Find places in Ethiopia

Must-Haves

• National Museum of Ethiopia (Arat Kilo)
  See Lucy, the famous early human skeleton, and other fossils that tell the story of humankind.
• Ethnological Museum (Sidist Kilo)
  Set in Haile Selassie's former palace, it is one of the finest museums in Africa on the country's many peoples.
• Holy Trinity Cathedral (Arat Kilo)
  The grand cathedral holding the tombs of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen.

Fun for Everyone

• Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum (Meskel Square)
  A moving, personal account of the Derg years told by survivors.

Off the Beaten Path

• Entoto Maryam Church (Entoto)
  The hilltop church where Emperor Menelik II was crowned, with a small museum and city views.

Fun for Everyone

• Unity Park (Grand Palace)
  Palace rooms, gardens and black-maned lions inside the historic Grand Palace grounds.
• Debre Libanos Monastery (Debre Libanos)
  A historic monastery above a gorge, with the Portuguese Bridge and gelada nearby.

Off the Beaten Path

• St George's Cathedral (Piassa)
  An octagonal cathedral with murals and a museum of imperial treasures.

Fun for Everyone

• Entoto Park (Entoto)
  Forest trails, viewpoints and cafés on the hills above the city, perfect for easing into the altitude.

Off the Beaten Path

• Wenchi Crater Lake (Ambo road)
  A green crater lake with horse rides and a monastery island, a scenic day trip from the capital.

Must-Haves

• Merkato (Addis Ketema)
  A vast open-air market where you can lose hours among spices, baskets and recycled goods.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Shiro Meda Market (Shiro Meda)
  Stalls of handwoven cotton scarves, dresses and gabi shawls at local prices.

Must-Haves

• Tomoca Coffee (Piassa)
  The historic roaster that has served strong macchiato to the city since the 1950s.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Alem Bunna (Bole)
  A busy local coffee chain where office workers grab a quick macchiato.

Great for Date Night

• Kaldi's Coffee (Bole)
  Ethiopia's popular coffee chain, a reliable stop for a cake and a cappuccino.

Must-Haves

• Yod Abyssinia (Bole)
  A big cultural restaurant with dancers and singers from across the country each evening.
• 2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant (Bole)
  Traditional dishes with an evening show of music and dances from many regions.
• Sishu (Bole)
  A favourite for its burgers and sliders when you need a break from injera.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kategna (Bole)
  A popular modern spot for kitfo, firfir and traditional breakfasts.

Great for Date Night

• Castelli Restaurant (Piassa)
  A historic Italian restaurant serving pasta in old-world style since the 1940s.

Must-Haves

• Fendika Cultural Center (Kazanchis)
  Live azmari music and Ethio-jazz in a much-loved cultural venue.

Must-Haves

• Sheraton Addis (Lideta)
  A landmark hotel with gardens and pools, used for many big events.

Great for Date Night

• Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa (Meskel Square)
  A modern hotel overlooking Meskel Square, convenient for the centre.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Taitu Hotel (Piassa)
  The city's oldest hotel, founded by Empress Taitu, full of character in the old centre.

Fun for Everyone

• Ethiopian Skylight Hotel (Bole)
  A huge airport hotel ideal for early flights and long layovers.

Must-Haves

• Meskel Celebration (Meskel Square)
  Huge crowds and a giant bonfire mark the finding of the True Cross each September.
• Timkat at Jan Meda (Jan Meda)
  Processions, chanting and the blessing of the waters at Epiphany each January.

Fun for Everyone

• Great Ethiopian Run (Meskel Square)
  A massive, joyful street race each November that anyone can join.

Must-Haves

• Bete Giyorgis (West group)
  The cross-shaped church carved straight down into the rock, the icon of Lalibela.
• Bete Medhane Alem (Northern group)
  Thought to be the largest monolithic church in the world, ringed by massive columns.
• Bete Maryam (Northern group)
  Perhaps the oldest church in town, with richly painted ceilings and carvings.

Fun for Everyone

• Bete Amanuel (Eastern group)
  Finely carved walls and a dark tunnel walk that guides love to explain.

Off the Beaten Path

• Yemrehanna Kristos (Outside Lalibela)
  An older church built inside a cave, worth the drive for its setting.

Off the Beaten Path

• Asheton Maryam Monastery (Above town)
  A steep walk or mule ride to a cliff monastery with huge views.

