Your stay — Sherif Guesthouse
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The Property — Sherif Guesthouse
The Sherif Guesthouse is a modest, family-run riad in Harar's old walled city. Rooms wrap around a sun-drenched courtyard with a small fountain; the vibe is quiet and local, not polished. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want to be inside the old town, close to hyena feeding and the markets. The owner is often around and can arrange guides or sorting a reliable taxi.
Chronicles of Harar
Harar was founded between the 7th and 11th centuries as a centre of Islam in the Horn of Africa, growing rich on the slave and coffee trades. It was an independent emirate until 1887, when Menelik II annexed it. The walled old town, Jugol, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with 82 winding alleys and vividly painted houses. Modern Harar remains a conservative Muslim city, known for its chat trade, unique Harari language, and the ritual of hyena men who feed wild hyenas by hand each night.
Best Time to Visit
Full Harar guide →Best months
October and November: post-rains, the old town is lush, skies clear, and the city is not overly crowded. Also February: dry and cool, good for walking the walls.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak season for domestic and some international tourists; the city is busy but not overwhelmed. No single festival drives prices up sharply, but hotels can fill. The main events are the Harar Cultural Festival in July (dates vary) and the Gena Bona coffee ceremony during the Ethiopian New Year in September, but these pull mostly local crowds.
Budget shoulder season
June and September are good shoulder months. June is dry but getting hot; September sees sporadic showers. Both offer lower room rates and quieter exploration, especially of the outer city.
Weather & packing
Harar sits at 1,885m, so July afternoons reach about 28°C but evenings can drop to 14°C. Pack layers: a light fleece or jacket for evenings, plus sturdy walking shoes for the cobbled alleys.
Live City Briefing — Harar
- The new asphalt road from Dire Dawa to Harar was completed in 2024, cutting the minibus journey to about 1.5 hours; reliable minibuses now leave from Dire Dawa bus station from 6am.
- The old city’s water supply project is ongoing in 2026; some streets may have temporary trenching or dust, particularly around the main market gate.
- Visitors should expect that plastic-bag bans (enforced in other Ethiopian cities) are still loosely applied in Harar, but it’s polite to refuse single-use bags at shops.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Sherif Guesthouse, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor facing the inner courtyard. Less street noise from Harar’s narrow, bustling alleyways, and the courtyard tends to be quieter in the evening.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor facing the street. Harar’s streets are active with pedestrian and motorbike noise from early morning, and ground-level windows let in dust and exhaust fumes.
Best views
Courtyard-side rooms on the first floor provide a view of the traditional Harari compound interior, with some greenery and shade. No city skyline — expect intimate, local architecture.
Quietest floors
First floor and above, with courtyard-side rooms being the quietest. Second floor may also be acceptable if away from the stairwell.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from motorbikes, early-morning market activity, and call to prayer from nearby mosques. The guesthouse has no lift, so upper-floor rooms are quieter but require stairs.
Insider tips
Ask for a room on the first floor courtyard side when booking — no lift means fewer steps and less noise. Request a quiet hours heads-up from staff if you plan to sleep past dawn; Harar wakes early.
- 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 — Sherif Guesthouse
Free WiFi available in lobby and some rooms with typical speeds of 5–10 Mbps; login via room number and surname. Expect intermittent outages during morning hours.
No lift. All rooms are on the first and second floors via stairs.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. Some local English papers displayed in lobby.
Check-in 14:00–23:00. Early bag drop available after 10:00. Late check-out until 16:00 costs 50% of nightly rate; must request by 10:00 on departure day.
Free storage on arrival and departure days, but no secure lockers.
No step-free access. Entrance has three steps, and upper floors are stairs-only. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
No on-site or valet parking. Street parking nearby is free but unsecured. Nearest public car park about 500 metres away (20 ETB per night, unguarded). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full payment required at booking; no incidental hold at check-in, but cash deposit of 500 ETB may be requested for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Amer Uga Mosque (50 m · ~1 min walk)
- Mosque: Shaish Toa Mosque (check) (58 m · ~1 min walk)
- Mosque: Shaish Toa Mosque (89 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Cathedral of Holy name of Mary (129 m · ~2 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Tewekeltu Business Center — 1.2 km · ~16 min walk
Nur Plaza — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Harari Community Museum — 166 m · ~2 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Kalkas pharmacy — 1.2 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use authorised forex bureaux or banks in Harar for better rates; avoid airport or tourist-office exchanges which give poor rates.
Cards are rarely accepted in local shops and eateries; most transactions are cash-only outside major hotels.
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory: 10 birr for small meals, 20–50 birr for guides; round up taxi fares.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local coffee ceremony or roadside coffee stall: 5–10 birr.
Injera with wat from a local canteen: 40–70 birr.
A main of tibs with salad at a small restaurant: 80–120 birr.
Jugol area and central market have stalls selling sambusa, roasted corn, and fresh fruit.
Small kiosks and the central market are the main grocery sources; no large supermarket chains in Harar.
Harar market (Jugol area) for second-hand clothes and local textiles; no high-street chains.
Blue shared minibuses (bajaj) around town: 5 birr per ride. From Dire Dawa airport, take a shared minibus to Harar: 100–150 birr.
Eat where locals queue; negotiate prices in markets; carry plenty of small bills.
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 Sherif Guesthouse
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk — pharmacy · Kalkas pharmacy — 1.2 km · ~16 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 Sherif Guesthouse?
Request a room on the first floor facing the inner courtyard. Less street noise from Harar’s narrow, bustling alleyways, and the courtyard tends to be quieter in the evening.
Which rooms should I avoid at Sherif Guesthouse?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor facing the street. Harar’s streets are active with pedestrian and motorbike noise from early morning, and ground-level windows let in dust and exhaust fumes.
Is Sherif Guesthouse noisy?
Street noise from motorbikes, early-morning market activity, and call to prayer from nearby mosques. The guesthouse has no lift, so upper-floor rooms are quieter but require stairs.
Which rooms have the best views at Sherif Guesthouse?
Courtyard-side rooms on the first floor provide a view of the traditional Harari compound interior, with some greenery and shade. No city skyline — expect intimate, local architecture.
What are insider tips for staying at Sherif Guesthouse?
Ask for a room on the first floor courtyard side when booking — no lift means fewer steps and less noise. Request a quiet hours heads-up from staff if you plan to sleep past dawn; Harar wakes early.
What time is check-in at Sherif Guesthouse?
Check-in at Sherif Guesthouse is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Sherif Guesthouse have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi available in lobby and some rooms with typical speeds of 5–10 Mbps; login via room number and surname. Expect intermittent outages during morning hours.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Sherif Guesthouse?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Sherif Guesthouse?
Injera with wat from a local canteen: 40–70 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Sherif Guesthouse?
Blue shared minibuses (bajaj) around town: 5 birr per ride. From Dire Dawa airport, take a shared minibus to Harar: 100–150 birr.
When is the best time to visit Harar?
October and November: post-rains, the old town is lush, skies clear, and the city is not overly crowded. Also February: dry and cool, good for walking the walls.
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.