| City: | Hawassa |
| Location: | Africa > Ethiopia |
What’s Plugged?
Reviews & Amenities
Top Descriptions
| With the hassle factor so high in Ethiopia (especially for those attempting to backpack), it’s no wonder people find themselves lingering longer in Hawassa than planned. There might not be much to do here, but with Hawassa Lake View Hotel making for a solid accommodation option and Dolce Vita and Venezia restaurants adding some Italian flavour to the local cuisine (there’s even an ice cream parlour in town!), it’s easy to see why expatriate workers are drawn here on the weekends. Then there’s Hawassa lake, which truly is a good place for a long walk and some intensive bird watching, not that you’ll have to look very hard to spot them! However, for those without their own wheels, Hawassa is just a little too spread out for super easy access. With this and the lack of general attractions aside, it is a relatively calm, forward-thinking and low-density city for Ethiopian standards. Indeed, Hawassa makes for a good spot to break in on the long road down to Arba Minch and farther afield. – Daniel |
| If you’ve written a description for Hawassa you’d like to share with the community, send it to [email protected] and we’ll post it right here in the directory. |
Top Tips
| Though rather devoid of attractions, Hawassa is certainly one of the more pleasant places in Ethiopia to spend some time doing very little. |
| Hawassa makes for an excellent stop on your way to attractions further south, such as Nech Sar National Park and Arba Minch. |
| If you like Italian food, be sure to check out Venezia or Dolce Vita restaurants while you’re in town – or even Tasso Italian Ice Cream! |
| If you have a tip about Hawassa and would like to share that information with the community, contact [email protected] and we’ll post it right here in the directory. |
The Location
What should we know?
| Name in local script: | አዋሳ |
| Also known as: | Awassa, Awasa |
| Tour operator(s): | Add Data |
| Rental operator(s): | Add Data |
| Port(s): | Hawassa Airport |
| Station(s): | Add Data |
| Terminal(s): | Add Data |
| Environment type: | hill, lake |
| Location type: | city, rural, urban |
| Religion type: | Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity |
What can we see or do there?
| Events: | Add Data |
| Services: | Add Data |
| Shops: | Abazir Supermarket, Mercado Supermarket |
| Animals: | colobus monkeys, hippopotamus, vervet monkeys |
| Birds: | marabou storks, pelicans |
How much will it cost us?
| Currency: | Ethiopian Birr (ETB) |
| Average daily budget: | ETB605 |
When should we go there, and for how long?
| Average time taken: | 10 nights |
| High season: | October to January |
| Low season: | Add Data |
How can we get in contact?
| Language(s): | Amharic, English, Sidamo |
| Timezone: | UTC+03:00 |
| Country calling code: | 251 |
What are the numbers and averages?
| Number of attractions visited: | 3 |
| Travel time to attractions: | 20 minutes |
| Travel time to next location: | 5 hours |
| Size: | Add Data |
| Altitude: | 1,708m |
What else would be good to know?
