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Travel advisory · EthiopiaSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Ethiopia.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
Areas with warnings
  • 100 km strip along the Somali region borders with Somalia and Kenya · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK, US
  • 30 km strip along the Somalia border in Fafan zone · avoid all travel · Canada, UK
  • 50 km strip along the Tigray border in Afar · avoid all travel · New Zealand, UK
  • Afar · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, UK, US
  • Amhara · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
  • Benishangul-Gumuz · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
  • Border with Eritrea · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
  • Border with Kenya · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
  • Border with South Sudan · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
  • Border with Sudan · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
  • East Wollega · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
  • Gambella · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, UK, US
  • Horo Gudru Wollega · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
  • Kellem Wollega · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
  • North Shewa · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, UK
  • Somali region · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand, US
  • Tigray · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
  • West Shewa · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, UK
  • West Wollega · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
  • Central Ethiopia Region · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, US
  • Guji zone · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
  • Oromia region · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, US
  • South Ethiopia Region · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, US
  • South West Ethiopia Region · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, US
  • West Guji · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK

Also named by one government: 10 km strip along the Somalia border in Sitti zone (Canada), Akobo district, Gambella (New Zealand), Arsi zone (Germany), Fanti zone, Afar (New Zealand), Jikawo district, Gambella (New Zealand), Jore district, Gambella (New Zealand), Kilbati zone, Afar (New Zealand), Lare district, Gambella (New Zealand), Maokomo special zone (UK), Metekel zone (UK), South West Shewa (Germany), Wantawo district, Gambella (New Zealand), A4 road between Addis Ababa and Cheliya (UK), Afder zone (UK), Dire Dawa city (Germany), Dollo zone (UK), East Shewa zone (UK), Harari region (Germany), Jarar zone (UK), Korahe zone (UK), Liben zone (UK), Nogob zone (UK), Shabelle zone (UK), Sidama (Germany), Siti zone (UK)

GovernmentAdviceUpdatedRead the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)–Read the advice
United States (State Dept)Reconsider travelAug 27, 2026Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)Avoid non-essential travel–Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)Von nicht notwendigen Reisen wird abgeraten (regional advisories)Oct 21, 2026Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)Avoid non-essential travel–Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)Vigilance renforcée (zones en jaune) (regional advisories)–Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

person in white dress in front of pink building

Lalibela

Travelers come to Lalibela to walk among medieval churches cut down into solid rock in a small highland town in northern Ethiopia.

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Lalibela is a small town in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, at about 2,500 meters above sea level. Its best-known sights are eleven medieval churches cut down into solid rock rather than built from stone blocks. Tradition links them to King Lalibela, who ruled in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. Most visitors fly in, since the town has an airport with domestic flights from Addis Ababa.

The churches are still used for worship, and the town fills with pilgrims for Genna, Ethiopian Christmas in January. Go for the history, the architecture and the Ethiopian Orthodox rites, and expect to move slowly over uneven stone, trenches, tunnels and steps. Plan at least two to three days to see the main churches without rushing. October to February is the driest stretch of the year.

Lalibela in five

  1. Get an Ethiopian eVisa before you flyMost visitors apply on the official eVisa site. Some nationalities can get a visa on arrival instead, so check which applies to your passport before you book.Visas and entry
  2. Book the flight into Lalibela airportLalibela has a small airport with flights from Addis Ababa. Seats can be limited in peak season, so book early. The road trip from Addis is long.Getting around
  3. Carry birr in small notesLarger hotels may take cards, but many shops, guides and drivers prefer cash. Get birr before you travel up to Lalibela.Money and costs
  4. Hire a licensed guide for the churchesThe rock churches sit in several groups, and the order is easy to miss without an explanation. A guide shows the sequence, the church rites and the best viewpoints.Tours and tickets
  5. Carry a warm layer for cold morningsLalibela sits at high altitude, so nights and early mornings are cold, even in the dry season. Pack a fleece or jacket, plus sun protection for midday walks.
Free trip plannerPlan a trip to LalibelaPut the places you like in Lalibela on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency
Birr (ETB)
Entry
eVisa or visa on arrival, depending on passport Read more
Emergency
991 police; ask your lodging for ambulance
Tipping
Common for guides and drivers; check for a service charge
Time
UTC+3, no daylight saving

