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TravelTips24 : Asia : Middle East : Yemen : Yemeni Coastal Plains : Aden

Aden

Aden is a city in the Yemeni Coastal Plains, on the Gulf of Aden just at the Southern End of the Red Sea. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Culture and History

Aden has a long and complex history.

  • Marco Polo described it as a hub of commerce, where goods arriving by ship from the East were transferred to smaller boats for the trip up the Red Sea and on to Alexandria and Christendom.
  • At one point it ruled a small empire, the part of Africa just across from it.
  • In the 19th century, it became a British protectorate.
  • It was the capital of South Yemen until Yemen was re-united in 1990.

Travel to Aden & Visa Requirements

Access to Aden is available by car, airplane and bus. Airfare from Sana'a on Yemenia, the national carrier, will run around 10,000 rials or 55USD. Buses are generally comfortable and the ride from Sana'a to Aden is about 8 hours. A ticket will run you ~1500 rials. Be prepared to show a travel permit (Tashrih) on military checkpoints. You can't leave capital Sanaa without it. It's good idea to have also few photocopies of your passport ready. If you travel to Aden or elsewhere in Yemen by plane, no travel permit is required.

Tours & Getting around Aden

Taxis are practical, yet always bargain with the taxi driver before getting in. Otherwise, they have the tendency to get it done at their high price. If you know the city very well, you can use the mini-buses along with the public. The mini-buses are easy to use; they follow an essentially circular path around the city. Find someone familiar with the area to explain their route as the fare for the buses is around 30 rials, or roughly a tenth of the average taxi ride. There are also many boats that will take you whenever on a little cruise on the sea.

Aden International Airport is accessible, yet if you are in Yemen it is better to drive there. You can also rent cars from international companies. Driving in Aden is not as fraught with peril as in the north, as Adenis seemed to have learned driving skills from the British.

Aden attractions and sightseeing

The Sunsets are amazing, The Lagoons (for bird-watching), the aden museum, Crater (shopping district), people and the tanks. A visit to the beach is a must!

Aden city tours

Aden is especially known for the beautiful beaches and swimming activities. Besides this, Aden has the only considerable nightlife in Yemen, and foreigners can enjoy wonderful Arabian nights.

Furthermore, Sport fishing should be considered. Tunas and sharks can be hunted near the coast.

A Visit at the Gold Mohur Beach and Elephant Bay Hotel is a must. For women traveling alone, there is also a women only beach located at the Sheraton Hotel. Excellent snorkeling is available although not as clear as Sharm El-Sheikh.

Aden souvenirs & shopping

Beautiful scarfs can be purchased in Crater as well as an abaya for the ladies. Spices can also be found in abundance.

Aden Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Aden is especially known for its fresh fish.

Breakfast dishes Foul beans and baguette bread or khobez (round pita bread) Khmir (sweet square doughnuts) and tea with milk

Dinner or lunch Moufa or mukbza restaurants have mufa fish ,khobez rushwsh ,mulwah,rateb(round bread).

Zurbian is a mixed of lamb meat & colure rice.

Saiydia : fish steak (tuna or king fish) and rice.

Shwarma is the snacks in the evening, pita bread and tender grilled lamb meat with Salad

Aden nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

As in the north capital Sana'a where only Alcoholic drinks are officially served in Sheraton and many places where you can get alcoholic openly or secretly,as in sanaa have many night spots. there are few places in Aden where you can buy officially Alcoholic drinks. Furthermore, Aden is known for its bailly dancing events by overseas dancers (e.g Iraqi's,Syrian and others) , which you can find in many tourist places incl. Sheraton Aden, Diplomacy Resort, Bahara ,Nashwan, Hotel Aden and others.

Aden cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Aden is the touristic and economical capital of Yemen. You will find many chances to purchase alcohol, go to clubs and enjoy a sunset in the high-class hotels. There are many 5 star hotels and numerous others.

5 Stars:

  • Sheraton Gold Mohur
  • Movenpick Adel Hotel
  • Holiday Inn

There are many budget, decent and clean hotels and resorts such as:

  • Aden Airport Hotel
  • Elephant BayA

plus There many middle range hotels has opened recently in aden,shekh Othman ,maala,and in crater $50-$90

Good value to money is "Yemen Nights Tourism Hotel" in Queen Arwa Road, Crater. Tel: 256093. Less than 10 euros you get clean double room with tv, fridge, balcony and air con (which is essential in hot Aden).

Get out

This page was last edited at 11:03, on 22 July 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Ryan Holliday, Todd VerBeek and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) The Yeti and Pashley and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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