Bahir Dar, also spelt Bahar Dar, on the southern shore of Lake Tana, the biggest lake in Ethiopia, is the third largest city in the nation, after Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, with a population of half a million. It's the capital of the Amhara region, dominated by the Amhara people, the Ethiopia's second largest grouping; the Ethiopian official language is Amharic. Bahir Dar is a clean and well-maintained city by African standards. Even the cheaper accommodation has neat, but basic, services.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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.
1 Lake Tana Monasteries. Some of the world's oldest churches and monasteries are on islands in Lake Tana. There are lots of boat tours available to the monasteries. Entrance at each monastery is 100 birr as of 2016. The tours range from 2 to 12 hours long and can be booked through your hotel, by contacting a guide directly on WhatsApp, or by one of the many touts in the city. They can organise a boat tour for half a day and a trip to the Blue Nile Falls for the other half of the day, which should cost no more than 400 birr per person.
Cycling Bikes can be rented at Ghion Hotel. Enkutatask (Ethiopian New Year): 11 or 12 September annually. The place to be on the eve of this holiday is on the shore of Lake Tana. Deacons in the monasteries on islands all over the lake will make music all night, leaning on canes or sticks so they can stand all night. They chant and play musical instruments like the drum and sistrum that go back to the traditions of the Old Testament's King David.
1 Checheho Cultural Restaurant, Lake Rd (near Wude Coffee). Not just a restaurant, an excellent cultural club with azmari music and dance performances, one of the best nightspots in town. (updated Jan 2023) 2 Lake Shore Resort, Lake Street (along the lake near Summerland Hotel). It has good food and amazing views of the lake from the garden. The foiled fish has a good reputation. Appears closed in July 2021, probably for refurbishment. 90 birr for the foiled fish. (updated Jul 2021) 3 Desset Restaurant, Lake Street (just behind the big tower “Grand Resort and Spa”). A new restaurant that has OK food and a beautiful view of the lake.
Balageru Cultural Club. Meals, tej and azmari music. There are many cultural night clubs throughout the city center. There are a few Western music clubs, with Dream House and a bar above Friendship Cafe the most popular. 1 Wude Coffee, Lake Street. Wood and stone building. Nice for a quiet drink. Also serves Ethiopian food. (updated Sep 2015) Hot Spot, inside the big tower “Grand Resort and Spa”. (updated Sep 2015)
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.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €134 — book ahead for the popular ones.
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In Jul, Bahir Dar typically sees ~23°C daytime highs and 29 rainy days.
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