Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936-41. In 1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea late in the 1990s ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. The Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission in November 2007 remotely demarcated the border by geographical coordinates, but final demarcation of the boundary on the ground is currently on hold because of Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender territory considered sensitive to Ethiopia.

Addis Ababa - Capital of Ethiopia and the city is one of the biggest shopping cities in Africa.

Ethiopian National Museum

See a plaster replica of Lucy, an early hominid. The museum is located between Arat Kilo Avenue and the University of Addis Ababa Graduate School. Walking along the street starting from Meskel Sq. to Sidest Kilo is very comfortable and entertaining. It will give you the chance to see the Africa Hall, the palaces and the Parliament building, the Hilton Hotel, the marvelous architectural adventure of a building hosting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sheraton Hotel, the first modern school (which Menelik the II built in the 1880s), the Trinity Orthodox cathedral, the National Museum, and the Addis Ababa University (which also hosts a former palace and museum). Arat Kilo Avenue is marked by a statue built in commemoration of the Ethiopian V-day during the Second World War, while Sidest Kilo Avenue is marked by a statue commemorating the ~39,000 residents of Addis Ababa killed by Italian fascist troops. Around Arat Kilo, you will find part of an old town known as Serategna Sefer (literally, the residential area of laborers). If you want to proceed past Sidest Kilo, the road becomes steeper and much of the attractions will be on the right side of the road. The Entoto college (previously Teferi Mekonnen School) and the American Embassy are found on this side of the street. After the American Embassy there is an open market called Shiro Meda where traditional craftsmen sell their home made fabrics, pots and other crafts. The market place is at the foot of the Entoto Mountains that rises up to 3,300m above see level. You can take a taxi or a bus to the mountain unless you are of a mind to try it yourself. On the mountain, you will find the first churches of Addis Ababa called St. Mary and St. Raguel as well as smaller palace of Menelik the II. Walking on the mountain, especially between the churches is refreshing and gives you the chance to see rural life, the city itself, forest and unbelievably beautiful landscape intersected by farmlands and trails of farmers. It is from here that Menelik II and Queen Taitu conceived of the establishment Addis Ababa. You can get a sense of the city plan yourself by looking from here at the current city.

Africa Hall

Located across Menelik II avenue from this Palace and is where the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is headquartered as well as most UN offices in Ethiopia. It is also the site of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) which eventually became the African Union.

The Parliament building

Built during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, with its clock tower. It continues to serve as the seat of Parliament today.

Shengo Hall

Built by the Derg regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam as its new parliament hall. The Shengo Hall was the world's largest pre-fabricated building, which was constructed in Finland before being assembled in Addis Ababa. It is used for large meetings and conventions.

Medhane Alem

 (Savior of the World) Cathedral, which is the second largest in Africa.

Anwar Mosque

In the Merkato district, which happens to be the largest market in Africa, is the impressive Anwar Mosque. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family is also in the Merkato district.

Suburbs of the city include Shiro Meda and Entoto in the north, Urael and Bole (home to Bole International Airport) in the east, Nifas Silk in the south-east, Mekanisa in the south, and Keraniyo and Kolfe in the west.

Menelik's old Imperial Palace

Menelik's old Imperial Palace which remains the official seat of government

National Palace

National Palace formerly known as the Jubilee Palace, built to mark Emperor Haile Selassie's Silver Jubilee in 1955, which is the residence of the President of Ethiopia.

The Hager Fikir Theatre

The oldest theater in Ethiopia, is located at the Piazza district.

Ethiopian National Library

Ethiopian Ethnological Museum

Addis Ababa Museum

Ethiopian National History Museum

Ethiopian Railway Museum

National Postal Museum

St George's Cathedral

North end of Churchill Road. Built in 1896 to commemorate Ethiopia's victory over the Italians. Open 8am - 9am, Noon - 2pm. The cathedral is a circular building that does not look very impressive when you approach it. As you walk around the building, you will notice people praying besides the walls, but it is unlikely that you will find an entrance. The Catherdral houses a small museum and close to it you will likely meet one of the archdeacons of the Cathedral. If he offers to be a guide, take his offer and visit the Cathedral with him. The interior is beautifully decorated with huge paintings and mosaics, and will make the trip worthwhile. It is worth visiting the museum with a guide as well to see ceremonial clothes and ancient manuscripts.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

The burial place for many famous people and once the largest Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral. Built to commemorate the country's liberation from the Italians.

