Balageru Cultural Club

Bahir Dar


If you’d like an entertaining cultural experience and a good laugh, visit this place. Various azmari (local minstrels who perform a mix of music and humour) do their thing nightly (from around 7.30pm to 2am) to the rapturous joy of locals. If you’re brave enough to dance – if you're not, order a tej bet (honey wine) and you'll find all inhibitions drift away – you’ll win lots of friends.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Bahir Dar attractions

1. St George Church

0.1 MILES

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.

2. Fish Market

0.18 MILES

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…

4. Main Mosque

0.28 MILES

Bahir Dar's largest mosque and an important local landmark.

5. Main Market

0.42 MILES

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…

6. Blue Nile Bridge

1.54 MILES

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…

7. Martyrs Memorial Monument

2.34 MILES

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…

8. Debre Maryam

2.76 MILES

The original 14th-century (some say 12th-century) church at Debre Maryam was rebuilt by Tewodros in the 19th century. It’s unattractive both outside and…