Tourist Attractions in Yemen

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Yemen

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Yemen

Yemen is the land where the legendary and mysterious Queen of Sheba ruled many centuries ago. The large territory of the state is occupied by a vast desert without a hint of vegetation and mountain ranges, where it does not rain for years. Most Yemeni resorts are places associated with ancient history. The city of Marib was the capital of the Sabean kingdom, which existed in the time of King Solomon, the capital of the country, Sana’a, according to legend, was founded by the favourite son of the Ark builder Noah.

In Yemen for tourists are also attractive resorts located on the slopes of the mountain range Haraz. Here you can enjoy the views of the harsh and laconic nature of the south of the Arabian Peninsula. The unique island of Socotra is considered the pearl of the country, where due to the isolated ecosystem bizarre forms of flora and fauna have been preserved. It is better to plan a trip to Yemen with a reliable tour operator, as the unrest in the country has not yet subsided after the revolution of 2011.

Top-10 Tourist Attractions in Yemen

Old City

 0/5

The capital of Yemen, according to some travellers, is the most beautiful city in the Arab world. Centuries-old buildings from the Middle Ages neighbour the palaces of nobles and imams of the 19th century and luxurious mosques. The walls of the houses are decorated with white figurative paintings, which makes the city neighbourhoods seem to be dressed in flying lace.

Shibam

 0/5

It is called the “Manhattan of the desert” due to the multi-storey houses built in the XVI century. There are 506 identical eleven-storey buildings in Shibam, made of raw bricks, straw and clay. The buildings are located a few metres apart and are connected by balconies, the walls of the ground floors are more than one metre thick.

National Museum

 4.4/5

241 reviews

Formerly the palace of the Sultan of Lahej in Aden. It is the main architectural landmark of the city. It is an imposing and large-scale building in the style of Yemeni architecture, impressive in its size. The museum’s exposition displays ancient precious coins, documents, household items, and ancient jewellery.

Open time

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Al-Saleh Mosque

 4.6/5

3587 reviews

The mosque was built at the expense of the President of Yemen and named in his honour. It is a magnificent building, richly decorated inside and out, which can accommodate 45,000 worshippers at a time. In the evenings, spectacular lighting in yellow and blue colours is switched on in the area, which makes the mosque stand out from the surrounding landscape.

Open time

Monday: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM

Dar al-Hajar Palace( دار الحجر)

 4.7/5

79 reviews

An unusual historical monument, a palace standing on a rock. The date of appearance of the structure is not known exactly, but there is an assumption that it was erected before the emergence of Islam. In the mid-20th century, the palace served as the residence of the ruling Imam Yahya bin Mohammed Hamid-ud-Din, and now it houses a museum.

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Empty Quarter

 4.1/5

1542 reviews

One of the hottest and largest deserts in the world – almost 1,000 kilometres long and 500 wide. During the day, the red-orange sands heat up to 70 degrees centigrade. This desert is difficult to traverse and almost lifeless, but in distant times there were several thriving cities on its territory.

Kamaran

 4.5/5

122 reviews

An island in the Red Sea, one of the tourist centres of the country. A picturesque and quite safe place, a real paradise for divers. The population is a little over 2000 people, almost all the inhabitants are employed in the tourism industry. On Kamaran you can see wild forests, impressive coral reefs and unusual marine life.

Jambia Market

A specialised market in Sana’a where ceremonial knives are made and sold. The ornate shaped knife is a symbol of Yemen, and many rituals, ceremonies and dances are accompanied by the display of blades. All Yemenis are partial to edged weapons and many keep collections at home. You can buy a real collector’s knife at the Jambiya market.

Stone house (Dar Alhajar)

 4.6/5

1929 reviews

A 17th century bridge spanning a 300-metre gorge. It connects two parts of the almost impregnable highland village of Shihara. It is depicted on Yemeni 10 riyal coins. The structure is an attractive tourist attraction, as many do not realise what force is still holding it over the gorge.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Socotra

 4.1/5

4249 reviews

Translated from Sanskrit, it means “island of happiness”. A unique part of land with bizarre nature, a real find for scientists and eco-tourists. On Socotra grow unusual trees called “dragon’s blood”, which look like giant mushrooms with a base of intertwined thick branches and a green cap. It is these trees that create the unusual appearance of Socotra.