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Old mudbrick city with minarets and mountains

Yemen travel guide

Ancient highland cities and desert coastlines for travellers who plan around real conditions on the ground

Best: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec

Photo: Mohammad Hadi / Pexels

Capital
Sana'a
Language
Arabic
Currency
Yemeni rial (YER)
Time zone
UTC+03:00
Plugs
Type A, G · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
199

Why visit Yemen

Yemen suits experienced travellers drawn to old mud-brick cities like Sanaa and Shibam, and coastal towns such as Aden and Mukalla. The coolest, driest months are December, January, February and November, which make travel more comfortable across both highland and coastal areas. The honest limitation: ongoing conflict affects large parts of the country, so safety conditions on the ground should guide any travel decision, not just the weather.

  • Cooler months for travel

    The best months to visit Yemen are November, December, January and February. This is the cooler part of the year, so days are easier for walking around cities and for long road trips between regions.

  • Sanaa, the inland capital

    Sanaa is Yemen's capital and its largest city, with about 2957000 people. It lies inland, away from the coast, and is the country's main centre of Arabic language and daily life.

  • Aden on the coast

    Aden is a coastal city of about 1154410 people and is also listed as a capital. It shows a different, sea-facing side of Yemen compared with the inland cities.

  • Mukalla, a smaller port city

    Mukalla is a coastal city of about 144137 people. It is much smaller than Sanaa or Aden, and it gives a quieter look at life along Yemen's shoreline.

  • Shibam and a large country

    Shibam is a small inland town of about 13316 people, a strong contrast to the big cities. Yemen covers 527968 km² and has a population of 32684503, so distances and landscapes vary a lot between places.

Is Yemen right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers drawn to dry, sunny weather, with 10 to 12 sun hours most months
  • Those interested in historic desert cities like Shibam, away from the coast
  • Trips timed for cooler days in December and January, with highs near 23°C
  • Visitors wanting very low rainfall almost all year, often 0 to 8mm a month

Less ideal for

  • Beach-only travellers, since most listed cities are inland rather than coastal
  • Anyone sensitive to heat, as June highs reach 33°C
  • Trips planned around July and August, when rain days peak at over 5 per month
  • Travellers wanting event-driven trips, since no festival or event data is available here

Yemen right now: November

9.9/10
Avg high
25°C
Avg low
13°C
Rain days
1

Averages for Yemen.

Weather by month

This data is for Sana'a, Yemen. January, February, November and December are the best months, with warm days near 23-25°C, cool nights and almost no rain. June is the toughest stretch for comfort, with highs of 33.1°C, while July and August bring the most rain, with 5.1 and 5.3 rainy days and up to 21mm of rain.

Average highs and lows in Yemen by month January: high 23°C, low 10°C , 0 rain days . February: high 25°C, low 12°C , 0 rain days . March: high 27°C, low 15°C , 1 rain days . April: high 29°C, low 17°C , 2 rain days . May: high 31°C, low 19°C , 2 rain days . June: high 33°C, low 21°C , 1 rain days . July: high 31°C, low 21°C , 5 rain days . August: high 31°C, low 21°C , 5 rain days . September: high 31°C, low 20°C , 2 rain days . October: high 28°C, low 16°C , 1 rain days . November: high 25°C, low 13°C , 1 rain days . December: high 23°C, low 10°C , 0 rain days . 23°C 10°C JAN 0d 25°C 12°C FEB 0d 27°C 15°C MAR 1d 29°C 17°C APR 2d 31°C 19°C MAY 2d 33°C 21°C JUN 1d 31°C 21°C JUL 5d 31°C 21°C AUG 5d 31°C 20°C SEP 2d 28°C 16°C OCT 1d 25°C 13°C NOV 1d 23°C 10°C DEC 0d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Yemen (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Yemen: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Sanaa to the Coast in a Week

  1. Day 1–3

    Sanaa

    Start in the capital, home to over 2,957,000 people. Walk through the old quarters and see the tower houses that define the city's skyline.

  2. Day 4–5

    Shibam

    Visit this small town of about 13,316 residents, known for its tall mud-brick towers packed close together in the desert.

