The Ruins of Aksum
The Ruins of Aksum
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The remains of once powerful royal capital contain impressive tombs and stelae.
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9 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
309 reviews
Excellent
137
Very good
103
Average
59
Poor
10
Terrible
0
Alexandra K
Athens, Greece1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Solo
This place was amazing, the nature is all around and the big stellae are really impressive. I visited the place together with few other locations around and the history that accompanies this place is just incredible. But I must say that my guide Mulugeta made this visit even more memorable, and I highly recommend him. He has a great knowledge of the history of Axum and a very nice and kind person. He took great care of me and showed me more than I could even expect. My trip to Axum would have never been so fulfilling and interesting without him. Don't hesitate to contact him on WhatsApp or phone at +251 91 339 5845 or email mulerzeaxum@yahoo.com.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick
10 contributions
Nov 2023
If you are travelling to Ethiopia, the ruins of Axum are a must-visit. I had an amazing driver called Kibrom Tadesse (WhatsApp +251 913027261) who speaks perfect English and has a good car to transport you from the airport in Shire to Axum for visiting the ruins (it will take 1 full day to see them) and then onto the rock churches at Gheralta and finally Mekelle for my flight back to Addis. He is very friendly, very safe, knows everyone in the area, has three lovely children, and will go out of his way to help you. He also knows lots of little coffee houses and restaurants if you want to try local food! I highly recommend Kibrom and suggest you call or send him a message to see how he can help make your visit here safe and happy.
Written November 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kgsrenChicago
Chicago55 contributions
Dec 2019
I did enjoy Aksum and seeing the different ruins in town. The numerous obelisk are ancient and very interesting and there are ruins under the ground. Many of the ruins are not yet revealed and will be more so over time. The Ethiopians are not in any hurry to break through everywhere and do it badly. We went to one of the cultural dance places in Aksum and had a very good time. I highly recommend it. All in all, Aksum is worth a day to see the town.
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IonH
London168 contributions
Jan 2020
Well, this is the principal reason you're in Axum, right? Reasonably interesting site, augmented by a small museum. Significant in the context of sub-saharan Africa, but wouldn't merit a second glance in, say, Egypt. But since you're here, you have to visit...even though everything (except the museum) is perfectly well viewed from outside the compound
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EddieInIthaca
Ithaca, NY135 contributions
Mar 2011 • Solo
After reading the other positive reviews, I am perhaps a bit reluctant to admit that I was not very impressed with the stelae field, museum, the Church (Ark and the large modern one) or the other ruins in the vicinity. Not to say that I didn't like the experience of visiting Aksum. The highlight was just walking around town, hiking and wandering around in the hills above the stelae field and also the weekly market which I was lucky enough to arrive for.
Written September 13, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
X5r32
Madrid3 contributions
I visited Aksum in mid-2008. I went on my own, not following any guided tour. It is probably one of the best experiences I've ever had in my life, and one of the best I'll ever have. After a 3 days' travel by bus I reached the town. The first thing I saw was the main archeological site, with the Big Monolith still secured by hooks. I was amazed with the experience of walking around the site and seeing all the monoliths, discovering some carved rocks half-buried in the ground, visiting ancient tombs of mighty kings whose names were forgotten many centuries ago... Ascending the mount of the city I discovered, in the middle of nowhere, all surrounded by small lakes and grass, the remnants of a road, with its drainway aside! And painted stones, maybe traces of the houses of people dissappeared millennia ago! I even trespassed a private property to visit the ruins of a medieval church... After I was able to see the rocks by myself, I was invited to some of the best coffee ever made by the owners of the property!
Definitely a must-see for everyone. It's an obvious World Heritage site.
Definitely a must-see for everyone. It's an obvious World Heritage site.
Written March 29, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aht931
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates13 contributions
This is a fantastic historical site in Ethiopia. If you get a guided tour you will walk all over the town and see such a variety of sites. The stellae themselves are staggering in size...simply amazing. There are alot of sites just outside the town which if you have free time and are up to some long adventurous walks, please check out! For example me and my friend followed a map to get to a lion carves on a boulder outside the town. I forget the name of it or the specifics of its importance, but it make for a fun excursion! I stayed once at the Ramhai hotel, ho-hum. And once at Africa Hotel (?) a much cheaper place with more fun and more character.
