Rates in T2 before you hit the duty free
Right in Terminal T2, Currency Exchange sits on the passenger side of the international area, handy if you want Ethiopian birr in your pocket before boarding. It’s a basic counter-style operation: no chairs, no extras, just staff, a rate board, and stacks of forms. Figure on queues growing just after big departures to Europe and the Middle East, when several widebody flights leave within the same 90‑minute window.
Most travelers swap USD or EUR for birr here in T2, since those two currencies generally get the clearest posted rates. Cards often don’t help much with cash, so assume you’ll need physical notes for taxis and tips once you exit ADD. Bring small denominations like 20s and 50s; staff may push back on very worn or marked bills, especially older $100 notes.
You can usually exchange leftover birr back to USD or EUR on the way out of Ethiopia at this same T2 counter, but the buy-back rate tends to be worse. If you’re only connecting through Addis for a few hours in T2, it rarely makes sense to change huge amounts; ATMs near other gates sometimes give better net value when fees are factored in.
Practical tip: take a quick photo of the posted T2 board rates before handing over cash, then check your receipt on the spot so you catch any miscount or extra commission line while you’re still at the counter.