Under $100: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Ethiopian capital is a sprawling city of somewhere around 5 million inhabitants and, as a result, we’ll stay a bit central and take in a few museums, but before we do that, we’re going to need a bit of breakfast.

La Mandoline is worth the taxi trip, but do your best to make sure the cab driver knows it as it’s tough to find. While Ethiopia certainly has some lovely coffee, breakfast by western standards leaves a bit to be desired, but Mandoline’s omelets are worth the trip and, as at happens, the coffee is equally fantastic.

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First stop after breakfast should be the Red Terror Martyrs Memorial Museum. While a bit macabre, this small museum is a reminder of the terror inflicted on the Ethiopian people in the 1970s by the Derg.

To brighten it up after your short stay, head to the National Museum if only to check out this free museum and the Lucy fossils it contains.

Lunch should be big and let’s keep it traditional with the Yod Abyssinia Traditional Food Restaurant, featuring all the traditional dishes you could possibly dream of and gain a core understanding of what is wonderful about Ethiopian food.

© Marek Poplawski | Dreamstime

The Mercato should be your next stop before dinner where you are treated to quite possibly the most bustling, largest market in all of Africa.

Now that you have a taste for Ethiopian food, why stop now? Take yourself to 2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant for more injera, wats and other dishes while enjoying the live music and dancing.

While there is an active nightlife in Addis Ababa, clubs come and go far too often to make a suggestion. Start with an after-dinner drink at The Black Rose and ask around as to where you’ll spend your remaining $52.