Your stay — Maedot Hotel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Harar.
The Property — Maedot Hotel
Maedot Hotel is a straightforward, solidly reliable three-star in the old town, close to the eastern gate of the Jugol. The lobby is tiled and clean, with a small seating area and a reception desk that hands out local advice without fuss. Its USP is location: you can walk to the main market, the ramparts and several major shrines within minutes. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a safe, no-frills base to explore the walled city on foot, not a resort experience.
Chronicles of Harar
Harar was founded as a sultanate in the 10th century and became a major Islamic trade and learning centre by the 16th century. The old walled city, Jugol, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006, is a dense maze of narrow alleys lined with colourful traditional houses, mosques and shrines. Emperor Menelik II annexed Harar to Ethiopia in 1887, and the French poet Arthur Rimbaud lived here in the 1880s, leaving a small museum in his former home. Today, Harar is renowned for its unique blend of Ethiopian and Islamic cultures, for the nightly wild hyena feeding ritual at the city gates, and for its thriving coffee and chat trade. The city remains proudly conservative and multi-ethnic, with a distinct Harari identity that sets it apart from the rest of the country.
Best Time to Visit
Full Harar guide →Best months
October and November – the main rainy season has ended, the city is lush, skies are clear, and temperatures are comfortably warm (25–28°C). December is also good, with cooler nights and fewer tourists than Jan/Feb.
Peak / festival surge
July and August – the short rainy season (late June–August) brings afternoon downpours, but this is also the peak of the Ethiopian summer holidays, when domestic tourism spikes. Hotel prices can rise 15–20% in July. The main event is the annual Ethiopian Orthodox festival of Mariam Zion (late August), though Harar’s own Islamic celebration of the birth of the Prophet (Mawlid, dates vary) also attracts crowds.
Budget shoulder season
September and May are excellent shoulder months. September sees a lull after the rains and before the high season, with discounted rates. May is dry, sunny and quiet, as it falls just before the rains begin.
Weather & packing
Harar sits at 1,800 metres, so days are warm but nights are cool – the temperature can drop to 15°C after dark. Pack a light fleece or jacket for evenings, and a waterproof jacket for the likely afternoon thundershowers in July.
Live City Briefing — Harar
- The main road from Dire Dawa to Harar (Route 2) has been undergoing resurfacing since early 2026; expect delays of 30–60 minutes for construction between May and October.
- A new pedestrian plaza has opened inside the Jugol wall near the Harar Gate, offering a cleaner, car-free space for evening visits to the hyena feeding site.
- July 2026 falls during the rainy season; the city’s cobbled alleys can get slippery, and some rural roads may be impassable for 4x2 vehicles, so arrange transport with a 4x4 if you plan to go outside the city.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Maedot 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 inner courtyard. These floors are above street level but low enough to avoid roof noise, and the courtyard orientation cuts traffic noise from the street.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor (ground level) facing the street — that's where you'll get the most street noise, foot traffic, and the lift lobby hum. Also avoid any room directly above or next to the hotel bar (usually ground floor, rear).
Best views
Rooms facing the street give you a view of Harar's old city activity — colourful local life and the surrounding hills. If you value quiet over view, choose the courtyard side.
Quietest floors
2nd and 3rd floors are the quietest — far enough from the street, no lift machinery above, and away from the ground-floor bar.
🔊 Noise notes
Harar's streets can be busy with motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and pedestrians from early morning until late evening. Street-facing rooms will pick up honking and chatter. The lift is likely a single, slow elevator — avoid rooms next to the lift shaft.
Insider tips
1. Check in earlier in the day (before 3pm) to have your pick of courtyard-facing rooms. 2. If you're sensitive to noise, pack earplugs — even quieter rooms can catch street noise if the windows are single-glazed, which is common in 3-star Ethiopian hotels.
- 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 — Maedot Hotel
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical download speed 5–10 Mbps during peak evening hours; login with room number and surname
One lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only historic sections
Complimentary digital access to The Reporter and Addis Standard via QR code in lobby; no physical newspapers
Standard check-in 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 10:00; late check-out until 13:00 for 500 ETB, subject to availability
Free for hotel guests; after check-out 200 ETB per bag for up to 6 hours
Step-free main entrance and lift access to all floors; no accessible rooms or adapted bathrooms; narrow corridors may hinder wheelchair turning
On-site unguarded parking for 10 cars, free; public car park 200 m away on Amanuel Street, 50 ETB per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; 1,000 ETB incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Haji True Mosque (571 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Harer Silase Bete Kristiyan (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
United Bank (Aretegna Branch) — 524 m · ~7 min walk
Hammer Pharmacy — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use Dashen Bank or Commercial Bank of Ethiopia branches for best rates; avoid airport and hotel exchanges, which give poor rates and often charge high commissions.
Cards are accepted in upmarket hotels and some larger restaurants; most local shops, taxis, and street vendors are cash-only. Contactless is rare.
Not expected but appreciated: 5–10% in restaurants if service charge not added; round up taxi fares; small tips (30-50 Birr) for hotel porters or guides.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A cup of traditional Ethiopian coffee from a street-side jebena stand or local kiosk, about 5–10 Birr.
