Simien Mountains National Park
Now here's something really special – one of the best places to stay in Ethiopia. The location is the best in the Simiens, with incredible views from the…
Must-see hotels in Northern Ethiopia
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
Finally nearing completion during our recent visit, Wukro Lodge has been worth the wait. The rooms feature traditional designs – split levels like many…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
Set on a rise southwest of Megab, this lovely place has stone cottages built from local materials (sandstone walls, olive-wood floors, eucalyptus ceilings…
Bahir Dar
There’s lots of new luxe lodging going up in Bahir Dar, but this attractive spot will surely remain one of the best. Kuriftu’s large, refined stone-and…
Gonder
Doing things its own way, this owner-managed spot next to the Royal Enclosure has the friendliest service in town, attention to detail and a real…
Bahir Dar
Opened in 2015, this 16-floor, 125-room skyscraper has the best views in Bahir Dar – whether facing the lake or the town, you'll find it hard to tear…
Northern Ethiopia
Just over the hill west of Gorgora, this Dutch-run spot is in an idyllic lakeside valley. The six solar-powered thatch-and-stone cottages are cosy and the…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
In a word: fantastic. This lovely Italian-owned, African-themed lodge has great facilities and service and many guests declare it their best night in…
Lalibela
Of all the hotels lined up along the ridges that face out over the valleys and mountains, this is the one we like best. With just 15 rooms, it has a more…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
If only all Ethiopian budget hotels were this good. Overseen by the professional Geshu, and with one of the faster wi-fi connections we came across in…
Lalibela
There were just three tukul-style rooms here when we visited, but they certainly caught our eye. Stunning wood furnishings, many with intricately carved…
Northern Ethiopia
Easily Adigrat's best place to stay, Agoro Lodge sits high on a hill 4km south of town. The rooms and public areas are built of sandstone and are large…
Northern Ethiopia
Easily Debre Markos' best, this newish hotel has large, immaculate rooms that still look as new as when they opened in 2014. Windows in some of the rooms…
Simien Mountains National Park
Our pick of the budget options in Debark, Pension Everlasting has a friendly English-speaking owner and a fine little restaurant where mostly local,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Gonder
Perched on a high natural balcony providing a lammergeyer's-eye view, the stone-walled Goha has the highest perch in all the land. The pool terrace and…
Northern Ethiopia
This place has four simple but almost-cosy upper-floor bedrooms, plus a lounge with fireplace and a kitchen. It’s still quite rustic, but small…
Bahir Dar
Known for its sunset views, Tana’s top selling point is the forested lakeside setting. Some funky touches, such as the goat-skin wall in the restaurant,…
Aksum
With quiet rooms set around possibly Aksum's loveliest garden courtyard and with a popular pizza restaurant, Kaleb has the nicest budget setting. The…
Lalibela
Ask many locals which is Lalibela's best hotel, and they'll tell you this place. It's certainly the biggest with 100 rooms, and while it does have a…
Northern Ethiopia
This is the best available hotel. Turn into the entrance and it looks inviting, but enter and you’ll find deferred maintenance and a lack of hot water in…
Gonder
Once Gonder’s top in-town digs, and the choice of most NGO and UN workers, the Taye lords over the heart of the city. Some of the front-facing rooms have…
Bahir Dar
Across the road from the lake, this fine modern place has nicely turned-out modern rooms, most with a balcony. The ones in the front building are best but…
Lalibela
Built by two former tour guides who received a miraculous business loan from a generous tourist, this comfortable hotel has an enviable perch with great…
Bahir Dar
Meticulous housekeepers and excellent prices make this city-centre spot popular. All rooms have satellite TV and the private showers have hot water…
Gonder
If only this place was closer to the centre (it's 5km east of town, on the road from Bahir Dar), it would be a top choice. The excellent rooms are modern…
