| City: | Bahir Dar |
| Location: | Africa > Ethiopia |
What’s Plugged?
Reviews & Amenities
Top Descriptions
| 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 |
| If you’ve written a description for Bahir Dar you’d like to share with the community, send it to [email protected] and we’ll post it right here in the directory. |
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. |
| If you have a tip about 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 City
What should we know?
| Name in local script: | ባሕር ዳር |
| Also known as: | Bahar Dar, Sea Shore |
| Tour operator(s): | Add Data |
| Rental operator(s): | Add Data |
| Port(s): | Bahir Dar Airport |
| Station(s): | Bahir Dar Bus Station |
| Terminal(s): | Add Data |
| Environment type: | lake |
| Location type: | city, town, urban |
| Religion type: | Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity |
What can we see or do there?
| Events: | Add Data | |
| Services: | Add Data | |
| Shops: | Flavour Supermarket | Tigist Supermarket |
| Animals: | hippos | |
| Birds: | marabou storks |
How much will it cost us?
| Currency: | Ethiopian Birr (ETB) |
| Average daily budget: | ETB590 |
When should we go there, and for how long?
| Average time taken: | 5 nights |
| High season: | September to January |
| Low season: | July, August |
How can we get in contact?
| Language(s): | Amharic, English |
| Timezone: | UTC+03:00 |
| Country calling code: | 251 |
What are the numbers and averages?
| Number of attractions visited: | 10 |
| Travel time to attractions: | 45 minutes |
| Travel time to next location: | 5 hours |
| Size: | Add Data |
| Altitude: | 1,800m |
What else would be good to know?
| Wikipedia: | Bahir Dar |
| Wikitravel: | Bahir Dar |
| Tripadvisor: | Add Data |
| Local tourism: | Ethio Visit |
| Emergency service(s): | Add Data |
| Travel advisories: | UK Government |
| Healthcare: | Add Data |
| Weather: | AccuWeather |
| News: | Add Data |
| Public holidays: | Time and Date |
Local Availability
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Beer (multinational) | 500ml | |
| Beer (national) | 500ml | ETB20 |
| Fizzy drink | 1 litre | ETB0 |
| Fruit juice | 1 litre | ETB75 |
| Gin (multinational) | 1 litre | ETB0 |
| Gin (national) | 1 litre | |
| Milk | 1 litre | ETB30 |
| Oil | 1 litre | ETB70 |
| Rum (multinational) | 1 litre | |
| Rum (national) | 1 litre | |
| Vodka (multinational) | 1 litre | ETB900 |
| Vodka (national) | 1 litre | |
| Water | 1 litre | ETB15 |
| Whisky (multinational) | 1 litre | ETB1,450 |
| Whisky (national) | 1 litre | |
| Wine | 1 bottle | ETB120 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds | 100g | |
| Apples | 1kg | ETB70 |
| Bananas | 1kg | ETB10 |
| Bell pepper | 1kg | |
| Bread | 1 loaf | ETB0 |
| Carrots | 1kg | ETB0 |
| Chillies | 1kg | ETB0 |
| Chocolate (multinational) | 1 bar | ETB25 |
| Chocolate (national) | 1 bar | ETB12 |
| Coconut milk | 1 can | |
| Cucumber | 1kg | |
| Eggs | 1 dozen | ETB0 |
| Garlic | 1kg | ETB0 |
| Ginger | 1kg | |
| Honey | 1 jar | ETB35 |
| Ice cream | 1 unit | |
| Jam | 1 jar | ETB65 |
| Onions | 1kg | ETB20 |
| Oranges | 1kg | ETB20 |
| Pasta | 1kg | ETB60 |
| Peanut butter | 1 jar | ETB30 |
| Peanuts | 100g | ETB15 |
| Potatoes | 1kg | ETB15 |
| Raisins | 100g | ETB28 |
| Rice | 1kg | ETB55 |
| Sandwich | 1 unit | |
| Tomatoes | 1kg | ETB25 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Antifungal shampoo | 1 bottle | ETB104 |
| Conditioner | 1 bottle | ETB45 |
| Condoms | 1 pack | ETB3 |
| Deodorant | 1 can | ETB65 |
| Floss | 1 pack | |
| Hand sanitizer | 1 bottle | ETB42 |