Injera with shiro or a meat stew from a local tuck shop or canteen, around 40–70 Birr.
A filling main dish of tibs (grilled meat) or pasta from a hole-in-the-wall eatery, about 60–100 Birr.
Jugol area and the labyrinthine alleys around the old walled city – look for sambusa, roasted corn, and fresh fruit stalls.
Local minimarkets like Shoa Supermarket or small corner shops; no large budget chains in the old city.
Second-hand markets (e.g., near the bus station) and the local souk for traditional shawls and scarves; prices negotiable.
Minibus (blue-and-white shared taxis) cost 5–10 Birr per short trip within the city; from the airport, the cheapest is a shared minibus heading to the old town (20–30 Birr).
Always negotiate prices at markets; eat where locals do in the old town for half the tourist prices; withdraw from banks rather than street ATMs to avoid high fees.
Emergency Contacts
HararFor police in Harar, dial 991. Ambulance: 907. Fire: 903. These numbers may be patchy outside town; keep a local contact. The main hospital is Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, but for serious issues, consider evacuation to Addis Ababa. Save your embassy's number too.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Harar, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Maedot Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · United Bank (Aretegna Branch) — 524 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Hammer Pharmacy — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Dire Dawa Bus Station → Harar Bus Station (near Jugol gate)
💡 Minibuses leave when full; sit on the left side for the best views over the escarpment. Tana Hotel is about a 15-minute walk from the Harar bus station.
Any point in Harar → Tana Hotel
💡 Short, cheap hops — flag one down for the steep walk up to Tana Hotel from the old town. They won't go outside city limits.
Dire Dawa City Centre → Tana Hotel, Harar
💡 Agree the fare before you get in — many drivers will try to quote double. Rough road after the tarmac ends; small cars struggle with the potholes.
Dire Dawa Airport (DIR) → Tana Hotel, Harar
💡 Pre-book with the hotel or a local driver; shared taxis from the airport to Dire Dawa city are cheaper but you'll still need another taxi for the final leg to Harar.
About Harar
Wikipedia ↗
Harar (Harari: ሀረር / Old Harari: هَرَرْ; Amharic: ሐረር; Oromo: Adare Biyyo; Somali: Xarar/𐒄𐒖𐒇𐒖𐒇; Arabic: هرر), known historically by the indigenous as Harar-Gey or simply Gey (Harari: ጌይ, Old Harari: ݘٛىيْ, romanized: Gēy, lit. 'the city'), is a walled city in eastern Ethiopia. It is also known...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Maedot Hotel?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard. These floors are above street level but low enough to avoid roof noise, and the courtyard orientation cuts traffic noise from the street.
Which rooms should I avoid at Maedot Hotel?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor (ground level) facing the street — that's where you'll get the most street noise, foot traffic, and the lift lobby hum. Also avoid any room directly above or next to the hotel bar (usually ground floor, rear).
Is Maedot Hotel noisy?
Harar's streets can be busy with motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and pedestrians from early morning until late evening. Street-facing rooms will pick up honking and chatter. The lift is likely a single, slow elevator — avoid rooms next to the lift shaft.
Which rooms have the best views at Maedot Hotel?
Rooms facing the street give you a view of Harar's old city activity — colourful local life and the surrounding hills. If you value quiet over view, choose the courtyard side.
What are insider tips for staying at Maedot Hotel?
1. Check in earlier in the day (before 3pm) to have your pick of courtyard-facing rooms. 2. If you're sensitive to noise, pack earplugs — even quieter rooms can catch street noise if the windows are single-glazed, which is common in 3-star Ethiopian hotels.
What time is check-in at Maedot Hotel?
Check-in at Maedot Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Maedot Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical download speed 5–10 Mbps during peak evening hours; login with room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Maedot Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Maedot Hotel?
Injera with shiro or a meat stew from a local tuck shop or canteen, around 40–70 Birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Maedot Hotel?
Minibus (blue-and-white shared taxis) cost 5–10 Birr per short trip within the city; from the airport, the cheapest is a shared minibus heading to the old town (20–30 Birr).
When is the best time to visit Harar?
October and November – the main rainy season has ended, the city is lush, skies are clear, and temperatures are comfortably warm (25–28°C). December is also good, with cooler nights and fewer tourists than Jan/Feb.
Top Attractions in Harar
💡 Go just after Friday prayers (around 1pm) when the courtyard empties—locals are happy to chat then. Dress conservatively: arms and legs fully covered, remove shoes before stepping onto any mat area.
💡 Bring your own water and snack; the park has no vendors. Best visited late afternoon when the heat drops.
💡 Start at the Iron Gate (Gate of the Afar) early morning, around 6am, to see local herders bringing in goats and camels.
💡 Get there by 6pm to claim a spot near the hyenas. Don't wear strong perfume—the hyenas have an incredible sense of smell and will avoid you.
💡 Ask the curator to show you the secret room hidden behind a false bookshelf—holds a rare collection of 19th-century swords.