Bahir Dar
Africa · Ethiopia
See also
Gondar
Ethiopia12.60°N 37.47°E · 2,133 m
Lalibela
Ethiopia12.03°N 39.03°E · 2,500 m
Overview
Bahir Dar is the third largest city in Ethiopia, capital of Amhara region, on Lake Tana. It is clean and well-maintained by African standards.
Languages: Amharic
Why go?
Bahir Dar is the third largest city in Ethiopia, capital of Amhara region, on Lake Tana. It is clean and well-maintained by African standards. Even cheaper accommodation has neat, basic services.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Get around
Bajajs (three-wheel rickshaws) are the most common transport. They cost no more than two birr per line and 30-50 birr for a private charter. There are also blue minibuses.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to do
Lake Tana Monasteries on islands are some of the world's oldest churches. Entrance at each monastery is 100 birr. Half-day boat tours cost no more than 400 birr per person. The Blue Nile Falls (Tis Abay) is 35 km south-east, entrance 50 birr, with a mandatory guide for 200 birr. In rainy season the falls are impressive, but minimal in dry season. Also visit the Palace of Emperor Haile Selassie, Martyr's Memorial, and the Hornbill trees near Ours Guesthouse. Bikes can be rented at Ghion Hotel. The Enkutatask (Ethiopian New Year) celebration on Lake Tana shore features all-night music by deacons.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and drink
Checheho Cultural Restaurant has azmari music and dance. Lake Shore Resort offers good food with lake views; foiled fish is 90 birr. Desset Restaurant has sunset views. Azewa Hotel has inexpensive fish goulash. WaWi Pizzeria serves Western food for 25-80 birr. Al-Hanan Muslim Restaurant serves mutton dishes and coffee ceremony. There are cultural nightclubs and Western music clubs like Dream House and a bar above Friendship Cafe.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to stay
Bahir Dar Backpackers Hostel offers dorms from $5 and private rooms $10-15. Tana Pension has rooms from $2.50. Ours Guest House costs 400-500 birr with hot shower. Bin Anbessa Hotel: double 600 birr. Blue Nile Hotel: single 500, double 600. For luxury, Grand Resort and Spa from $70. Blue Nile Camping atop the falls: private hut 700 birr for two.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Stay safe
Bahir Dar is generally safe and free of violent crimes. Beware of hustlers around Lake Tana who try to get you to rent a boat at inflated prices. Boats have fixed rates; avoid self-appointed brokers.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Connect
As of 2019, only 3G coverage. Hotel Wi-Fi is not always faster.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
Gondar to the north has castles and palaces. Lalibela to the west has rock-hewn churches.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Shop
The market on Giorgis Road is big and colourful, open daily but biggest on Saturday. Local speciality: goat hide footstools, available along the road from Ghion Hotel to the main highway. ATMs at Dashen Bank and Ethiopia Commercial Bank accept MasterCard and Visa.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
Bahir Dar Backpackers Hostel
Opened on Dec 2019, so everything is clean and tidy. It accommodates mostly backpackers, which makes it easy to find travel partners and good people to hang with. They have Dormitory rooms for $5 a bed, and also private rooms in the range of $10 to $15- all with shared bathrooms. There's also a common area, fully equipped kitchen to cook in, and Wi-Fi. Lots of travelling information is available around the hostel, so it's a nice place to plan your next step. Walking distance from great restaurants and Tana lake, where it's nice to walk around.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Bin Anbessa Hotel
Large hotel with restaurant. Was being renovated in 2013. Friendly staff. Very good, by Ethiopian standards, free Wi-Fi.
Recorded price: Double with bathroom for 480 birr if you're Ethiopian, otherwise it's 600 birr
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Blue Nile Camping
Great option if you'd like to see the falls at sunset and/or sunrise. Don't expect anything super clean or comfortable. Freshly cooked meals served upon request – dinner was very delicious – as well as beer, coffee, etc., so you don't have to prepare very much. They can also arrange for luggage transfer, so you don't have to carry everything from the park entrance (15 min walk + short boat ride).
Recorded price: 700 birr private hut for 2, smaller huts and tents available for less
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Blue Nile Hotel
OK with old rooms. View on the lake on the 3-5th flood. Free Wi-Fi. They can organize for you the boat trip and car trip to the Blue Nile Falls. Festive area (noise). Not to be confused with “Blue Nile Resort Hotel”.
Recorded price: Single 500 birr, double 600 birr
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Blue Nile Resort Hotel
A luxury resort on the shore of the lake. Not to be confused with “Blue Nile Hotel”.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Delano Hotel
A reasonable modern hotel near the new stadium. Rooms have air conditioning, good enough wifi and hot water. It is close to the main road, but is quiet at night. The credit card machine rarely works.
Recorded price: 1,200ETB
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Grand Resort and Spa
Recorded price: Single US$70/l, double $90/suite $200
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Ours Guest House
Clean place with hot shower and double rooms. You will need to add extra 50 birr for the breakfast for a second person, as of July 2019.
Recorded price: 400-500 birr
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Connectivity
3G mobile coverage only as of 2019; hotel Wi-Fi is slow.
Money
ATMs at Dashen Bank and Ethiopia Commercial Bank accept MasterCard and Visa.
Safety
City generally safe; beware of boat hustlers around Lake Tana trying to charge inflated prices.
Transport
Bajajs are the main local transport; cost 2 birr per line or 30-50 birr private charter.