Great for Date Night

• Ben Abeba (Hillside)
  A spiral-shaped restaurant on the ridge, famous for sunsets over the valley.

Must-Haves

• Genna at Lalibela (Churches)
  Thousands of pilgrims gather for Orthodox Christmas in early January.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lalibela Saturday Market (Town)
  A big weekly market where farmers come in from the hills.

Must-Haves

• Fasil Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure)
  The walled compound of castles that gave Gondar its fame.
• Debre Berhan Selassie Church (East of centre)
  Rows of winged angels' faces cover the ceiling of this beautiful church.
• Fasilides' Bath (North-west of centre)
  A stone pavilion in a pool, wrapped in fig roots and the scene of Timkat.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kuskuam Palace (Outside town)
  Hilltop ruins of Empress Mentewab's palace with quiet views.

Must-Haves

• Timkat at Fasilides' Bath (Fasilides' Bath)
  The faithful leap into the blessed pool in one of Ethiopia's most joyful festivals.

Must-Haves

• Four Sisters Restaurant (Town centre)
  Traditional food and decor run by four sisters, with cultural evenings.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Piazza cafés (Piazza)
  Italian-era streets lined with cafés for macchiato and cake.

Must-Haves

• Goha Hotel (Hilltop)
  A long-running hotel on the hill with views over the city.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Gondar Market (Town centre)
  A busy market for baskets, spices and cotton cloth.

Must-Haves

• Ura Kidane Mehret (Zege Peninsula)
  A round church covered in vivid paintings, reached by boat across Lake Tana.

Fun for Everyone

• Azwa Maryam (Zege Peninsula)
  A painted monastery church in the coffee forests of the peninsula.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kebran Gabriel (Lake Tana)
  An island monastery close to town, open to men only.

Must-Haves

• Blue Nile Falls (Tis Abay)
  Thundering falls reached on foot across an old Portuguese bridge.

Fun for Everyone

• Blue Nile outflow boat trip (Lake Tana)
  Boats seek hippos where the Blue Nile leaves the lake.

Great for Date Night

• Bezawit Hill (Bahir Dar)
  Sunset views over the river from beside Haile Selassie's former palace.

Fun for Everyone

• Lakeside promenade (Lake Tana)
  Walk or cycle the palm-lined shore and watch papyrus tankwa boats.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bahir Dar Market (Town centre)
  Baskets, cotton cloth and spices in a busy local market.

Great for Date Night

• Kuriftu Resort and Spa Bahir Dar (Lakeside)
  Lakeside dining and a spa in a relaxing resort.

Must-Haves

• Harar Jugol (Old town)
  The walled old town of colourful lanes, mosques and shrines.
• Rimbaud House (Old town)
  An ornate merchant's house with photos of old Harar and the poet's story.

Fun for Everyone

• Sherif Harar City Museum (Old town)
  A private collection of coins, weapons and manuscripts in an old house.

Off the Beaten Path

• Shrine of Sheikh Abadir (Old town)
  One of the most revered shrines in a city of hundreds.

Must-Haves

• Hyena feeding (Outside the walls)
  Watch hyena men feed wild hyenas by hand after dark.

Off the Beaten Path

• Dire Dawa old town (Dire Dawa)
  A railway town with French-era buildings and a busy Kafira market.

Must-Haves

• Smugglers' Market (Old town)
  Goods from across the region crowd this lively market.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Harar Spice Lanes (Old town)
  Narrow lanes scented with spices, incense and coffee.

Must-Haves

• Harar coffee houses (Old town)
  Taste coffee made from the famous Harar beans, often spiced.

Must-Haves

• Imet Gogo viewpoint (Geech)
  A dizzying cliff-edge viewpoint over the lowlands.
• Gelada watching at Sankaber (Sankaber)
  Sit quietly among grazing troops of gelada monkeys.

Off the Beaten Path

• Chennek (Chennek)
  The best place to spot walia ibex and soaring lammergeiers.
• Ras Dashen (Eastern Simien)
  Climb Ethiopia's highest mountain on a multi-day trek.

Fun for Everyone

• Jinbar Waterfall (Geech)
  A huge waterfall plunging into a deep gorge.

Must-Haves

• Simien Mountains National Park Headquarters (Debark)
  Where treks start, with scouts and guides arranged.

Great for Date Night

• Limalimo Lodge (Park edge)
  A design-led eco lodge with spectacular escarpment views.

Fun for Everyone

• Geech Campsite (Geech)
  The classic campsite on the trekking route.