Your stay — Tsigereda Penision
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The Property — Tsigereda Penision
Tsigereda Pension sits just off Awasa’s main drag, a modest three-storey place where the lobby doubles as the family’s sitting room — mismatched sofas, a faded carpet, and the smell of coffee from the back kitchen. Rooms are clean but basic: tiled floors, firm beds, a fan that rattles, and a bathroom with reliably hot water. It’s not for luxury, but if you want a genuine, unfussy base steps from the lake market and local restaurants, it works. The USP is location: ten minutes’ walk from the fish market and lakeshore, and the owners will happily point you to the best spots for breakfast injera.
Chronicles of Awasa
Awasa was deliberately planned in the 1950s as the capital of the newly formed Sidamo Province, its grid layout carved out of forest land by Emperor Haile Selassie’s government. The city grew fast after the 1970s, drawing people from Sidama, Oromo and Wolayita communities, and became the capital of the Sidama Region in 2020 after a referendum. Architecturally, it’s a mix of low-rise concrete blocks, corrugated-iron shacks and a few colonial-era administrative buildings, with little of the historic fabric you’d find in older Ethiopian cities. Today Awasa is a busy regional hub centred on Lake Awasa, known for its huge fish market, open-air restaurants along the shore, and the Sidama National Cultural Centre.
Best Time to Visit
Full Awasa guide →Best months
October to February: dry season, clear skies, daytime temps around 25–28°C, and the lake is calm for boat trips. Crowds are moderate, mostly domestic tourists on weekends.
Peak / festival surge
Mid-January: the Sidama Festival (Fichee) in Awasa draws big crowds, hotels fill up weeks ahead and prices can double. Also busy during Ethiopia’s Christmas (7 Jan) and Timkat (19 Jan) holidays, with lakefront events and weddings.
Budget shoulder season
March and November are lighter months: still dry enough for comfortable days, but not full. You’ll often find walk-in rates 20–30% lower than peak season. The city is much quieter on weekdays.
Weather & packing
Awasa sits at 1,700m so evenings cool off sharply — thin fleece or a windbreaker after sunset is essential. Pack a rain jacket even in the dry season; sudden afternoon downpours happen from March to May.
Live City Briefing — Awasa
- The new lakeshore promenade from the fish market to the Wabe Shebelle Hotel is complete — a paved walkway with benches and lights, good for evening strolls and safe for solo travellers.
- Road construction on the main Awasa–Shashamene highway has resumed after rains, meaning delays of 30–60 minutes heading north; check departure times if using the bus station.
- The annual Sidama New Year (Fichee) celebrations will run from 28 January to 2 February 2026, with cultural displays and a big market at the stadium; expect accommodation to sell out three weeks prior.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Tsigereda Penision, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) at the back of the building, facing away from the main road. These are quieter and have better ventilation.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (floor 1) near the entrance or street side — they get traffic noise and footfall from reception. Also avoid rooms directly above the small bar or kitchen area, if present.
Best views
Rooms facing the back courtyard (if available) look onto local gardens or quiet residential plots — a calm scene. Street-facing rooms see city life but get dust and noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 (top floors) are the quietest, away from street-level bustle and with less foot traffic past your door.
🔊 Noise notes
Awasa's roads have steady motorcycle and minibus traffic from dawn. The hotel's entrance may face a main route, so street noise carries. The lift machinery hums on floors 2-3.
Insider tips
1) Ask for a room on the highest floor possible to avoid street noise — there's no lift, so you'll need to climb, but it's worth it. 2) Check if the hotel has a back garden or terrace; request a room near that side for quiet and possible lake breezes.
- 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 — Tsigereda Penision
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and ground floor; no guest room Wi-Fi (cellular coverage available)
No lift; all rooms on first floor via stairs only
No newspapers or digital newsstand; no notable heritage quirks
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop available if room not ready; late check-out until 12:00 incurs 50% of nightly rate; check-out by 11:00
Free for day of arrival/departure; no secure overnight storage
No step-free access; entrance has two steps; no wheelchair-accessible rooms; no adapted bathrooms
Free on-site parking for up to 6 cars (first-come, first-served); nearest public car park is 400 m away (Awasa Municipal Parking, free but unguarded); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; no incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Korem Mosque (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Church: Christ Embassy Hawassa (1.6 km · ~20 min walk)
- Church: ሀዋሳ ሙሉ ወንጌል ቤተክርስትያን (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
St. Gabriel — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Blue Nile Hotel — 840 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Dashen — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Mini Shop — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use local banks or Dashen Bank ATMs for best rates; avoid airport exchange counters which give poor rates.
