Bahir Dar

Some people like to describe Bahir Dar (ባህር ዳር) as the Ethiopian Riviera. The moniker sounds strange, but when you pull into town and see the wide streets shaded by palm trees and sweeping views across Lake Tana’s shimmering blue waters, you’ll perhaps understand. More than a block back from the shore, however, Bahir Dar is just another busy Ethiopian city.

The main reason to come here is to launch a boat excursion out onto Lake Tana to visit its monasteries, and to see the Blue Nile Falls.

Explore Bahir Dar

M
Main Market
If you can tear yourself away from the lake, visit the large and lively main market. It’s busiest on Saturday – market day – when people stream into town…
B
Blue Nile Bridge
You can only reach the famous outlet of the Blue Nile by boat, but you can get pretty close along the Gonder road, 2km out of town, where a bridge spans…
P
Palace of Haile Selassie
Two-and-a-half kilometres south of the Martyrs Memorial, northeast of town, is Bezawit Hill. Its summit holds a former palace of Haile Selassie, which isn…
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Martyrs Memorial Monument
Just past the bridge is a large Martyrs Memorial Monument dedicated to those who died fighting the Derg. Its fountain cascading down to the Blue Nile is…
F
Fish Market
There’s a one-table fish market in the mud-hut deacon’s village behind St George’s Church. The catch is brought in by tankwa in the morning and pelicans…
S
St George Church
One of the largest churches in Bahir Dar and right next to the water, but it's not a patch on Lake Tana's monasteries.
M
Main Mosque
Bahir Dar's largest mosque and an important local landmark.
S
St Mikael Church
A small church hidden in the trees near the lakeshore.

M
Main Market
If you can tear yourself away from the lake, visit the large and lively main market. It’s busiest on Saturday – market day – when people stream into town…
B
Blue Nile Bridge
You can only reach the famous outlet of the Blue Nile by boat, but you can get pretty close along the Gonder road, 2km out of town, where a bridge spans…
P
Palace of Haile Selassie
Two-and-a-half kilometres south of the Martyrs Memorial, northeast of town, is Bezawit Hill. Its summit holds a former palace of Haile Selassie, which isn…
M
Martyrs Memorial Monument
Just past the bridge is a large Martyrs Memorial Monument dedicated to those who died fighting the Derg. Its fountain cascading down to the Blue Nile is…
F
Fish Market
There’s a one-table fish market in the mud-hut deacon’s village behind St George’s Church. The catch is brought in by tankwa in the morning and pelicans…
S
St George Church
One of the largest churches in Bahir Dar and right next to the water, but it's not a patch on Lake Tana's monasteries.
M
Main Mosque
Bahir Dar's largest mosque and an important local landmark.
S
St Mikael Church
A small church hidden in the trees near the lakeshore.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bahir Dar.

See
Main Market
If you can tear yourself away from the lake, visit the large and lively main market. It’s busiest on Saturday – market day – when people stream into town…
See
Blue Nile Bridge
You can only reach the famous outlet of the Blue Nile by boat, but you can get pretty close along the Gonder road, 2km out of town, where a bridge spans…
See
Palace of Haile Selassie
Two-and-a-half kilometres south of the Martyrs Memorial, northeast of town, is Bezawit Hill. Its summit holds a former palace of Haile Selassie, which isn…
See
Martyrs Memorial Monument
Just past the bridge is a large Martyrs Memorial Monument dedicated to those who died fighting the Derg. Its fountain cascading down to the Blue Nile is…
See
Fish Market
There’s a one-table fish market in the mud-hut deacon’s village behind St George’s Church. The catch is brought in by tankwa in the morning and pelicans…
See
St George Church
One of the largest churches in Bahir Dar and right next to the water, but it's not a patch on Lake Tana's monasteries.
See
Main Mosque
Bahir Dar's largest mosque and an important local landmark.
See
St Mikael Church
A small church hidden in the trees near the lakeshore.

Guidebooks

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