Harar: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Harar is a city of 157,000 people in Ethiopia (Harari), 1,917 m (6,289 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport (DIR), 45 km (28 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Harar runs from about 11 h 37 min a day in late December to 12 h 42 min in late June (computed for 9.31° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Harar is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport (DIR), 45 km (28 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,791 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Gerad Wilwal International Airport (JIJ, 87 km).
Flights to Harar: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Harar · Driving and car hire
What people come for
UNESCO World Heritage in the city: Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town.
Tours, tickets and day trips from Harar
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Addis Ababa, 371 km — flights · buses · car rental
- Djibouti, 277 km (Djibouti) — flights
- Borama, 136 km (Somalia)
- Balbala, 272 km (Djibouti) — flights
- Jijiga, 75 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Hargeysa, 215 km (Somalia)
- Nazrēt, 325 km — buses · car rental
- Dire Dawa, 42 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Dessie, 339 km — buses · car rental
- Berbera, 341 km (Somalia)
Common questions
Which airport serves Harar?
Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport (DIR), 45 km (28 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Harar?
About 157,000 people live in Harar (GeoNames).
What time zone is Harar in?
Africa/Addis_Ababa, currently UTC+3.
What currency is used in Harar?
The Birr (ETB). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Harar?
Addis Ababa (371 km), Djibouti (277 km), Borama (136 km), Balbala (272 km), Jijiga (75 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.