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Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, but what people tend to know is Dubai. As a smaller and somewhat sleepier city, Abu Dhabi is still well-known and offers plenty for the whole family! Our Abu Dhabi Travel Guide is designed to help you maximize your time in this lovely desert metropolis!
Day 1 – Abu Dhabi Travel Guide
Compared to its better-known sibling (Dubai), Abu Dhabi offers a better balance of culture, history, and fun.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
To start your first day in Abu Dhabi, we recommend heading to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. You have undoubtedly heard of the Louvre in Paris but perhaps did not realize it had a sister museum in Abu Dhabi. This wonderful museum is much more straightforward and less costly than its more famous relative. You can get your tickets, including a Skip-The-Line option with kids entering free, through our experiences partner, Headout.
Located on Saadiyat Island and running around USD$16 for a day pass, the Louvre Abu Dhabi follows a mostly singular path throughout the museum. Before you enter, however, walk around the outside and enjoy the unique architecture of the dome encapsulating the museum. Rest in the shade by the water with ice cream before stopping to see the outdoor exhibits.
Once you’re finished outside, head indoors, where you will travel forward in history. The Louvre Abu Dhabi starts with the earliest known parts of human history, with each new wing slowly moving forward in time until you reach the modern era. You can see exhibits in ancient Egypt or view a book purportedly once owned by the renowned explorer Marco Polo. You’ll find gorgeous Korans and items inlaid with mother-of-pearl from the Middle East and outfits once belonging to a Shogu in ancient Japan.
We recommend taking at least 2 hours to meander through the beautifully laid-out exhibits, though 3 or 4 are probably necessary. There are also often temporary exhibitions, such as Bollywood Stars or Impressionism: Pathways to Modernity, which featured many pieces on loan from the Museé de Orsay in Paris.
*There is also a Guggenheim Museum under construction on the island as well, with an expected opening date of 2025!*
When you’ve had time to take in the beauty and splendor of the museum, we recommend heading just around the corner to see the Imam al-Tayeb Mosque, the Saint Francis Church, and the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue. These three places of worship are there to represent unity and peace between the three Abrahamic religions and to showcase some of the commonalities between them.
After those moments of solitude, make your way to the water. Here you’ll find a lovely corniche filled with restaurants on the gulf. Our favorite is Black Tap, where you can get an array of amazing burgers and a wonderful selection of craft beers.
After lunch, make your way to the highlight of Abu Dhabi – The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the most beautiful buildings you’ll ever see. Finished in 2007, this mosque is one of the largest in the world and can hold over 40,000 worshippers. It also houses what is purported to be the world’s largest carpet at over 5,600 sq meters.
This mosque is beautiful during the day, as you can see the gleaming white courtyard and minarets. Take time to admire the mosaics in the ceiling amongst the pillars around the main courtyard. You can also take in all of the domes, of which this mosque has 82. Upon entering the mosque, you’ll follow a pathway to highlight the chandeliers and main prayer room. In the main prayer room, you’ll find the largest carpet (though you are not allowed in unless to pray). After exiting the main hall, you’ll find yourself in an outdoor garden and courtyard with long reflecting pools.
If you can, time your visit to start in the day, pass through dusk, and into nightfall. The mosque is possibly even more beautiful at night. The soft lights, lit-up courtyard, and minarets sparkle in the desert night sky. We recommend a second visit if you can’t make it this time.
A second visit is easy as the cost to enter is free. There is also a small mall below, which you’ll enter as you walk through a tunnel to the mosque. The mall offers a few nice little shops and a few places to eat if you need to escape the heat.
Mosque Attire
The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is an active mosque and has a specific dress code. Everyone must wear pants covering the knee (ideally pants) and must cover their shoulders (e.g., no tank tops), and women must wear an abaya. We also saw the enforcement of head coverings for women, though it need not be a proper hijab. As you enter the mosque through the mall, you will be turned away if you are not adhering to the dress code, so plan accordingly. *You can buy abayas in the mall if you need one.*
After taking in the splendor of the Mosque, ideally, from day to dusk to sundown, head back to your accommodation to get ready for day two!
