Do places in Ethiopia accept American Express?

Just back from Ethiopia-money stuff is kinda simple. Visa works, Amex doesn’t. I used Visa at Dashen Bank ATMs all over Addis and pulled birr without issues. Mastercard worked at Commercial Bank of Ethiopia once, but got declined at another. Restaurants in Bole and some hotels let me pay with Visa, but everywhere else wanted cash. Out in Lalibela, I had to pay for everything with birr. My Amex stayed in my wallet the whole trip-only Hilton in Addis even knew what it was. Bring Visa, carry cash, and you’ll be fine.

Be prepared for Ethiopia to be a mostly cash-based trip. American Express is rarely accepted, even in Addis. Visa works best, especially at Dashen Bank ATMs, which are reliable and found in major neighborhoods. Mastercard is less consistent but still usable at some ATMs and hotels. Don’t leave withdrawals to the last minute-machines sometimes run out of cash. Shops and restaurants outside Addis almost never take cards, so stock up on birr before you travel. If you’re planning to use Amex, you’ll be disappointed-stick to Visa or Mastercard.

I had a really good experience using Visa in Ethiopia. ATMs at Dashen Bank and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia let me withdraw birr without issues. Mastercard also worked fine at a few ATMs and restaurants in Bole district. I did swipe Amex successfully at the Hilton in Addis, but nowhere else. Most bigger restaurants in Addis, like in Bole or near Meskel Square, accepted my Visa credit card. Once you step outside Addis into towns like Lalibela or Gondar, though, it’s almost all cash. Bring Visa, maybe Mastercard, and don’t rely on Amex.

In Ethiopia, American Express is not widely accepted. Most ATMs in Addis Ababa and other major cities work with Visa, and some also with Mastercard-Dashen Bank and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia ATMs were the most reliable for me. Restaurants, hotels, and bigger shops in Addis accept Visa and sometimes Mastercard, but smaller cafés and local businesses are strictly cash only. If you’re carrying Amex, expect it to work only at a handful of upscale hotels. Your best bet is to use Visa for withdrawals and payments, and keep Ethiopian birr handy for everything else.