  3. Day 6

    Mukalla

    Reach this coastal city of roughly 144,137 people. Walk along the waterfront and see the white buildings facing the Gulf of Aden.

  4. Day 7

    Aden

    End the trip in Aden, a coastal city of about 1,154,410 people, with time to explore the port area and surrounding volcanic hills.

10 days

Ten Days Across Yemen's Cities

  1. Day 1–4

    Sanaa

    Spend four days in the capital, population about 2,957,000. Explore the old city on foot and take time to see the traditional architecture up close.

  2. Day 5–6

    Shibam

    Travel to this inland town of around 13,316 people. Spend a day studying its dense cluster of mud-brick towers, some of the oldest skyscraper-style buildings in the world.

  3. Day 7–8

    Mukalla

    Stop in this coastal city of about 144,137 residents. Walk the corniche and take in the views over the Gulf of Aden.

  4. Day 9–10

    Aden

    Finish in Aden, a port city of roughly 1,154,410 people. Use the last two days to see the harbor and the surrounding volcanic terrain.

Food to try in Yemen

Saltah

This is often called Yemen's national dish. It's a meat stew topped with a frothy fenugreek foam, served bubbling hot in a stone pot, usually at lunchtime.

Mandi

Mandi is rice cooked with slow-roasted lamb or chicken, flavored with spices like cardamom and cloves. It's a common dish for family gatherings and celebrations across Yemen.

Fahsa

Fahsa is a spicy meat stew made with shredded lamb or beef in a rich broth. It's typically eaten with flatbread for dipping, often in the evening.

Shafut

Shafut is a cold dish made from flatbread soaked in fermented yogurt, sometimes mixed with herbs and spices. It's a refreshing option, especially during warmer months.

Bint al-Sahn

This is a sweet, layered flatbread soaked in honey and butter, often served at the end of a meal or during special occasions like weddings.

Qishr

Qishr is a traditional drink made from coffee husks rather than beans, often spiced with ginger or cinnamon. It's commonly drunk throughout the day in homes and cafes.

Know before you go

  • Currency: Yemen uses the Yemeni rial (YER). Carry cash, since card payments and ATMs are unreliable across the country.
  • Language: Arabic is the official language. English is rarely spoken outside major business circles, so a phrasebook or translation app helps.
  • Plugs and voltage: Yemen runs on 230 V. Sockets take plug types A and G, so travellers from the US or Europe with type A devices may need an adapter for type G outlets.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Yemen. Road infrastructure and signage can be inconsistent, so extra caution is needed if you drive.
  • Emergency number: The emergency number in Yemen is 199. Response times and services vary widely depending on the region and the current security situation.
  • Safety situation: Yemen has experienced prolonged internal conflict. Check current government travel advisories before planning any trip, since conditions can change quickly by region.
  • Calling code: Yemen's international calling code is +967. Mobile and internet connectivity can be limited or disrupted in some areas.

Yemen: frequently asked questions

Is Yemen good to visit in August?

August is workable but hot. Daytime highs average 30.5°C and nights stay warm at 20.8°C. It's also one of the wetter months, with 5.3 rain days and 18 mm of rain. The data gives August a score of 6.7, rated 'good', so it's not peak season but still manageable.

What is the best time to visit Yemen?

The best months are December, January, February and November, each scoring 9.9 or 10 out of 10. These months are cooler and drier: January highs average 22.8°C with 0 rain days, and December is similar at 22.6°C with almost no rain. Sunshine hours stay near 11 hours a day throughout this period.

When is the rainy season in Yemen?

The wettest months are July and August. July averages 21 mm of rain over 5.1 rain days, and August averages 18 mm over 5.3 rain days. Outside this window, rain drops sharply: October, November and December see under 1 rain day a month on average.

What is the hottest month in Yemen?

June is the hottest month, with an average high of 33.1°C and a low of 20.9°C. Temperatures start climbing from March (26.9°C high) and stay above 28°C from April through September, before cooling again in October to 28.3°C.

What's the coolest time of year in Yemen?

December and January are coolest, with highs around 22.6–22.8°C and lows near 10°C overnight. This is also the driest stretch, with 0 rain days recorded in both months, plus clear skies giving close to 11 hours of sunshine a day.

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