| Wikipedia: | Awasa |
| Wikitravel: | Awasa |
| Tripadvisor: | Add Data |
| Local tourism: | Hawassa Online |
| Emergency service(s): | Add Data |
| Travel advisories: | Add Data |
| Healthcare: | Add Data |
| Weather: | AccuWeather |
| News: | Add Data |
| Public holidays: | Office Holidays |
Local Availability
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Beer (multinational) | 500ml | ETB30 |
| Beer (national) | 500ml | ETB15 |
| Fizzy drink | 1 litre | Add Data |
| Fruit juice | 1 litre | ETB58 |
| Gin (multinational) | 1 litre | ETB560 |
| Gin (national) | 1 litre | Add Data |
| Milk | 1 litre | ETB26 |
| Oil | 1 litre | ETB103 |
| Rum (multinational) | 1 litre | ETB576 |
| Rum (national) | 1 litre | Add Data |
| Vodka (multinational) | 1 litre | ETB370 |
| Vodka (national) | 1 litre | Add Data |
| Water | 1 litre | ETB7 |
| Whisky (multinational) | 1 litre | ETB570 |
| Whisky (national) | 1 litre | Add Data |
| Wine | 1 bottle | ETB160 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds | 100g | Add Data |
| Apples | 1kg | ETB100 |
| Bananas | 1kg | ETB8 |
| Bell pepper | 1kg | Add Data |
| Bread | 1 loaf | Add Data |
| Carrots | 1kg | Add Data |
| Chillies | 1kg | Add Data |
| Chocolate (multinational) | 1 bar | ETB22 |
| Chocolate (national) | 1 bar | ETB7 |
| Coconut milk | 1 can | Add Data |
| Cucumber | 1kg | Add Data |
| Eggs | 1 dozen | Add Data |
| Garlic | 1kg | Add Data |
| Ginger | 1kg | Add Data |
| Honey | 1 jar | Add Data |
| Ice cream | 1 unit | ETB20 |
| Jam | 1 jar | ETB50 |
| Onions | 1kg | Add Data |
| Oranges | 1kg | ETB15 |
| Pasta | 1kg | ETB62 |
| Peanut butter | 1 jar | ETB32 |
| Peanuts | 100g | ETB24 |
| Potatoes | 1kg | Add Data |
| Raisins | 100g | ETB50 |
| Rice | 1kg | ETB55 |
| Sandwich | 1 unit | Add Data |
| Tomatoes | 1kg | ETB26 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Antifungal shampoo | 1 bottle | ETB202 |
| Conditioner | 1 bottle | ETB62 |
| Condoms | 1 pack | ETB4 |
| Deodorant | 1 can | ETB68 |
| Floss | 1 pack | Add Data |
| Hand sanitizer | 1 bottle | Add Data |
| Laundry soap | 1 bar | ETB10 |
| Razors | 1 pack | ETB60 |
| Sanitary towels | 1 pack | ETB24 |
| Shampoo | 1 bottle | ETB58 |
| Soap | 1 bar | ETB10 |
| Tampons | 1 box | Add Data |
| Toilet roll | 1 unit | ETB10 |
| Toothpaste | 1 tube | ETB18 |
| Washing powder | 1 box | ETB12 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Antiseptic cream | 1 tube | Add Data |
| Bandages | 1 pack | ETB24 |
| Chapstick | 1 unit | ETB60 |
| Contact lens solution | 1 bottle | Add Data |
| Headache tablets | 1 pack | ETB7 |
| Ibuprofen | 1 pack | ETB27 |
| Mosquito repellent | 1 bottle | Add Data |
| Nail clippers | 1 set | ETB18 |
| Plasters | 1 pack | ETB20 |
| Sun cream | 1 bottle | ETB200 |
| Sunglasses | 1 pair | Add Data |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries | 4-pack | Add Data |
| Chilli powder | 100g | Add Data |
| Cigarettes (multinational) | 20-pack | Add Data |
| Cigarettes (national) | 20-pack | ETB17 |
| Coriander | 100g | Add Data |
| Cumin | 100g | Add Data |
| Fuel | 1 litre | ETB15 |
| Internet | 1 hour | ETB18 |
| Lighter | 1 unit | Add Data |
| Matches | 1 pack | Add Data |
| Paprika | 100g | Add Data |
| Travel multiadapter | 1 unit | Add Data |
