The Atlas Obscura Guide To Yemen

12 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Yemen

Updated July 24, 2023

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Yemen

Yemen

Socotra Island

The most alien-looking place on Earth.

Shibam, Yemen

Shibam

A city built from mud and known as the "Manhattan of the desert."

Buildings and sky reflected in the cistern.

Yemen

Hababah Water Cistern

A mesmerizing reservoir nestled at the heart of a pre-Islamic Yemeni village.

View of the village and some of the terraced fields (Wikimedia Commons)

Shaharah, Yemen

Shaharah

One of the most remote and isolated villages on the Arabian Peninsula.

Zabid, Yemen

Brick Buildings of Zabid

Elaborate patterns adorn the city's disappearing traditional architecture.

Sana'a, Yemen

Dar al-Hajar

Yemen's "Stone Palace" looks like it was carved right out of the tall stone column on which it is built.

Aden, Yemen

Cisterns of Tawila

This impressive system of tanks was used to store drinking water as long as 2,000 years ago.

Jiblah, Yemen

Queen Arwa Mosque

One of Yemen’s oldest and most beautiful mosques was named for the incredible, historical queen buried inside it.

See All 12 Things To Do in Yemen

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Architecture 7

Architectural Oddities 4

Mosques 3

Palaces 2

Towers 2

Engineering 2

Sacred Spaces 2

Villages 2

Water 2

Unesco 2

History 2

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Stories About Yemen

The Omani Caves Exploration Team (OCET) is the first documented team to explore the 367-foot-deep sinkhole.

The History and Mystery of Yemen’s ‘Well of Hell’

The first-ever expedition to the bottom of a startling desert sinkhole found wonders—but only natural ones.

by Sarah Durn

October 20, 2021

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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Yemen

12 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Yemen

Updated July 24, 2023

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Yemen

Yemen

Socotra Island

Shibam, Yemen

Shibam

Yemen

Hababah Water Cistern

Shaharah, Yemen

Shaharah

Zabid, Yemen

Brick Buildings of Zabid

Sana'a, Yemen

Dar al-Hajar

Aden, Yemen

Cisterns of Tawila

Jiblah, Yemen

Queen Arwa Mosque

Plan Your Trip

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Yemen

Yemen Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Yemen Activity

Stories About Yemen

The History and Mystery of Yemen’s ‘Well of Hell’

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.