Ras Hotel

Harar


This Harar institution has had a much-needed facelift, and its rooms are now fresh and comfortable; the corridors, though, are as bare as ever. Room numbers that start with '3' are brighter and have a balcony; avoid the downstairs rooms, which are a tad sombre. Facilities include a good restaurant, bar, ATM and an internet cafe.

A new wing is under construction.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Harar attractions

1. Ras Makonnen Statue

0.27 MILES

In the centre of Ras Makonnen Sq stands a rather Italian-looking, equestrian statue of the ras (duke) cast in bronze by the well-known Amhara artist…

2. Selassie Church

0.38 MILES

This church doesn't really deserve a gander, but it's a useful landmark off the main thoroughfare.

3. Smugglers’ Market

0.52 MILES

The Smugglers’ Market is chock-full of counterfeit clothing and electronics (some real stuff, too) from China. Most of it is smuggled in from Somaliland…

4. Recycling Market

0.58 MILES

Near the Shoa Gate Market is the Recycling Market where men repair metal materials and beat scrap into useful utensils. The whole area is undergoing a…

5. Harar Brewery

0.68 MILES

Built by the Czechs in 1984 and purchased by Heineken in 2011, this is a very modern brewery. Tours are sometimes available in the morning – contact local…

6. Shoa Gate Market

0.69 MILES

Elbow your way through the Shoa Gate Market (also known as the Christian Market) to find etan (incense) from the Jijiga area; it’s used in the famous…

7. Old Town

0.95 MILES

Harar’s old walled town (known as Jugal) is a fascinating place that begs exploration. The thick, 5m-high walls running 3.5km around town were erected in…

8. Feres Magala

0.98 MILES

The main square is a bustling place with several minor points of interest. Most conspicuous is the monument to those who died fighting against Menelik’s…