Bole, Addis Ababa

Bole is the best-known area in Addis Ababa. It holds Bole International Airport, Bole Road and many of the newest apartment towers in the city. Bole is also the name of a large sub-city in the east and south-east of Addis Ababa. Most people use the name for the busy area along Bole Road, around Bole Medhanealem Church, Edna Mall and Atlas. This guide covers that core area. Bole Bulbula, Bole Arabsa and Ayat have their own guides.

Living in Bole

Bole is the commercial center of modern Addis Ababa. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, banks and offices line Bole Road and the streets next to it. Many embassies, international organizations and private firms have offices or staff housing here. The area is busy by day and active at night.

Bole has several smaller areas. Bole Atlas has many mid-rise apartment buildings and restaurants. Bole Dembel takes its name from Dembel City Center, a shopping and office building on Bole Road. Bole Medhanealem has a large church, Edna Mall and dense shopping streets. Listings often use these names instead of "Bole".

The city rebuilt Bole Road under its corridor development project. In August 2024 the mayor announced the Bole Road corridor complete. The works added wide sidewalks, bicycle lanes, parking, bus and taxi bays, and green public spaces. Many roadside buildings were renovated or removed. Walking along the main road is now easier than before.

Life in Bole has costs. Traffic is heavy at peak hours. Construction is constant. Rents and service prices are higher than in most of the city. Homes near the airport also hear aircraft noise.

Property types and prices

Bole has the widest choice of property in Addis Ababa:

• New apartment towers from private developers, often with lifts, parking and backup power
• Furnished and serviced apartments for short and long stays
• Older villas and G+1 or G+2 houses on walled compounds
• Shops and offices on the ground floors of mixed-use buildings

Bole is one of the most expensive areas in the city. Listing data from Ethiopia Property Centre shows a median asking rent of about ETB 60,000 a month for apartments in April 2026. Other months show medians from about ETB 50,000 to ETB 130,000, because the samples are small. Furnished units and large villas ask much more. Use these figures as a rough guide only.

Sale prices for new apartments depend on the tower, the floor, the finish and the payment plan. Several developers build here. Gift Real Estate sells apartments in Bole Atlas. Hosea Real Estate builds a high-rise in Bole Medhanealem.

Getting around

Bole Road, also called Africa Avenue, links the airport with Meskel Square and the city center. Minibus taxis, city buses and ride-hailing apps serve the whole area. The light rail does not run through central Bole. The nearest stations are on the east-west line at Megenagna and at Stadium, near Meskel Square. The airport is close, which is a big advantage for people who travel often.

Who Bole suits

• Expats, diplomats and staff of international organizations
• Business people who want short trips to offices, hotels and the airport
• Investors who want to rent furnished units to foreign tenants
• People who like restaurants, cafes and nightlife close to home

Bole suits buyers on a tight budget less well. It also suits people who want a quiet street less well. For lower prices with good access to Bole, look at Gerji or Megenagna.

Buying or renting in Bole

Start with the listings for apartments for rent and apartments for sale. Visit at different times of day to check noise and traffic. Ask about water supply, a backup generator, parking and lift service. For a purchase, check the title deed, the building permit and the developer's delivery record. Our guide on how to buy a house in Addis Ababa lists the steps.