Your stay — Awash Hotel
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The Property — Awash Hotel
The Awash Hotel sits opposite Lake Bishoftu, a 20-minute drive from Bole International Airport. Inside, the tile floors and poured-concrete finishes give it a solid, no-fuss feel from the early 2000s. Rooms are simple – tiled, clean, with functioning AC and tiled bathrooms – and the front lawn offers a decent view of the lake. It suits a solo traveller or couple needing a clean, affordable stopover without any pretence, not a resort holiday.
Chronicles of Bishoftu
Bishoftu (formerly Debre Zeyit) grew rapidly after the 1930s when Emperor Haile Selassie built a palace here, attracting nobles and merchants. The town is known for its five crater lakes, formed by volcanic activity in the Rift Valley. Its modern identity is split: a commuter town for Addis Ababa, a military airbase hub, and a weekend retreat for Addis residents who come to swim, cycle, and visit the Lake Bishoftu resort strip. The local Oromo and Amhara culture blends into the lakeside vibe, with traditional coffee ceremonies and injera restaurants scattered along the main road.
Best Time to Visit
Full Bishoftu guide →Best months
November to February: dry season with clear skies, 20–25°C daytime highs, and cool evenings. Roads stay passable and lakeside walking is pleasant.
Peak / festival surge
March to May: the long rains bring afternoon downpours; hotel occupancy spikes during Ethiopian Easter (Fasika) and school breaks in April. Prices may double compared to dry-season rates.
Budget shoulder season
June to July: prices drop 20–30% after the main rains ease; still some showers but mornings are often sunny. Fewer tourists, easier to book lake activities.
Weather & packing
Bishoftu sits at 1,900m, so UV is strong even in cloudy weather. Pack a waterproof jacket for sudden showers and a sun hat for the strong midday sun.
Live City Briefing — Bishoftu
- The Bishoftu–Addis highway upgrade is nearly complete, cutting drive time from 45 to 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Expect occasional lane closures for final paving.
- Lake Bishoftu's water hyacinth bloom has recently been controlled by mechanical removal, improving swimming and birdwatching conditions on the eastern shore.
- A new weekend market, 'Bishoftu Artisan Fridays', started in March 2026 at the lakefront, selling local pottery and honey. It runs 10am–4pm Friday to Sunday.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Awash Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the garden or lake side. These are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but still accessible by stairs if the lift is slow, which is common in older 3-star hotels in Bishoftu.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the lobby or restaurant – they pick up chatter and kitchen clatter. Also avoid rooms at the rear if they face a service yard or staff parking area, as early morning deliveries can be disruptive.
Best views
Ask for a room with a lake view – the hotel overlooks one of Bishoftu’s crater lakes. If that’s not available, a garden view is pleasant and quieter than the street side.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are your best bet for quiet – street noise drops off above ground level, and the top floor may be hotter under a thin roof, unless it has a ceiling fan or AC.
🔊 Noise notes
Bishoftu’s side streets can have honking from small buses, roosters at dawn, and mosque calls early morning. The front of the hotel facing the main road will hear more traffic; back rooms are calmer.
Insider tips
1. If you’re driving, ask the front desk about secure parking – some 3-star hotels here have guarded lots around back. 2. The hotel can arrange a boat trip on the lake; request a late checkout (1-2pm) for a lazy afternoon on the water without rush.
- 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 — Awash Hotel
Free WiFi in lobby only, speed approx 2 Mbps; no in-room WiFi
No lift; two-storey building with stairs only
No newspapers, digital or physical; the main building is a 1970s concrete structure with colonial-era annexe
Standard 14:00 check-in; early bag drop allowed from 10:00; late check-out until 16:00 for 50% of room rate
Complimentary luggage storage at reception for day of arrival/departure
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required; 500 ETB incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: st michael (1.9 km · ~23 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Eyasu Meda — 977 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bank of Abyssinia (Zequala Sub Branch) — 755 m · ~9 min walk
Rahel Pharmacy — 318 m · ~4 min walk
Bishoftu Bus Station — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use Dashen Bank or Commercial Bank of Ethiopia branches in the centre; avoid airport booths – their rates are poor.
Larger hotels and some supermarkets accept Visa/Mastercard, but cash is king for most daily transactions.
