Things to Do in Lalibela Ethiopia

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. Lalibela is in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where the UK FCDO advises against all travel and the US government tells its citizens not to travel. Fighting has resumed across northern Ethiopia, flights to Lalibela have been suspended since 24 September 2026 with no restart date announced, and there is no safe overland route. Nothing described here can be booked now; this page describes the town for a future visit once advisories change. Read the FCDO advice and the US State Department before making any plans.

Things to Do in Lalibela

The eleven rock-hewn churches are carved from pink volcanic tuff. They are consecrated Orthodox churches in daily use, not a museum.

The churches

• Biete Giyorgis stands alone in a quarry pit and is the only cruciform church.
• Biete Medhane Alem is about 33.5 by 23.5 by 11.5 metres, with 34 outer and 38 inner columns, and it holds the gold Lalibela Cross.
• Temporary metal roofs cover several of the northern-group churches.
• Take shoes off at every church, cover shoulders and knees, and keep voices low. Women cover their heads. Ask before taking any photo, use no flash during prayer, and do not touch the carvings.
• Women may not enter Biete Golgotha.

Beyond the town

• For a future visit, Na’akuto La’ab is about 7 km from town and Asheton Maryam is about a 2.5 hour walk or mule ride. Yemrehanna Kristos is about 42 km away on a rough road, 1.5 to 2 hours by 4WD.
• Yemrehanna Kristos is a built church in a cave, in Aksumite style. It is older than the Lalibela churches and is not one of the eleven.

Safety

• Several churches sit in unguarded quarry pits about 10 to 12 metres deep. Stone thresholds are polished and slippery, and the tunnel between two church groups is about 35 metres long and pitch dark, so carry a torch.
• The town is about 2,500 metres above sea level, so go slowly on the first day and drink water.