Abu Dhabi itinerary: 1 to 4 days
Plans for one to four days in Abu Dhabi, day by day: Ferrari World on Yas Island first, then the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr al-Hosn and the malls of the city centre, and the Yas Marina Circuit as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Abu Dhabi in 1 day
Day 1
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Indoor theme park under a giant red roof on Yas Island, with Formula Rossa, one of the world's fastest roller coasters.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a vast white marble mosque with 82 domes, open to visitors outside prayer times with modest dress.
Abu Dhabi in 2 days
Day 1
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a vast white marble mosque with 82 domes, open to visitors outside prayer times with modest dress.
Qasr Al Watan
Presidential palace with a great domed hall, library and displays of Arab arts and science, with a light show in the evening.
Emirates Palace
Grand luxury hotel by the sea on the western end of the Corniche, with domes, gilded halls and a cafe open to non-guests.
Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi
Shopping mall on the Breakwater with shops, restaurants and views back across the water to the city skyline.
Day 2
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Art museum on Saadiyat Island under a vast perforated dome, displaying art from around the world arranged by period rather than region.
Abrahamic Family House
Interfaith complex on Saadiyat Island with a mosque, a church and a synagogue in matching modern buildings, open to visitors.
Qasr al-Hosn
The city's oldest stone building, an 18th-century watchtower that grew into a fort, now a museum of Abu Dhabi's history.
Abu Dhabi Mall
Shopping mall in the Tourist Club area with department stores, a cinema and a food court.
Abu Dhabi in 3 days
Day 1
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a vast white marble mosque with 82 domes, open to visitors outside prayer times with modest dress.
Qasr Al Watan
Presidential palace with a great domed hall, library and displays of Arab arts and science, with a light show in the evening.
Emirates Palace
Grand luxury hotel by the sea on the western end of the Corniche, with domes, gilded halls and a cafe open to non-guests.
Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi
Shopping mall on the Breakwater with shops, restaurants and views back across the water to the city skyline.
Day 2
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Art museum on Saadiyat Island under a vast perforated dome, displaying art from around the world arranged by period rather than region.
Abrahamic Family House
Interfaith complex on Saadiyat Island with a mosque, a church and a synagogue in matching modern buildings, open to visitors.
Qasr al-Hosn
The city's oldest stone building, an 18th-century watchtower that grew into a fort, now a museum of Abu Dhabi's history.
Abu Dhabi Mall
Shopping mall in the Tourist Club area with department stores, a cinema and a food court.
Day 3
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Indoor theme park under a giant red roof on Yas Island, with Formula Rossa, one of the world's fastest roller coasters.
Abu Dhabi in 4 days
Day 1
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a vast white marble mosque with 82 domes, open to visitors outside prayer times with modest dress.
Qasr Al Watan
Presidential palace with a great domed hall, library and displays of Arab arts and science, with a light show in the evening.
Emirates Palace
Grand luxury hotel by the sea on the western end of the Corniche, with domes, gilded halls and a cafe open to non-guests.
Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi
Shopping mall on the Breakwater with shops, restaurants and views back across the water to the city skyline.
Day 2
Qasr al-Hosn
The city's oldest stone building, an 18th-century watchtower that grew into a fort, now a museum of Abu Dhabi's history.
Etihad Towers
Group of five curved towers near the Corniche, with a 74th-floor observation deck and views over the city and Gulf.
Abu Dhabi Mall
Shopping mall in the Tourist Club area with department stores, a cinema and a food court.
Day 3
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Indoor theme park under a giant red roof on Yas Island, with Formula Rossa, one of the world's fastest roller coasters.
Yas Marina Circuit
Formula 1 circuit on Yas Island, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with venue tours and driving experiences.
Day 4
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Art museum on Saadiyat Island under a vast perforated dome, displaying art from around the world arranged by period rather than region.
Abrahamic Family House
Interfaith complex on Saadiyat Island with a mosque, a church and a synagogue in matching modern buildings, open to visitors.
Watch: Abu Dhabi in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Abu Dhabi
The best time to visit is November to March, when days are warm and sunny and evenings are pleasant for the Corniche and the desert. From June to September temperatures often pass 40 °C with high humidity, so sightseeing moves indoors and hotel rates drop. During Ramadan, which shifts earlier each year, many restaurants keep reduced daytime hours.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Abu Dhabi on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Abu Dhabi on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Abu Dhabi on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Abu Dhabi with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United Arab Emirates from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Abu Dhabi with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Abu Dhabi
- Book a free visit slot for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque online; it is closed to visitors on Friday mornings, and long sleeves, long trousers or skirts and a headscarf for women are required.
- Buy Ferrari World tickets online for a lower price; a multi-park ticket also covers Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros. World on Yas Island.
- From May to September daytime heat is extreme; plan outdoor sights for early morning and evening, and indoor parks and museums for midday.
- Taxis are metered and inexpensive, and ride apps work; Yas Island is about 30 minutes from the city centre by car.
- Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island and the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace are both worth half a day; check their closing days before going.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Abrahamic Family House: Boubloub, CC-BY-SA-4.0
- Abu Dhabi Mall: Jpbowen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Emirates Palace: Chris Down, CC BY 4.0
- Etihad Towers: Shaibalahmar, CC-BY-SA-2.0
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi: Dapaan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Louvre Abu Dhabi: Boubloub, CC-BY-SA-4.0
- Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi: 2013UAEWikiUser, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Qasr Al Watan: Renek78, CC-BY-SA-4.0
- Qasr al-Hosn: Peturrunar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque: Wikiemirati, CC-BY-SA-4.0
- Yas Marina Circuit: Planet Labs, Inc., CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