Nazret - A popular weekend destination; also known as (Adama)

climb the beautiful surrounding mountains including "Kechema",take a short ride to "Sodere", a resort famous for it's natural hot volcanic water, swim in Sodere's olympic size swimming pool,take a ride on a local horse pulled taxi called "gari"

Aksum (Axum) - home of ancient tombs and stelae fields, near Eritrea

Church of St. Mary of Zion

Ethiopian legend has it that the Church is the repository of the Ark of the Covenant (the subject of the controversial The Sign and the Seal), which is said to have been stolen (with God's will) from the temple of Jerusalem by Menelik I, Solomon?s own son by the legendary Queen of Sheba. Unfortunately, for visitors, the chapel in which the Ark is secreted away is not accessible to anyone, including, even the Ethiopian emperors. Pilgrims flock here on Hidar 21 (November 30). The high entrance fee is deterring, but sometimes the guards let you have a look from the outside without having to pay. There are two churches in the compound: the old church, which was built by Emperor Fasiladas in 1665, and a new church built in the 1960s by Haile Selassie.

Northern Stelae Field

Including the Ezana Stele and the Giant Stele. There are numerous monolithic stelae fashioned out solid granite. Their mystery lies in that it is not known exactly by whom, and for what purpose, they were so fashioned, although they were likely associate with burials of great emperors. The biggest monolith (and the largest in the world), measuring over thirty-three meters (108 feet) and weighing about 500 tons, fell somewhere around the 4th Century AD and now lies in broken fragments on the ground. The second largest, which measures 24 meters (78 feet) high, is still standing at the entrance to the field, although it is leaning at a slight angle. Another stele, 24.8 meters (80 feet) high, fell while the tombs were being pillaged around the 10th Century AD. It was stolen by the invading forces of Fascist Italy and taken to Rome, where it stood, from 1937 to 2005. It has been returned to Ethiopia and will eventually be stood up again. The mausoleum and the tomb of the brick walls are not open to the public anymore. The tomb of the false door is very impressive with its accurate workmanship.

Palace of the Queen of Sheba

Only the foundations of this palace near the Judith stelae field remain. Although every calls it the Palace of the Queen of Sheba, it actually dates from the 7th Century AD, about 1500 years after the time of the Queen of Sheba.

Lioness of gonedra

A stone carving of a lion, a few kms out of town in direction Shire. It is close to the quarry where the stelae were made. Ask a local boy to show you where.

The tombs of the kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel

A 20-minute walk along the road heading northeast from the northern stelae field. Impressive foundations and tombs. Take a torch along.

Ezanas Scriptures

 (on the way from the northern stelae field to the tombs of the kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel), usually closed, wait for the keybearer.

Judith Stelae field

 (out of town in direction Shire), of inferior quality in comparison to the northern stelae field

Ezana park

Where there is another multilingual script table of king Ezana.

Archaelogical museum

A collection of stone artefacts giving you an idea how advanced the culture was.

Bahir Dar - Near the source of the Blue Nile and Lake Tana

Approximately, 35 km from Bahir Dar, there is the Blue Nile Falls or Tis Abay(in Amharic). Although much of the water is now diverted to a power dam, it is still a spectacular sight: smaller than Niagara Falls, but amazingly scenic. You can take a bus to the village of Tis Abay, from which it is a 30-minute walk to the falls. If you take the bus, ignore anyone in the village who insists that the last bus back to Bahir Dar will be full and wants you to pay them to hold a seat, or that the last bus has already left but they can offer you an amazingly expensive taxi ride. There are plenty of buses back to Bahir Dar, the last one leaves at 5PM or later, and the bus conductor will find a seat for you! You can also arrange for a tour to the falls through your hotel.

