Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Sanaa

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Basic guesthouses, shared rooms, budget hotels in Old City areas

Food & Dining

$3-12 per day

Street food, local bread shops, traditional Yemeni restaurants, market stalls

Transportation

$1-5 per day

Shared taxis, local buses, walking within Old City

Activities

$2-10 per day

Walking tours of Old City, mosque visits, traditional markets, free cultural sites

Eat at local bread shops and street vendors instead of hotel restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use shared taxis and local buses rather than private transport (saves 70-85% on transportation costs)

Stay in traditional guesthouses in Old City rather than modern hotels (usually 40-60% less expensive)

Visit mosques and traditional markets which are typically free rather than paid attractions

Buy food and water from local markets instead of tourist areas (generally 50-70% lower prices)

Travel during Ramadan or summer months when accommodation rates are usually 30-50% lower

Relying only on private taxis instead of shared transport (typically 4-6x more expensive)

Eating exclusively at hotel restaurants rather than exploring local food options (usually 200-300% markup)

Not carrying small denominations of local currency for street vendors and shared transport (leads to overpaying)