Corniche
First-timersThe waterfront promenade, with a public beach, cycle paths and city views, close to Qasr Al Hosn and the central souks.
Abu Dhabi city guide
Things To Do In Abu Dhabi
The UAE's capital: one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, a Louvre under a dome of light, a long corniche and a quieter, greener feel than Dubai.
7
Hostels in the city
9.8
Average, from 371 reviews
Free
The Grand Mosque
2017
The Louvre opens
2 h
To Dubai
The capital
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and the largest and richest of the seven emirates. Its city sits on an island off the coast, linked to the mainland by bridges, with a long corniche, wide boulevards and more greenery than Dubai.
Its big draws are cultural. The white Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world, the Louvre Abu Dhabi sits under a vast dome on Saadiyat Island, and the presidential palace, Qasr Al Watan, is open to visitors. Qasr Al Hosn, the old fort at the heart of the city, is its oldest building.
It's calmer than Dubai and easy to combine with it, now that Etihad Rail links the two in under an hour. Two or three days is right, with the dunes of Liwa further inland if you have a car.
Where to stay
Stay near the Corniche or downtown.
Saadiyat
CultureThe cultural island: the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a white-sand public beach and the new museums of the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Abu Dhabi
Start at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with 82 white domes, marble courtyards and some of the world's largest chandeliers. Entry is free, but book an online access pass first. Visitors are welcome from 9am to 8:30pm, except Friday mornings, when it closes to visitors from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Cover shoulders and knees; women also need a headscarf, and abayas are provided. Go at opening or after 7pm to avoid the groups.
On Saadiyat Island, see the Louvre Abu Dhabi (AED 70), whose dome filters sunlight like rain through palm leaves. Galleries are open from 10am to 6:30pm Monday to Thursday and until 8:30pm Friday to Sunday. Nearby, the Abrahamic Family House has a mosque, a church and a synagogue side by side.
Tour Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace, and Qasr Al Hosn, the eighteenth-century fort that was the city's first permanent building.
Kayak through the Eastern Mangroves, walk or cycle the Corniche, and head to Yas Island for the rollercoasters at Ferrari World and the Formula 1 circuit.
Free things
Free things to do in Abu Dhabi
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is free, and it's the most spectacular thing to see in Abu Dhabi. Book the free online pass, and come back after dark, when the domes are lit.
The Corniche, with its public beach, promenade and cycle paths, costs nothing, and so does the public beach on Saadiyat Island.
The Abrahamic Family House, with its mosque, church and synagogue, is free to visit, though you need to book a slot online.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has a huge mix of food, thanks to its large Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and Arab communities. Cheap cafeterias serve shawarma, biryani and paratha rolls, and Lebanese restaurants do grills and mezze.
Try Emirati food too: machboos, spiced rice with meat or fish, and luqaimat, fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup. The Mina Port fish market, where you can choose fish and have it cooked, is a good local experience.
A cheap meal costs €4 to €8 (AED 15 to 35), while hotel restaurants cost far more.
Nightlife
Going out in Abu Dhabi
Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants. Abu Dhabi is quieter than Dubai at night, with the liveliest bars on Yas Island, Saadiyat and in the big hotels.
A beer is €10 to €15. Drinking in public, or being drunk in public, is illegal, so take a taxi home. The Corniche and the lit-up Grand Mosque make a good evening out without any drinking.
Getting around
Getting around Abu Dhabi
Zayed International Airport is about 30 minutes from the city centre by taxi. In the city, taxis and Careem are cheap and easy, and Hafilat buses cover the main routes; route 54 goes to the Grand Mosque.
Etihad Rail's passenger trains leave from Mohamed Bin Zayed City station, on the mainland rather than the island, so allow time to get there. Trains reach Fujairah, on the east coast, in about an hour and three quarters (since June 2026) and Dubai in under an hour (since 30 September 2026). Fares start at AED 39; book on the Etihad Rail app or website.
Intercity buses reach Dubai in about two hours and Al Ain in about two.
Costs
What Abu Dhabi costs
Abu Dhabi is expensive. Dorms are few, and budget rooms start around €30. A careful day costs €50 to €80.
The biggest sight, the Grand Mosque, is free. The Louvre is AED 70, and Yas Island's theme parks are the big extras.
The currency is the dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar, at about 4.3 to the euro. Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere. Tipping about 10% is appreciated in restaurants.
Safety
Staying safe in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is very safe, but UAE law is strict and applies to visitors. Drinking in public is illegal, drugs carry severe penalties (even traces in your blood), and swearing, rude gestures, public displays of affection and photographing people without permission can lead to fines or arrest. Dress modestly away from beaches and pools.
During Ramadan, don't eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Summer heat passes 40°C, so plan to be outdoors in the early morning and evening.
Emergency: 999 police, 998 ambulance.
Day trips from Abu Dhabi
The desert at Liwa, the oasis city of Al Ain, and the theme parks of Yas Island.
Liwa Oasis
Some of the highest dunes in the world on the edge of the Empty Quarter, including Moreeb Dune. Best with a 4x4 or a tour.
Al Ain
Date-palm oases watered by ancient falaj channels, a UNESCO site, and the mountain road up Jebel Hafeet.
Yas Island
Ferrari World's record-breaking rollercoasters, Yas Waterworld and the Formula 1 circuit.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Formula 1 season finale races at Yas Marina.
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Hostels
Where to stay in Abu Dhabi
The top-rated places to stay in Abu Dhabi right now, live from Hostelworld.
The Villa Hostel by Lunar
Dorms from €17 a night
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Rest House Hostel
Dorms from €22 a night
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Serenity Stay
Dorms from €17 a night
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Oasis Villa Stay By Lunar
Dorms from €15 a night
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Lunar Beach Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
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Sweet Home
Dorms from €15 a night
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Iman Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
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When to go
November to March, with warm days and cool evenings. From June to September it passes 40°C.
Jan
Peak season
Feb
Excellent
Mar
Good
Apr
Warming
May
Hot
Jun
Extreme heat
Jul
Extreme heat
Aug
Extreme heat
Sep
Hot
Oct
Good
Nov
Excellent
Dec
Peak season
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in dirhams locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Abu Dhabi travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is the Grand Mosque free?
Yes. Book a free online access pass, and cover shoulders and knees; women also need a headscarf, and abayas are provided.
When is the mosque open to visitors?
9am to 8:30pm daily, except Friday mornings, when it closes to visitors from 11:30am to 2:30pm.
How much is the Louvre Abu Dhabi?
AED 70 for adults.
How far is Dubai?
Under an hour by Etihad Rail since 30 September 2026, or about two hours by bus.
What is the Abrahamic Family House?
A mosque, church and synagogue side by side on Saadiyat Island, free to visit with a booking.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
Where are the big dunes?
Liwa, about three hours away by car.
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