Abu Dhabi is nestled on a Persian Gulf island. It is a mosaic of exquisite buildings and stunning beaches. This city is a tourist's paradise since it combines old and modern cultures. In 1760 the nomadic Bani Yas tribe moved there. Before oil was found the settlement was a small fishing village. The money helped turn Abu Dhabi into the modern busy government and business center it is today. Abu Dhabi is one of the best places to visit in the UAE if you want to combine sun and sand with a trip to a city.

With kayaking trips through the Eastern Mangroves and day trips to the desert dunes of Liwa Oasis there are a lot of adventures and things to do right outside the city. There’re many 5-star hotels and resorts that you may book to have a splendid holiday while you are in Abu Dhabi. You can seamlessly book your hotels or flights for your Abu Dhabi trip via booking.com. Now let’s move on to see some of the best places to visit in Abu Dhabi. Read about them in detail below and then start exploring.

1. Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre which opened in 2017 in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island Cultural District is a beautiful museum of art and civilization. It is one of the top places for tourists to visit. This is the biggest museum on the Arabian Peninsula. It has art from all over the world on display. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is the most impressive museum in the Middle East. It shows the whole history of art from the Neolithic period to the present day.

The museum's architecture is also very spectacular. It is a can’t-miss site on an Abu Dhabi tour. It has a web-shaped dome that is meant to look like it is raining light inside the museum. It's hard to believe how much art is on display from statues from ancient Egypt to famous paintings by Picasso. The Louvre is the first of three big museums that are going to open on Saadiyat Island which will soon become Abu Dhabi's cultural center.

Timing:

Thursday - Friday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Saturday - Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Monday: Closed

2. Etihad Towers Observation Deck

This lookout deck is Abu Dhabi's answer to Dubai's Burj Khalifa. This Observation Deck is a big draw in Abu Dhabi because it gives you a 360-degree view of the city. The deck is in the second tower of the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers on the 74th floor. It looks out over the sea. With binoculars you can get a better look at the cityscape and the Arabian Gulf. The Observation Deck is 300 meters above the ground which makes it the highest place in Abu Dhabi from which to see the city. The tallest building in Abu Dhabi is Tower 2.

Non-hotel guests have to pay to get in but they can use that money to buy food and drinks at the observation deck's restaurant. The restaurant serves snacks light meals soft drinks and a popular high-tea experience. Having high tea up here is a relaxing way to take in the views which sweep across the coast the city and the dry desert plains beyond.

Timing: Always Open

3. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Great Mosque is one of Abu Dhabi's most magnificent attractions. It is one of the largest mosques in the world and the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan built this beautiful piece of modern Islamic architecture to honor his father. The mosque is on every list of Abu Dhabi city tours because it is not only a place of worship but also a center for education and culture.

In one of the prayer halls you can see the world's largest loomed carpet which is an important thing to notice. The mosque is not only a place of worship but also a place where people can learn and share their culture. The mosque is very popular with foreign travelers because of its elegant architecture and beautiful design and pattern.

Timing: 9 AM to 10 PM

4. Ferrari World

This Ferrari-themed park is on Yas Island and is the biggest indoor amusement park in the world. It is one of the top-rated places on any Abu Dhabi sightseeing tour package. It is great for people who like thrills and cars. Formula Rossa the fastest roller coaster ride in the world is also at Ferrari World. It has a great gallery with a unique collection of different Ferrari car models a tour of the Ferrari factory and a game show about Ferrari cars for people who are really into cars.

Ferrari World is a great place for thrill seekers and car fans to go to Abu Dhabi City. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi which is based on the Ferrari brand and has a huge area of 86000 square meters is one of the best amusement parks in the world. It has a wide range of rides shows and attractions for people from all walks of life.

Timing: 11 AM to 8 PM

5. Yas Island

Yas Island is one of the best places to stay in a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi. It has long stretches of beach where you can spend the day sunbathing. For people who like animals the Arabian Wildlife Park is a fun place to see the best of Abu Dhabi's animals. There is a lot to do on the more than 1400 hectares of land. You can do other things like horseback riding besides just watching the animals.

