They say that a trip to Ethiopia is incomplete without visiting Lalibela to see the incredible rock-hewn churches.
These date back as far as the 12th and 13th centuries and we were excited to finally get to see them.
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Our local friend advised us that two days in Lalibela in Ethiopia was enough to explore the churches and soak in the beautiful landscapes here.
Explore Lalibela in Ethiopia in two days
How to get there
We booked a cheap flight on Skyscanner with Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa to Lalibela.
The flight takes less than an hour, which is a much better option than taking a bus (which can take up to 24 hours…um, no thanks).
The distance from Lalibela airport to the town is around 25 km. The roads are pretty rough, but the green countryside is beautiful.
Where to stay for 2 days in Lalibela
We arranged a pick-up from the airport through our accommodation in Lalibela—Honey Land Hotel. This hotel is great value for the price.
A twin room was $28 per night, including breakfast. Perfect for our two days in Lalibela.
The beds were comfortable, the room was clean and the wifi connection was good. The staff were very friendly and accommodating too.
If you have a larger budget to stay in a higher-standard accommodation, we’d recommend the Top Twelve Hotel.
This is a popular hotel due to its excellent location.
Where to buy tickets to enter the Churches of Lalibela
You need to purchase your entrance ticket to see all the churches in Lalibela at the small ticket office, which is located in town. It’s a 10-minute walk down the hill from most hotels.
The price for the ticket is USD $50 per person or 1390 birr.
You will need to show your passport at the time of purchase. This entrance price is very expensive and a lot of money in Ethiopia, however, this happens in tourist sites all over the world now, so it didn’t really surprise me. I just hope that all of this money goes directly back into the churches for restoration for future visitors.
The entrance price doesn’t include a guide, this is an additional cost. Guides will approach you to offer their services to you and show you around the churches for about 600 birr. ($20-25)
The ticket is just a handwritten receipt and it’s an entry for up to 5 days, however, most visitors to Lalibela will visit all churches in half a day or use one full day. At least you have the option to return if need be during your 2 days in Lalibela itinerary.
Opening hours of the churches
It’s worth noting that the churches are open from 08:00 to noon and then from 14:00 to 17:00.
Start at the entrance gate and make your way to the churches. Most people finish with the most popular church, St George, which you’ll see in all the photos of Lalibela.
This church has been carved in the shape of a large cross.
Lalibela is also known as the ‘Jerusalem of Africa’, and it’s worth getting up early in the morning, around 06:00, to go and watch the pilgrims gather for a church service.
White-robed churchgoers gather to attend mass together in one of the many churches around town.
Where to eat in Lalibela
These are the best options for some good food in Lalibela in Ethiopia.
Olive Tree Hotel Restaurant—Our local friend, Gino, recommended this restaurant. We ordered the vegetable beyanet (a vegetable stew combo served on injera) for 85 birr, or about $3.
This was one of the best meals we’ve eaten in our entire time spent in Ethiopia. Highly recommended.
Recommended posts about Ethiopia
Ben Abeba Restaurant– This place is special. A very unique-shaped restaurant with incredible views of the countryside whilst you enjoy fantastic Ethiopian food.
We ate the local food here, and it was delicious and affordable.
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Where to go out in Lalibela
Once the sun goes down in Lalibela, there is very little light. It’s one of those destinations where most people stay close to their hotel once the sun has set.
If you’d like to go out for entertainment, the best place is ‘Torpedo”. It’s around a 10-minute walk from our hotel, or you can take a tuk-tuk there and back for about 50 birrs each way.
There are always taxis and tuk-tuks around town if you need to get a ride somewhere; however, always negotiate a price with the driver before you get in.
At Torpedo, you can enjoy local nightly entertainment with singers and dancers while eating dinner or simply drinking some beers and ‘tej’ (honey wine) while you enjoy the show.
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Where to find an ATM in Lalibela
There is an ATM at Dashen Bank (located in the centre of the town, across from the Ethiopian Airlines Booking office) that dispenses local currency.
The machine accepts International cards such as MasterCard, Visa and Maestro. The maximum withdrawal limit is around 4000 birr at once.
If you’re interested in booking a trip to Ethiopia or other African countries, I recommend browsing the many options for African Group Tours on Tourradar.
Another option is to check tours available with G Adventures. This company offer fantastic small group tours all over the world and we love what they do.
Travel Tips for Ethiopia
We have more helpful travel guides and tips for Ethiopia—this is a diverse country!
When planning your trip, we recommend spending two days in Lalibela. Our complete guide has everything you need to know; it’s a fascinating place.
We highly recommend visiting the Simien Mountains, on a day trip from Gondor. Here’s everything you need to know.
We wrote this comprehensive post to help you learn more about Ethiopian cuisine.
Ethiopia features on our list of the 10 best food countries in Africa, and it even made it into our top 10 best countries for food lovers
Our Food Map of Africa is interesting because it explains what people eat in all 54 nations. If you’re wondering what people eat for breakfast in Africa, check out this post about the most popular African breakfast foods.
If you’re keen on an adventure, here’s how to take local transport from Ethiopia to Somaliland. If this interests you, you will need a visa. You can apply for your visa for Somaliland in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
We recommend joining a food tour in Addis Ababa. It’s a great way to taste the cuisine and learn about Ethiopian culture. Read about our food tour experience in Addis Ababa to know what to expect.
Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.
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3 Comments. Leave new
This is very comprehensive as though you live there. Thanks for this post
Great informative. Thanks for sharing
Yeah it is indeed a brutal drive to Lalibela – we rented a car and did it a couple years ago. It took us 6 hours to Guassa Plateau and then three days later, 13 hours to Lalibela. Indeed it would have been like 17-18 hours of driving directly, with a private car. The countryside is lovely though, it’d be a magnificent drive if it were like a fifth the length. Maybe in 40 years when there’s an express freeway…