Bahir Dar is firmly on the historical circuit, and on paper it’s easy to see why. The city has a prime location on the shores of Lake Tana and is within easy enough reach of the monasteries that lie farther afield. It is also not far from the impressive Blue Nile Falls. Being a city also means better access to amenities, and there’s more than one passable supermarket that you can stock up at as well as semi-decent access to internet cafes and banking. There also seems to be a wider array of dining options here, though as in other locations in Ethiopia you really shouldn’t expect the majority of what’s on the menu to actually be in stock! Where Bahir Dar fails on the ground is that it’s just not a particularly relaxing place to be a tourist in. Aside from the lakeshore walks, the city’s close proximity to sites-of-interest means an increase in touts and hawkers, some of who can be quite conniving and persistent. The appalling condition of some buses also means that you’ll be more likely to want to take prearranged ‘tours’, many of which are simply poorly organised, difficult to organise, and/or not great value for money. Nevertheless, being within easy overland distance of Gondar, means that you’ll no doubt come here. And you should, if nothing else but to make up your own mind about the place. – Daniel
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Top Tips
Don’t rush into agreeing to any excursions upon arrival in Bahir Dar. Touts seem to be particularly dishonest here with regards to Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls trips.
If you need a break from the centre of Bahir Dar, make sure to try out Lake Tana Walk 1 or Lake Tana Walk 2. Strolls along the lakeshore can be quite pleasant indeed.
If you can get the Ethiopian Airlines discount, consider flying to Lalibela. It’s cheap and considerably faster than the awkward bus connection via Gashena.
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The Directions
If you know how to get to Bahir Dar and would like to share that information with the community, contact [email protected] and we’ll post it right here in the directory.
The Directions
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