The Yas Marina Circuit where the Formula One races in Abu Dhabi are held every year is also in this area. Sunbathers should go straight to Yas Beach and shoppers should go straight to Yas Mall which is the best place to shop in the city. If the heat is getting to you you can go to Yas Waterworld a water park with more than 40 rides and slides. It has the world's biggest surfable sheet wave a free-falling speed water slide called the Jebel Drop and a lot more.

Timing:

Yas Marina Circuit: 9 AM to 11 PM

Yas Waterworld: 10 AM to 7 PM

Book a Luxury Hotel on Yas Island via booking.com

6. Warner Bros World

Warner Bros. World is a well-known place to visit in Abu Dhabi. It is the third theme park of its kind in the world. The park's indoor and fully air-conditioned features make it one of the most fun places to go in Abu Dhabi. World is an indoor amusement park with 29 rides live interactive shows action-packed activities interesting attractions and a wide range of places to eat and shop. It's all about the heroes and villains from cartoons movies and comic books. All of the rides are based on these characters.

The park is split into six themed areas: Bedrock Dynamite Gulch Metropolis Cartoon Junction Warner Bros. Plaza and Gotham City. This makes it a fun place to visit in Abu Dhabi. There are rides for kids as young as 2 and as old as 16. Bedrock and Cartoon Junction are designed for little kids while Gotham City and Metropolis have some of the best rides which combine 4D interactive content with roller coaster-style thrills and spills.

Timing:

Saturday - Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Thursday - Friday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

7. Desert Safari

It is one of the most exciting and adventurous things to do in Abu Dhabi. Desert safaris in the south of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are the most popular day trip or overnight trips from Abu Dhabi city. You can go Sand Boarding visit a camel farm try quad biking Dune Bashing camel riding or eat in the middle of the desert under the stars while watching entertaining shows. Try 20 to 30 minutes of mesmerizing and exciting Wadi bashing or Dune driving in a 4x4-wheel drive.

The Evening Desert Safari is a great option for visitors with only a short time to spare offering a six-hour tour into the emirate's desert environs. Visitors get a 4x4 tour of the dune landscape before having dinner at a desert camp and watching traditional belly dancing and tannura performances. Once at the camp guests can choose from free activities like sandboarding and camel rides. Food and all transportation are included. Hotels in Abu Dhabi will be picked up and dropped off.

8. Heritage Village

Want to see how most Emiratis live? Visit the heritage village which is one of the few places in Abu Dhabi where you can see how people used to live before oil. The Heritage Village in Abu Dhabi is an exact copy of a typical Bedouin village. It shows visitors how Emiratis lived before the oil boom.

It's in a nice beach area of the city that's a nice place to walk around after a visit. It is a rebuilt village with a fort a goat market and a mosque. It is surrounded by walls on all sides. It has a lot to see and do like displays of carpet weaving a spice shop a campfire pottery a falaj irrigation system and metalworking workshops. The village also has a small beach where you can sit and take it easy. It is a great place to learn about the history of Arab traditions and find out more about them.

Timings: 9 AM to 4 PM. (every day)

9. Emirates Park Zoo

Al-Ain Zoo and Aquarium is a place you should put on your list if you are staying in Abu Dhabi with kids. In Al Ain near the foothills of Jebel Hafeet there is a huge wildlife park. The zoo is on 400 hectares of land and has a place for big cats a place for monkeys a place for reptiles aquariums and a place for birds. At the Abu Dhabi Zoo you can get up close to about 1700 animals including rare white tigers giraffes elephants a herd of zebras and a Siberian bear.

There is also a primate section with many different kinds of monkeys and a flamingo park with a sea lion enclosure. At the petting zoo kids can touch and feed animals that live in their own homes. Here you can do fun things like meet animals have breakfast with parrots have breakfast with giraffes and feed crocodiles.

Timing: 9 AM to 8 PM

Final words

Abu Dhabi the capital of the United Arab Emirates is brimming with extravagant grandeur. There will never be a dull moment with facilities and amenities to please everyone. Arranging a vacation in this multi-cultural melting pot of joy will be the best decision you ever make.

We hope that our Abu Dhabi travel guide has given you some vacation ideas and inspired you to go. Abu Dhabi is a city worth seeing. There are also many fascinating cuisine options to try. Don’t wait for more this place full of adventures is waiting for you. To get the best price and discounts book your Abu Dhabi tour package from booking.com.