Gondar
"The Camelot of Africa": 17th-century Fasil Ghebbi castle compound, Fasilides' Bath and the church of the painted angels.
Gondar and the Simien Mountains lie in the Amhara Region of northwestern Ethiopia, and a single trip lets you see two World Heritage sites. Gondar sits about 50 km north of Lake Tana and was the capital of the Ethiopian Empire from 1636. Within its royal enclosure are palaces including Fasilides' Castle, while outside the walls you will find Fasilides' Bath, the Kuskuam Palace and the angel-ceiling church of Debre Birhan Selassie. Simien Mountains National Park lies about 100 km northeast of Gondar and is famous for its kilometer-high escarpments, jagged peaks, and its gelada monkeys, walia ibex and Ethiopian wolves. The best season is the dry season from October to March, and the valleys are greenest just after the rains (June–September). Around January 19, Timkat (Epiphany) is celebrated with a grand baptism ceremony at the Bath, so book accommodation early. Getting there: the flight from Addis Ababa to Gondar takes about 1 hour. For the Simien Mountains, you must buy your park permit in the gateway town of Debark and hire an armed scout. We suggest 1–2 days in Gondar, then either a day trip into the Simien Mountains as far as Sankaber, or a 3–4 day trek to Gich, Imet Gogo and Chenek; climbing to the summit of Ras Dashen takes 7–9 days. The highlands have big day–night temperature swings, so bring warm clothing. Safety note: the situation in the Amhara Region has been changeable in recent years, and roads and flights may be disrupted at short notice. Before you travel, be sure to check the latest travel advisories from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, and arrange your trip through a reputable travel agency.
Top sights
- Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar – The royal castle complex of the Ethiopian Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries, blending Arab, Indian and Portuguese Baroque influences an…
- Debre Berhan Selassie Church – A church whose ceiling is covered with 80 winged angel faces, the most famous masterpiece of Ethiopian religious art.
- Fasilides' Bath – A royal pool with a two-tiered stone pavilion, its walls wrapped in fig tree roots, and the country's most spectacular Timkat baptism site…
- Kuskuam Palace – Palace and church ruins built in the 18th century by Empress Mentewab on the hillside northwest of the city, overlooking Gondar.
- Wolleka Falasha Village – Once a village where many Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) lived, it preserves mud-walled synagogues and pottery traditions.
- Gondar Piazza – A city center laid out during the Italian occupation, home to Art Deco buildings, cafés and markets.
- Kossoye Viewpoint – A highland viewpoint on the road from Gondar to Debark, overlooking layered valleys and often a stop on the way to the Simien Mountains.
Where to eat
- Four Sisters Restaurant – Gondar's top restaurant, run by four sisters, with a traditional buffet dinner, coffee ceremony and folk dance performa…
- Master Chef Restaurant – An affordable spot on the way from the castle to Four Sisters, best known for grilled Lake Tana fish and home-style Eth…