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Gondar (also spelled Gonder) is a historic royal city of Ethiopia, in the northern Amhara region. It was the home of many emperors and princesses who ruled the country from the 12th century to the last decade of the 20th century, including Suseneos, Fasiledes, Empress Mentwab, Iyasu I, Tewodros II and Empress Taitu. Leading the list of its attractions is Fasil Ghebbi (the Royal Enclosure), containing several castles and palaces from the 17th and 18th centuries. The city was a battleground in World War II.
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The remains of a royal fortified city that was founded by Fasilides (Fasil), emperor of Ethiopia from 1632 to 1667, and was the home of the emperors in the 17th and 18th centuries. Dubbed the African Camelot, the 70,000sqm ghebbi (enclosure) contains six castles, three churches, a library, steam baths, and lion cages (now vacant). It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You MUST pay for a guided tour and the entrance fee. You can usually stop for a traditional coffee at the entrance. Ticket also includes Fasilides' Bath.
Across town from the Royal Enclosure, it once served as the bath for King Fasilides. Today it is used as a baptismal during Timket (18-21 January) where 30-40,000 people from all over the country gathers for swimming and mass. Same ticket as the Royal Enclosure. Halfway between the Atse Tewodros statue and Fasilides' Bath is a goat market which is interesting to see. Just before Fasilides' Bath on the same block is a place which serves beer, with a nice garden, next to a weaving workshop which makes fabric sold locally.
On the eastern outskirts of town, it seems more like a fortress than a church at first glance. This is because the local churches were once vulnerable to attacks by the Sudanese. There are twelve towers guarding this church, each representing one of the twelve apostles. The church was built at the end of the 17th century. It is worth visiting to see its amazing ceiling with intricately painted angels, and the other religious paintings covering the walls. At one stage there were 44 churches in Gondar but the Sudanese attacks in 1888 destroyed 43 of them. It is said that this church survived because of bees that repealed the attackers.
The traffic in this busy intersection in the centre of town drives around a statue of the warrior emperor Tewodros II (ruler from 1855 to 1868).
Popular board-game and an extremely good way of mixing with the locals.
Good Ethiopian and Italian food. Locals like this place.
By far the best restaurant in Gondar, beautiful restaurant with great service and amazing tej. If you want atmosphere along with great food (faranji and Ethiopian) this is the place to go. Sometimes has Ethiopian music and dancing at night. This is where all the faranjis (foreigners) go. Tour groups book tables here every night. À-la-carte around 150 birr, and in the evenings there is a buffet at 230 birr.
Pretty good food, both Ethiopian and Italian dishes. The fish supposedly comes straight from Lake Tana. Small and cosy place with good service and friendly people. Prices around 150 birr for a main dish.
Not too cosy, but inexpensive and excellent value. Try their tibbs wate. They serve meat even during Lent. Injera is at around 25 birr.
Great local coffee place opposite from the bus station. 5 birr for a coffee.
Great coffee place for a lunchbreak. Near O-shape Hotel.
Check your room carefully for working bathroom fixtures and cleanliness before agreeing to take it.
Reasonable hotel with average but overpriced restaurant serving mostly Western food. This is probably the best bang for the buck hotel in Gondar (maybe even Ethiopia). Standard is decent (intermittent power, intermittent wi-fi, no bugs, clean), but don't expect modern Western standards.
In the city centre, just around the corner from the Palace. Still with kinks to work out, but the most upmarket option available in Gondar.
Former Ghion (government) hotel, so it's old - 1977. However, rooms are comfortable and clean. Hot water is not always available. Food in the restaurant is very good. There is a relatively clean pool. An ATM is available. It has excellent views, as it's on a hill overlooking the city.
Almost next door to L-Shape hotel, Michael Pension is another option for those looking for a cheap, generally clean hotel with hot water. Some of the rooms do smell like stale cigarette smoke and can be a little noisy due to their situation to the staircase (but are otherwise fine), so always check the rooms before paying. Staff are friendly but English proficiency can vary greatly. Cheapest singles from 200 birr/night (high season, January 2015).
Lovely hotel with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. The rooms and bathrooms are big, modern, and tidy. The staff are incredibly friendly.
The rooms in the main building with shared cold showers are clean and tidy. (Don't get the more expensive rooms in the annex, although they have their own showers the plumbing in the annex is crook). Breakfast included. You can book with internet booking sites. Owners here are pretty relaxed and will even let you put up your tent to save money or if place is full.
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