Ethiopia Travel Guide

Mercato

The Mercato is the largest outdoor market in Africa and Addis' most colorful sight. There are tinkers, tailors, spice merchants, camel traders, and purveyors of just about every possible commodity under the sun - including, of course, wonderful Ethiopian coffee. Needless to say, it is a great place to pick up souvenirs. Mercato really is an exhilarating place to visit although probably not for the faint hearted. With animals wandering the streets, vendors hollering, the pungent aromas of local dishes and a riot of color and sensations, you will find a visit here to be a memorable experience.

This is a pick-pocketing hotspot though, so be careful with your valuables. Wear a money belt under your clothes rather than keeping cash in an accessible place. Bargain hard as prices are enormously flexible and foreigners are routinely charged 3-4 times the going rate. Be careful of purchasing antiques and historical artifacts as without a certificate they may be confiscated at the airport.

National Museum

The museum has a varied range of exhibits across three floors covering a wide scope of Ethiopian history. The most famous exhibit is the replica statue of Lucy, at 3.18 million years old, the oldest hominid skeleton ever found. The fragile original skeleton is in the vaults of the building. Also of interest is the selection of celebrated Ethiopian artworks from Aksum, Lalibella, and Tana Monasteries, plus relics from Haile Selassie's reign. Check ahead of time as to whether there is a power cut scheduled.

St George Cathedral

St George Cathedral was founded by the great Emperor Menelik to commemorate his 1896 victory over the invading Italian army. The outer walls of the building are covered in wonderful artwork and mosaics, including work by Afewerk Tekle. Inside beautiful stained glass windows enhance the sacred atmosphere. Luminaries such as Haile Selassie and Empress Menen are buried here. Attend a service (enquire for times) to experience the wonderful singing and prayerful chanting so typical of Coptic Christianity.

Lalibela

Lalibela is one of the world's most remarkable spiritual sites, home to Ethiopia's astounding rock hewn churches and an important source of pilgrimage to Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians. There are 13 churches in total, each carved from a single piece of granite, and all in current use. They were carved between the 10th and 12th centuries in a bid to create the New Jerusalem for those unable to pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The small town itself is fairly rudimental, but there is an airport, one large hotel and good restaurants. The atmosphere of Lalibela can be described as biblical, a quiet, mystical place, with a cool, moist climate, that never fails to astound its growing number of visitors. It should be noted that Lalibela and its churches are not tourist attractions, but places for worship and contemplation: tourists should be respectful when visting and taking photographs.

Gondor

Axum

Axum is a city in far northern Ethiopia that is believed by Ethiopian Christians to be home to the Ark of the Covenant, housed in the 16th century Church of St Mary of Zion. The city was once the center of a mighty empire, although from the 10th century it declined into insignificance leaving behind a dusty, lugubrious town largely ignorant of its glorious past. Axum's other major attraction is possibly more remarkable than its putative Ark: its stone obelisks (stellae), weighing up to 500 tons, and dating from around 300AD. In 2008 one such obelisk was returned to Ethiopia with great fanfare after having been looted by Italy in the early 20th century.

Harer

Harar

Harar is a fascinating, exotic town of considerable interest to visitors willing to make the 320 miles (520km) journey east from Addis Ababa. Harar is the fourth holiest city in Islam, forbidden to outsiders until 1887 when it became part of the Ethiopian empire.

An enduring reputation for having the most beautiful women in Africa, and possibly Ethiopia's best coffee, adds to the allure of this intriguing destination. The city is perched on the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley, affording it a cool climate and wonderful views of the soaring mountains to the east. The main attractions are inside the Walled City, a fascinating warren of medieval mosques, houses and markets. Another popular attraction is the nocturnal Hyena Man, who feeds wild hyenas strips of raw meat suspended from his mouth.

Harar's two most famous western inhabitants were Richard Burton, and Arthur Rimbaud, who lived here for a decade in the 1880s, writing poetry and running guns for the sultan. Shoppers should look for the highly regarded hand-crafted silverware, and the locally brewed Harar beer.