| Travel plug | 1 unit | Add Data |
| Turmeric | 100g | Add Data |
| Stock | 1 pack | Add Data |
Local Cuisine
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Beyaynetu (fasting food) | ETB79 | |
| Breakfast (continental) | ETB95 | |
| Breakfast (cooked) | ETB140 | |
| Burger | ETB78 | |
| Cake (slice) | ETB35 | |
| Calzone (large) | ETB220 | |
| Cannelloni | ETB95 | |
| Carbonara | ETB111 | |
| Cereal | ETB60 | |
| Chapatti | ETB40 | |
| Chicken wings | ETB77 | |
| Curry (generic – meat) | ETB127 | |
| Curry (generic – vegetable) | ETB80 | |
| Curry (Indian – meat) | ETB125 | |
| Cutlet (beef/chicken) | ETB117 | |
| Cutlet (fish) | ETB108 | |
| Doro wat | ETB100 | |
| Doro fanta | ETB100 | |
| Eggs (how you like) | ETB47 | |
| Fajitas (meat) | ETB105 | |
| Fish fingers | ETB90 | |
| French fries | ETB42 | |
| Fried (chicken) | ETB138 | |
| Fried rice (meat) | ETB110 | |
| Fruit salad | ETB48 | |
| Gnocchi | ETB90 | |
| Gored gored | ETB140 | |
| Goulash (beef) | ETB100 | |
| Grilled (chicken) | ETB170 | |
| Grilled (fish) | ETB115 |
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Ice cream (scoop) | ETB45 | |
| Ice cream (sundae) | ETB60 | |
| Injera firfir | ETB50 | |
| Key wat | ETB100 | |
| Kitfo | ETB118 | |
| Lamb chops | ETB93 | |
| Lasagna | ETB113 | |
| Mixed grill | ETB125 | |
| Pancake (simple) | ETB48 | |
| Pasta (meat) | ETB91 | |
| Pasta (vegetable) | ETB84 | |
| Pizza (loaded) | ETB146 | |
| Pizza (simple) | ETB103 | |
| Porridge | ETB55 | |
| Quanta firfir | ETB70 |
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Raita | ETB52 | |
| Ravioli (meat) | ETB100 | |
| Rice (meat) | ETB84 | |
| Rice (vegetable) | ETB70 | |
| Roasted (chicken) | ETB152 | |
| Roasted (lamb) | ETB163 | |
| Roasted (pork) | ETB385 | |
| Salad | ETB54 | |
| Salad (meat) | ETB76 | |
| Sandwich | ETB68 | |
| Shiro | ETB69 | |
| Shiro bozena | ETB79 | |
| Shiro tegamino | ETB75 | |
| Skewers (meat) | ETB155 | |
| Soup (meat) | ETB57 | |
| Soup (vegetarian) | ETB50 | |
| Spring roll | ETB40 | |
| Steak | ETB139 | |
| Stir fry (meat) | ETB125 | |
| Sweet and sour (meat) | ETB120 | |
| Tibs | ETB106 | |
| Whole (fish) | ETB110 |
| Beverage | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Beer (national) | ETB23 | |
| Bailey’s (shot) | ETB50 | |
| Cappuccino | ETB23 | |
| Coffee | ETB13 | |
| Cognac (bottle) | ETB3,750 | |
| Cognac (shot) | ETB85 | |
| Fruit juice (fresh) | ETB31 | |
| Gin (bottle) | ETB1,375 | |
| Gin (shot) | ETB51 | |
| Hot chocolate | ETB20 | |
| Malibu (bottle) | ETB1,450 | |
| Malibu (shot) | ETB45 | |
| Milk | ETB19 | |
| Milkshake | ETB28 | |
| Red Bull | ETB110 | |
| Rum (bottle) | ETB1,350 | |
| Rum (shot) | ETB105 | |
| Sambuca (shot) | ETB40 | |
| Smoothie | ETB28 | |
| Soft drink | ETB18 | |
| Tea | ETB14 | |
| Tequila (shot) | ETB40 | |
| Vodka (bottle) | ETB775 | |
| Vodka (shot) | ETB45 | |
| Water (2L) | ETB35 | |
| Whisky (bottle) | ETB1,398 | |
| Whisky (shot) | ETB52 | |
| Wine (bottle) | ETB327 | |
| Wine (glass) | ETB90 |
Hawassa Forum
Please use this forum to tell us about any new or out-of-date information about Hawassa or to ask or answer any questions specific to this page. Or join our World Forum for more general information.
