Cheap Flights to Sanaa (SAH)

Overview

Sanaa, Yemen's ancient capital, sits on a mountain plateau at around 2,250 metres, which gives it a mild highland climate and a walled Old City that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its decorated mud-brick tower houses. Please be aware that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Yemen and that air access is very limited. Most people booking flights to Sanaa today are visiting family or travelling for work rather than on holiday, and our team will happily talk you through the practicalities before you commit.

Best time to fly to Sanaa

The altitude keeps Sanaa comfortable, with warm dry days and cool nights for much of the year. The most pleasant months are usually late September to November and February to early April, when skies are clear and daytime temperatures reach the low twenties Celsius. Winter nights can fall close to freezing, so pack layers. Rain is heaviest from March to May and again in July and August. The price charts on this page show how tight seat capacity shapes fares across the year.

Airlines and routes

There are no direct flights from the UK to Sanaa, and there have not been for many years. Yemenia (Yemen Airways) is the main airline at Sana'a International Airport, running a limited programme to Amman and Cairo under current UN-brokered arrangements, with schedules that can change at short notice. From the UK you would normally fly London or Manchester to Cairo or Amman with carriers such as EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian or British Airways (around 5 hours from London, a little more from Manchester), then connect onto Yemenia. Once layovers are counted, the total journey usually runs well over 15 hours and can involve an overnight stop.

Things to do in Sanaa

Sanaa rewards slow exploration, ideally with a trusted local guide. Highlights include:

• Old City of Sanaa: a UNESCO-listed maze of multi-storey mud-brick tower houses, lived in for more than 2,500 years.
• Bab al-Yemen: the grand southern gate into the old walled city and its warren of souqs.
• Souq al-Milh: a sprawling covered market selling spices, silverwork, jambiya daggers and dried fruit.
• Great Mosque of Sanaa: one of the oldest mosques in the world, with parts dating from the 7th century.
• Al Saleh Mosque: a vast modern mosque on the city's southern edge, striking for its scale and craftsmanship (access can be restricted).

At Sana'a International Airport (SAH)

Sana'a International Airport lies about 8 km north-east of the city centre, normally 20 to 30 minutes by road, with no rail or metro link. Airport taxis are the usual way into town; agree the fare before you set off, as meters are rarely used. Many travellers are met and driven by their host or organisation, which is the sensible choice given the security situation. Facilities are basic and affected by power and fuel shortages, so carry cash and water.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Sanaa

• Book as early as you can: seat supply is tiny and the lowest fares on the Yemenia legs sell out first, so watch the When to book chart above.
• Stay flexible on your connecting hub, as routings via Cairo and Amman can differ noticeably in price and layover length.
• Avoid Eid periods and the summer holidays, when demand from the Yemeni diaspora peaks; midweek departures are usually cheaper.
• Ask our team to price the full through-fare rather than booking each leg separately, as some combinations are not visible online.

Travel essentials

UK passport holders need a visa arranged in advance; there is no straightforward tourist visa at present and a sponsor is normally required. The currency is the Yemeni rial (YER) — carry US dollars in cash, as working ATMs and card payments are scarce. Cholera is a risk, as is malaria in lower-lying areas, so seek travel health advice early and keep routine vaccinations up to date; proof of yellow fever vaccination may be requested if you arrive from a risk country. Always check the latest FCDO advice, as standard travel insurance will not cover trips made against it.