Since its establishment in the 19th century, Ethiopia’s sprawling capital in the highlands borders the Great Rift Valley and is the country’s commercial and cultural hub. Its National Museum exhibits Ethiopian art and prehistoric fossils, including replicas of the famous early hominid, ‘Lucy’. The burial place of the 20th-century emperor, Haile Selassie, copper-domed Holy Trinity Cathedral is a Neo-Baroque architectural landmark. By skipping out on the contradictions of this complex city, you run the risk of failing to understand Ethiopia altogether. And Addis Ababa is the best place in the country to sample Ethiopian food and has some wonderful museums and world-class hotels.