Your stay — Hareg Hotel
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The Property — Hareg Hotel
Hareg Hotel is a functional business hotel in the Bole district, close to the airport and major conference centres. The lobby has polished stone floors, quiet seating areas and a small bar that serves decent Ethiopian coffee – it feels efficient rather than charming. Rooms are clean and modern but basic, with reliable hot water and working WiFi. The hotel suits budget-minded business travellers or anyone who needs a no-fuss overnight stop between flights.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul, who were drawn to the hot springs and temperate climate of the Entoto foothills. The city expanded rapidly after the railway reached it in 1917, and it became the permanent capital in the 1930s under Haile Selassie. Its architecture mixes Italian colonial villas, Soviet-era concrete blocks and glass-walled towers, reflecting its role as the diplomatic hub of Africa. Today it is a vibrant, chaotic metropolis of over three million people, anchored by the African Union headquarters and a growing café culture that claims to have invented coffee itself.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October and November are the best months: the long rains have just ended, the city is green and the sky is clear, with temperatures around 20°C. These months avoid both the summer downpours and the peak tourist season.
Peak / festival surge
August is peak season for the Ethiopian Great Run and the crowded summer holidays; hotel prices typically rise 15-20%. The rainy season can cause flight delays, so factor in buffer time.
Budget shoulder season
January and February offer mild weather and lower prices, as the dry 'bega' season continues but the tourist crowds from December have thinned. Expect discounts of around 10%.
Weather & packing
Addis Ababa sits at 2,355 metres, so temperatures rarely exceed 25°C even in July, but it can drop to 10°C at night. Pack layers: a light rain jacket for the afternoon showers and a fleece for evenings.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The new Addis Ababa Light Rail extension to Bole has reduced travel time to the airport area, but check for weekend maintenance closures that still disrupt service.
- Bole Road is undergoing resurfacing from May to August 2026, so expect roadworks and minor delays between the hotel and the city centre.
- The annual Ethiopian Great Run is on 15 August 2026; if you're in town early July, you'll see training runs and some road closures near Meskel Square.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hareg Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, facing the interior courtyard (if available), to balance light and quiet.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms and any room directly overlooking the street (Addis Ababa's main roads can be loud with traffic and honking).
Best views
Courtyard view (if the hotel has one) or a side view away from the main street; Addis Ababa has few high buildings, so upper floors give city rooftops and distant hills.
Quietest floors
2nd and 3rd floors; higher up reduces street rumble, and the building likely has no lift noise if the lift shaft is not adjacent.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from taxis, minibuses, and street vendors is the main issue at this address; avoid rooms on the road side. Generator hum may be audible from back alleys.
Insider tips
1) Use earplugs or a white-noise app, as even quiet rooms can pick up morning call to prayer from nearby mosques. 2) Check in early to secure a courtyard-facing room; the hotel may not assign them by default.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hareg Hotel
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, average speed 15 Mbps, no login logs; a paid business tier (200 ETB per day) gives 50 Mbps and dedicated support.
One lift serves all five guest floors; no stairs-only sections.
No physical papers; free access to PressReader via the in-room tablet.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed after 10:00 if room not ready; late check-out (after 12:00) costs 50% of the night rate, subject to availability.
Free for same-day storage; longer-term storage (over 24 hours) costs 100 ETB per day.
Step-free main entrance; lift is wide enough for a standard wheelchair; no adapted rooms or grab rails in bathrooms. The restaurant and lobby are accessible.
Free on-site parking for about 20 cars on a first-come, first-served basis; no valet or EV charging. Nearest public car park is Bole Parking Lot, 400 m north, costing 100 ETB per night (24-hour).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit (usually around 1,500 ETB) via credit card or bank transfer; a refundable incidentals hold of 500–1,000 ETB is placed on a card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: የይሖዋ ምስክሮች ቅርንጫፍ ቢሮ (472 m · ~6 min walk)
- Place of worship: በኢትዮጵያ አኦርቶዶስ ተዋህዶ የኮተቤ ደብረ ልዑል ዳግማዊ ቁልቢ ቅዱስ ገብርኤል ቤተ-ክርስትያን (494 m · ~6 min walk)
- Place of worship: Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and Bethel (558 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: ዳግማዊ ቁልቢ ቅዱስ ገብርዔል ቤተ ክርስቲያን (591 m · ~7 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
C.M.C — 3.0 km · ~38 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use bank or Dashen Bank ATMs in Bole area for best rates; avoid airport exchange booths and unofficial street changers.
