Women-Friendly Travel in Sanaa
The Sanaa women-friendly travel guide places explicit women-friendly and family confidence signals first, while keeping uncertain details visible for review.
Sanaa
Futa
A long robe-like piece of cloth that is worn by local men, rather like a skirt, over a pair of trousers. It comes in a variety of decent colors and patterns. This can easily be picked up at any Souq around Sana'a.
Sanaa
Local crafts
Within the the Souq al-Milh you can find a variety of traditional items of everyday use. These range from brass and copper trays and pots to clay and ceramic objects. Head to the Samsrat al-Nahas area inside the Souq, close to the road at Bab al-Yemen, and strike up a bargain!
Sanaa
Models of Sana'a skyscrapers
You just HAVE to purchase a miniature model or two of the skyscrapers of Old City Sana'a. They are no less enchanting than the real World Heritage Site. The models can be found in the numerous souvenir stalls lined along the Bab al-Yemen side of the Souq al-Milh. Made of plastic, ceramic, wood, and various metals, painted by hand, with attention to the minutest of details, these models will be prove to be a priceless, everlasting memory once you leave Sana'a.
Sanaa
Silk scarves, pashminas and shawls
You just have to take home a scarf or two from Yemen. Usually hand embroidered, and very finely knitted, these local delights are sure to make you all warm and fuzzy through the winter months back at home. A good place to pick these up is the Souq al-Milh and the Yemen Mall, but keep an observant eye and you might just catch an interesting one dangling from a random street stall.
Sanaa
Honey
One item that you MUST try is the honey in Yemen. It is readily available at major retail stores, as well as the open air markets dotted all around town. The most popular honey comes from the Hadramaut area, and shopkeepers will automatically understand what you mean when you ask for the “best honey”. A small bottle costs around a dollar.
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Fish
A large fish market is situated next to the Italian Embassy. You can find an amazing variety of Red Sea creatures lined up ready for sale, fresh every morning. And at extremely low prices too, compared to other markets around town. This is, quite obviously, not one of the most fragrant of localities within Sana'a.
Sanaa
What to do with Children in Tow
Sana'a is not really much of an amusement for children, unless your six year old has a hereditary interest in anthropology or history. Yemeni children have few activities besides running about in streets populated by men with daggers – not much of a concern for the mothers, as there are no kidnappers or pedophiles around. It is pretty common to see a swarm of kids rolling along a street or public square, chasing anything from a stray dog to a worn-out tire – this in itself provides ample entertainment for a group of toddlers accompanying you.
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Skyscrapers
The neighborhood contains multistoried residential buildings, some of which have been standing for more than four centuries. Constructed out of local basalt stone and ornamented with intricately carved friezes and moldings, the facades of these houses form a continuous, harmonious urban fabric that can, when viewed at a distance, generate a splendid skyline as a backdrop for the modern city, and, when viewed up close, give a nostalgic but welcoming feeling that leaves many a traveler spellbound.
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City Wall and Gate
The seven centuries old, 40 feet high mud wall that goes around the old city is also quite well-preserved, and is a sight in itself. It contains the Bab-al-Yemen, a large portal that celebrates the entrance into the old city. Out of the original six gates that marked the entry into Sana'a, it is the only one surviving in its original shape. Slip into a time warp as you pass through the large gate, being sucked into a busy marketplace that has existed at the very same place for centuries. You can go up to the top of the gate for some splendid views around the marketplace below, and the old town beyond. As trading activities cease around late evening, soft, hazy illumination lights up the gate, adding a visually alluring touch of magic to it.
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Al-Bab Art Gallery
This is the small art gallery/museum that is situated, as the name suggests, right next to the Bab-al-Yemen. It allows passage from the street to the top of the Bab. Although you may just pass the gallery simply to get to the top of the gate to shoot a few photos, the gallery in itself isn’t such a disappointing sight either. It contains artistic work by up-and-coming artists, most of them young, energetic folk from around Sana'a, at quite affordable rates.
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Gardens
For a city with a shortage of public water supply, the old city area is pretty rich in horticulture. Almost every house has an attached courtyard garden, and scattered about the streets are hedges blossoming with colors more varied than those on a Photoshop palette. Larger gardens are situated close to mosques, as water is easier to come by. Some gardens are situated below the street, to catch any water that is draining off. Rooftop gardens, more of a private retreat, are also visible from the ground – you can see overhanging vines, multicolored plant pots, and tamed birds prancing about.
