Townapedia
Awasa fish market
Awasa fish market · MauritsV, CC BY-SA 2.0
Hawasa Lake
Hawasa Lake · Ndjwiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hawassa University main gate to the main campus
Hawassa University main gate to the main campus · 7f7553, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cormorant, Ethiopia (8269971702)
Cormorant, Ethiopia (8269971702) · Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
The start of your morning coffee (5984450578)
The start of your morning coffee (5984450578) · DFID - UK Department for International Development, CC BY 2.0
Yalew, Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia (8252236328)
Yalew, Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia (8252236328) · Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0

Awasa, Ethiopia

አዋሳ

Awasa is a regional capital of 422,200 people in Sidama Region, Ethiopia.

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Population422,200 GeoNames
Local nameአዋሳ
RegionSidama Region
Elevation1,708 m 5,604 ft
Time zoneAfrica/Addis Ababa
Land area50.0 km²
Nearest airportHawassa Airport (AWA) 9 km

Why visit Awasa

Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 45 places to eat, 47 places to stay and 19 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Africa Beza College.

About Awasa

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. The town serves as the capital of the Sidama Region. It lies on the Trans-African Highway 4 Cairo-Cape Town and has a latitude and longitude of 7°3′N 38°28′E and an elevation of 1,708 meters (5,604 ft) above sea level.

From the Wikipedia article Hawassa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Awasa on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do19

Africa Beza College

School · 1.6 km

Private university college in Ethiopia

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Alamura

Scenic view · 4.9 km

Open in Google Maps

Alamura

Scenic view · 6.0 km

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Alamura Area

Scenic view · 4.2 km

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Areb Sefer

Scenic view

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Atote

Scenic view · 2.9 km

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Beshu complex

Scenic view · 3.0 km

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Chefe Area

Scenic view · 4.6 km

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Dato Area

Scenic view · 3.2 km

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Fikir Hayk

Scenic view · 1.2 km

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Godguda Sefer

Scenic view · 1.3 km

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Logita

Scenic view · 2.1 km

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7 more on the map.

Museums and landmarks4

Blue Nile Hotel

Museum · 1.6 km

Open in Google Maps · +251(0)462 200 197

Fish Market

Monument and historic site · 2.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Hawassa Boat Dock

Monument and historic site · 1.3 km

Open in Google Maps

Sidamo Monument

Monument and historic site · 1.6 km

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds6

Hawassa International Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 3.1 km

hawassa, hawassa

Open in Google Maps

Amora Gedel Park

Park · 2.6 km

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Hawassa artificial stadium

Sports field and stadium · 2.2 km

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Hawassa University Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 2.3 km

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NBNVB

Park · 2.0 km

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St. Gabriel

Park · 1.7 km

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Restaurants and cafes45

Aman Catering and Agelgil

Restaurant · Ethiopian · 4.3 km

Chefe Road

24/7

Open in Google Maps · +251916137579

Habtish Fiyel bet

Restaurant · Ethiopian Tibs · 1.5 km

sunrise-sunset

Open in Google Maps · +251910117650

Z Khat Mekamia

Cafe · Ethiopian · 1.5 km

ጎድጓዳ ሰፈር

24/7

Open in Google Maps

Aseged Bar

Bar and pub

Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +251 0913590666

Baketo

Cafe · Ethiopian, Breakfast

Open in Google Maps · +251916828526

ASSEGID BAR

Bar and pub · 3.1 km

Open in Google Maps · 0913598510

Dolce Italian Restaurant

Restaurant · Italian Pizza

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Dolce Pizza Pin

Restaurant · Italian · 1.9 km

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Hani Juice and Pizza

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.5 km

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Jubi House

Restaurant · Ethiopian · 1.2 km

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Venezia Resaurant

Restaurant · Italian · 2.2 km

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Winner

Restaurant · 2.0 km

ትሩፋት ገብርኤል

Open in Google Maps

33 more on the map.

History

In 1957, with Ras Mengesha Seyoum at the head of the Sidamo Governorate General, Emperor Haile Selassie became greatly interested in establishing a new town in the area where the city is now located. The area appealed to the emperor on many levels. It was located on the important Addis Abeba– Moyale (Kenya) highway; its flat, expansive topography was conducive to city building; and the nearby tourist attractions of Lake Hawassa and the Dume hill (later named Tabor) provided a dramatic backdrop to the area.

From the History section of Hawassa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay47

Churches and places of worship18

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Shopping6

Gas and EV charging5

Schools, colleges and libraries22

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Healthcare5

Map of Awasa

177 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Hawassa Airport (AWA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 km away.

  • Shashamane 21 km northeast, about 21 min by car
  • Leku 21 km south, about 21 min by car
  • Kuyera 33 km northeast, about 33 min by car
  • Kofelē 34 km east, about 34 min by car
  • Yirga ‘Alem 35 km south, about 35 min by car
  • Arsi Negele 39 km northeast, about 39 min by car
  • Dimtu 41 km west, about 41 min by car
  • Bedēsa 50 km southwest, about 50 min by car
  • K’olīto 52 km northwest, about 52 min by car
  • Wendo 52 km south, about 52 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.