Dire Dawa
The dour exterior of Dire Dawa’s best lodging hides a classy lobby, well-appointed rooms (though not all have air-con) and a prolific list of amenities,…
Must-see hotels in Ethiopia
Mekele
With Mekele's classiest hotel rooms (at least for now – there's a five-star hotel under construction next door), the four-star Planet looks out over the…
Simien Mountains National Park
With undoubtedly the best rooms in Debark, Sona Hotel is a good choice. It has a bar, probably the town's best restaurant (mains Birr80 to Birr120) and…
Southern Ethiopia
The Lakeside has a professional air to it, with good, modern, business-standard rooms, all with balconies and great lake views. The wi-fi works most of…
Kafa Development Association (KDA) Guesthouse
Western Ethiopia
Run by a local NGO, this fine guesthouse has simple but light-filled rooms amid a verdant garden that captures all the reasons you came to Kafa in the…
Simien Mountains National Park
At 3260m this is Africa’s highest hotel. The thatch-and-stone tukuls are large and comfy, although many travellers feel they don’t get nearly enough for…
Lalibela
This peaceful ecolodge in the hills above Lalibela (five hours by foot: many people use mules, and it's possible to drive to within an hour's walk) has…
Gonder
Lording it over the town's northern end and with terrific city views from most rooms (avoid the 'Mountain View' rooms), the Landmark is an excellent…
Addis Ababa
One of the top hotels in town, the Radisson lacks the Sheraton's scale but it's still one place we never hear a bad word about. Rooms are large and…
Southern Ethiopia
Hyped as Ethiopia's first ecolodge when it opened in 1997, Bishangari has nine beautiful godjos (bungalows), nestled privately along the lake's…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
Still under construction at the time of our visit, the new Kuriftu Resort (part of a chain with excellent hotels elsewhere in Ethiopia) is one to watch…
Addis Ababa
It may be way out in the west of Addis and not really close to much, but GT is a terrific place to stay. Lee is a memorable host and the rooms are…
Bahir Dar
Opened in 2015 with a decent city-centre location, RahNile gets the important things right. Modern, well-sized rooms are rather lovely, especially those…
Lalibela
The prices here haven't risen in years and that makes them even better value. While many tukul-rooms in Ethiopian hotels are dark, here they're filled…
Lalibela
A friendly place out on the tip of one of Lalibela's many ridges, Sora Lodge has a modern main building with tidy rooms and sweeping views from the upper…
Addis Ababa
Rooms here are nothing to write home about, but this place has that certain something that travellers can't get enough of. In short, it's a combination…
Bahir Dar
If you don't mind being a few blocks from the water, Delano is an excellent choice. The modern, immaculate and supremely comfortable rooms are some of the…
Aksum
One of a clutch of new hotels along the main road through town, the Yared Zema has some of Aksum's best beds. Attractive wood-floored rooms are easy on…
Addis Ababa
Vying for the title of Addis' best top-end hotel, the Capital is a classy establishment with a soothing wellness spa, good restaurants and stylish rooms…
Northern Ethiopia
Awra Amba's simple guesthouse (earthen walls, sheet-metal doors and a bathroom out back) has about the cleanest shoestring lodging you’ll ever see. Be…
Southern Ethiopia
Jinka’s fanciest (though least friendly) address is 4km out of town on the road to Mago. Simple safari tents on thatched-roof platforms are in a large…
Eastern Ethiopia
This delightfully old-fashioned relic of French railway days (1904) is without frills but it's high on atmosphere, with whitewashed walls, birds in the…
Northern Ethiopia
Just past the turn-off to the monastery along the main Addis–Bahir Dar road, this simple lodge makes the most of its gorge views and is a popular pit stop…
Eastern Ethiopia
This attractive place right above the falls has rustic yet serviceable wood-and-stone tukuls and a restaurant with awesome views. Aside from the setting,…
Eastern Ethiopia
If you’re looking for a casual place to unwind, then look no further. Refreshingly out of the ordinary, the nine rooms have a semitraditional theme and…
Eastern Ethiopia
The friendliest option by far is this family-run hotel on the cliff above the Awash River, where you might see crocodiles in the day. Rooms are small and…
Western Ethiopia
Set around flowering gardens, this colonial place has bundles of old-world charm. Though it shows its age in places, notably in the rooms, it’s still…
Bahir Dar
In a lovely garden location 2km west of town (the turn-off is just after the Blue Nile Bridge if you're coming from town), Abay Minch Lodge has stone-and…
Zubeyda Waber Cultural Guesthouse
Harar
Tucked in an old-town alleyway, this traditional Adare house oozes atmosphere, with five compact yet attractive rooms and a lovingly decorated sitting…
Southern Ethiopia
This hotel has three levels of rooms in an old and a more recent building. They’re old-fashioned and a bit overpriced, but you're paying a premium for the…
Southern Ethiopia
Thanks to a canopy of lush mango trees, there’s plenty of shade at this attractive campsite next to the Kaske River. The ablution block is cleaner than…
Eastern Ethiopia
Popular with Addis Ababa’s elite, this is a massive but attractive resort – the only one on Lake Kuriftu. There’s a wide variety of spacious, spick-and…
Western Ethiopia
OK, the rooms here are worn and tired, but the birdsong-filled gardens and helpful management give this place real character. Add in the restaurant (mains…
Southern Ethiopia
Dinsho Lodge is located above park headquarters (park fee applicable) and surrounded by endemic species; a stay here is a no-brainer. It feels more like…
Southern Ethiopia
If fancy decor is not the question, but hygiene, location and solid amenities are high on your list, then this salmon three-storey edifice near the main…
Southern Ethiopia
This smart resort has a spectacular location on Lake Langano's northeastern shore and is set in beautifully landscaped gardens. It comprises 29 well-sized…
Dire Dawa
Ras Hotel is back with a vengeance. After a top-to-bottom makeover, it now ranks as one of the swankiest options in Dire Dawa. Sure, its exterior look…
Bahir Dar
Inhabiting its own peninsula, this expansive 127-room place has a prime location. You pay extra for a waterfront room (although all have some sort of lake…
Addis Ababa
Friendly, immaculately well kept, supremely comfortable with beds that seem custom designed to give sweet dreams, endless piping-hot water and a quiet…
Southern Ethiopia
This sprawling place serves four-star luxury in a completely Ethiopian way – think dated design and uninspiring architecture. There’s a large variety of…