Bahar Dar

The charming town of Bahar Dar sits at the southern edge of Lake Tana and is a base for visiting spectacular Tisissat Falls and exploring the lake's 37 islands with their ancient churches and monasteries. Access to many of these are closed to women, although the boat trip around the lake and exteriors are still worth the trip. The most beautiful of the monasteries are Debre Kebran Gabriel, which dates from the 14th century, and Ura Kidane Mehret which as exceptional frescoes.

Gondar

Gondar is a city like no other, scattered with ancient castles, churches and endowed with magnificent mountain scenery and a pleasantly cool climate. Situated 460 miles (748km) north of Addis, this is the next clockwise step after Bahar Dar on the official Historic Route through Ethiopia.

Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia for 200 hundred years, which accounts for the abundant imperial architecture, most densely concentrated in the Royal Enclosure which contains five castles. The oldest, and most architecturally interesting, is the Castle of Fasilades which has Axumite, Portuguese and Indian elements. Near the edge of Gondar is the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie which dates from 1682 and contains the country's most celebrated ceiling murals.

Gondar is also a natural base for treks into the Simien Mountains and many companies tout their services. Choose carefully and get the opinion of recently returned trekkers before committing to a particular guide.

Mercato

The Mercato is the largest outdoor market in Africa and Addis' most colorful sight. There are tinkers, tailors, spice merchants, camel traders, and purveyors of just about every possible commodity under the sun - including, of course, wonderful Ethiopian coffee. Needless to say, it is a great place to pick up souvenirs. Mercato really is an exhilarating place to visit although probably not for the faint hearted. With animals wandering the streets, vendors hollering, the pungent aromas of local dishes and a riot of color and sensations, you will find a visit here to be a memorable experience.

This is a pick-pocketing hotspot though, so be careful with your valuables. Wear a money belt under your clothes rather than keeping cash in an accessible place. Bargain hard as prices are enormously flexible and foreigners are routinely charged 3-4 times the going rate. Be careful of purchasing antiques and historical artifacts as without a certificate they may be confiscated at the airport.

National Museum

The museum has a varied range of exhibits across three floors covering a wide scope of Ethiopian history. The most famous exhibit is the replica statue of Lucy, at 3.18 million years old, the oldest hominid skeleton ever found. The fragile original skeleton is in the vaults of the building. Also of interest is the selection of celebrated Ethiopian artworks from Aksum, Lalibella, and Tana Monasteries, plus relics from Haile Selassie's reign. Check ahead of time as to whether there is a power cut scheduled.

St George Cathedral

St George Cathedral was founded by the great Emperor Menelik to commemorate his 1896 victory over the invading Italian army. The outer walls of the building are covered in wonderful artwork and mosaics, including work by Afewerk Tekle. Inside beautiful stained glass windows enhance the sacred atmosphere. Luminaries such as Haile Selassie and Empress Menen are buried here. Attend a service (enquire for times) to experience the wonderful singing and prayerful chanting so typical of Coptic Christianity.

Lalibela

Lalibela is one of the world's most remarkable spiritual sites, home to Ethiopia's astounding rock hewn churches and an important source of pilgrimage to Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians. There are 13 churches in total, each carved from a single piece of granite, and all in current use. They were carved between the 10th and 12th centuries in a bid to create the New Jerusalem for those unable to pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The small town itself is fairly rudimental, but there is an airport, one large hotel and good restaurants. The atmosphere of Lalibela can be described as biblical, a quiet, mystical place, with a cool, moist climate, that never fails to astound its growing number of visitors. It should be noted that Lalibela and its churches are not tourist attractions, but places for worship and contemplation: tourists should be respectful when visting and taking photographs.

Gondor

Axum

Axum is a city in far northern Ethiopia that is believed by Ethiopian Christians to be home to the Ark of the Covenant, housed in the 16th century Church of St Mary of Zion. The city was once the center of a mighty empire, although from the 10th century it declined into insignificance leaving behind a dusty, lugubrious town largely ignorant of its glorious past. Axum's other major attraction is possibly more remarkable than its putative Ark: its stone obelisks (stellae), weighing up to 500 tons, and dating from around 300AD. In 2008 one such obelisk was returned to Ethiopia with great fanfare after having been looted by Italy in the early 20th century.

