Mekele is connected to Addis Ababa by regular flights on Ethiopian Airlines, with the journey taking about an hour and a half. Alula Aba Nega Airport sits about 7km east of the city centre. This is by far the most practical way to get to Mekele from outside Ethiopia.
By road, Mekele is about 783km north of Addis Ababa on a mostly paved route through the highlands. The journey takes 12 to 16 hours by bus from the Autobus Terra station in Addis Ababa, running through Lalibela junction and Weldiya. Long-distance buses depart early morning. The scenery through the northern highlands is spectacular, particularly around Weldiya and the descent to the Tigray plateau, but the journey is long and dusty.
Check current travel advisories before visiting: the Tigray region was heavily affected by the 2020-2022 war and parts of the road network and some services have been disrupted. The situation has been improving, but conditions on the ground change and it is worth getting up-to-date advice from your embassy or from travellers who have been recently.