Aden Harbour and Port Heritage
Discover Aden magnificent natural harbour, one of the finest in the world, shaped by volcanic geology and used by traders from ancient Rome, the Islamic caliphates, the Portuguese, and the British Empire.
- 1
Port of Aden Viewpoint
Survey the Port of Aden from a high vantage point, appreciating the magnificent natural harbour formed by two peninsulas of volcanic rock that shelter the deep-water anchorage used by seafarers for millennia.
- 2
Inner Harbour
Walk along the inner harbour waterfront where fishing boats, coastal dhows, and supply vessels are moored in the calm waters between the volcanic headlands, the scene little changed in centuries.
- 3
Prince of Wales Pier
See the historic Prince of Wales Pier, built during the British colonial era and once the landing point for passengers from great ocean liners stopping at what was the busiest bunkering port in the world.
- 4
Little Aden Peninsula
View the Little Aden peninsula across the harbour, site of a major oil refinery built in the 1950s that transformed this end of the harbour, its tanks and structures visible on the distant headland.
- 5
Dhow Harbor
Visit the dhow harbor where traditional wooden sailing vessels still arrive from Somalia, Djibouti, and the Horn of Africa, maintaining trade connections across the Gulf of Aden that stretch back 3,000 years.
- 6
Steamer Point
Walk to Steamer Point, once the grand commercial heart of colonial Aden where grand hotels, shipping offices, and chandlers served the enormous volume of maritime traffic passing through this strategic port.
Walk this route with audio
Stories play automatically as you reach each stop — no tapping needed.
