Abu Dhabi Travel Guide
Tourist destinations in Abu Dhabi: 20 places to visit, in the order we'd see them
We take guests from Dubai to Abu Dhabi all the time, and the same question always comes up in the car: what's actually worth stopping for? This is our answer. Twenty places, in the order you'd reach them on the road, with the time each one takes, what it costs this season and the small things that catch first-time visitors out.
Key takeaways
- • Start early. The drive from Dubai takes about 1.5 hours, and the BAPS Hindu Mandir sits on the way.
- • Book the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque online before you go. Since September 2026 tourists pay AED 10, and a strict dress code applies.
- • Spend midday indoors at Qasr Al Watan or the Louvre Abu Dhabi, then see the Corniche and Etihad Towers when the heat drops.
- • Saadiyat Island has the museums, Yas Island has the theme parks, and each theme park needs most of a day.
- • One day covers the city highlights. Plan two days if you want Yas Island's theme parks as well.
Most lists of tourist destinations in Abu Dhabi give you twenty places in no particular order and leave you to work out the map. That's how people end up driving past the Louvre twice in one day. Abu Dhabi is spread over several islands, and the order you see things in matters as much as what you choose.
So we've laid this out the way we'd actually drive it, starting from Dubai in the morning and heading home past Yas Island in the evening. For each place you'll find how long to allow, the opening hours and the ticket price. Everything was checked in October 2026, but hours and prices do change, so check the official site before you set off.
On the road from Dubai
The drive from Dubai to central Abu Dhabi takes about 90 minutes on the E11. Two places sit along the way, so you can see them before you reach the city.
BAPS Hindu Mandir
Allow 1 to 1.5 hours · 9 am to 8 pm, closed Mondays · Free, registration required
The first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East opened in 2024 at Abu Mreikha, roughly halfway between the two cities. It's hand-carved from pink sandstone and white marble, and the detail is astonishing up close: elephants, musicians, stories from scripture, all in stone. Visitors of every faith are welcome.
Entry is free, but you need to register online before you go. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. Rules on bags and photography are explained at the gate.
Emirates Park Zoo
Allow 2 to 3 hours · 9 am to 8 pm · From AED 65
Travelling with children? Emirates Park Zoo in Al Bahia is a short turn-off from the same highway. It's a hands-on kind of zoo, where you can feed giraffes and watch animal shows, and it's a good way to keep young kids happy before a day of mosques and museums. Most families on a one-day trip save it for the drive home instead.
The Grand Mosque and Wahat Al Karama
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours · 9 am to 8:30 pm (Fridays 9 to 11:30 am and 2:30 to 8:30 pm) · AED 10 for tourists
If you only see one place in Abu Dhabi, make it this one. Eighty-two white domes, a courtyard of flowered marble, and one of the largest hand-knotted carpets in the world inside the main prayer hall. Come in the morning when the marble is still cool, or late in the afternoon when the light turns gold and the lamps come on.
Two things to know before you go:
- There's now an entry fee. Since September 2026, tourists pay AED 10, UAE residents with an Emirates ID pay AED 5, and visitors over 60 enter free. Book your slot on the official Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre website up to a month ahead. Free 30 to 45 minute cultural tours run at 11 am, 1 pm and 5 pm (11 am and 5 pm on Fridays).
- The dress code is strict, and it's checked at the entrance. Women need loose, ankle-length clothing with long sleeves and a headscarf. Men need long trousers. Tight, see-through or short clothing isn't allowed. Bring a scarf even if you think you're covered.
Wahat Al Karama
Allow 20 to 30 minutes · Free
Directly opposite the mosque, this is the UAE's memorial to its fallen soldiers: leaning aluminium panels, a reflective pool and an open, quiet space. It's often skipped, which is a shame, because it gives a very different side of the country. Walk across while your driver brings the car round.
Downtown palaces, towers and the Corniche
From the mosque, it's about 20 minutes to the western tip of the city, where the palaces and the Corniche are.
Qasr Al Watan
Allow 2 to 3 hours · Doors open 10 am, last entry 5:30 pm · AED 65
This is a working presidential palace that opens to visitors. The Great Hall's dome is one of the largest in the world, and the whole building is white granite and gold. It's indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it the ideal stop for the hottest part of the day.
