Almost everyone arrives through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Ethiopian Airlines is one of Africa's largest and best-run carriers, with direct flights from London, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Washington, Toronto, Dubai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai, and many other cities. From within Africa, Ethiopian flies to dozens of destinations — it is the dominant hub carrier for the continent.
Other airlines serving Addis include Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), Emirates (via Dubai), Kenya Airways (via Nairobi), EgyptAir (via Cairo), and several Gulf carriers. Competition keeps fares reasonable. Istanbul and Dubai are the most common connection points from Europe and Asia.
Dire Dawa in the east has a secondary airport with some regional flights, mainly useful if you are heading to Harar.
Overland entry is possible but limited. The main land crossing from Kenya is at Moyale, on the road from Nairobi via Marsabit. The road has improved significantly but the Kenyan side can still be rough. Direct buses run between Nairobi and Addis Ababa, a journey of about two days.
From Djibouti, the modern Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway provides a link, though schedules can be irregular. Road crossings from Djibouti and Somaliland (via Hargeisa to the Wajale border) exist and are used, though conditions vary.
The borders with Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia are either closed or not recommended for travel. Check current conditions before planning any overland route.
Most nationalities need a visa. E-visas are available online for many countries and are straightforward to obtain. Visa on arrival is possible at Bole Airport for many nationalities but applying in advance avoids the queue.