Your stay — Rewada 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 — Rewada Hotel
Rewada Hotel is a clean, no-nonsense 3-star in the old city, with a rooftop terrace that gives you Harar’s skyline of minarets and hyena-trodden alleyways. The lobby is tiled, functional, and smells of cardamom tea; you check in with a view of the lively street life below. It suits independent travellers who want a solid base for exploring the walled city, not luxury, but reliable hot water, decent beds, and staff who can arrange a hyena-feeding guide. The atmosphere is practical rather than charming, but the location inside the old city walls makes it worth considering.
Chronicles of Harar
Harar was founded as a city-state in the 10th century and became the region’s great Islamic trading hub, linking Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Its old wall, built in the 16th century, encloses a dense maze of 368 alleyways and colourful, flat-roofed houses with distinctive Arab, Indian, and African architectural influences. The city was famously visited by Rimbaud in the 1880s, and his house still stands as a museum. Today, Harar’s culture is defined by its unique Harari language and traditions, the nightly hyena men who feed wild hyenas in the hills outside the wall, and a coffee ceremony culture that predates Starbucks by centuries.
Best Time to Visit
Full Harar guide →Best months
October and November: the skies are clear, temperatures hover around a comfortable 25°C, and the post-monsoon air is crisp. These are also the months when the hyena-feeding ritual is at its most active as animals are drawn out by the dry ground. Crowds are mild though Harar never feels packed.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak due to Ethiopian summer holidays and some international tourists, but the monsoon rains can make alleys muddy and walking tours soggy. Hotel prices at Rewada go up around 15–20% from the low-season rate. The big event is the Ashenda festival in late August—a girls’ festival with singing, dancing, and traditional dress—which fills family guesthouses.
Budget shoulder season
March and April offer lower prices (often 10–15% off peak rates), fewer crowds, and temperatures in the high 20s. You get a bit more rain but not the deluge of July. It’s a sweet spot for budget travellers who don’t mind afternoon showers.
Weather & packing
Harar’s weather is warm year-round but has a double rainy season: a short one in March–April and a long one in June–September, so a light rain jacket is essential even in June. Pack long trousers and a scarf for mosque visits—shorts in the old city raise eyebrows—and sturdy shoes for the cobbled alleyways.
Live City Briefing — Harar
- The old city’s main gate (Denga Gate) is currently undergoing restoration through November 2026, so expect some pedestrian rerouting and occasional dust nearby.
- The new Harar Cultural Centre opens this month in the Jegol area, hosting daily music and coffee ceremonies; it’s a welcome addition for visitors seeking structured cultural experiences.
- The bus station near the city centre has moved to a new terminal 2km east of the wall — check your hotel for updated shared taxi routes to avoid long walks with luggage.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jun 2026Before you check in to Rewada Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors, away from the lift and stairwell, for less foot traffic noise. Corner rooms often have more windows and feel airier.
Rooms to avoid
Rooms near the reception, dining area, or the lift shaft tend to get noise from early breakfast prep and late check-ins. Internal-facing rooms can be dark.
Best views
Ask for a room facing away from the main road; this often overlooks a courtyard or side street and offers more natural light without constant traffic noise.
Quietest floors
Higher floors (above ground level) are generally quieter than the ground floor, which picks up lobby and street sounds.
🔊 Noise notes
Street-facing rooms may get motorbike and vendor sounds from early morning. Check if windows are double-glazed or have heavy curtains. Weekend nights can be louder if the hotel hosts local events.
Insider tips
1. Book directly with the hotel by phone or email — you may get a better rate or free breakfast compared to OTAs. 2. Request a room inspection before checking in; if the room is musty or noisy, ask to see alternatives immediately.
- 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 — Rewada Hotel
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms and lobby; download speed about 5 Mbps; no login required
Single lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
Free daily print newspaper (Reporter or Addis Zemen) at breakfast; no digital newsstand. The hotel occupies a 1960s building originally a merchant’s residence, with a central courtyard and original terrazzo floors
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 11:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out fee 400 ETB until 16:00, after that charged half-day rate
Free for same-day; 150 ETB per bag per night for longer storage
No step-free access at main entrance (two steps); no wheelchair-accessible rooms; no lift to restaurant on mezzanine level
Free on-site unpaved parking for 10 cars; nearest public car park (Ras Makonnen Street parking lot) 100 ETB per night, no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Advance payment of first night required; 1,000 ETB incidental hold on arrival
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 banks or licensed forex bureaux in the city centre; avoid the airport and tourist offices where rates are poor.
Cards are rarely accepted outside big hotels; carry enough birr cash for daily expenses.
Round up taxi fares; leave 10% in restaurants if service charge isn't included; tip hotel porters 20–30 birr.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small cup of traditional Ethiopian coffee from a street stall costs around 10 birr.
A plate of shiro wot with injera from a local canteen runs about 40–50 birr.
A main of tibs (grilled meat) with salad and injera in a simple restaurant costs about 80–100 birr.
Jugol (the old walled city) and streets near the main market have stalls selling roasted corn, sambusa, and fresh fruit.
There are small neighbourhood shops (kaftariya) but no big-budget supermarket chains in this area.
The main market (Mercato style) in Harar's new town sells second-hand clothes and local cotton garments at low prices.
Minibus taxis (blue and white) cost 5–10 birr per short ride around town; from Dire Dawa airport, shared minibuses to Harar cost 80–100 birr per person.
Eat at local kiosks and canteens away from tourist spots; haggle at markets; buy bottled water in bulk from shops rather than hotels.
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 Rewada 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 Rewada Hotel?
Request a room on the upper floors, away from the lift and stairwell, for less foot traffic noise. Corner rooms often have more windows and feel airier.
Which rooms should I avoid at Rewada Hotel?
Rooms near the reception, dining area, or the lift shaft tend to get noise from early breakfast prep and late check-ins. Internal-facing rooms can be dark.
Is Rewada Hotel noisy?
Street-facing rooms may get motorbike and vendor sounds from early morning. Check if windows are double-glazed or have heavy curtains. Weekend nights can be louder if the hotel hosts local events.
Which rooms have the best views at Rewada Hotel?
Ask for a room facing away from the main road; this often overlooks a courtyard or side street and offers more natural light without constant traffic noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Rewada Hotel?
1. Book directly with the hotel by phone or email — you may get a better rate or free breakfast compared to OTAs. 2. Request a room inspection before checking in; if the room is musty or noisy, ask to see alternatives immediately.
What time is check-in at Rewada Hotel?
Check-in at Rewada Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Rewada Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms and lobby; download speed about 5 Mbps; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Rewada Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Rewada Hotel?
A plate of shiro wot with injera from a local canteen runs about 40–50 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Rewada Hotel?
Minibus taxis (blue and white) cost 5–10 birr per short ride around town; from Dire Dawa airport, shared minibuses to Harar cost 80–100 birr per person.
When is the best time to visit Harar?
October and November: the skies are clear, temperatures hover around a comfortable 25°C, and the post-monsoon air is crisp. These are also the months when the hyena-feeding ritual is at its most active as animals are drawn out by the dry ground. Crowds are mild though Harar never feels packed.
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.