Adult tickets are AED 65 and AED 30 for ages 4 to 17. If you can stay into the evening, the light show projected on the palace façade starts at 7:30 pm. Hours can change for official state events, so check on the day.
Emirates Palace
Allow 30 minutes
Next door, the Emirates Palace hotel is the city's grandest. Many visitors stop for a coffee in the lobby café, where the cappuccino comes dusted with real gold. Dress smart casual, and expect hotel security at the entrance.
Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
Allow 1 hour · Observation Deck at 300 from AED 95
The five curved towers across the road are where the opening scenes of Furious 7 were filmed. The Observation Deck at 300, on level 74, looks straight down at the Emirates Palace, the marinas and the long sweep of the Corniche. Entry has been AED 95, including AED 55 to spend on drinks and snacks, from noon to 8 pm. Check that it's open before you go.
Heritage Village
Allow 45 minutes · 9 am to 4 pm (Fridays 7:30 am to noon and 3 to 9 pm) · Free
On the Breakwater, facing the Corniche, this is a reconstruction of life before oil: palm-frond houses, a small souk, weaving and pottery demonstrations, and camel rides. It's small and free, and the view back across the water to the skyline is one of the best in the city.
Miraj Islamic Art Centre
Allow 30 to 45 minutes
A short drive from the Heritage Village, near Marina Mall, Miraj is a private collection of Islamic art: Persian carpets, embroidered robes, jewellery, calligraphy and ceramics from across the Islamic world. It's quiet and often overlooked. Call ahead to check opening times, since they vary.
The Corniche
Allow 30 minutes to 2 hours · Free
About 8 km of seafront promenade, with palm trees, cycle paths, playgrounds and public beaches. Late afternoon is the time to walk it, when locals come out and the sun drops behind the towers. If you want a swim, the beach sections have changing rooms and lifeguards.
Qasr Al Hosn
Allow 1 to 1.5 hours · 9 am to 8 pm (Fridays 2 to 8 pm) · About AED 30
Abu Dhabi's oldest stone building started life in the 18th century as a watchtower guarding the island's freshwater well, and grew into the seat of government. Today it's a museum, surrounded by modern towers in the middle of downtown. The ticket is about AED 30 for adults, and under-18s go free.
The port markets
The old port at Mina Zayed is the most local corner of this list. There are no tickets here; bring cash and time.
Abu Dhabi Dates Market
Dozens of stalls selling dates from across the region, from soft Medjool to the small, sticky local varieties. Sellers are happy to let you taste before you buy. A box makes a better souvenir than anything at the airport.
Carpet Market
Nearby, the carpet souk sells everything from small prayer rugs to large Persian and Afghan carpets. Bargaining is expected, so start well below the first price, take your time, and don't feel obliged to buy after a cup of tea.
Saadiyat Island, the museum district
About 15 minutes from downtown, Saadiyat is where Abu Dhabi puts its culture: white beaches on one side and some of the world's newest museums on the other.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Allow 2 to 3 hours · Galleries 10 am to 6:30 pm (Fridays to Sundays until 8:30 pm) · AED 70, under 18s free
The building alone is worth the visit. A huge latticed dome scatters sunlight over the galleries below like light through palm leaves, and the sea laps at the walkways. Inside, the collection tells the story of humanity through objects from every civilisation, displayed side by side rather than by country. The dome area stays open until midnight.
More on Saadiyat Island
- Zayed National Museum opened in December 2025 and tells the UAE's story from 300,000 years ago to Sheikh Zayed's life.
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens on 11 December 2026, with adult tickets at AED 70. If your trip falls after that date, it will be the newest museum in the region.
- teamLab Phenomena is a walk-through digital art space that's especially good with teenagers.
- The Abrahamic Family House has a mosque, a church and a synagogue side by side, open to visitors of all faiths.
- Saadiyat Beach is one of the cleanest stretches of sand in the UAE, and you might spot turtles here.