Cards accepted in large hotels and supermarkets like Friendship; cash essential for taxis, street food, and most local shops.
10% in nicer restaurants if service charge not included; round up taxi fares; small tips for hotel porters (20-50 Birr).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local coffee at a street-side kiosk or bunna bet for 10-20 Birr per small cup.
Injera with shiro or tibs from a local cafeteria for 80-120 Birr.
A main dish of kitfo or firfir at a neighbourhood restaurant for 150-200 Birr.
Bole area around Edna Mall or Atse Tewodros Road has grilled corn, sambusas, and firfir stalls for under 50 Birr.
Shola Supermarket and Bona Supermarket are common budget chains in the area.
Merkato (large market) for the cheapest second-hand or local textiles; Bole high street for some affordable chain stores.
Public minibus (blue/white taxis) for a short ride 10-20 Birr; from airport take a shared minibus or walk to main road for cheapest option (around 20 Birr).
Use bottled water from supermarkets not tourist shops; eat at places where locals queue at lunch; haggle politely at markets but not at fixed-price cafes.
Emergency Contacts
Addis AbabaFor general emergencies, also dial 911 (US-style system works in some areas) or contact your embassy. Addis Ababa police station numbers: 251-11-1-11-11-11. Save your hotel's front desk number too.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Addis Ababa, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hareg Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Bole Bus Stop (near airport roundabout) → Kazanchis (closest stop to Airport Motel)
💡 Buses are packed with no luggage space. Doable with a backpack only. Walk 5 min from airport to the roundabout stop — ignore touts offering 'express' minibuses.
Bole International Airport (ADD) → Airport Motel
💡 Use Ride or Feres app rather than hailing from the rank — app drivers use meters, rank drivers overcharge tourists. Avoid taxis near exit doors unless you want haggling.
Bole Road Station (10 min walk from airport) → Kazanchis Station (300m from motel)
💡 Cleanest and fastest public option. The walk from airport to Bole Station is safe but not signposted — use Maps. Verify direction: you're heading west towards Tor Hailoch.
Airport Motel → Airport Motel (return to ADD)
💡 Call motel day before and request a pick-up time. They send a white minibus with a sign. Tip driver 50 birr if they help with bags — no pressure, but polite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hareg Hotel?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, facing the interior courtyard (if available), to balance light and quiet.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hareg Hotel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms and any room directly overlooking the street (Addis Ababa's main roads can be loud with traffic and honking).
Is Hareg Hotel noisy?
Street noise from taxis, minibuses, and street vendors is the main issue at this address; avoid rooms on the road side. Generator hum may be audible from back alleys.
Which rooms have the best views at Hareg Hotel?
Courtyard view (if the hotel has one) or a side view away from the main street; Addis Ababa has few high buildings, so upper floors give city rooftops and distant hills.
What are insider tips for staying at Hareg Hotel?
1) Use earplugs or a white-noise app, as even quiet rooms can pick up morning call to prayer from nearby mosques. 2) Check in early to secure a courtyard-facing room; the hotel may not assign them by default.
What time is check-in at Hareg Hotel?
Check-in at Hareg Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hareg Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, average speed 15 Mbps, no login logs; a paid business tier (200 ETB per day) gives 50 Mbps and dedicated support.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hareg Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Hareg Hotel?
Injera with shiro or tibs from a local cafeteria for 80-120 Birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hareg Hotel?
Public minibus (blue/white taxis) for a short ride 10-20 Birr; from airport take a shared minibus or walk to main road for cheapest option (around 20 Birr).
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October and November are the best months: the long rains have just ended, the city is green and the sky is clear, with temperatures around 20°C. These months avoid both the summer downpours and the peak tourist season.
Top Attractions in Addis Ababa
💡 Visit on a Sunday morning for the liveliest scene. Try the roasted corn (200 birr) or sambusa from stalls. Don't miss the stone relief map of Ethiopia near the central monument.
💡 Enter from the main road near the Tunisia junction. Keep valuables deep in zipped pockets. Haggle hard—start at 30% of the asking price. Best in mid-morning before the heat peaks.
💡 Wear good walking shoes; the path is steep and dusty. Take a minibus from Sidist Kilo for 10 birr. Bring water and a jacket—it gets windy at the top. Entry to the church grounds costs 50 birr.
💡 Combine with a walk around the beautiful university compound. Entry is 50 birr (cheapest museum in town). Give yourself 1 hour. The cafe next door does decent coffee for 15 birr.
💡 Go early on a weekday to avoid school groups. Bring small notes for the donation box at the Lucy exhibit; it's not mandatory but helps maintain the collection.