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The UNESCO Sites in Ethiopia have resulted from the recognition of 9 cultural and natural landmarks as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia and 8 locations on the Ethiopia UNESCO tentative list. These touristic sites in Ethiopia are acknowledged for their unique and valuable cultural, natural, artistic, and historic significance, and are preserved for future generations to enjoy.
In addition to these 9 sites in the Ethiopia UNESCO list, there are many other places to travel to Ethiopia that are being considered for UNESCO recognition. These sites, listed on the tentative list, showcase the rich cultural heritage of the country and are waiting for approval to join the prestigious and famous World Heritage Sites list.
To help visitors discover these remarkable Ethiopia tourist attractions, we have put together an interactive map of the UNESCO sites in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia UNESCO Map
Click markers to show information and photo.
Ethiopia UNESCO Map
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia
There are 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia. All of these nine sites are listed under the Cultural category.
- Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela
- Simien National Park
- Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region
- Aksum
- Lower Valley of the Awash
- Lower Valley of the Omo
- Tiya
- Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town
- Konso Cultural Landscape
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia are protected locations for their cultural and natural importance.
Aksum
A former city in Ethiopia that served as the heart of ancient Ethiopia. It boasts several ruins including royal tombs, ancient castle ruins, and monolithic obelisks. UNESCO recognized this city as a World Heritage Site for its cultural significance.
Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar region
A former palace compound includes eight component sites, including a palace, monastery, church, and thermal area. This site was established as the capital of Ethiopia by King Fasil in the 17th century and was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Hara Jugol, the Fortified historic town
A fortified and historic town that is culturally significant in Ethiopia. It showcases the fusion of Islamic and African traditions with 82 mosques and 102 shrines. The town is considered the holiest city for Islam and was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Konso Cultural Landscape
An arid property that showcases a cultural tradition of stone-walled terraces and fortified settlements. It has been around for over 21 generations and is an excellent example of adaptation to a dry and hostile environment. The site holds wooden statues honoring key community members and stone steles marking the passing of important leaders.
The lower valley of the Awash
A palaeontological site that holds the largest and most important collection of remains in Africa, dating back over 4 million years. It is an excellent example of human evolution and was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The lower valley of the Omo
A prehistoric site famous for its fossil remains, including the Homo gracilis. This site was fundamental in studying human history and evolution and holds the Fejej and Konso paleontological research sites.
Rock-Hewn churches, Lalibela
The ‘New Jerusalem’ boasts of 11 monolithic cave churches built in the 13th century. The site is considered a place of pilgrimage and devotion for the Christian community in Ethiopia and was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Simien national park
A national park that serves as a refuge for many endangered species, including the Walia ibex and Ethiopian wolf. The park was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978 and was included in the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 1996.
Tiya
A site in the Soddo region of Addis Ababa comprises 36 monuments with 32 carved stelae marked with symbols. It is considered the most important of the over 160 archaeological sites in the region and is an essential example of Ethiopian culture, of which much remains undiscovered.
Ethiopia UNESCO tentative list
- Bale mountains national park
- Dirre Sheik Hussein Religious, cultural, and Historical Site
- Holqa Sof Omar: Natural and Cultural Heritage (Sof Omar: Caves of Mystery)
- Sacred Landscapes of Tigray
- Melka Kunture and Balchit
- Gedeo Cultural Landscape
- The cultural heritage of Yeha
- Lake Tana Island Monasteries and its Adjacent Wetland Natural and cultural Heritages
Tours in Ethiopia
Our choices of tours in Ethiopia are divided into thematic features such as Aksum, Fasil Ghebbi, Hara Jugol, Konso Cultural Landscape, and the lower Valley Of The Awash Experience.