Jubail Mangrove Park
Allow 1 to 2 hours · 7 am to 9 pm · AED 15, kayaking from AED 110
Between Saadiyat and Yas, a wooden boardwalk leads through the mangrove forest. Look for crabs, herons and the occasional flamingo. It's a calm break after museums. Better still, book a sunset or Night Glow kayak tour, which paddles through the channels with lights under the water.
Yas Island theme parks
Yas Island sits on the road back to Dubai, which makes it the natural last stop. But be realistic: each of these parks deserves most of a day. On a one-day city trip, you'll only have time to see Yas from the outside. If theme parks are the point of your trip, give them a separate day.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
From about AED 350
The red roof is famous, and so is Formula Rossa, one of the fastest roller coasters on earth at 240 km/h. There are calmer rides for younger visitors too, and everything is indoors under the roof, so it works year-round.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
From about AED 350
An indoor park split into themed worlds, from Gotham City and Metropolis to Looney Tunes' Bedrock. It's the best of the four for families with children under 10.
SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
From about AED 350
A marine-life park with one of the largest aquariums in the region, rides and research-focused exhibits. Allow a full day if you plan to see the shows.
Yas Waterworld
From about AED 280
The water park of the group, with dozens of slides and a wave pool. It's outdoors, so it's best between October and April.
All four parks sell combination tickets, which save money if you visit two or more. Prices change by date, so check the official Yas Island website.
How to see these tourist destinations in Abu Dhabi in one or two days
Our honest advice: you won't see all twenty places in one day. The distances are short, but each stop takes time, and the mosque alone needs two hours.
- One day, the highlights: BAPS Hindu Mandir, the Grand Mosque and Wahat Al Karama, Qasr Al Watan, the Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers, a walk on the Corniche, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, then a drive past Yas Island on the way home.
- Two days, without rushing: add Qasr Al Hosn, the Heritage Village and the port markets on day one, then give day two to a Yas Island theme park or Saadiyat Island's museums and beach.
If you'd rather not drive, our Abu Dhabi city tour from Dubai covers the Grand Mosque, the Emirates Palace, the Corniche and Yas Island, with hotel pickup. Want your own route? A private Abu Dhabi tour gives you a car and driver for the day, and you choose the stops.
What most visitors see, and what Abu Dhabi tours include
Most people come to Abu Dhabi on a day trip from Dubai, and the route is fairly standard. Nearly everyone visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, then stops for photos at the Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers, walks around the Heritage Village, drives along the Corniche, tastes dates at the Dates Market, and passes Ferrari World on Yas Island on the way back. The Louvre, Qasr Al Watan and the theme parks are the usual add-ons.
Tour companies sell this in a few ways:
|
Type of tour |
What you get |
Good for |
|---|---|---|
|
Shared city tour |
A set route with other guests, 8 to 10 hours with travel |
Solo travellers and couples on a budget |
|
Private city tour |
Your own car and driver, and you choose the stops and timing |
Families, groups and slower travellers |
|
City tour plus Qasr Al Watan or the Louvre |
The city tour with a palace or museum ticket added |
Culture lovers |
|
City tour plus a Yas Island park |
Sightseeing in the morning, Ferrari World or Warner Bros. World in the afternoon |
Families with children and thrill-seekers |
|
BAPS Mandir stop |
Added on the way in or out |
Visitors interested in the temple |
Before you book any Abu Dhabi tour, ask four questions:
- Are entry tickets included? The Grand Mosque now charges an entry fee, and Qasr Al Watan, the Louvre and the theme parks are almost always extra.
- Is each place a visit or a drive-past? "Ferrari World" on many tours means a photo outside, not a ticket.
- How long do you spend at the Grand Mosque? Less than an hour feels rushed.
- Where is pickup, and is the guide a driver or a qualified guide?
Our shared Abu Dhabi city tour costs AED 145 per person and covers the Grand Mosque, the Emirates Palace, the Heritage Village, the Corniche, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and the dates and carpet markets, with pickup in Dubai. The BAPS Mandir can be added as a stop. A private tour is AED 745 per car, not per person. Theme park and museum tickets aren't included in either, so you only pay for the ones you want.
