Ta’izz Travel Guide

Ta’izz, one of the main cities of Yemen, is situated at a height of 1400m in the northern foothills of the Jebel Sabir. The Ayyubid ruler, Turan Shan, decided to live in Ta’izz from 1175 AD because of its pleasant climate. It became the capital of Yemen during the Rasulid era (1229-1454). After a few centuries of foreign rule, in 1948, Imam Ahmad, the monarch, made Ta’izz his residency as well as the new capital of Yemen, which it remained till 1962. Two main streets wind through the city from east to west. Gamal Abdel Nasser St serves as the main thoroughfare, and buses leave at either end of the street. The southern 26th September Street (named thus because the Imam Ahmad died on September 26th, 1962) passes by the walls of the old town, and where both the streets run very close to each other, the Haud al-Ashraf part of the town, you will find most of the hotels and restaurants of the town.

The market area in the old town is the most active part of the town. The mosque of Al-Ashrafiya that was built in the 13th and 14th centuries has two minarets overlooking the old town. The Al-Mudhaffar Mosque north of Al-Ashrafiya, was built in the 13th century. It has one minaret but more than 20 cupolas The Al-Mu’tablya Mosque, west of the Al-Ashrafiya, was built in the 16th century by Turks.

The National Museum was the former palace of Imam Ahmad. It is open from 8 am to noon. It is believed that everything in this museum is left exactly as it was on the night of September 26th 1962, when Imam Ahmad died. The Salah Palace, which was also a former palace of the imam, has been converted into a national museum. It is open till noon. There is a small zoo by the Salah Palace, which is the only zoo in Yemen and is open till noon.

Fom Ta’izz you can get away to a few other sights. Jebel Sabir is a mountain, 3006m high, to the south of Ta’izz – you can get a beautiful view from there if the sky is clear and the weather is good. 4WD cars or taxis will take you up this real bumpy climb. Hujjariya is the countryside near the town of Al-Turba, and is known for its attractive location on a steep cliff by the Wadi al-Maqatira. You can drive yourself to Hujjariya from Ta’izz or take a taxi. Al-Janad is a fine mosque built originally before the death of the Prophet in 632 AD. You can drive to the place from San’a and Ta’izz.

Ta’izz has plenty of eateries spread all over the modern town. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants to suit all pockets in the Haud al-Ashraf part of the town. If you are shopping Yemeni silverware is sold in Ta'izz -- some genuinely old, some specially made to look old. Curved tribesmen's daggers or jambiyas are for sale; some relatively cheap, but others, with more ornate silver and gold decorations or handles made from rare rhinoceros horn, are much more expensive. Most of the items of daily use are available. Do take along prescription drugs and other items of personal use you cannot do without.

To get to Ta’izz by air from the Yemeni cities of Aden, Sana and Hodeida. There is a very driveable route from Al-Hudayda and San’a to Taizz. You can choose the freedom of taking your own car or take a taxi or bus. Once in Ta’izz, you can rent a car or take a black striped mini bus that will take you along Gamal Abdel Nasser St, 26th September St and other long streets.

The best time to visit Taizz is just after the rainy seasons, April and May, and September and October. Summer is inordinately hot. From late November to early January, the country usually has nightly frosts. During the dry season of late October to early February, most of the country becomes parched and dusty.