Day 2 – An Abu Dhabi Travel Guide
For day two, get ready to exercise your thrill-seeking and imaginary side because today, you’ll be hitting up some theme parks! You will head out to Yas Island for a full day of activities!
Warner Bros. World
Like a smaller Disneyland, Warner Bros. World is an escape into your childhood. The entire park is indoors, meaning you can enjoy what it offers all year, no matter the outside temps. As you enter, you’ll find Warner Bros. Plaza. There’s an array of shops and restaurants available for your perusal. There is even a shop with cool posters and signed and graded comic books. While they are overpriced, they are very tempting for the collector.
Inside you’ll find several different ‘areas,’ all representing different aspects of the Warner Brothers kingdom. There is Gotham, which houses some exciting Batman-themed rides and some shops selling very fun DC Comics and Movie gear! Next, you can wander over to Metropolis – home of Superman! Here you’ll see the Hall of Justice, where the Justice League hangs out (and inside is a fun ride!). You can also see the Daily Planet and immerse yourself in a 3D standing ride or head out and see Clark Kent’s phone booth!
You can move around into Bedrock, where you can “Meet the Flintstones and have a Yabba-Dabba-Do Time!”. You can hop on several rides for all ages before heading to Dynamite Gulch. You’ll find Wile E. Coyote, Marvin the Martian, and others. There’s a terrific Roadrunner roller coaster that’s both thrilling and appropriate for most ages! Finally, move into Cartoon Junction, where you find Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, and a slow but fun Scooby Doo ride!
Check out the themed shops and grab a bite to eat before heading out to the next park!
You can choose to get tickets to Warners Bros. World by itself or build it into a Yas Island Multi-Park Hopper Pass, which lets you build access to up to 4 of the parks in Yas Island into one ticket.
Yas Water World
Next to Warner Bros. World is Yas Water World. An outdoor water park with swimming, slides, and rides!
At Yas Water World, you can shoot down a slide that’s ten stories tall (be sure to clench!), grab a friend to head down the Dawwama – a six-person water slide or hop on the Bandit Bomber, a roller coaster where you get water shot at you!
Unlike the other two parks on Yas Island, this one is partly outdoors, which means it may be less accessible during the warmer months of the year (Abu Dhabi can reach 45˚C or 113˚F). No matter the time of year, however, ensure you’ve got sunscreen, and swim trunks, and get ready for a fun and wet time! You can book tickets with a free shuttle up to six months in advance.
Ferrari World
Ferrari World is one part theme park, one part showcase, and one, albeit smaller, part museum. This primarily indoor park has something for the entire family!
Inside are softer rides for younger children, including a small track to slowly drive a car (think a bigger Power Wheels-type car). There are other versions for slightly older kids who might still be too small for the big coasters. There are also Formula 1 simulators you can sign up to try and race against other people in the park. You can also pay to enter a simulator much like the ones that actual F1 racers use!
For the thrill seekers, however, there is even more! From an indoor coaster that shoots you straight up and back down again to the world’s fastest roller coaster. The Formula Rossa gets up to 240km/h in 4.9 seconds. It is an absolute thrill of a ride!
The only roller coaster I don’t recommend is the Flying Aces coaster. It has the world’s highest loop, but for a roller coaster that goes upside down, not having an over-the-shoulder guard made me feel like I was going to fly out at every turn and loop. Ride at your own risk!
If roller coasters are not your thing, you can take in some slower rides. One ride, Made in Maranello, takes you through the making of a Ferrari GT in Italy. You can also tour a virtual Italy while riding in a small-scale Ferrari 250.
Ferrari World also has a very lovely Ferrari Shop to pick up some fun merchandise. You’ll also see several Formula 1 cars that Michael Schumacher (one of, if not the greatest, Formula 1 drivers of all time) drove during his stint at Ferrari. You can find a fun ‘Little Italy’ food court to sit down and enjoy a meal or head inside the Yas Mall for a wider variety of food.
