Africa
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia
Ethiopian World Heritage Sites · UNESCO sites in Ethiopia map · historical landmarks in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has 13 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List — 11 cultural and 2 natural inscriptions, inscribed between 1978 and 2024. This map of UNESCO sites in Ethiopia covers every listing, with a short description, the inscription year and the nearest airports — the fastest way to see the country's most important historical sites and landmarks in one place.
Ethiopian World Heritage Sites range from Aksum onwards; Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela was the country's first inscription, added in 1978; Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia is the most recent, listed in 2024; recurring threads across the list include ancient civilizations and sacred places.
Start with Aksum, Bale Mountains National Park and Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region, then use the map above to plan a route between the rest.
- Sites
- 13
- Cultural
- 11
- Natural
- 2
- First inscribed
- 1978
Sites on the map
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Flying in
Airports closest to the most sites in this country.
- GDQAzezo3 sites
- DIRDire Dawa2 sites
- AMHArba Minch2 sites
- ADDAddis Ababa2 sites
- AXUAxum1 site
- AWAHawassa1 site
Keep exploring
All 13 sites in Ethiopia
List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia
Every inscription with its year and category. Open a site for its story, map location and nearest airports.
| Site | Year | Type | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| AksumThe ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are found close to Ethiopia's northern border. | 1980 | Cultural | The ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are found close to Ethiopia's northern border. |
| Bale Mountains National ParkThis property protects a landscape mosaic of extraordinary beauty that is shaped by the combined forces of ancient lava… | 2023 | Natural | This property protects a landscape mosaic of extraordinary beauty that is shaped by the combined forces of ancient lava outpourings, glaciation and… |
| Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar RegionIn the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortress-city of Fasil Ghebbi was the residence of the Ethiopian emperor Fasilides a. | 1979 | Cultural | In the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortress-city of Fasil Ghebbi was the residence of the Ethiopian emperor Fasilides a. |
| Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic TownThe fortified historic town of Harar is located in the eastern part of the country on a plateau with deep gorg. | 2006 | Cultural | The fortified historic town of Harar is located in the eastern part of the country on a plateau with deep gorg. |
| Konso Cultural LandscapeKonso Cultural Landscape is an arid property of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso h. | 2011 | Cultural | Konso Cultural Landscape is an arid property of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso h. |
| Lower Valley of the AwashThe Awash valley contains one of the most important groupings of palaeontological sites on the African continent. | 1980 | Cultural | The Awash valley contains one of the most important groupings of palaeontological sites on the African continent. |
| Lower Valley of the OmoA prehistoric site near Lake Turkana, the lower valley of the Omo is renowned the world over. | 1980 | Cultural | A prehistoric site near Lake Turkana, the lower valley of the Omo is renowned the world over. |
| Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of EthiopiaLocated in the Upper Awash Valley in Ethiopia, the serial property is a cluster of prehistoric sites that pres. | 2024 | Cultural | Located in the Upper Awash Valley in Ethiopia, the serial property is a cluster of prehistoric sites that pres. |
| Rock-Hewn Churches, LalibelaThe 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century 'New Jerusalem' are situated in a mountainous region in… | 1978 | Cultural | The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century 'New Jerusalem' are situated in a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia. |
| Rock-Hewn LalibelaEleven churches carved down into stone. | 1978 | Cultural | Eleven churches carved down into stone. |
| Simien National ParkMassive erosion over the years on the Ethiopian plateau has created one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world,. | 1978 | Natural | Massive erosion over the years on the Ethiopian plateau has created one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world,. |
| The Gedeo Cultural LandscapeThe property lies along the eastern edge of the Main Ethiopian Rift, on the steep escarpments of the Ethiopian. | 2023 | Cultural | The property lies along the eastern edge of the Main Ethiopian Rift, on the steep escarpments of the Ethiopian. |
| TiyaTiya is among the most important of the roughly 160 archaeological sites discovered so far in the Soddo region, south… | 1980 | Cultural | Tiya is among the most important of the roughly 160 archaeological sites discovered so far in the Soddo region, south of Addis Ababa. |
Frequently asked questions about World Heritage in Ethiopia
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in Ethiopia?
- Ethiopia has 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 11 cultural and 2 natural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Ethiopia?
- Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela was inscribed in 1978. The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century 'New Jerusalem' are situated in a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia.
- What is the newest World Heritage Site in Ethiopia?
- Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia, inscribed in 2024. Located in the Upper Awash Valley in Ethiopia, the serial property is a cluster of prehistoric sites that pres.
- Which sites in Ethiopia are natural World Heritage Sites?
- 2 of the 13 listings are natural: Bale Mountains National Park and Simien National Park.
- Which UNESCO sites in Ethiopia are easiest to reach?
- Each site page lists the closest airports with distance, so you can pick the gateway city first and work outwards. The "Flying in" panel on this page shows the main gateways for Ethiopia.
- What are the main historical sites and landmarks in Ethiopia?
- The 13 UNESCO-listed sites above are Ethiopia's internationally recognised historical sites and landmarks, starting with Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (1978). Each entry links to a full page with a map, photos and travel notes.
- Is there a map of Ethiopian World Heritage Sites?
- Yes — the map on this page plots all 13 Ethiopian UNESCO World Heritage Sites; click any marker to open that site's page.