Sana'a is the capital of Yemen , located in the Yemeni Mountains and generally the first destination for travellers to that country. See the Stay Safe section of this article and the Yemen country page for important safety advice. One of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world others being Jericho , Damascus and Aleppo , Sana'a is believed to have been founded by Shem, the son of Noah.
As a result, the city has the unlikely nickname of "Sam City". Visas are no longer issued on arrival. You must obtain a visa from a Yemeni embassy or consulate prior to boarding your flight. You will not be let on board without a visa.
There are few tourist agencies operating after the economic decline. A good way to get a visa nowadays is by arranging it through a travel agency based in Yemen, like Arabian Voyages. However, for westerners, travel agents will likely not be able to get a visa at foreign consulates anymore. But for the majority of Asian passport holders, they still have a good chance to get a visa at the Yemeni embassies in Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong. In Sana'a you can travel freely but you need road permits for basically every journey outside the capital.
Foreigners that are found to be in places they are not allowed, without a guide or without the right documents, risk detention or even terrorism charges. It's not something to take lightly; even if you are a backpacker, get in touch with a travel agency and arrange a tour and the necessary permits.
Many of the roadside checkpoints are controlled by the army, police, or even local tribes, some of which some are friendly, some unfriendly. The travel agencies know the situation on the ground, which can be different from village to village.
