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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Yemen

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

Updated October 20, 2021

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."

Yemen

Hababah Water Cistern

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

Zabid, Yemen

Brick Buildings of Zabid

Elaborate patterns adorn the city's disappearing traditional architecture.

Shaharah, Yemen

Shaharah

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

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 11 Things To Do in Yemen

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Sacred Spaces 2

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Stories About Yemen

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.

October 20, 2021

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