Things to do in Yemen

25 things to do in Yemen

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Wander the labyrinthine Old City of Sana'a

  Explore one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, a UNESCO site with towering gingerbread-like mud-brick tower houses and bustling souks.

  Sana'a

• Marvel at the surreal Dragon Blood Trees of Socotra

  Stand beneath the iconic umbrella-shaped trees on the Dixam Plateau, a bizarre landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth.

  Socotra Archipelago

• Step inside the towering mud skyscrapers of Shibam

  Walk through the 16th-century 'Manhattan of the Desert', a UNESCO-listed walled city of high-rise mud-brick buildings rising from the wadi.

  Shibam, Hadramawt

• Swim in the natural infinity pools of Wadi Dawan

  Cool off in crystalline turquoise pools carved into limestone, surrounded by palm groves and honey-coloured villages in central Hadramawt.

  Wadi Dawan, Hadramawt

• Sip tea at sunset from a rooftop in Al-Mukalla

  Witness the golden light over the Arabian Sea while enjoying sweet Yemeni shai from a crumbling merchant's house in the old port city.

  Al-Mukalla

• Hike the terraced mountains of Haraz

  Trek through centuries-old stone villages like Manakhah and Al-Hajjarah, perched on mountainsides with breathtaking views over deep gorges.

  Haraz Mountains

• Snorkel with mantas at Shuab Bay, Socotra

  Drift through crystal waters teeming with rays, turtles, and vibrant coral gardens on the western tip of the remote Indian Ocean island.

  Socotra

• Taste authentic saltah in a traditional Sana'ani restaurant

  Scoop up Yemen's national dish – a bubbling clay-pot stew of meat, fenugreek froth, and spicy salsa – at a local eatery in the Old City.

  Sana'a

• Explore the prehistoric rock art of Wadi Hadramawt

  Discover ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions near Al-Ahqaf, revealing human occupation and hunting scenes from over 5,000 years ago.

  Wadi Hadramawt

• Visit the Queen of Sheba's reputed capital at Marib

  Stand before the ruins of the ancient Sabaean kingdom, including the famed Marib Dam and the sanctuary of Bilqis, an echo of pre-Islamic grandeur.

  Marib

• Camp under the stars on Shuab beach

  Pitch a tent on a pristine white-sand beach on Socotra’s west coast, fall asleep to lapping waves and wake to endemic birdsong.

  Shuab, Socotra

• Haggle for spices and frankincense in Souk al-Milh

  In the heart of Old Sana'a, navigate a sensory overload of mounds of cumin, saffron, dried limes, and smoking incense beneath carved wooden roofs.

  Sana'a

• Cross the suspension footbridge at Shaharah

  Brave the dizzying stone bridge spanning a 200-metre-deep gorge, a 17th-century engineering marvel connecting two mountain communities.

  Shaharah, Amran

• Admire the ornate minaret of Al-Muhdhar Mosque in Tarim

  Gaze up at the 53-metre mud-brick minaret, one of the tallest mud structures on Earth, rising above the scholarly city of Tarim.

  Tarim, Hadramawt

• Feast on fresh grilled seafood at Aden's Crater waterfront

  Sit at a plastic table by the sea in the ancient port district, devouring red snapper, lobster, and spiced rice fresh off the boat.

  Aden

• Explore the eerie abandoned Dar al-Hajar rock palace

  Visit the iconic seven-storey palace built atop a towering rock pinnacle in Wadi Dahr, once the summer retreat of Imam Yahya.

  Wadi Dahr, Sana'a

• Witness the socotri frankincense harvest in the Haghier mountains

  Join locals as they carefully slice Boswellia trees to collect the prized resin, used in rituals for millennia, in the misty highlands.

  Haghier Mountains, Socotra

• Stroll the colonnaded streets of Old Jibla

  Wander the Moslem-era capital of Queen Arwa, with its tightly packed stone houses, ancient mosques, and shaded arcades frozen in time.

  Jibla, Ibb

• Drive the scenic coastal road from Aden to Shuqra

  Trace the volcanic coastline where dark cliffs plunge into turquoise water, passing fishing villages and the surreal black-sand beach of Shuqra.

  Abyan coast

• Discover the forgotten cisterns of Tawila, Aden

  Climb the ancient reservoir system carved from volcanic rock, a sophisticated water collection network dating to Himyarite times.

  Aden

• Experience a traditional qat chews session with locals

  Spend an afternoon in a mafraj (top-floor reception room) chewing qat leaves while discussing politics and poetry, a pillar of Yemeni social culture.

  Sana'a

• Trek to the isolated village of Al-Tawilah

  Hike to a remote mountain hamlet accessible only by foot, where traditional farming and architecture remain untouched by modernity.

  Al-Tawilah, Al Mahwit

• Stand before the Great Dam of Marib

  Contemplate the engineering prowess of the Sabaeans at the remains of one of the ancient world's greatest hydraulic feats, which transformed a desert.

  Marib

• Watch the sun set from Qaitbay Citadel, Aden

  Climb the medieval fortress built on a volcanic hill overlooking the Gulf of Aden, offering panoramic views of the city and its twin harbours.

  Aden

• Drink cardamom coffee in a centuries-old coffee house in Zabid

  Sip strong Yemeni qahwa in the historic university town that spread Islamic scholarship across the Indian Ocean, a UNESCO site.

  Zabid, Al Hudaydah