Weather by month

    • Best
    • Good
    • Mixed
    • Poor
    1. JanuaryCold, dry
    2. FebruaryGenna, Timkat
    3. MarchDry, cool
    4. AprilDry, warm
    5. MayDry, hot days
    6. JuneRains start
    7. JulyRainy season
    8. AugustRainy, green
    9. SeptemberRains ending
    10. OctoberDry, green
    11. NovemberDry, pleasant
    12. DecemberCool, dry

    Right now in Lalibela

    Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

    Clear

    15

    Feels like
    10°
    Humidity
    40%
    Wind
    14 km/h
    Chance of rain
    0%

    Lalibela

    01:01 AM

    Tuesday, November 3

    GMT+3

    1. Today27°13°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 27°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
    2. Wed26°13°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 26°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
    3. Thu27°14°0%Thursday: Clear. High 27°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
    4. Fri26°14°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
    5. Sat27°15°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 27°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
    6. Sun28°14°0%Sunday: Clear. High 28°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.

    Updated 11:02 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

    Money

    Mid-market rate1 USD = 161.6 ETB

    ETB · Ethiopian Birr

    Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

    Day trips by train

    • Yemrehane KristosBy 4x4 on a rough roadA church built inside a cave, away from the main group.
    • Asheten MaryamBy car, then a walkA hilltop church above town, with views over the churches area.
    • Abuna YosefOn foot, usually with a guideA mountain church reached on foot, usually as a trek with a guide.

    Before you go to Lalibela

    eSIM for EthiopiaOffline maps help on the church pathsRead the guide
    Insurance for LalibelaCover for altitude, falls and road tripsRead the guide
    Cash and cards in EthiopiaBirr, ATMs and when cash is neededRead the guide
    Stays in LalibelaGuesthouses and hotels near the churchesRead the guide

    Rules for Lalibela, checked

    • Remove your shoes before entering the rock-hewn churches, and cover your shoulders and knees.
    • Ask before photographing people inside the churches, and follow your guide's instructions at each site.
    • Check the eVisa rules on the official Ethiopian eVisa site before you book flights, since requirements depend on your passport.Source
    • Check your government's travel advice for the Amhara region before you book, as conditions can change.

    Plan around Lalibela

    All of Ethiopia

    Routes, entry and transport for an Ethiopia trip

    Read the guide    Getting around Ethiopia

    Flights, buses and drivers between the main sites

    Read the guide    Visas and entry

    The eVisa, visa on arrival and entry paperwork

    Read the guide    Money and costs

    Birr, cash and card use for a trip to the north

    Read the guide    Where to stay

    Guesthouses and hotels close to the churches

    Read the guide

    Lalibela FAQ

    How many days do you need in Lalibela?

    Two nights gives time for the main church groups with a guide. Three nights leaves room for a day trip to Yemrehane Kristos or a longer hike.

    Is Lalibela worth visiting?

    Yes, if you want the rock-hewn churches, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an active place of worship. Expect long walks on uneven stone and steps.

    How do you get to Lalibela?

    Fly from Addis Ababa to Lalibela airport, or take a long road journey. Flights are the faster choice, and they fill up in peak season, so book early.

    When is the best time to visit Lalibela?

    October to February has the driest weather. June to September is the rainy season, when the hills are green but paths can be wet and slippery.

    Do you need a guide in Lalibela?

    A guide is worth it on a first visit. They explain the order of the churches, the rites in use and the best places to stand for photos.

    DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

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