Climate guide for Sanaa, Yemen

Best Time to Visit
Sanaa

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
UnfavorableGoodOptimal

About Sanaa

Sanaa's old city is one of the world's most distinctive urban landscapes, with decorated tower houses, shaded markets, mosques, bathhouses, and layered religious and trading history. The heritage fabric is fragile, and current conflict, access, services, and security conditions make ordinary tourism assumptions unsafe. Check official guidance immediately before travel and use authorized local support if travel is permitted. Ask before photography, respect religious spaces and residents, avoid damaged or restricted buildings, and keep every route flexible around checkpoints, closures, and transport disruptions.

Did you know?

Travel Tips

Best time & timing
Check monthly climate scores for Sanaa before finalizing your trip dates for optimal outdoor comfort.
Getting around
Plan local transport and transfers in Sanaa early, especially during peak travel months in Yemen.
Packing advice
Pack layerable clothing suitable for sightseeing exploration in Sanaa's climate conditions.

Things to do in Sanaa

Sanaa, Yemen. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Sanaa: the short answer

The best time to visit Sanaa is March, followed by April, August. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: March averages 18°C with 9 mm of rain and about 31 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are June, December. If budget matters more than perfect weather, June is the strongest of the low-rate months at 9.2/10.

Across the year Sanaa swings from 13°C in December to 23°C in June, a 10-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 1 mm in September to 32 mm in August. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Sanaa is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 0.7 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: June (23°C). Coolest: December (13°C). Driest: September (1 mm). Wettest: August (32 mm).

Sanaa month by month

January in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.8/10

January averages 15°C (59°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 3 mm for the month, with about 25 sunny days and 11.2 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

February in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.6/10

February averages 17°C (63°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 1 mm for the month, with about 28 sunny days and 11.5 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

March in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.9/10

March averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 9 mm for the month, with about 31 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.9/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

April in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.9/10

April averages 20°C (68°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 10 mm for the month, with about 30 sunny days and 12.3 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.9/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

May in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.8/10

May averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 10 mm for the month, with about 31 sunny days and 12.7 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

June in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.2/10

June averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 5 mm for the month, with about 30 sunny days and 12.9 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.2/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

July in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.7/10

July averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 14 mm for the month, with about 27 sunny days and 12.8 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

August in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.9/10

August averages 22°C (72°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 32 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 28 sunny days and 12.5 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.9/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

September in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.6/10

September averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 1 mm for the month, with about 30 sunny days and 12.1 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

October in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.7/10

October averages 17°C (63°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Expect 15 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 31 sunny days and 11.6 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

November in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.8/10

November averages 15°C (59°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 2 mm for the month, with about 27 sunny days and 11.3 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

December in Sanaa — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.4/10

December averages 13°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 9 mm for the month, with about 25 sunny days and 11.1 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Sanaa at 9.4/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Sanaa, Yemen?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Sanaa are March, April, August, January, May, November. March is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.9/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Sanaa year-round?
Sanaa has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 13°C in December to 23°C in June, with Ideal Weather scores between 9.2 and 9.9 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Sanaa?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Sanaa are June (9.2/10), December (9.4/10), February (9.6/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Sanaa?
August is the wettest month in Sanaa, averaging about 32 mm of rainfall. September is the driest, at roughly 1 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Sanaa?
March sees the most sun in Sanaa, with about 31 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Sanaa a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Sanaa is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (March, April, August, January, May, November) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Sanaa calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Sanaa: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

Explore by month

Curated in Sanaa

Tickets & experiences