Written October 24, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
World Traveller
Berlin, Germany551 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
The Axumite ruins are worth a trip to the far north of Ethiopia by all means. Exploring them can be inexpensive if you are traveling individually. Tour groups usually have the all-inclusive deal where the rip off has already been included at the time of booking. Here is what I would recommend if you are traveling individually:
Upon arrival the larger hotels try to talk you into booking the hotel mini bus for about US$ 100 a day and that does not even include the guide. If you are an experienced and ruthless bargainer you may manage to get the van for 50$. However, that's still way too much and here is what you do:
1. Ignore the overpriced hotel offers and related tricks (ruin sites faraway from each other, only accessible by car/van, other transport not available, all statements are untrue).
2. Approach a Tuktuk (moto rikshaw) on the street and bargain for a one-day hire. Depending on your skills this should cost you 10-20 $ a day (200-400 Birr). I got one for 250 since I liked the driver. There are plenty so keep on walking if you can't reach an agreement. There is a high likelihood that the tuktuk will follow you and the price will drop every 10 meters for another 20 Birr.
3. Drive then to the main site where the ticket office is located. There you get the ticket for all sites for 2-3 $ per person as well as an official, good English speaking and well trained guide for 12 $ a day (250 birr). He will hop on and guide you for the rest of the day and also make sure that the tuktuk driver doesn't skip some ruins "by accident".
4. Ignore the unofficial guides since they often haven't got a clue what they are talking about.
So for 25 to max 35$ you are set for the day.
Upon arrival the larger hotels try to talk you into booking the hotel mini bus for about US$ 100 a day and that does not even include the guide. If you are an experienced and ruthless bargainer you may manage to get the van for 50$. However, that's still way too much and here is what you do:
1. Ignore the overpriced hotel offers and related tricks (ruin sites faraway from each other, only accessible by car/van, other transport not available, all statements are untrue).
2. Approach a Tuktuk (moto rikshaw) on the street and bargain for a one-day hire. Depending on your skills this should cost you 10-20 $ a day (200-400 Birr). I got one for 250 since I liked the driver. There are plenty so keep on walking if you can't reach an agreement. There is a high likelihood that the tuktuk will follow you and the price will drop every 10 meters for another 20 Birr.
3. Drive then to the main site where the ticket office is located. There you get the ticket for all sites for 2-3 $ per person as well as an official, good English speaking and well trained guide for 12 $ a day (250 birr). He will hop on and guide you for the rest of the day and also make sure that the tuktuk driver doesn't skip some ruins "by accident".
4. Ignore the unofficial guides since they often haven't got a clue what they are talking about.
So for 25 to max 35$ you are set for the day.
Written November 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anonnymouse13
London, UK107 contributions
Mar 2011
This is an amazing place and is so worth a visit. Photos just don't do justice to the stelae field or the other sites in Axum. I was captivated with the monolihs and the details carved into the granite. There were just 2 of us and we had the whole place to ourselves which made it easier to appreciate the site. You are so taken by the giant monoliths that you could so easily miss the smaller ones dotted about the field.
Even though I have mobility problems I was able to get about - slowly and with help. Getting into the tombs below the stelae though could pose problems as the steps are steep and uneven.
The museum is interesting but needs a leaflet or better signs in different languages.
Even though I have mobility problems I was able to get about - slowly and with help. Getting into the tombs below the stelae though could pose problems as the steps are steep and uneven.
The museum is interesting but needs a leaflet or better signs in different languages.
Written April 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HaraldMitschnigg
Rueschlikon, Switzerland9 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
I have been travelling through Ethiopia on my own back in Dec 2017 and I hired Mulugeta as my guide: Excellent knowledge and he offered experiences far beyond any standard tour (eg attending a procession at night)- I can only recommend him, apart from being very professional he has a very good command of spoken English and he is as well a very kind person, fees are reasonable! Would definitely book a tour with him again, his phone no is +251 91 339 5845
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello everyone! Does anyone know the opening days and hours of the site and the entrance fee, please? (Is it open also during Timkat?) Thank you in advance!
Written December 26, 2019
Hi, Kenya. What would you like to know about this attraction? Where did you find your tour guide?
Written June 26, 2018
When you arrived in Aksum you shall find a guide in Airport if you have a room booked there. If not you shall have find in hotel or entrance to the site.
There are a lot, is easy to find them.
Daniel
Written June 27, 2018
I am wondering how much a guide costs and are they just hanging around the site?
Written August 6, 2015
it is not expensive ... around 400 or 350 birr what equals less then 20 USD...yes u can just find them around hotels or the sites.. i was there last week .. u ll enjoy it
Written January 9, 2017
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