Hawassa (also Awasa or Awassa) is in Southern Ethiopia. Tourism here is mostly local, but Hawassa is also a common stop for Cairo-to-Cape Town travelers and foreign tourists.
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.
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.
1 Hippos in Lake Awasa (walk Piazza Rd to the lake, there are plenty of boats that carry tourists to see one of the Hippo groups). The tours seem popular with locals and foreign tourists alike. If you are lucky, you see many hippos, or you may just see their ears if they are resting. It's about 500 Birr for a boat (as of 2013), but you can fit several people to share the cost. Alternatively, if you have the time, sit on a quiet spot next to the lake, sometimes the hippos come over for food.
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 (by the lake on the south west edge of the town). There are many guides at the market keen to show you around but the market is quite small and their asking price very high. You are not required to engage a guide but if you don't engage one there appears to be a 50 birr entry fee charged.
The better hotels also have some of the best restaurants in town. Tropical Burger (next to Whataburger Bar and around the corner from the Guesthouse guesthouse, near the western end of Piazza Rd). Quiet setting under palm trees inside a fenced garden, many locals come here too, good fresh juice, local coffee. It has free Wifi. 50 birr for a large hamburger, 5 birr for an Ethiopian coffee, 70 birr for a pizza.. Hi Life Bar+Grill, Ground Floor, Lake View Hotel (on the lake, a few streets to the south from Piazza Rd), ☏ +251 93 010 8351. 07:00 till late. Serves a varied menu of fresh and bold flavours.
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). Bera Beer. A smart microbrewery in town. This is a popular drinking place - do not bother with the food.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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