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Suq al-Milh
The best preserved relic of a thousand years of Islamic rule, this is the richest marketplace in all the Arabian Peninsula. It is a large, open-air market, covered in patches by plastic, fabrics, wooden planks, hides, and any other material that the locals could find, giving a literal manifestation to the symbolic merging of cultures and ethnicities within the city. Divided into sections according to the types of goods on sale, including eatables, wearables, disposables, and the like. The marketplace is very active all through the morning, but mellows down towards the late afternoon, when the hawkers resort to qat and tea sessions. This is the ideal moment to strike up ridiculous bargains – vendors, in their laidback mood, usually comply.
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Hammam
Bathhouses that are remnants of Turkish Ottoman legacy. Old Sana'a contains more than a dozen hammams, of which the Hammam al Maidan is the most popular among locals. It is open till late hours of the night, and contains separate bathing facilities for men and women.
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Henry de Monford French Cultural Center
Located on Hadda Street, off al-Quds Street in the Old Town, this place is managed by a Franco-Yemeni agency, and organizes concerts, themed plays, educational lectures, cultural exhibitions, and linguistic classes. Visit this gallery/museum/cultural retreat to witness an amazing blend of local and French art in a variety of media.
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Attan Park
A large green space for the public, located close to the Expo Apollo on al-Jazair Road. Splendid landscape, rich variety of flowering shrubs, and shaded sitting areas positioned strategically to give magnificent views, this is the place you would want to retreat to after a long, tiring walk in the Old Town.
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Al-Tahrir Square
The main public piazza of the city, this square acts as an intersection between two of Sana'a’s major urban districts. It is consequently lined with eateries and shopping outlets, features a mesmerizing fountain in the center, and is a popular hangout space for residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, the square also acts as the city’s cultural center – it contains 3 major museums of the country along its peripheries. Friday mornings are very active, as local men take leisure walks around the square, chatting away as time stands still, and vendors put up temporary stalls selling books and eatables. From here you can take a public bus to any part of Sana'a – after you have explored the cultural wealth surrounding the square!
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National Museum of Yemen
Address: al-Tahrir Square Timings: Saturdays to Thursdays 9am to 12noon, 3pm to 5pm. Fridays 9am to 12pm only Entrance: YER 500
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Military Museum of Yemen
Address: Gamal Abdul Nasser Street, western corner of al-Tahrir Square Phone: 276635 Timings: 3pm to 5pm
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Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts
Address: north corner of al-Tahreer Square Timings: 8am to 5pm
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Bab Sabah Street Market
Address: street market, from the Shari’ Ali’ Abdul Mughni to the entrance to Old Sana'a
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Sanaa University
Address: city center, Sana'a If you are into history and culture but not really into museums, the University can offer you a more interesting alternative to walking clueless down long corridors of museum exhibits. A varied, more interactive approach to learning about the city, with a welcoming staff, a number of specialized libraries, and interesting exhibits housing mummies, handicrafts, and the like. All this and a charming campus with tea stalls at every corner.
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Al-Sabeen Square
Address: al-Sabeen Street, off 60 Meters Street Named in remembrance of the two-month long siege during 1967-68, after which the Republican Armed Forces established a Republican Government in the country after overthrowing the Royal Forces and the monarchy. This large public square commemorates the battles fought during that siege. It holds a few monuments, including the popular Monument to the Unknown Soldier. The square features beautiful landscaping, and is accented with charming illumination at night. Modern day Sana'a sees the Square as the starting point of cultural parades and processions, and as a gathering place for large open-air events.
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Al-Sabeen Park
Address: located right next to the al-Sabeen Square off 45 Meters Road. This large, gently rolling landscape marvel is the venue for frequent local fairs and events. It is Sana'a’s largest public park, and houses a colorful assortment of flowering plants, offering locals and tourists alike a relaxing environment to let go after a long day.
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Fun City
Address: to the south of Sabeen Park Tickets: YER 200 A decent amusement venue that can be termed as modern, in the broader sense of the word. Good place to bring kids and family. Contains a bowling alley, rides, dodgem cars, and several reasonable diners.