Awasa

Awasa (also Awassa or Hawassa) is in Southern Ethiopia.

Understand
Awasa 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 Awasa 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. Tourism here is mostly local, but Awasa is also a common stop for Cairo-to-Cape Town travelers and foreign tourists.

It is home to renowned Hawassa university.

Get in
Awasa is 5 hours by road from Addis Ababa.

By bus
Sky Bus has good and relatively modern Neoplan buses, and runs from Meskel Square in Addis Ababa every day (except Mondays) around 13:00h 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 Awasa.

Another option is to take Selam bus (Yutong bus) that runs every day and costs 200 Birr as at January 2020. If you want to do this, you should buy (a) ticket(s) in advance. The is as shown on Google Maps, across the road from the huge bus station at Meskel Square. The bus leaves at 6:30 and takes about 5 1/2 hours. The last stop in Awasa is near the intersection just on the town side of the bus station, about 500 m north east of the Sidamo monument.

There are many coaches to Addis Ababa from Awasa they leave from outside the bus station at about 6:00 and normally you would get a seat without needing to buy a ticket in advance however if you wish to make sure there is a Sky bus ticket office in the Alliance marketing centre near the Sidamo monument on the main street heading to the lake.

There are also many village buses running between Awasa and surrounding towns, including to Addis Ababa, all day long. They are usually faster and leave whenever they have enough passengers, but they are also less safe.

Get around
Awasa 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.

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.

Buy
Monday is market day.

Eat
The better hotels also have some of the best restaurants in town.



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).



Sleep
Awasa 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)


 * Zebra Hotel (next to the roundabout at the beachside of Piazza Rd, walk the first dirt road into the houses). New Hotel run by an expat. Quiet and clean rooms with a nice garden to relax and a kitchen to use.Good Wifi. Single 230 Birr (Sep 2016).
 * Circle of Life (next to the beachside of Piazza Rd) Nice rooms and a huge garden with included restaurant. Rastafarian vibes. Quite noisy. Single 250 Birr (Sep 2016).
 * Zebra Hotel (next to the roundabout at the beachside of Piazza Rd, walk the first dirt road into the houses). New Hotel run by an expat. Quiet and clean rooms with a nice garden to relax and a kitchen to use.Good Wifi. Single 230 Birr (Sep 2016).
 * Circle of Life (next to the beachside of Piazza Rd) Nice rooms and a huge garden with included restaurant. Rastafarian vibes. Quite noisy. Single 250 Birr (Sep 2016).
 * Circle of Life (next to the beachside of Piazza Rd) Nice rooms and a huge garden with included restaurant. Rastafarian vibes. Quite noisy. Single 250 Birr (Sep 2016).

Go next
Awasa is less than an hour by bus to Shashemene (known for its Rastafari settlement). Every morning (except Sundays) at 6:30h Sky Bus leaves Awasa Bus Station to Meskel Square in Addis Ababa. There are daily buses to go to Wolaita Sodo and then to Arba Minch, another resort town famous for its two lakes. Wondo Genet is east of Awasa and south of Shashemene.