Bahir Dar is situated on the southern shore of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile (or Abay). On the islands of the lake there are some of the world's oldest churches and monasteries. There are plenty of boat tours available to the monastaries; these range from 2 to 12 hours in length and can be booked through your hotel or by one of the many touts in the city. It is also possible to charter your own boat so you can choose which churches and islands you wish to see. In some of these monasteries, women are not allowed to enter. Be cautious and aware of the traditions and rules of the Ethiopian Orthodox church when you visit. (Note: These churches are definitely unique to Ethiopia, but they tend to be expensive and the tours are overrated. The boat trip on the lake is nice, but there are better examples of rural churches elsewhere in Ethiopia in a more pleasant and less touristy environment.)

Bahir Dar grew around a Jesuit settlement, founded in the sixteenth or seventeenth century, from which time the Pedro Páez building dates. One of Emperor Haile Selassie's palaces is located near the city, and the Emperor considered moving the national capital to the town. The palace is an impressive architectural work of its time. Facing Lake Tana it provides a beautiful, picturesque scene of the Blue Nile.

Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile. If you take a boat trip ask the 'driver' to take you to the place where the river flows out of the lake. It is very atmospheric, and probably the best place to spot Hippo.

Bahir Dar has a quite big and colorful market.

Dire Dawa -The second largest city of Ethiopia

The French-built train station can give you a 19th century feeling.

At night and early in the morning, the Dechatu river basin has a heart warming sunset and sunrise scene.

Gondar - Some of East Africa's only castles

Gondar Castle

A tiny version of Camelot. It costs a steep 50 Birr - price includes a guide but he will also expect a tip.

Debre Birhan Selassie Church

A short way out of town, is worth a visit to see its amazing
ceiling. It is priced at 25 Birr but a student reduction is possible. 
Debre Bihran Selassie: 17th-18th Century wall paintings

Harar - Ancient walled city

One of the major attractions of Harar is a mansion once housed the French's renowned poet Arthur Rimbaud. The mansion is now converted to a museum.

The old town is home to ninety-nine mosques and many more shrines, centred on Feres Magala square.

Notable buildings include Medhane Alem Cathedral and the sixteenth century Jamia Mosque.

There is also a market.

A long standing tradition of feeding porridge to hyenas one night a year developed in the 1960s into a nightly feeding show for the benefit of tourists.

Lalibela - Home to 11 rock-hewn churches

This rural town is known around the world for its monolithic churches, which were built during the reign of Lalibela.

The Northern Group: Bete Medhane Alem, home to the Lalibela Cross and believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, probably a copy of St Mary of Zion in Aksum. It is linked to Bete Maryam (possibly the oldest of the churches), Bete Golgotha (known for its arts and said to contain the tomb of King Lalibela), the Selassie Chapel and the Tomb of Adam.

The Western Group: Bete Giyorgis, said to be the most finely executed and best preserved church.

The Eastern Group: Bete Amanuel (possibly the former royal chapel), Bete Merkorios (which may be a former prison), Bete Abba Libanos and Bete Gabriel-Rufael (possibly a former royal palace), linked to a holy bakery.

Licensed guides are available from the tourist office in Lalibela for 150 birr per day. These guides are well trained and have an excellent working knowledge of the churches and good relationships with the priests. Unlicensed guides will approach you all over the village, but they often know very little about the churches and are best avoided.

The churches are open from 9:00 to 13:00 hours, and then from 14:00 to 17:00 hours.

Farther a field lie the monastery of Ashetan Maryam and Yimrehane Kristos church (possibly eleventh century, built in the Aksumite fashion but within a cave).

Contrary to certain spurious myths, the great rock-hewn churches of Lalibela were not built with the help of the Knights Templar; rather, they were produced solely by medieval Ethiopian civilization. However, there is controversy as to when the churches were constructed. Some scholars believe that the churches were built well before Lalibela and that Lalibela simply named them after himself.

Mekele - a town in the Tigrayan Highlands.

Yohannis IV Museum - in the old palace opposite the Atse Yohannis Hotel Chele Anka Waterfall - 8km out of Mekele, to the southwest - a nice hike to get there, more dramatic in the rainy season.