Harer

Harar

Harar is a fascinating, exotic town of considerable interest to visitors willing to make the 320 miles (520km) journey east from Addis Ababa. Harar is the fourth holiest city in Islam, forbidden to outsiders until 1887 when it became part of the Ethiopian empire.

An enduring reputation for having the most beautiful women in Africa, and possibly Ethiopia's best coffee, adds to the allure of this intriguing destination. The city is perched on the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley, affording it a cool climate and wonderful views of the soaring mountains to the east. The main attractions are inside the Walled City, a fascinating warren of medieval mosques, houses and markets. Another popular attraction is the nocturnal Hyena Man, who feeds wild hyenas strips of raw meat suspended from his mouth.

Harar's two most famous western inhabitants were Richard Burton, and Arthur Rimbaud, who lived here for a decade in the 1880s, writing poetry and running guns for the sultan. Shoppers should look for the highly regarded hand-crafted silverware, and the locally brewed Harar beer.

Bahar Dar

The charming town of Bahar Dar sits at the southern edge of Lake Tana and is a base for visiting spectacular Tisissat Falls and exploring the lake's 37 islands with their ancient churches and monasteries. Access to many of these are closed to women, although the boat trip around the lake and exteriors are still worth the trip. The most beautiful of the monasteries are Debre Kebran Gabriel, which dates from the 14th century, and Ura Kidane Mehret which as exceptional frescoes.

Gondar

Gondar is a city like no other, scattered with ancient castles, churches and endowed with magnificent mountain scenery and a pleasantly cool climate. Situated 460 miles (748km) north of Addis, this is the next clockwise step after Bahar Dar on the official Historic Route through Ethiopia.

Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia for 200 hundred years, which accounts for the abundant imperial architecture, most densely concentrated in the Royal Enclosure which contains five castles. The oldest, and most architecturally interesting, is the Castle of Fasilades which has Axumite, Portuguese and Indian elements. Near the edge of Gondar is the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie which dates from 1682 and contains the country's most celebrated ceiling murals.

Gondar is also a natural base for treks into the Simien Mountains and many companies tout their services. Choose carefully and get the opinion of recently returned trekkers before committing to a particular guide.

Mercato

The Mercato is the largest outdoor market in Africa and Addis' most colorful sight. There are tinkers, tailors, spice merchants, camel traders, and purveyors of just about every possible commodity under the sun - including, of course, wonderful Ethiopian coffee. Needless to say, it is a great place to pick up souvenirs. Mercato really is an exhilarating place to visit although probably not for the faint hearted. With animals wandering the streets, vendors hollering, the pungent aromas of local dishes and a riot of color and sensations, you will find a visit here to be a memorable experience.

This is a pick-pocketing hotspot though, so be careful with your valuables. Wear a money belt under your clothes rather than keeping cash in an accessible place. Bargain hard as prices are enormously flexible and foreigners are routinely charged 3-4 times the going rate. Be careful of purchasing antiques and historical artifacts as without a certificate they may be confiscated at the airport.

National Museum

The museum has a varied range of exhibits across three floors covering a wide scope of Ethiopian history. The most famous exhibit is the replica statue of Lucy, at 3.18 million years old, the oldest hominid skeleton ever found. The fragile original skeleton is in the vaults of the building. Also of interest is the selection of celebrated Ethiopian artworks from Aksum, Lalibella, and Tana Monasteries, plus relics from Haile Selassie's reign. Check ahead of time as to whether there is a power cut scheduled.

St George Cathedral

St George Cathedral was founded by the great Emperor Menelik to commemorate his 1896 victory over the invading Italian army. The outer walls of the building are covered in wonderful artwork and mosaics, including work by Afewerk Tekle. Inside beautiful stained glass windows enhance the sacred atmosphere. Luminaries such as Haile Selassie and Empress Menen are buried here. Attend a service (enquire for times) to experience the wonderful singing and prayerful chanting so typical of Coptic Christianity.

