Yemen
Yemen holds some of the Arab world's most extraordinary architecture — the gingerbread-like tower houses of Sana'a's old city and the mudbrick high-rises of Shibam — plus, offshore, Socotra's dragon's blood trees and white dunes. Since civil war broke out in 2014, most visitors have gone only to Socotra; check the FCDO travel advice very closely before considering any trip.
Overview
Yemen's mountains catch enough monsoon rain to have supported terraced farming and towns for millennia, and its architecture is like nowhere else: Sana'a's multi-storey tower houses trimmed with white gypsum friezes, the cliff-top villages of the Haraz range, Zabid's whitewashed lanes on the Tihama plain and Shibam's mudbrick towers in Wadi Hadramawt. Historically, travellers combined Sana'a, the Haraz mountains, the Red Sea coast, Taiz and Aden, adding a flight east to the Hadramawt. Socotra, an archipelago in the Arabian Sea that lies closer to the Horn of Africa than to mainland Yemen, is a world apart: over a third of its plant species grow nowhere else.
For now, travel here is not something to improvise. The few tourists who visit Socotra generally go on organised tours that bundle flights, permits, a driver-guide and camping, at prices well above what the basic facilities suggest. Days are spent hiking to dragon's blood forests, swimming in Detwah Lagoon and sleeping under the stars on empty beaches. Yemenis are famously hospitable, and afternoon qat-chewing sessions, when business slows and conversation flows, remain central to social life. Anyone considering the mainland should take specialist advice, check that their insurance will cover them and read the FCDO advice first.
Map of Yemen
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Old City of Sana'a
A UNESCO-listed maze of more than 6,000 tower houses built of rammed earth and fired brick, their façades picked out in white gypsum, wrapped around the Souq al-Milh and the Bab al-Yemen gate.
- 2Nature
Socotra
Umbrella-shaped dragon's blood trees on the Dixam plateau, swollen bottle trees, white dunes and the turquoise Detwah Lagoon make this UNESCO-listed island one of the most biologically distinctive places on Earth.
- 3Architecture
Shibam
Dubbed the 'Manhattan of the desert', this walled 16th-century town of some 500 mudbrick tower houses, up to about 30 metres tall, rises from the floor of Wadi Hadramawt.
- 4History
Zabid
Capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th centuries and a celebrated centre of Islamic learning, this Tihama town of whitewashed courtyard houses and mosques is on UNESCO's World Heritage in Danger list.
- 5Nature
Haraz Mountains and Al-Hajjarah
West of Sana'a, terraced slopes planted with coffee and qat climb to fortified stone villages such as Al-Hajjarah, whose tower houses line a precipice near Manakhah; for decades the classic Yemeni trek.
Biggest cities
Sana'a
Inhabited for more than 2,500 years, the capital's UNESCO-listed old city of tower houses, souqs and mosques sits at around 2,250 metres in the highlands.
Aden
The southern port spreads around an extinct volcano; the old Crater district holds the ancient Tawila water tanks, and since 2015 the city has been the internationally recognised government's temporary capital.
Taiz
Yemen's self-styled cultural capital lies below the 3,000-metre Jabal Sabir, overlooked by the hilltop Cairo Castle and home to the Rasulid-era Al-Ashrafiya Mosque.
Population figures are recent estimates rather than census counts — Yemen's last census was in 2004 — and sources differ widely, especially on the relative size of Aden and Taiz.
When to go to Yemen
Best time: Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov.
Average climate in Sana'a
Festivals & events
- Feb–MarRamadan and Eid al-Fitr
The holy month moves about 11 days earlier each year and currently falls in February–March; days are quiet, evenings bring iftar feasts, and Eid al-Fitr ends it with family celebrations.
- Apr–MayEid al-Adha
The Feast of the Sacrifice, at the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, currently falls in late spring; families slaughter sheep or goats and share the meat, and much of the country shuts for several days.
How much does Yemen cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Saltah
The national dish: a bubbling stew of meat broth, vegetables and spices served in a stone pot, topped with frothy fenugreek (hulba) and scooped up with flatbread.
Mandi
Hadramawt's slow-cooked lamb or chicken, roasted in a sealed underground pit oven over spiced rice that catches the dripping juices.
Bint al-sahn
'Daughter of the plate': thin layers of buttery dough baked into a soft round loaf, drenched in Yemeni honey and scattered with black seeds.
Getting around
Getting around Yemen is not straightforward: flights are few and liable to change, roads are punctuated by checkpoints, and different authorities control different regions. Visitors to Socotra generally travel on tour-operator packages that include flights and a 4x4 with driver on the island. Any mainland travel needs a licensed local operator and a careful read of the FCDO advice first.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- ADG230V — UK plugs fit
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +967
- Time zone
- UTC+3 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Tip drivers, guides and camp cooks at the end of a tour, ideally in US dollars or rial as agreed with your operator; round up in cafés.
- Etiquette
- Dress conservatively — long sleeves and trousers for men, loose clothing and a headscarf for women — ask before photographing anyone, especially women, and accept tea or a qat invitation graciously, even if you decline.
- Main airports
- Aden International Airport (ADE), Aden; Socotra Airport (SCT), Hadibu
Visas & entry for Yemen
Shown for a British passport.
Visa required — apply before you go
You must have a visa to enter Yemen.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- DengueHepatitis BMeaslesPolioRabiesTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- Malaria risk in some areas
- There is a risk of malaria in Yemen below 2,000m: antimalarial tablets recommended.
- There is very low risk of malaria on Socrota Island: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
- There is no risk of malaria above 2,000m including Sana’a city: bite avoidance recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Yemen
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Mon 30 Nov 2026 | Evacuation Day |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Wed 10 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Thu 11 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Sat 15 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Mon 17 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Tue 18 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Wed 19 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Sat 22 May 2027 | Unity Day |
| Sun 6 Jun 2027 | Islamic New Year Day (date may shift) |
| Sun 26 Sep 2027 | Revolution Day |
| Thu 14 Oct 2027 | Liberation Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Arabic
| English | Arabic | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | السلام عليكم | as-sa-LAAM a-LAY-kum |
| Thank you | شكراً | SHUK-ran |
| Please | من فضلك | min FAD-lak |
| Excuse me | لو سمحت | law sa-MAHT |
| How much is this? | بكم هذا؟ | bi-KAM HAA-tha |
Know before you go
- Read the FCDO travel advice before planning anything, and confirm in writing that your travel insurance covers Yemen — many standard policies exclude it.
- Socotra has very limited card acceptance and few ATMs, so bring enough US dollars in clean, recent notes for tips, extras and emergencies.
- Never take plants, seeds or animals from Socotra: removing its endemic species is prohibited, and luggage may be checked on departure.
Yemen travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Yemen?
The best time to visit Yemen is generally Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov. Peak months are February, March, October and November. Average highs in Sana'a range from 20°C to 28°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Yemen cost per day?
Roughly £60 a day on a tight budget, £130 mid-range and £250+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Yemen?
Yemeni rial (YER).
What plug type does Yemen use?
Type A, D and G sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Yemen?
Traffic drives on the right in Yemen, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Yemen?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Yemen?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You must have a visa to enter Yemen. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Yemen before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/yemen/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Yemen?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Dengue, Hepatitis B, Measles, Polio, Rabies and Tuberculosis sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
