7-Day Abu Dhabi Itinerary

Hotel check-in near the Corniche

Settle into your Corniche-area hotel and freshen up after your flight into Zayed International Airport.

Stroll the Abu Dhabi Corniche

Walk or cycle the 8km landscaped Corniche promenade, with skyline views across the turquoise Gulf waters.

Emirati coffee and dates ritual

Sip cardamom-spiced gahwa with fresh dates at a traditional majlis-style café, an essential Emirati welcome.

Sunset dinner on Al Mina waterfront

Watch the sun dip over the water while dining on grilled hammour and machbous at a waterfront restaurant.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque tour

Marvel at the world's largest hand-knotted carpet and the vast marble courtyard of this stunning mosque.

Mosque reflection pools and calligraphy

Linger by the mosque's reflecting pools and floral marble inlay before midday prayer crowds arrive.

Qasr Al Watan palace and gardens

Explore the Presidential Palace's gilded Great Hall, library, and manicured gardens open to visitors.

Dinner with Emirates Palace views

Dine at a restaurant overlooking the gold-domed Emirates Palace hotel as it lights up at dusk.

Louvre Abu Dhabi galleries

Wander galleries tracing human creativity from ancient artifacts to modern art beneath the museum's dome.

Rain of light under the dome

Sit beneath the perforated dome as sunlight filters through in shifting patterns, the museum's signature moment.

Saadiyat Beach relaxation

Unwind on the soft white sand of Saadiyat Public Beach, one of the finest natural beaches in the Gulf.

Beach club dinner at Saadiyat

Enjoy a relaxed dinner at a beachfront club as the sky turns pink over the Arabian Gulf.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Ride the world's fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa, inside the red-domed Ferrari World on Yas Island.

Warner Bros World rides

Spend the late morning among DC and Looney Tunes-themed rides at Warner Bros World next door.

Yas Mall and Yas Marina Circuit

Browse Yas Mall or take a lap tour of the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi's Formula 1 racetrack.

Yas Bay waterfront evening

Wander Yas Bay's boardwalk of restaurants and live music, capped with drinks at a marina-view lounge.

Jubail Mangrove Park kayak

Paddle a kayak through Jubail Mangrove Park's boardwalked wetlands, home to herons and fiddler crabs.

Umm Al Emarat Park gardens

Walk the shaded botanical paths of Umm Al Emarat Park, a green pocket popular with local families.

Qasr Al Hosn fort and museum

Tour Abu Dhabi's oldest stone building, the whitewashed Qasr Al Hosn fort, and its history exhibits.

Grilled fish at Al Mina market

Pick a fresh catch at the Mina Zayed fish market and have it grilled to order at an adjoining stall.

Free morning at leisure

Sleep in or enjoy your hotel pool before an active afternoon and evening in the desert.

Heritage Village on the breakwater

Browse reconstructed Bedouin tents and craft demonstrations at the Heritage Village overlooking the Corniche.

Dune bashing and sandboarding

Get picked up for a 4x4 dune-bashing ride into the red desert, with sandboarding down the dunes.

Bedouin camp dinner under the stars

Feast on a barbecue buffet at a desert camp, with henna, shisha and belly dancing beneath the stars.

Mina Zayed fruit and vegetable souq

Wander crates of dates, mangoes and spices at the bustling Mina Zayed produce and fruit market.

Emirati cooking class

Learn to make luqaimat dumplings and saffron chai in a hands-on Emirati home-cooking class.

Hamdan Street shawarma crawl

Sample shawarma and fresh juice stalls along bustling Hamdan Street, a local lunch favourite.

Rooftop dinner over the skyline

Toast the day with dinner and skyline views from a rooftop lounge in the Al Bateen area.