Lalibela

Lalibela is one of the world's most remarkable spiritual sites, home to Ethiopia's astounding rock hewn churches and an important source of pilgrimage to Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians. There are 13 churches in total, each carved from a single piece of granite, and all in current use. They were carved between the 10th and 12th centuries in a bid to create the New Jerusalem for those unable to pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The small town itself is fairly rudimental, but there is an airport, one large hotel and good restaurants. The atmosphere of Lalibela can be described as biblical, a quiet, mystical place, with a cool, moist climate, that never fails to astound its growing number of visitors. It should be noted that Lalibela and its churches are not tourist attractions, but places for worship and contemplation: tourists should be respectful when visting and taking photographs.

Gondor

Axum

Axum is a city in far northern Ethiopia that is believed by Ethiopian Christians to be home to the Ark of the Covenant, housed in the 16th century Church of St Mary of Zion. The city was once the center of a mighty empire, although from the 10th century it declined into insignificance leaving behind a dusty, lugubrious town largely ignorant of its glorious past. Axum's other major attraction is possibly more remarkable than its putative Ark: its stone obelisks (stellae), weighing up to 500 tons, and dating from around 300AD. In 2008 one such obelisk was returned to Ethiopia with great fanfare after having been looted by Italy in the early 20th century.

Harer

Harar

Harar is a fascinating, exotic town of considerable interest to visitors willing to make the 320 miles (520km) journey east from Addis Ababa. Harar is the fourth holiest city in Islam, forbidden to outsiders until 1887 when it became part of the Ethiopian empire.

An enduring reputation for having the most beautiful women in Africa, and possibly Ethiopia's best coffee, adds to the allure of this intriguing destination. The city is perched on the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley, affording it a cool climate and wonderful views of the soaring mountains to the east. The main attractions are inside the Walled City, a fascinating warren of medieval mosques, houses and markets. Another popular attraction is the nocturnal Hyena Man, who feeds wild hyenas strips of raw meat suspended from his mouth.

Harar's two most famous western inhabitants were Richard Burton, and Arthur Rimbaud, who lived here for a decade in the 1880s, writing poetry and running guns for the sultan. Shoppers should look for the highly regarded hand-crafted silverware, and the locally brewed Harar beer.

Bahar Dar

The charming town of Bahar Dar sits at the southern edge of Lake Tana and is a base for visiting spectacular Tisissat Falls and exploring the lake's 37 islands with their ancient churches and monasteries. Access to many of these are closed to women, although the boat trip around the lake and exteriors are still worth the trip. The most beautiful of the monasteries are Debre Kebran Gabriel, which dates from the 14th century, and Ura Kidane Mehret which as exceptional frescoes.

Gondar

Gondar is a city like no other, scattered with ancient castles, churches and endowed with magnificent mountain scenery and a pleasantly cool climate. Situated 460 miles (748km) north of Addis, this is the next clockwise step after Bahar Dar on the official Historic Route through Ethiopia.

Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia for 200 hundred years, which accounts for the abundant imperial architecture, most densely concentrated in the Royal Enclosure which contains five castles. The oldest, and most architecturally interesting, is the Castle of Fasilades which has Axumite, Portuguese and Indian elements. Near the edge of Gondar is the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie which dates from 1682 and contains the country's most celebrated ceiling murals.

Gondar is also a natural base for treks into the Simien Mountains and many companies tout their services. Choose carefully and get the opinion of recently returned trekkers before committing to a particular guide.

Mercato

The Mercato is the largest outdoor market in Africa and Addis' most colorful sight. There are tinkers, tailors, spice merchants, camel traders, and purveyors of just about every possible commodity under the sun - including, of course, wonderful Ethiopian coffee. Needless to say, it is a great place to pick up souvenirs. Mercato really is an exhilarating place to visit although probably not for the faint hearted. With animals wandering the streets, vendors hollering, the pungent aromas of local dishes and a riot of color and sensations, you will find a visit here to be a memorable experience.

This is a pick-pocketing hotspot though, so be careful with your valuables. Wear a money belt under your clothes rather than keeping cash in an accessible place. Bargain hard as prices are enormously flexible and foreigners are routinely charged 3-4 times the going rate. Be careful of purchasing antiques and historical artifacts as without a certificate they may be confiscated at the airport.

