It is a very picturesque city with a mix of traditional Arabic and British influences. It was the capital of the liberal South and is presently changing negatively due to the take-over of the tribal forces of the North. For instance the Soviets banned head scarves for women and for decades, women were relatively emancipated and could carry out university degrees abundantly. Now, the scarves are back on the street. One can also notice a sizeable Somali minority (war refugees).
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 55 USD. 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.
Flights to many cities in the middle east. The only non stop destination outside of the middle east is to London.
The different current options are:
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.
Sunsets, lagoons (for bird-watching), the Aden museum, Crater (including a shopping district), people, beach and tanks.
Two museums :
Sights :
Among activities carried out by the locals, one can easily sample:
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.
Beautiful scarfs can be purchased in Crater as well as an abaya for the ladies. Spices can also be found in abundance. Other typical local products include: perfumes & incense, male dresses, female dresses, head scarves, honey, sweets.
'''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
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 belly dancing events by overseas dancers (e.g Iraqis, Syrian and others), which you can find in many tourist places incl. Sheraton Aden, Diplomacy Resort, Bahara, Nashwan, Hotel Aden and others.
Do note that fruit juice bars offer very nice, cheap and wholesome drinks.
5 Stars:
There are many budget, decent and clean hotels and resorts such as:
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).