Major city · Yemen
Shibamشِبَام
Half a day is enough to see the mud-brick towers and the old city. Stay overnight only if you want the dawn light on the skyline.
Shibam is a 16th-century walled city of mud-brick high-rises, a UNESCO World Heritage site often called the 'Manhattan of the Desert'. The old city is compact: you can walk the main streets, see the Al-Mihdhar mosque and buy carved wooden locks in under four hours. There are no restaurants inside the walls; the nearest food is in the newer town outside the gate. Most travellers visit as a day trip from Seiyun (20 km) or on the way to Tarim.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- YER
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (cooler, less rain)
- avoid May–Sep (extreme heat, 40°C (104°F)+), Apr (dust storms)avoid May–Sep (extreme heat, 104°F (40°C)+), Apr (dust storms)
- Airport
- GXF
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Yemen before …
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Yemen ↗Check your own government travel advice for Yemen before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Yemen ↗No independent tourist entry route is documented here.
- Yemen ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Yemen before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Shibam194 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Shibam, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollars and Saudi riyals in cash carry most payments: see Insurance & payments above.Yemen-wide
- SafetyShibam itself is calm, but the security situation in Yemen is volatile.
- Emergency numbers194 police · 191 fire · 191 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckGXF Seiyun Hadhramaut Airport (About 20 km (12 mi) from Shibam; weekly flights from Cairo (CAI) as of 2024 (check current schedule)).GXF Seiyun Hadhramaut Airport (About 12 mi (20 km) from Shibam; weekly flights from Cairo (CAI) as of 2024 (check current schedule)).
- Getting aroundThe old city is walkable on foot in 1–2 hours.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedBasic guesthouse room (private), a night, per roomYER 15,000
- Mid-range bedBasic guesthouse room (private), a night, per roomYER 25,000
- High-end bedBasic guesthouse room (private), a night, per roomYER 40,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget YER 20,000 · Mid YER 40,000 · High YER 70,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- GXF Seiyun Hadhramaut Airport (About 20 km (12 mi) from Shibam; weekly flights from Cairo (CAI) as of 2024 (check current schedule))GXF Seiyun Hadhramaut Airport (About 12 mi (20 km) from Shibam; weekly flights from Cairo (CAI) as of 2024 (check current schedule))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Feb
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
May
Avoid
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
Jun
Avoid
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
Jul
Avoid
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
Aug
Avoid
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
Sep
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Oct
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Nov
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Best: Oct–Mar. Avoid: Apr–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)), coolest Jan (14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C) low), wettest Apr (3 rain days), driest Jun (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Shibam: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
1 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
2 rd
Apr
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
3 rd
May
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
1 rd
Jun
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
0 rd
Jul
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
1 rd
Aug
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
1 rd
Sep
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
0 rd
Oct
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
1 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Dec
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old city is walkable on foot in 1–2 hours. For the new town or Seiyun, hire a taxi or private driver. No public transport inside Shibam.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Seiyun
goDoor to door: 20 min
Taxi, about 20 min
Seiyun has the airport, a souq and more places to eat.
Tarim
goDoor to door: 40 min
Taxi, about 40 min
Known for its mud-brick architecture and the Al-Muhdhar mosque with a tall minaret.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Shibam new town (outside the gate)
Basic guesthouses; closest to the old city. No hotels inside the walls.
Seiyun
More accommodation options, 20 km (12 mi) away; taxis run between the two.More accommodation options, 12 mi (20 km) away; taxis run between the two.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- YER 15,000–25,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- YER 30,000–50,000 excl. bed
- High
- YER 60,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic guesthouse room (private)1 × 1 night × YER 25,000 | YER 25,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × YER 40,000 | YER 40,000 |
| Taxi Shibam ↔ Seiyun (one way)1 × YER 7,000 | YER 7,000 |
| Guide for half-day in old city1 × YER 15,000 | YER 15,000 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | YER 13,100 |
| Trip total≈ YER 100,100 per person per day, bed included | YER 100,100 |
2026 estimate in Yemeni rials; flights and security arrangements excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Tea at the square café | YER 200–500 |
| Wooden Shibam lock and key (souvenir) | YER 3,000–8,000 |
| Taxi Shibam → Seiyun | YER 5,000–10,000 |
| Simple meal in new town | YER 1,500–3,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | YER 300–500 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No restaurants inside the old city walls; eat in the new town or bring food.
- The old city is a living neighbourhood: respect residents' privacy and do not enter buildings without permission.
- Bargaining is minimal; shopkeepers state their price and rarely drop it.
- Check your government travel advice for Yemen before planning any trip.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 194
- Fire
- 191
- Ambulance
- 191
Pocket card
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Shibamشِبَام
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى باب المدينة القديمة، من فضلكTo the old city gate, please
Emergency
- Police194
- Fire191
- Ambulance191
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Seiyun Airport → Shibam (taxi): about YER 5,000–10,000, 20 min
- Shibam → Tarim (taxi): about YER 8,000–15,000, 40 min
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بكم؟ — How much? (bikam?)
- نعم / لا — Yes / No (na'am / la)
- أين الباب؟ — Where is the gate? (ayn al-bab?)
US dollars are widely accepted; carry small bills. ATMs are rare.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Shibam. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Mar (cooler, less rain) · avoid May–Sep (extreme heat, 40°C+), Apr (dust storms)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Al-Mihdhar mosque and the old city gate with verified opening hours.
- Eat page for the new town's tea stall and the nearest restaurant.
- Sleep page for the best guesthouse in Seiyun.
Sources
Ask about Shibam
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