Yemen
Sanaa travel guide
Sanaa is a city in Yemen, home to about 2,957,000 people.
- Best months
- September to July
- Nearest airport
- SAH14 km · Sanaa International Airport
- Currency
- YERYemeni Rial
- Time zone
- Asia/Aden
- Language
- Arabic
About
About Sanaa
Sanaa, officially the Sanaa Municipality, is the capital and largest city of Yemen. The city is the capital of the Sanaa Governorate, but is not part of the governorate, as it forms a separate administrative unit.
One of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world (others being Jericho, Damascus and Aleppo), Sana'a is traditionally said to have been founded by Shem, the son of Noah. As a result, the city has the unlikely nickname of "Sam City". Sana'a will start surprising you the moment you arrive at the airport. All the policemen and the civilians wear jambiya, the unique Yemeni dagger. Even small children wear little daggers. Many people have swollen cheeks because of chewing qat leaves. Outside the airport, all buildings look the same because of uniformly painted windows and walls.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Sanaa
See
The Old City of Sana'a is World Heritage Listed and makes a great place to see the uniquely Yemeni style of architecture - multiple-storey tower houses with the distinctive qamariya windows. Within the Old City is the Souk al-Milh, arguably the best souk (marketplace) in the Arabian Peninsula.
- Bab al-Yaman
- National Museum of Yemen
- Military Museum
- Wadi Dhahr
- Great Mosque of Sana'a
- Al Saleh Mosque
Do
Sana'a is a great place for people-watching and culture observing. The unhurried pace of Yemeni life, coupled with the almost total lack of industrialisation seen in nearby countries, means that it's quite possible to sit in a coffee shop and watch the world go by for hours on end. If you want an experience you can only get in Yemen (and are prepared to risk your health): participate in a qat session. Qat (khat) is a mild narcotic chewed by most males in Yemen. They spend their afternoons hanging out, chewing the leaf, and conversing. A bag will cost no more than 5 US dollars, and you can get "inferior" product for less. Side effects are lack of appetite and insomnia.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Sanaa to stay in
Good option to stay is new part of Sana'a. It's walking distance to Old part of town but hotels offer better value to money. Around Tahrir area there are about 10 hotels to choose, ranging from five star Taj Sheba hotel to no-star hotels. recommended are 2 Wadi Hadramout hotels. More expensive Wadi Hadramout hotel is cross the main road from Tahrir Square, other more economical is near Taj Sheba hotel at Ali Abdulmogny Street. There double room with bathroom and TV costs about 2000 rials. Staff are very helpful and friendly and some speak English.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Sanaa
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Sultan Palace Hotel | 1987 | 0.9 km |
| Arabia Felix Hotel | 1.0 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Sanaa
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Sanaa are September to July. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; August is the wettest, with about 89 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Sanaa: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sanaa International Airport (SAH), about 14 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Sana'a International Airport is the city's international airport. As of November 2023, there are daily commercial flights between Amman and Sana’a operated by Yemenia, the country’s national carrier. Yemen has a few bus companies. Sana'a is connected by all major cities (Aden, Ta'izz, Marib, Sayun, etc.) via bus. Perhaps the best bus company in Yemen is the new-ish Raha (established in 2008). Raha buses are in good condition and fares are reasonable. The buses are still new.
Getting around
Sana'a is a big city which, in common with many other developing-world capitals, is spreading in all directions at once. Visitors will almost certainly have to use taxis or hired cars to get around, as the street maps often leave much to be desired. There are many "Dabaabs" or mini vans that go on different routes around the city. They serve as public buses and are quite cheap. They have fixed routes and cost 15-30 riyals/ride. Taxis to the airport from the centre should cost 1000 rials (August 2008). Be prepared to bargain with your taxi driver for a reasonable fare.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
SAH · Sanaa International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Sanaa
Eat
Visitors should be careful when eating from street stands as the same warning which applies to tap water applies to poorly-prepared food. Salta is a popular Yemeni lunch dish that is served very hot. Nearly all Yemeni food is budget. An average meal at a Sana'a restaurant will cost less than US$2. Chicken is ubiquitous. A tuna steak served with rice costs 150-200 riyals.
Drink
As in the rest of the country, the tap water should be avoided at all costs. Bottled water, both chilled and at room temperature, is readily available and very cheap - as is the normal range of fruit juices and soft drinks.
Stay safe
See the warning on the Yemen article for information on the security situation. Visitors should take care particularly in the Old City as the streets are poorly signposted and the unwary may find themselves in someone's courtyard. Maps of Yemen tend to have details of the city, but (as with road maps in the country) they are unreliable. If at all possible, visitors should use a local guide. Gun carrying is normal as many men hold or have a gun for traditional reasons. One should not be alarmed at the sight of a gun, even a Kalashnikov.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Sanaa: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Sanaa?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Sanaa are September to July. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; August is the wettest, with about 89 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Sanaa?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sanaa International Airport (SAH), about 14 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Sanaa?
Yemeni Rial (YER).
Nearby
Destinations near Sanaa
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.