The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela have been included in the top five UNESCO heritage sites selected by leading world travelers. The ranking comes from a study conducted by Euronews.
Addis Ababa, June 30, 2026 (FMC). Veteran travelers who earned the UN Grandmaster title by visiting countries worldwide made the selection. Ethiopia's Ministry of Tourism said the recognition confirms the country possesses remarkable history and an ancient civilization.
The travelers gave testimony on Lalibela's artistic depth and spiritual grandeur. This placed it alongside sites such as Angkor Wat and the Great Wall of China.
The Ministry stated that work continues to protect the churches from natural and man-made threats under sustainable heritage principles. Heritage protection efforts are being integrated with modern infrastructure to boost tourism benefits for the national economy.