Cards accepted only at major hotels and supermarkets; most local shops and taxis require cash.
10-15% in restaurants if service charge not included; round up taxi fares; tip hotel staff 20-50 birr.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Small cup of traditional coffee from a street kiosk: around 10-15 birr.
Injera with shiro or meat from a local tej bet: about 50-100 birr.
Main dish like kitfo or tibs at a budget eatery: 80-150 birr.
Corners around the main market and bus station sell roasted corn, samosas, and ful.
No major budget chains; small kiosks and the central market sell staple goods cheaply.
Awasa Market (Arada area) for second-hand clothes and local textiles, very cheap.
Shared minibus (bajaj) within town: 5-10 birr per ride; from airport take a bajaj for about 100 birr.
Eat at local tej bets rather than tourist hotels; use shared bajaj instead of private taxis; buy water from kiosks (5 birr) not hotels.
Emergency Contacts
AwasaFor police in Awasa, dial 991. Ambulance is 907 (often slow, consider private options like Addis Alem Hospital at +251-46-220-0023). Fire is 932. These are national numbers; response times vary.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Awasa, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Tsigereda Penision
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Dashen — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Addis Ababa (Megenagna terminal) → Awasa bus station
💡 Sit on the left side for Lake Awasa views; from the bus station take a bajaj (20 ETB, 5 min) to Jerusalem Hotel.
Hawassa Airport (AWA) → Jerusalem Hotel
💡 Book via hotel front desk; drivers wait at arrivals with your name on a sign—agree the flat rate before getting in.
Piazza (main bus stand) → Jerusalem Hotel (near Fischa Theatre)
💡 Tell the conductor 'Fischa Theatre'—the hotel is a 2-minute walk from the stop; avoid rush hour (8–9am, 5–6pm).
Airport road junction → Jerusalem Hotel
💡 Walk 200m from airport exit to the main road (Bole–Sebeta route); share with locals halves the fare.
About Awasa
Wikipedia ↗
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 s...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Tsigereda Penision?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) at the back of the building, facing away from the main road. These are quieter and have better ventilation.
Which rooms should I avoid at Tsigereda Penision?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (floor 1) near the entrance or street side — they get traffic noise and footfall from reception. Also avoid rooms directly above the small bar or kitchen area, if present.
Is Tsigereda Penision noisy?
Awasa's roads have steady motorcycle and minibus traffic from dawn. The hotel's entrance may face a main route, so street noise carries. The lift machinery hums on floors 2-3.
Which rooms have the best views at Tsigereda Penision?
Rooms facing the back courtyard (if available) look onto local gardens or quiet residential plots — a calm scene. Street-facing rooms see city life but get dust and noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Tsigereda Penision?
1) Ask for a room on the highest floor possible to avoid street noise — there's no lift, so you'll need to climb, but it's worth it. 2) Check if the hotel has a back garden or terrace; request a room near that side for quiet and possible lake breezes.
What time is check-in at Tsigereda Penision?
Check-in at Tsigereda Penision is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Tsigereda Penision have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and ground floor; no guest room Wi-Fi (cellular coverage available)
Is there a city or tourist tax at Tsigereda Penision?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Tsigereda Penision?
Injera with shiro or meat from a local tej bet: about 50-100 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Tsigereda Penision?
Shared minibus (bajaj) within town: 5-10 birr per ride; from airport take a bajaj for about 100 birr.
When is the best time to visit Awasa?
October to February: dry season, clear skies, daytime temps around 25–28°C, and the lake is calm for boat trips. Crowds are moderate, mostly domestic tourists on weekends.
Top Attractions in Awasa
💡 Walk the paved lakeside strip early morning before 7am to watch fish eagles hunt. Avoid swimming—bilharzia risk is real.
💡 Try a cup of fresh coffee from a street vendor for 5 birr. Haggle gently—sellers are fair. Go before 10am to avoid crowds and heat.
💡 Arrive by 8am for the catch. Bring small notes (10–50 birr) to buy grilled fish with bread for about 30 birr. Hold your camera discreetly.
💡 Wear sturdy shoes. The gravel paths get muddy after rain. Best in late afternoon when light filters through the canopy.
💡 Entry costs 50 birr for locals, slightly more for foreigners. Take a towel and change of clothes. Minibuses from the main bus station cost 10 birr.