Round up in taxis; 10% in restaurants if no service charge added; 20-50 ETB for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A macchiato at a corner coffee stall costs about 10-15 ETB.
Injera with wat from a small local cafe: 60-100 ETB.
A main course of tibs or pasta at a modest restaurant: 100-150 ETB.
Look for kocho (flatbread) and grilled meat stalls along the main road near the bus station, or samosa vendors near the lakefront.
Supermarkets like Nyala Supermarket and Friends Supermarket are common here.
Check the open-air market around Bishoftu Bus Station for second-hand clothes and local textiles.
Shared minibuses (blue-and-white) cost 5 ETB per trip; from the airport, a shared minibus into town is about 20 ETB.
Eat at places where locals queue; buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets; negotiate firmly in markets but not with fixed-price shopkeepers.
Emergency Contacts
BishoftuFor all emergencies in Bishoftu, dial the national numbers: Police 91, Ambulance 90, Fire 93. Local hospitals include Bishoftu General Hospital (+251 11 431 3200). For tourist assistance, contact the Oromia Police Tourist Liaison.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Bishoftu, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Awash Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Bank of Abyssinia (Zequala Sub Branch) — 755 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · Rahel Pharmacy — 318 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Bishoftu town centre (e.g. bus station) → Viewpoint Lodge
💡 Blue-and-white minibuses are cheaper but drop you at the main road; from there walk 400 metres uphill to the lodge.
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) → Viewpoint Lodge, Bishoftu
💡 Arrange through Viewpoint Lodge directly for a fixed rate; airport touts quote double. Pay after arrival.
Bishoftu bus station → Viewpoint Lodge junction (main road)
💡 Flag down any blue minibus heading towards Debre Zeit; tell the conductor 'Viewpoint'. They'll stop at the dirt track leading uphill.
Addis Ababa (Megenagna or Bole bus station) → Bishoftu bus station
💡 Minibuses leave when full – usually within 15 minutes. Sit on the right side for views of crater lakes on approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Awash Hotel?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the garden or lake side. These are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but still accessible by stairs if the lift is slow, which is common in older 3-star hotels in Bishoftu.
Which rooms should I avoid at Awash Hotel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the lobby or restaurant – they pick up chatter and kitchen clatter. Also avoid rooms at the rear if they face a service yard or staff parking area, as early morning deliveries can be disruptive.
Is Awash Hotel noisy?
Bishoftu’s side streets can have honking from small buses, roosters at dawn, and mosque calls early morning. The front of the hotel facing the main road will hear more traffic; back rooms are calmer.
Which rooms have the best views at Awash Hotel?
Ask for a room with a lake view – the hotel overlooks one of Bishoftu’s crater lakes. If that’s not available, a garden view is pleasant and quieter than the street side.
What are insider tips for staying at Awash Hotel?
1. If you’re driving, ask the front desk about secure parking – some 3-star hotels here have guarded lots around back. 2. The hotel can arrange a boat trip on the lake; request a late checkout (1-2pm) for a lazy afternoon on the water without rush.
What time is check-in at Awash Hotel?
Check-in at Awash Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Awash Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi in lobby only, speed approx 2 Mbps; no in-room WiFi
Is there a city or tourist tax at Awash Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Awash Hotel?
Injera with wat from a small local cafe: 60-100 ETB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Awash Hotel?
Shared minibuses (blue-and-white) cost 5 ETB per trip; from the airport, a shared minibus into town is about 20 ETB.
When is the best time to visit Bishoftu?
November to February: dry season with clear skies, 20–25°C daytime highs, and cool evenings. Roads stay passable and lakeside walking is pleasant.
Top Attractions in Bishoftu
💡 Go early for the best produce and to see the grain-sellers with their sacks of teff and barley. Don't photograph faces without permission. Watch your pockets in the dense crowds.
💡 Come on a weekday morning when vendors are more relaxed. Buy a bag of roasted coffee beans from the stall near the entrance for 40 birr.
💡 Visit at sunrise to avoid crowds and see the mist rising off the water. The path gets slippery after rain, wear sturdy shoes.
💡 Bring binoculars to spot the variety of waterfowl. The path from the road is steep but only 10 minutes up. No shade at the top so carry water.
💡 Their short film about the Ethiopian wolf is worth watching. Ask the guide about the tree-planting project in the grounds.