
  • Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
  • East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
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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).
  • Ethiopia ↗Check your government's advice zone by zone before booking any domestic flight; in 2026 the UK and US advise against all travel to Amhara and Tigray, and the US also to Afar.
  • Ethiopia ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention below about 2,000 m, altitude, and yellow fever — Ethiopia is itself a yellow fever risk country, so your next destination may ask for the certificate.
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  • Addis Ababa ↗Addis is at about 2,350 m: rest on the first afternoon, drink water and go easy on alcohol the first night.
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  • Addis Ababa ↗Do not photograph government buildings, military sites, police or airports. Ask before photographing people.
Usually 09:00–17:00
Map & directions
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Directions
From where I am

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Plan

Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes

Go now?

hours and prices: check on the day
Open
Usually 09:00–17:00
Crowds

Go morning

Quietest Mon–Sun · desk estimate

Tickets
  • Adult: Free; donations welcome
Time to spend
45–60 min · up to 90 min if you linger
Directions Add to a day →

Weather here, next 7 days

Loading forecast…

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

Time on site

minutes

Minimum

30min

Worthwhile

45min

Typical

60min

p95

90min

Hours are not printed here until verified; many Addis museums close on Monday.

How much time do you have?

from the time-on-site figures above

Enough for a typical visit (60 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

2026 estimate · check the posted board
Where to buy
  • No ticket needed.
  • Donations welcome.

Official site ↗

Dress code
  • Casual dress is fine; no specific dress code beyond general respect.

What to wear: dress-code checker

Photos
  • Ask staff before photographing exhibits, especially personal testimony and photographs of victims.
What's closed
  • MondaycheckMany Addis museums close on Monday; confirm before you go.

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

TicketPriceNote
EntryFree; donations welcome—

On the ground

Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work

Getting in

Stop
Car to the museum entrance, Meskel Square area
Exit
—
Ticket
free · official site
Stairs
unknown
Shoes
Shoes on.

Crowds and switching

Crowd clock
Quiet most days.
Sensory load
2/5
Exposure
low

Which month is quietest

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

Crowds barely change through the year here; pick the month for the weather, not the queue.

Estimate: desk reasoning from typical visitor patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.

Bailouts

  1. heat

    Nearest café (field-verify)

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

Step-free check

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

Level gallery floors; a few steps at the entrance (check).

Combine with

nearest first
  1. 8 minMeskel Square
  2. 12 minAfrican Union headquarters (exterior)

Walk the Meskel Square & Kazanchis area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes

Red lines

  • This is a memorial to victims of state violence: keep a respectful, quiet tone inside.
  • Some exhibits (photographs, testimony) are graphic; consider carefully before bringing young children.
More on the groundWith kids

With kids

kids: cautionstroller: ok
with kids
Graphic content on state violence; better suited to older teenagers and adults than young children.
child price
free

Deep dive

Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated
What was the Red Terror?

A violent political campaign by Ethiopia's Marxist military government (the Derg) in 1977–1978 that killed tens of thousands of perceived opponents; the museum documents victims' stories and the period's history.

Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Sources