Tourist Places to visit in Abu Dhabi

Situated on the island of Persian Gulf, Abu Dhabi, the multicultural and progressive capital of the United Arab Emirates, is an interesting medley of majestic architecture, glorious cultural monuments, glistening beaches, ultramodern shopping complexes, and much more.

Abu Dhabi, with its traditional character and modern culture, serves as a paradise for tourists and travellers from all around the world. This prized jewel of the UAE leaves you spoilt for choice when it comes to places to visit in Abu Dhabi. If you happen to be someone who wishes to traverse through the famous tourist places in Abu Dhabi, here’s a list that you should keep handy.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

One of the most significant places to see in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques in the city. Apart from being a seat of religious importance, this mosque is hugely popular for its breath-taking architecture. It features an exquisite design and serves as an educational hub. Besides taking in the beauty of its premises, you can also visit the mosque library, and even stick around to watch a mesmerizing sunset.

Sir Bani Yas Island

Part of the Al Gharbia region of the UAE, Sir Bani Yas Island is a natural island that houses the Arabian Wildlife Park. You can find several archaeological sites on the island, including the popular ancient Christian monastery. While the island’s desert interior is defined by sand dome hills, its eastern side is lined by 30-barasati styled villas which draw inspiration from the traditional Emirati fishing village.

From enjoying the luxuries of Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Resort to engaging in adventurous activities, such as horse riding, archery as well as wildlife safari, there’s a lot that travellers can do here.

Heritage Village

The Heritage Village is one of the best places to visit in Abu Dhabi for people who wish to witness the typical traditional life of Emiratis. The Heritage Village is a walled complex that brings together the vital elements of conventional Gulf life, right from barsatis (traditional palm-leaf houses) to souqs for trading goats.

You get to witness many interesting things here, from desert camel farms to different crafts like tannery, glass-blowing, pottery and sword making. The Heritage Village also houses a museum in the old fort where you can find jewellery and similar paraphernalia on display.

Emirates Park Zoo

The Emirates Park Zoo is one of the most fun places to visit in Abu Dhabi, especially for families. Having opened up almost a decade ago, this is the first private zoo in the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates Park Zoo has rich flora and fauna for visitors to see. Some of the magnificent animal species that you can find here include giraffes, hippopotamus, flamingos, and snakes.

Emirates Park Zoo also has an amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 400 people, for entertaining and educating children and families with animal shows.

Yas Island

One of the best man-made wonders, Yas Island is among the top-most leisure destinations with locals and tourists alike, in Abu Dhabi. Located only 45 minutes away from the city, this artificial island is created to appeal to people of all ages. One of the most thriving hotspots in the city, Yas Island covers an area of 25 square kilometres. Interestingly, the island gets its name from a regional tribe and has been designed combining elements of both desert and sea.

As one of the best places to visit in Abu Dhabi, Yas Island has sites that will leave you amazed!

Yas Mall

The biggest luxury mall in Abu Dhabi, Yas Mall is located in the heart of the iconic Yas Island. It is one of the ultimate places in the city for rich shopping, entertainment, and dining experiences. Spreading over an area of 2.5 million square feet, the mall consists of 370 stores that include popular international brands such as American Eagle, Calvin Klein, Terranova, Lacoste, and so on.

Within the mall, there are over 60 restaurants that enable tourists to indulge themselves in sumptuous dishes from around the world. In addition to these, Yas Mall has an ice rink, a 20-screen cinema, a family entertainment zone by Fun Works, and a musical fountain to ensure never-ending entertainment for all.

Ferrari World

If you are a thrill seeker and love activities that can give you an adrenaline rush, then you have to visit the Ferrari World on Yas Island. Covered in most Abu Dhabi tour packages, Ferrari World is a theme park that has been inspired by the Italian car brand, Ferrari. Consisting of everything from car expositions to rides for kids, Ferrari World is one of the most ideal places in Abu Dhabi for people of any age.

Another exciting reason as to why you should be visiting Ferrari World is that it is home to Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster that reaches a speed of around 240km/h in five seconds.

Yas Waterworld

Yas Waterworld is the best place to visit in Abu Dhabi if you are looking for some respite from the hot summer climate of the city. This Emirati themed waterpark is located on Yas Island and consists of over 40 slides, rides, and attractions, like Rush Rider or Bubble’s Barrel. The Bandit Bomber, 550 metres long, is the longest suspended roller coaster in the entire Middle East.

Winner of various awards, Yas Waterworld hosted the World Flowboarding Championships in 2013.

Louvre

Having opened its doors on November 11, 2017, Louvre is an art and civilization museum in Abu Dhabi, located on the Saadiyat Island Cultural District. The museum is a part of a thirty-year-long agreement between the governments of Abu Dhabi and France.

The leaders of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi had called upon French expertise in order to create the first universal museum of the Arab world. Covering an area of around 24,000 square meters, the Louvre is, in fact, the largest art museum in the entire Arabian Peninsula. This museum showcases art from around the world, particularly with an aim to reduce the gap between Eastern and Western Art.

Corniche Road

Corniche road or the Corniche is an eight-kilometre long road that forms a sweeping curve on the western side of the main Abu Dhabi Island. What makes this stretch of road popular is the fact that it is replete with various restaurants and cafes, alongside children’s play areas, pathways for cyclists and pedestrians, and the Corniche beach itself. You can choose to kick back and relax on the public beach or dine at one of the interesting cafes or restaurants.

Corniche road is also one of the best places to visit in Abu Dhabi at night if you are up for a romantic stroll along the stretch while admiring the city’s dazzling skyline.

 

As a city, Abu Dhabi exudes extravagance like no other. With something or the other for every kind of visitor, you’ll hardly experience a dull moment in here. If you hate travel planning, you can always depend on a good old tour package for Abu Dhabi to make the most of your travel.