| Laundry soap | 1 bar | ETB15 |
| Razors | 1 pack | |
| Sanitary towels | 1 pack | ETB19 |
| Shampoo | 1 bottle | ETB70 |
| Soap | 1 bar | ETB35 |
| Tampons | 1 box | |
| Toilet roll | 1 unit | ETB0 |
| Toothpaste | 1 tube | ETB18 |
| Washing powder | 1 box | ETB75 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Antiseptic cream | 1 tube | ETB45 |
| Bandages | 1 pack | ETB12 |
| Chapstick | 1 unit | ETB45 |
| Contact lens solution | 1 bottle | |
| Headache tablets | 1 pack | ETB2 |
| Ibuprofen | 1 pack | ETB27 |
| Mosquito repellent | 1 bottle | |
| Nail clippers | 1 set | ETB20 |
| Plasters | 1 pack | ETB5 |
| Sun cream | 1 bottle | ETB260 |
| Sunglasses | 1 pair | ETB0 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries | 4-pack | |
| Chilli powder | 100g | ETB0 |
| Cigarettes (multinational) | 20-pack | ETB90 |
| Cigarettes (national) | 20-pack | ETB20 |
| Coriander | 100g | ETB0 |
| Cumin | 100g | ETB0 |
| Fuel | 1 litre | ETB14 |
| Internet | 1 hour | ETB15 |
| Lighter | 1 unit | |
| Matches | 1 pack | ETB1 |
| Paprika | 100g | |
| Travel multiadapter | 1 unit | ETB55 |
| Travel plug | 1 unit | ETB25 |
| Turmeric | 100g | |
| Stock | 1 pack |
Local Cuisine
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast (continental) | ETB35 | |
| Breakfast (cooked) | ETB58 | |
| Burger | ETB57 | |
| Cake (slice) | ETB24 | |
| Carbonara | ETB53 | |
| Cereal | ETB48 | |
| Crème Caramel | ETB51 | |
| Curry (generic – meat) | ETB120 | |
| Curry (generic – vegetable) | ETB75 | |
| Cutlet (fish) | ETB69 | |
| Doro wat | ETB90 | |
| Doro fanta | ETB115 | |
| Eggs (how you like) | ETB41 | |
| French fries | ETB31 | |
| Fried (chicken) | ETB115 | |
| Fruit salad | ETB36 | |
| Gored gored | ETB73 | |
| Goulash (beef) | ETB67 | |
| Grilled (fish) | ETB79 |
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Injera firfir | ETB43 | |
| Key wat | ETB67 | |
| Kitfo | ETB81 | |
| Lasagna | ETB73 | |
| Mixed grill | ETB100 | |
| Noodles (meat) | ETB75 | |
| Pancake (simple) | ETB41 | |
| Pasta (meat) | ETB57 | |
| Pasta (vegetable) | ETB45 | |
| Pizza (loaded) | ETB103 | |
| Pizza (simple) | ETB67 | |
| Porridge | ETB40 | |
| Quanta firfir | ETB56 |
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Rice (meat) | ETB58 | |
| Rice (vegetable) | ETB45 | |
| Roasted (chicken) | ETB106 | |
| Roasted (lamb) | ETB88 | |
| Salad | ETB44 | |
| Salad (meat) | ETB45 | |
| Sandwich | ETB61 | |
| Shiro | ETB41 | |
| Shiro bozena | ETB49 | |
| Shiro tegamino | ETB44 | |
| Skewers (meat) | ETB80 | |
| Soup (meat) | ETB48 | |
| Soup (vegetarian) | ETB43 | |
| Steak | ETB81 | |
| Stir fry (meat) | ETB75 | |
| Stroganoff (meat) | ETB63 | |
| Tibs | ETB72 | |
| Whole (fish) | ETB95 |
| Beverage | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Beer (national) | ETB20 | |
| Bailey’s (shot) | ETB65 | |
| Cappuccino | ETB18 | |
| Coffee | ETB10 | |
| Cognac (bottle) | ETB5,000 | |
| Cognac (shot) | ETB90 | |
| Fruit juice (fresh) | ETB21 | |
| Gin (bottle) | ETB1,800 | |
| Gin (shot) | ETB48 | |
| Hot chocolate | ETB15 | |
| Malibu (bottle) | ETB1,800 | |
| Malibu (shot) | ETB45 | |
| Milk | ETB12 | |
| Ouzo (shot) | ETB15 | |
| Rum (bottle) | ETB1,750 | |
| Rum (shot) | ETB45 | |
| Sambuca (shot) | ETB35 | |
| Soft drink | ETB14 | |
| Tea | ETB11 | |
| Tequila (shot) | ETB33 | |
| Vodka (bottle) | ETB1,750 | |
| Vodka (shot) | ETB43 | |
| Water (2L) | ETB20 | |
| Whisky (bottle) | ETB1,800 | |
| Whisky (shot) | ETB48 | |
| Wine (bottle) | ETB151 | |
| Wine (glass) | ETB58 |
Bahir Dar Forum
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