It is a large city with more than 200,000 inhabitants living in the west of the country. It is an important trading centre in Ethiopia which holds little interest for tourists.

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With a population of 220 000 inhabitants, Mek'ele is northeastern Ethiopia's big city. This is the departure point for excursions to the  Danakil Desert  and the Tigray villages all around  Hawzen  where there are remarkable churches to visit.

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I really liked Mek'ele whose main high street is lined with palm trees. I stopped at a small, popular café with a garden and a billiard table, which served a selection of goof homemade fruit juice, before going to lunch at Abreha Castle, a 19th Century castle transformed into a government hotel overlooking the town and offers a nice terrace view. 
If you're thinking of buying a tailor-made traditional Ethiopian dress, this is where you'll get a good deal (starting from 1000 birrs per dress).  
Personally, I was a bit disappointed that the Yohannes IV Museum was closed (apparently temporarily), as it was practically the only tourist attraction to visit! However, the hotels are comfortable and cheap, and you come here to take a break before setting off on tiring excursions. I have great memories of a Trigrayan traditional wedding in Mek'ele to which I was invited completely by fluke. What a way to be welcomed!

With a population of 220 000 inhabitants, Mek'ele is northeastern Ethiopia's big city. This is the departure point for excursions to the <a href="/ethiopia/"> Danakil Desert </a> and the Tigray villages all around <a href="/ethiopia/"> Hawzen </a> where there are remarkable churches to visit.

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