Things To Do In Bahir Dar

Quick answer: The top things to do in Bahir Dar are browsing the local market, taking a boat tour to the island monasteries of Lake Tana, watching the sunset from Bezawit Hill and hiking to the Blue Nile Falls. Bahir Dar, the laid-back city on the southern shore of Lake Tana, is the third major city in Ethiopia and the gateway to both the lake and the falls. Two days here gives you enough time to explore the best of the city.

Getting to Bahir Dar

By Bus

Bahir Dar is well connected by daily bus services from Addis Ababa and Gondar. The 563-kilometre trip from Addis Ababa usually takes 9 hours and 30 minutes, and a ticket costs around 340 ETB per person. It is recommended to book a ride with Sky bus or Selam bus.

By Air

Ethiopian Airlines operates daily scheduled flights from Addis Ababa and Lalibela. If you fly into Ethiopia on Ethiopian Airlines, the airline offers discounted tickets on its domestic routes.

Where to Stay in Bahir Dar

The area around Lake Tana is the centre of the city, and the most convenient base for sightseeing.

Things to Do in Bahir Dar

1. Explore the Bahir Dar Market

Start your visit at the local market, the busiest part of Bahir Dar. Here you can watch produce being brought in from nearby farms and locals buying it.

The market has shops selling everything from clothes, bags, fruit and vegetables to livestock and spices. It is not a touristy place, but it is where you can witness the daily life of the people of Bahir Dar.

2. Tour the Lake Tana Monasteries

Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia, is the source of the Blue Nile, which starts its long journey here to Khartoum (Sudan) and on to the Mediterranean. The lake’s islands and peninsulas collectively house more than 20 monastic churches and are home to a variety of bird and fish species.

The tour covers five major islands: Debre Maryam, Entos Eyesu, Kibran, Azwa and Bete Maryam. The inner walls of these churches are covered with impressive, colourful murals that summarise Biblical stories in a cartoon-like style.

Lake Tana boat tour	Details
Departures	Motor boats leave Lake Tana Pier every hour
Duration	Five to six hours
Boat cost	Around 200 ETB per person
Monastery entry	100 ETB per monastery

Tip: arrange the tour through your hotel, as touts on the shore quote exorbitant rates.

Debre Maryam Monastery

The island of Debre Maryam sits at the Blue Nile outlet. Its monastery was founded by Saint Tewodros Tselalesh in the 14th century, burnt down during the Zemene Mesafint and was later rebuilt by Emperor Tewodros in the 19th century.

The island is home to 25 families of priests and monks, and the church compound houses all 10 priests and their families.

Entos Eyesu Monastery

This small monastery is nestled on an island covered with lush tropical vegetation. It has separate entrances for male and female visitors, and the walls inside are covered with brightly painted religious themes and Bible stories.

Kibran St. Gabriel Monastery

Kibran Gabriel is a large monastery and one of the oldest on the lake, dating back to the 13th century. Women are not allowed inside the church.

The main building is round with a square inner sanctum and 12 pillars representing the apostles. The paintings here are older than at the other monasteries.

Azwa Mariam Monastery

This wonderfully preserved monastery dates back several centuries and is still in use today. The Byzantine-style paintings covering every surface tell stories from the 88 books of the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, compared with the 66 books of the Bible common in the western world.

Bete Maryam

Founded in the 13th century, Bete Maryam is the oldest monastery on the Zege Peninsula. Its excellent murals have suffered water damage. It is a short walk from the pier through lemon and coffee trees.

Just uphill, Bete Giorgis is being rebuilt from scratch following a fire, but its small museum with an important collection of crowns is still open.

3. Watch the Sunset from Bezawit Hill

Bezawit Hill is nine kilometres south of the city centre, with a former palace of Haile Selassie on its summit. The palace cannot be photographed and is not open to visitors.

Viewpoints in front of and behind the palace offer panoramic views over the lake, the river and the town, and they are great at sunset. No public transport comes near here, so hire a tuk-tuk, or “bajaj” as Ethiopians say; the ride to the summit costs no more than 40 Birr.

4. Visit the Blue Nile Falls

One of the prime attractions near Bahir Dar, the Blue Nile Falls can be reached from the city centre by bus or by joining an organised tour group. A guide is often recommended, but with a detailed map the trail is simple to follow.

The falls are 28 kilometres south-east of Bahir Dar down a bad dirt road. Buses leave Bahir Dar every hour for Tis Abay village; the one-hour ride costs 13 ETB. The last bus back to Bahir Dar from the village leaves at 4.30pm.

Get Out: Bahir Dar to Gondar

Gondar, the popular historic town, is 175 km north of Bahir Dar. Minibuses run on this route frequently and charge around 35 ETB per person.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Bahir Dar?

Two days is enough to see the market, the Lake Tana monasteries, Bezawit Hill and the Blue Nile Falls.

How much does a Lake Tana monastery tour cost?

The boat costs around 200 ETB per person for the five-to-six-hour trip, plus 100 ETB entry at each monastery.

How do I get from Bahir Dar to the Blue Nile Falls?

Take the hourly bus to Tis Abay village for 13 ETB, and make sure you catch the last bus back at 4.30pm.

Can women visit all the Lake Tana monasteries?

No. Women are not allowed inside the church at Kibran Gabriel, and Entos Eyesu has separate entrances for men and women.

Conclusion

With its lively market, centuries-old island monasteries, sunset views and the mighty Blue Nile Falls, Bahir Dar is well worth two days of any Ethiopia itinerary. When you are done, Gondar is just a short minibus ride to the north.