City or town
Things to see in Lalibela (Ethiopia): 12 places and when to go
Lalibela is a town in Ethiopia, and this site lists 12 places in and around it, mainly Temples (11), History (2). The best known are Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela, Church of Saint George, Lalibela and Biete Maryam. The best time to come is October to February; also possible: March to April and September. In June there are 12 h 42 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 18. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Ethiopia · 12.0316, 39.0411
- Places
- 12 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- Best time
- October to February.
- Also possible
- March to April and September.
- Nearest airport
- MQX Mekele, 169 km as the crow flies
- Highest point
- Yemrehana Krestos Church, at 2,641 m.
What to see in Lalibela
The places in and around Lalibela, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Rock-Hewn Churches, LalibelaChurches made from a single block of stone in Ethiopia287 m
- Church of Saint George, LalibelaOne of eleven monolithic churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia5 m
- Biete MaryamBuilding in Ethiopia328 m
- Biete Medhane AlemChurch in Ethiopia371 m
- Biete Abba LibanosChurch in Ethiopia448 m
- Biete MeskelChurch in Ethiopia336 m
- Biete Gabriel-RufaelChurch in Ethiopia392 m
- Biete AmanuelChurch in Ethiopia488 m
- Biete Qeddus MercoreusUnderground Orthodox church located in Ethiopia467 m
- Bete Golgota-SelassiéBuilding in Ethiopia316 m
- Yemrehana Krestos ChurchBuilding in Ethiopia12 km
- Biet MikaelBuilding in Ethiopia305 m
When to go to Lalibela
The best time to visit Lalibela is October to February; also possible: March to April and September. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time11:22
- FebBest time11:37
- MarPossible11:55
- AprPossible12:16
- MayBetter not12:33
- JunBetter not12:42
- JulBetter not12:39
- AugBetter not12:24
- SepPossible12:04
- OctBest time11:43
- NovBest time11:26
- DecBest time11:18
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 12 h 42 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 18. In January, 12 of the 12 places are at their best.
When to go to Ethiopia in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Lalibela
The nearest main airport is Mekele Alula Aba Nega Airport (MQX, Mekele), 169 km as the crow flies. How to get around Ethiopia (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
And all of Ethiopia, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Lalibela?
The best known: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela, Church of Saint George, Lalibela, Biete Maryam, Biete Medhane Alem, Biete Abba Libanos. In all, 12 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Lalibela?
October to February; also possible: March to April and September. In June there are 12 h 42 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 18.
How do you get to Lalibela?
The nearest main airport is Mekele Alula Aba Nega Airport (MQX), 169 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Lalibela as the destination and these 12 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- EthiopiaBefore travelling to Ethiopia: 10 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. You need an eVisa, applied for only on the official portal evisa.gov.et: the electron…
- Temples22 places for temples in Ethiopia, from Church of Saint George, Lalibela to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: October to February. Each with its own season by altit
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.