Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum contains some fine and well-preserved Sabaean and early Ge'ez inscriptions, some dating back over 2500 years. There's also an interesting variety of objects found in tombs, ranging from ordinary household objects such as drinking cups, lamps and incense burners, to quite sophisticated glassware including perfume bottles.

There's a particularly nice collection of Aksumite coins dating from the 4th to 6th centuries AD, though those housed in the Ethnological Museum in Addis Ababa are finer. You'll also see beautiful lion gargoyles, and the charming pot shaped like a three-legged bird. Much of the pottery was produced in ancient Aksum and the tradition continues today. An ancient amphorae from Turkey or Cyprus also provides evidence of ancient trading routes.

The free guided tours (15 to 20 minutes) are comprehensive though not wildly inspiring; tips are expected.