Sidama Region · Ethiopia
Hawaasa travel guide
Hawaasa is a city in Sidama Region, Ethiopia, home to about 300,000 people.
- Best months
- March and November to January
- Nearest airport
- AWA10 km · Hawassa International Airport
- Currency
- ETBbir
- Time zone
- Africa/Addis Ababa
- Language
- Amharic
About
About Hawaasa
Hawassa (Amharic: አዋሳ; ʾäwasa, also spelled Awassa or Awasa), known historically as Adare, is a city in Ethiopia, on the shores of Lake Hawassa in the Great Rift Valley. It is 273 km (170 mi) south of Addis Ababa via Bishoftu, 130 km (81 mi) east of Sodo, and 75 km (47 mi) north of Dilla.
Hawassa is on the eastern shore of Lake Awasa and is a growing resort town with two luxurious resorts directly on the lake, and a large number of cheap and middle priced hotels. In 2013, many of the streets in Hawassa and the walking path on the lake were fixed up with cobble stone, and there is a growing number of good cafes, small bars, and good Ethiopian and European restaurants. It is home to renowned Hawassa university.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Hawaasa
See
- Hippos in Lake Awasa
Do
Bicycle the 55 km around the lake. It is extraordinary beautiful opposite of Awassa as you ride the small path through the villages on the shore speckled with cacti and wild olive trees. Beware of the children, especially when they are in a large group with no adult around as they could start grabbing you and throw stuff.
- Fish Market
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Hawaasa to stay in
Hawassa has many hotels of various standards, from the very basic for around 50 Birr to up to the luxurious Haile Resort and the Lewi's Resort. Rooms in the best hotels typically cost $50-70 per night, rooms in good traveler hotels with a bed and a shower are between 100 and 150 birr (as of 2013). If you come on Sky Bus from Addis Ababa, it will not stop at the bus station, but on Piazza Rd. There are some good and cheap (around 100 birr) and medium priced hotels close to the bus stop (as of 2013).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Hawaasa
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Hawaasa are March and November to January. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; August is the wettest, with about 165 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Hawaasa: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Hawassa International Airport (AWA), about 9.6 km from the city centre in a straight line; Arba Minch Airport (AMH, 148 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Hawassa is 5 hours by road from Addis Ababa. Sky Bus has good and relatively modern Neoplan buses, and runs from Meskel Square in Addis Ababa every day (except Mondays) around 13:00 for 149 birr for a one-way trip. Buy tickets a day or two before you leave as they often sell out for the day. Get them at the Sky Bus office at Taitu Hotel or on Meskel Square. The bus often leaves late, so expect to arrive around 21:00 or later in Hawassa. Another option is to take Selam bus (Yutong bus) that runs every day and costs 200 birr in 2020. If you want to do this, you should buy tickets in advance.
Getting around
Hawassa is a small town and walking is the best way to get around. The town center is Piazza Road that goes from the shore of Awasa Lake eastwards. There is Dashen Bank (Visa and MasterCard ATM) and many hotels and restaurants on Piazza. If you need transportation, there are countless blue motorbike rickshaws everywhere in town and a ride should never cost more than a few birr.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
AWA · Hawassa International Airport
AMH · Arba Minch Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Hawaasa
Drink
Where Piazza Rd meets the lake, there is a number of small bars with chairs on the street and music. Some also have fried fish, fresh from the Lake. Great to sit outside in the evenings and see the sunset over Lake Awasa. A half liter St George draft beer is 10 birr (as of 2013).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Hawaasa: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Hawaasa?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Hawaasa are March and November to January. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; August is the wettest, with about 165 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Hawaasa?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Hawassa International Airport (AWA), about 9.6 km from the city centre in a straight line; Arba Minch Airport (AMH, 148 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Hawaasa?
bir (ETB).
Nearby
Destinations near Hawaasa
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.