National Museum

The museum has a varied range of exhibits across three floors covering a wide scope of Ethiopian history. The most famous exhibit is the replica statue of Lucy, at 3.18 million years old, the oldest hominid skeleton ever found. The fragile original skeleton is in the vaults of the building. Also of interest is the selection of celebrated Ethiopian artworks from Aksum, Lalibella, and Tana Monasteries, plus relics from Haile Selassie's reign. Check ahead of time as to whether there is a power cut scheduled.

St George Cathedral

St George Cathedral was founded by the great Emperor Menelik to commemorate his 1896 victory over the invading Italian army. The outer walls of the building are covered in wonderful artwork and mosaics, including work by Afewerk Tekle. Inside beautiful stained glass windows enhance the sacred atmosphere. Luminaries such as Haile Selassie and Empress Menen are buried here. Attend a service (enquire for times) to experience the wonderful singing and prayerful chanting so typical of Coptic Christianity.

Lalibela

Lalibela is one of the world's most remarkable spiritual sites, home to Ethiopia's astounding rock hewn churches and an important source of pilgrimage to Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians. There are 13 churches in total, each carved from a single piece of granite, and all in current use. They were carved between the 10th and 12th centuries in a bid to create the New Jerusalem for those unable to pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The small town itself is fairly rudimental, but there is an airport, one large hotel and good restaurants. The atmosphere of Lalibela can be described as biblical, a quiet, mystical place, with a cool, moist climate, that never fails to astound its growing number of visitors. It should be noted that Lalibela and its churches are not tourist attractions, but places for worship and contemplation: tourists should be respectful when visting and taking photographs.

Gondor

Axum

Axum is a city in far northern Ethiopia that is believed by Ethiopian Christians to be home to the Ark of the Covenant, housed in the 16th century Church of St Mary of Zion. The city was once the center of a mighty empire, although from the 10th century it declined into insignificance leaving behind a dusty, lugubrious town largely ignorant of its glorious past. Axum's other major attraction is possibly more remarkable than its putative Ark: its stone obelisks (stellae), weighing up to 500 tons, and dating from around 300AD. In 2008 one such obelisk was returned to Ethiopia with great fanfare after having been looted by Italy in the early 20th century.

Harer

Harar

Harar is a fascinating, exotic town of considerable interest to visitors willing to make the 320 miles (520km) journey east from Addis Ababa. Harar is the fourth holiest city in Islam, forbidden to outsiders until 1887 when it became part of the Ethiopian empire.

An enduring reputation for having the most beautiful women in Africa, and possibly Ethiopia's best coffee, adds to the allure of this intriguing destination. The city is perched on the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley, affording it a cool climate and wonderful views of the soaring mountains to the east. The main attractions are inside the Walled City, a fascinating warren of medieval mosques, houses and markets. Another popular attraction is the nocturnal Hyena Man, who feeds wild hyenas strips of raw meat suspended from his mouth.

Harar's two most famous western inhabitants were Richard Burton, and Arthur Rimbaud, who lived here for a decade in the 1880s, writing poetry and running guns for the sultan. Shoppers should look for the highly regarded hand-crafted silverware, and the locally brewed Harar beer.

Bahar Dar

The charming town of Bahar Dar sits at the southern edge of Lake Tana and is a base for visiting spectacular Tisissat Falls and exploring the lake's 37 islands with their ancient churches and monasteries. Access to many of these are closed to women, although the boat trip around the lake and exteriors are still worth the trip. The most beautiful of the monasteries are Debre Kebran Gabriel, which dates from the 14th century, and Ura Kidane Mehret which as exceptional frescoes.

Gondar

Gondar is a city like no other, scattered with ancient castles, churches and endowed with magnificent mountain scenery and a pleasantly cool climate. Situated 460 miles (748km) north of Addis, this is the next clockwise step after Bahar Dar on the official Historic Route through Ethiopia.

Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia for 200 hundred years, which accounts for the abundant imperial architecture, most densely concentrated in the Royal Enclosure which contains five castles. The oldest, and most architecturally interesting, is the Castle of Fasilades which has Axumite, Portuguese and Indian elements. Near the edge of Gondar is the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie which dates from 1682 and contains the country's most celebrated ceiling murals.

Gondar is also a natural base for treks into the Simien Mountains and many companies tout their services. Choose carefully and get the opinion of recently returned trekkers before committing to a particular guide.