Fichee-Chambalaalla
The Sidama New Year festival, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Learn about the festival↗SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Put your business in front of Hawassa.
Contact us to feature your hotel, café, event, or service.
ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE
Your business could appear here
Estimated page views—Loading…
About this number
This is approximate page-view.
HAWASSA · SIDAMA · ETHIOPIA
A little closer
to Hawassa.
From the lakeshore to the coffee table, discover the places and people that make this city special.
Start exploringYOUR GUIDE TO THE LAKESIDE CITY07° 03′ N · SIDAMA REGION
Photo: JosepMGracia / CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
THE CITY, AT YOUR PACE
There’s more to
the lakeside.
Wake up to the fish market, find your favorite cup of coffee, and make room for the unexpected. Hawassa is a place to explore, stay a while, and connect with its communities.
Find your next stop ↗& a slower pace.Explore places ↗ 02 / LOCAL LIFEStories worth
sharing.Discover culture ↗
A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN
Find your Hawassa.
Places to explore, places to stay, and the everyday essentials.
Places to explore
No places match that search. Try another word or category.
Locations and map search results can change; please confirm before traveling.
Research-led starting points, not endorsements. Details can change; confirm directly before visiting. Health information is not an emergency directory.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN HAWASSA
Where the city comes together.
Discover festivals, culture, and community gatherings. Confirm times and locations with organizers.
Sidama Agricultural Investment Forum
A forum listed by the Ministry of Agriculture at Sidama Cultural Hall. Confirm details with the organizer.
See organizer information↗Organizing an event?
Tell us about festivals, music, theater, business, and community events. We check details before listing them.
Email us about your event↗THE STORY OF HAWASSA
A city shaped
by its lake.
According to the city administration, Hawassa takes its name from Lake Hawassa; the word means “wide” in the Sidama language.
The administration dates the city’s establishment to 1952 in the Ethiopian calendar; today Hawassa is the seat of the Sidama Region. Local communities’ history reaches back before the city’s establishment.
Read the city’s history↗A lakeside way of lifeHAWASSA, SIDAMA
Photo: JosepMGracia / CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ROOTED IN SIDAMA
More than a place.
A living culture.
Hawassa is a gateway to Sidama culture, hospitality, and coffee traditions. Fichee-Chambalaalla, the Sidama New Year festival, is recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Take the time to listen, ask permission, and learn from the people who know this place best.
Explore the UNESCO record ↗PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
Good to know
before you go.
Useful starting points for getting here and finding services. Check locally for the most current details.
Read the practical guide ↗MEET YOU IN HAWASSA
The best stories
start here.
Discover a city, support its local businesses, and make every visit more meaningful.
Find a place ↗