What to wear at the Grand Mosque, the Mandir and other religious sites
Abu Dhabi is relaxed about clothing in malls, hotels and on the beach, but places of worship have rules, and staff at the gate do turn people away. The simplest approach is to dress for the strictest place on your route, which is usually the Grand Mosque.
|
Place |
Women |
Men |
Also note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque |
Long, loose, ankle-length clothing, long sleeves and a headscarf covering the hair |
Long, loose clothing to the ankles, so long trousers and no sleeveless tops |
No tight or see-through clothing. Shoes come off inside the prayer hall. |
|
BAPS Hindu Mandir |
No shorts, skirts above the knee or sleeveless tops |
No shorts or sleeveless tops |
No tight, see-through or very shiny clothing, noisy accessories or slogans. Sarongs can be bought at the front desk. |
|
Abrahamic Family House |
Shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf inside the mosque |
Shoulders and knees covered |
The mosque, church and synagogue share one site, so dress for all three. |
|
Qasr Al Watan and Emirates Palace |
Smart and modest, shoulders and knees covered |
Smart casual, no beachwear |
Palaces and grand hotels expect respectful dress. |
What we suggest packing for the day:
- A long, loose dress or wide trousers, in a light fabric for the heat
- A long-sleeved shirt or light cardigan
- A scarf large enough to cover the hair, and a spare one in case someone in your group needs it
- Comfortable shoes that slip off easily for the prayer hall
Rules beyond clothing:
- At the BAPS Mandir, register online only once you're in the UAE, and bring the passport or Emirates ID you registered with. Food, drinks (even water), professional cameras, selfie sticks and drones aren't allowed in. Phone photos for personal use are fine.
- At the Grand Mosque, keep your voice low, don't hold hands or hug, and don't photograph people praying.
- Children follow the same dress rules, and need to stay with their parents at all times.
A few things we tell every guest
- Book the Grand Mosque before anything else. Slots are timed, and it's the anchor of the day.
- Pack the dress code. A long skirt or trousers and a scarf in your bag saves a lot of trouble at the mosque and the temple.
- Bring your passport or Emirates ID. Some sites ask for it at entry.
- Plan around the heat. From May to September, keep the outdoor stops (the Corniche, Heritage Village and Jubail) for the morning or after 5 pm.
- Fridays are different. The mosque closes for midday prayers, and some places open later, so check timings if you visit on a Friday.
Planning a day trip to Abu Dhabi? Send us your list on WhatsApp and we'll tell you honestly what fits into your day.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best tourist destinations in Abu Dhabi?
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Corniche, Etihad Towers, Qasr Al Hosn, the BAPS Hindu Mandir and the Yas Island theme parks are the places most visitors come for.
Is there an entry fee for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?
Yes, since September 2026. Tourists pay AED 10 and UAE residents with an Emirates ID pay AED 5. Worshippers, children under 3 and visitors over 60 enter free. Book online before you go.
What should I wear to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?
Women need loose, ankle-length clothing with long sleeves and a headscarf. Men need long trousers. Tight, short or see-through clothing isn't allowed.
Can I visit Abu Dhabi as a day trip from Dubai?
Yes. The drive takes about 90 minutes each way, and one long day covers the Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche, the Louvre and a drive past Yas Island.
Do I need to register to visit the BAPS Hindu Mandir?
Yes. Entry is free, but you must register online before your visit. The temple is open from 9 am to 8 pm and closed on Mondays.
How many days do you need in Abu Dhabi?
One day for the city highlights, two days if you want a Yas Island theme park or a slower day on Saadiyat Island.
Which Yas Island theme park is best for kids?
Warner Bros. World suits children under 10 best. Ferrari World is for thrill-seekers, SeaWorld for animal lovers, and Yas Waterworld for a pool day in the cooler months.
What should I wear to the BAPS Hindu Mandir?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and avoid tight, see-through or very shiny clothing. Shorts, short skirts and sleeveless tops aren't allowed, but you can buy a sarong at the front desk.
Do Abu Dhabi tours include entry tickets?
It depends on the tour. Most city tours include the Grand Mosque visit but not Qasr Al Watan, the Louvre or the theme parks, so always check what's included before you book.
Planning your trip? Our team is happy to help, even if you haven't booked yet. Message us on WhatsApp or browse our FAQs.