Aden is a bustling port city at the southern end of the Red Sea, that has plenty of historic sites as well as sandy beaches, good opportunities for fishing and surfing, lagoons good for birdwatching and the only considerable nightlife in Yemen. Situated in a peninsula on the hot coastal plain of Southern Yemen, Aden is a strategically located ancient trading place and the former capital of independent Southern Yemen, that has become the economic and financial center of Yemen.
Port city of Aden has a very long history and the city was a famous trading point already in the 1st Century BC. Colonized by the British from the 19th Century until 1967, Aden is now a multicultural free trade zone and is known to be more open to external influences than the rest of Yemen. The city’s natural harbour and the old town are situated in the crater of an extinct volcano. There is a newer port on the other side of the Aden Peninsula, and beach resorts in Gold Mohur area. Aden receives little foreign tourism, but it is likely to become more popular holiday destination in the near future.
Beach resorts & surfing. There are also excellent beaches in Aden, especially in the area called Little Aden, that is also also located in the crater of an extinct volcano. There are several beach resorts in Aden, mainly in Gold Mohur and Elephant Bay beaches that offer great swimming and sunbathing. Nightlife in Aden is not very lively, but still the best in Yemen, and belly dancing is especially popular. There are coral reefs nearby, and the Indian Ocean coast outside Aden is excellent for surfing. There are also good opportunities for activities such as sports fishing and birdwatching.
Port city of Aden has a very long history and the city was a famous trading point already in the 1st Century BC. Colonized by the British from the 19th Century until 1967, Aden is now a multicultural free trade zone and is known to be more open to external influences than the rest of Yemen. The city’s natural harbour and the old town are situated in the crater of an extinct volcano. There is a newer port on the other side of the Aden Peninsula, and beach resorts in Gold Mohur area. Aden receives little foreign tourism, but it is likely to become more popular holiday destination in the near future.
Sights and activities in Aden; beach resorts and historical sites
The location of Aden is perfect for beach and active holidays. Although tourism in Aden is not yet well developed, it has plenty of things to offer for visitors. Aden has many historical sites of interest, including an ancient water-catchment systems, forts, old temples, palaces and mosques, as well as several interesting museums. The old town of Aden, located in the old volcanic crater, has old traditional buildings and colonial influences from many parts of the world.Beach resorts & surfing. There are also excellent beaches in Aden, especially in the area called Little Aden, that is also also located in the crater of an extinct volcano. There are several beach resorts in Aden, mainly in Gold Mohur and Elephant Bay beaches that offer great swimming and sunbathing. Nightlife in Aden is not very lively, but still the best in Yemen, and belly dancing is especially popular. There are coral reefs nearby, and the Indian Ocean coast outside Aden is excellent for surfing. There are also good opportunities for activities such as sports fishing and birdwatching.
Aden travel tips and practical information
Aden has a hot and humid climate around the year, but with very little rain. Daytime temperatures during the summer can be sweltering. There are rainier monsoon periods between March and April, and from July to September.
Photo: kurvenalbn, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
Traveling to Aden can be done by air, by bus or by your own yacht. There is an international airport that receives a few flights to Aden from the Middle Eastern countries and plenty of domestic flights from elsewhere in Yemen. You can also travel to Aden by bus from the neighboring countries or other cities in Yemen. Although Aden is an important port city, there is currently no passenger boat connection to there. Remember that you will need to purchase a travel permit before traveling in Yemen outside the capital Sana’a. Public transport in Aden is handled by minibuses, and there are plenty of taxis available. Car rental in Aden is available and rental cars often come included with local drivers.
Services & safety. There is a good selection of hotels in Aden, from five-star hotels and beach resorts to budget hotels and cheap accommodation. Restaurants in Aden have a wider selection of cuisines than elsewhere in Yemen, and there are more nightlife choices available. Aden has no major crime problems. However, it is not a safe city because of terrorist attacks and possible political violence and kidnappings. Al Qaeda has conducted several terrorist attacks in Aden since 1992, mainly towards the US military ships, and the secessionist movement in South Yemen consider Aden as their capital. Visitors to Aden need to be cautious and respect local customs. Not many Yemenis speak English, and it is very useful for visitors to learn at least some words and phrases of Arabic.
