Amhara Region · Ethiopia
Where to stay in Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar is a city in Amhara Region, Ethiopia, home to about 243,000 people.
- Best months
- November to January
- Nearest airport
- BJR8 km · Bahir Dar Airport
- Currency
- ETBbir
- Time zone
- Africa/Addis Ababa
- Language
- Amharic
About
About Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar (Amharic: ባሕር ዳር, lit. 'sea shore') is the capital city of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Bahir Dar is one of the leading tourist destinations in Ethiopia, with a variety of attractions in the nearby Lake Tana and Blue Nile river.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Bahir Dar
See
- Lake Tana Monasteries
- Blue Nile Falls
- Martyr's Memorial Monument
- Palace of Emperor Haile Selassie & Viewpoint over Bahir Dar/Blue Nile
- Kidus Giorgis church
- Hornbill trees
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Bahir Dar
16 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Abay Minch Lodge | 3.6 km | |
| Addis Amba Hotel | 0.3 km | |
| B&B The Annex | 1.5 km | |
| BenMas Hotel | 2.2 km | |
| Delano Hotel | 1.2 km | |
| Dib Anbessa Hotel | 1.1 km | |
| Jacaranda Hotel | 1.9 km | |
| Kitsel Hotel | 1.3 km | |
| Kuriftu Resort & spa Lake Tana | 1.6 km | |
| Palm Palace Hotel | 1.0 km | |
| Rahnile Hotel | 1.0 km | |
| Solyana Hotel | 2.5 km | |
| Tana Hotel | 2.0 km | |
| Unison Hotel and Spa | 1.2 km | |
| Water Front Hotel | 1.9 km | |
| Wynn Hotel - Bahir Dar | 1.0 km |
All 16 hotels in Bahir Dar, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Bahir Dar
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Bahir Dar are November to January. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; August is the wettest, with about 414 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Bahir Dar: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bahir Dar Airport (BJR), about 7.9 km from the city centre in a straight line; Gondar Airport (GDQ, 104 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
Bajajs (three-wheel rick-shaws) are the most common form of transportation in the city. There are also blue minibuses, but few still exist as means to get around town. Bajajs are inexpensive and cost no more than two birr per line of road and 30-50 birr for a private charter.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BJR · Bahir Dar Airport
GDQ · Gondar Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Bahir Dar
Stay safe
Like many other cities in Ethiopia, Bahir Dar is generally safe and free of violent crimes. You may encounter some hustlers around the shore of Lake Tana to get you rent a boat they may get a kick-back for. The boats on Lake Tana that take you to visit the monasteries have fixed rates. Make sure the self-appointed "brokers" won't get you charged a jacked up fee for the boats.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Bahir Dar: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Bahir Dar?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Bahir Dar are November to January. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; August is the wettest, with about 414 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Bahir Dar?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bahir Dar Airport (BJR), about 7.9 km from the city centre in a straight line; Gondar Airport (GDQ, 104 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Bahir Dar?
bir (ETB).
Nearby
Destinations near Bahir Dar
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.