You can always buy tickets to Ferrari World by itself, include Ferrari World in your Yas Island Multi-Park Hopper Pass, or build a bundle ticket that includes Ferrari World and one other attraction in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
Yas Island Costs – Theme Park Admissions
Yas Water World will cost you 250 AED per adult, while Ferrari and Warner Bros. World will cost you 325 AED.
We recommend taking advantage of the packages available. With their discounts, you can see at least two parks and save substantial money.
- 1-Day, 2 Parks – This option costs 395 AED per person, and you can attend any combination of the three above-listed parks for one day.
- 2-Day, 2 Parks – Like the first, this option gets you into two parks over two days. It costs 435 AED per person, and while the savings are slightly less than 1-Day, 2 Parks, you do get one full day per park. It also isn’t a consecutive pass. You can use the 2nd day anytime within a 14-day period.
- 3-Day Unlimited – Exactly like 2-Day, 2 Parks, you get access over a span of 14 days for three days, one for each park. This package costs 545 AED per person.
No matter the option, you’ll find something that appeals to you, and we recommend choosing one of the packages above and spending an entire day at Yas Island.
Rounding Out Day 2
End your day at the Yas Mall, where you can stroll, enjoy some air conditioning, and find some bites to eat. The Mall has a variety of food options, from fast food and casual to full restaurants. There’s something for everyone! You could also choose to see a movie!
Yas Mall is a great way to round out day two before heading back and getting ready for day #3!
Day 3 – An Abu Dhabi Travel Guide
Abu Dhabi Corniche
For day third and final day in Abu Dhabi, we recommend making your way to Abu Dhabi’s wonderful corniche after grabbing breakfast. Here you can stroll along the water (assuming it isn’t overly warm – take your sunscreen!) and take in both the cityscape and the Arabian Gulf. The Abu Dhabi corniche is well-manicured with sidewalks and with plenty of benches for you to rest and take in the sight and smell of the Gulf. As you walk, make your way southwest towards the peninsula and the Emirates Palace.
Emirates Palace (Mandarin Oriental)
After strolling along the corniche, take a taxi (or if you’re up for a longer walk, then by foot), and you’ll arrive at the Emirates Palace. Despite its name, the Emirates Palace has always been a hotel, but what a lovely hotel it is!
The Emirates Palace was originally built and run by Kempinski in 2005, but in the last couple of years, it was acquired by the luxury hotel chain Mandarin Oriental. When you walk in, you will see nothing but opulence. It is a hotel of pure grandeur.
We advise you to walk the grounds, through the hallways, out into the sun by the beach, and into the shops, which you may or may not be able to afford.
Be sure to end your time at the Emirates Palace by stopping at the lobby lounge to grab a drink or some tea. You’ll be provided with a few snacks and a chance to take in some people-watching. It’s a nice way to spend an hour or so, and drinks are, considering the location, not too unaffordable.
Shisha
One of the most common activities in the Middle East, at least in the Gulf Coast Countries, is to find a Shisha bar. For the uninitiated, shisha is a form of flavored (or mixes of flavors) tobacco smoked through a water pipe. Shisha is often consumed over a long period and often with tea and conversation. It is not illegal and ubiquitous amongst locals and foreigners, though it is still smoking, so be mindful of the health risks associated with smoking tobacco.
We recommend checking out this TimeOut article for the best shisha bars in Abu Dhabi. However, if you are not interested in shisha, many of these bars will serve food and drinks. As such, we recommend the Buddha Bar located at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. This bar/restaurant has an array of indoor and beachside seating. It offers drinks and fantastic sushi. However, it is on the pricier side, though still, in our opinion, more affordable than its counterpart in Dubai. This is a great way to spend your last evening in Dubai, enjoying the weather, local culture, and beautiful location.
Final Thoughts
However you decide to spend your time in Abu Dhabi, you’ll find something for the whole family, the solo traveler, or the couples looking to go out and explore! While you’re there, we recommend you take a chance to explore a desert experience or take a short drive down to Dubai.
Amazing! Love Mom