Gondar Landmark Hotel

The Landmark Gondar aims to reach international standards, and truly, it's not too far off. The marble and tinted glass structure is certainly grand. The large dining room looks out to a generous balcony and the city beyond. Softly lit spaces are decently, if somewhat redundantly, furnished. And there's plenty of seating – whether you're in the restaurant or on the casual terrace or outdoor asphalted patio, you'll always find somewhere to sit and take in the views.

Rooms range from standard doubles to more spacious suites and family suites. Most look on to the city, while a few have part-city, part-mountain views. Even standard rooms have a large picture window and are furnished with a writing desk. The en-suite bathrooms have showers but no tubs (hot water can be an issue). More sumptuous suites offer rooms to sprawl, with extra beds and sleeper couches.

Though a shadow of what it once was, the 17th-century castle of Fasil Ghebbi is certainly impressive. The Emperor Fasilides combined architectural influences of Portuguese, Indian and Arabic cultures to create a structure that was both beautiful and indestructible. You'll need to hire a reputable guide to reveal the history of this special place (the hotel can help). Also worth seeing are the Debre Berhan Selassie church and the Royal Baths, and local markets.