ABU DHABI
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
TRIP OVERVIEW
Day 1 – Emirates Palace · Observation Deck at 300 · Qasr Al Watan
Day 2 – Ferrari World Abu Dhabi · SeaWorld Abu Dhabi · Yas Marina Circuit · Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
Day 3 – Mangrove National Park · Qasr Al Hosn · Louvre Abu Dhabi · Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Day 4 – Heritage Village · Umm Al Emarat Park · Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital · Yas Waterworld
Day 5 – CLYMB Abu Dhabi · Yas Bay Waterfront
Day 6 – The Founder's Memorial · Corniche Beach · Jubail Mangrove Park
Day 1
1. Emirates Palace~1 hr
Emirates Palace spans 1 km of private beach with 394 rooms and a main dome rising 72 metres. The public lobby, gold-leafed domes, and landscaped grounds are open to walk-in visitors, and the on-site café serves the city's signature gold-flecked cappuccino.
2. Observation Deck at 300~45 min
The highest public vantage point in the city, on level 74 of Etihad Towers Tower 2. Floor-to-ceiling glass looks out over the Corniche, the Presidential Palace grounds, and the Gulf — best in the late afternoon as the light softens over the water.
Daily 10:00am - 8:00pm
3. Qasr Al Watan~2 hr
The working Presidential Palace, opened to the public as a cultural landmark — a vast white-and-gold complex of domed halls, a great hall floored in 350,000 tiles, and a library beneath a crystal dome. Less a museum than a statement of how the UAE sees itself.
Day 2
1. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi~4 hr
The world's first Ferrari-branded park, under a vast red roof on Yas Island — home to Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster on earth, which hits 240 km/h in under five seconds. A full afternoon of rides built around the marque's racing history.
Monday - Friday 11:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday - Sunday 10:00am - 8:00pm
2. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi~4 hr
The world's largest indoor marine-life park, on Yas Island — eight realms wrapped around a 25-million-litre aquarium, with a research and rescue centre at its core. A modern, climate-controlled counterpoint to a day in the heat.
Daily 10:00am - 6:00pm
3. Yas Marina Circuit~2 hr
Yas Marina Circuit is a 5.554 km FIA Grade 1 Formula 1 circuit on Yas Island, opened in 2009. The track famously passes through the Yas Viceroy Hotel, making it unique among F1 venues. Guided tours take visitors through the pit lane, paddock, and race control.
Tuesday 10:00am - 2:00pm · Friday 10:00am - 2:00pm · Sunday 10:00am - 2:00pm
Closed Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday
4. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi~5 hr
Warner Bros. World on Yas Island is the world's second-largest indoor theme park with 29 rides across six lands — Metropolis, Gotham City, Cartoon Junction, and Bedrock among them. The fully climate-controlled environment features DC Comics heroes, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, and Tom and Jerry.
Monday - Wednesday 11:00am - 6:00pm · Thursday - Friday 10:00am - 10:00pm · Saturday - Sunday 10:00am - 8:00pm
Day 3
1. Mangrove National Park~2 hr
The Eastern Mangrove National Park covers over 19 sq km of protected coastal mangrove forest — roughly 75% of the UAE's total mangrove area — with herons, flamingos, dugongs, and sea turtles. A guided two-hour kayak through the inner channels threads between mangrove roots under the Abu Dhabi skyline.
Daily 7:00am - 6:00pm
2. Qasr Al Hosn~1 hr 30 min
Abu Dhabi's oldest stone building — a watchtower over the island's only freshwater well that grew into the ruling family's fort. Reopened after a decade of restoration, it now tells the story of the city from pearling settlement to capital.
Saturday - Thursday 9:00am - 8:00pm
Friday 2:00pm - 8:00pm
3. Louvre Abu Dhabi~2 hr 30 min
Jean Nouvel's "rain of light" museum on Saadiyat Island — a 180-metre silvery dome floating over white galleries, where a single ticket carries you across human history from ancient civilisations to the present, told as one shared story rather than by region.
Tuesday - Friday 10:00am - 6:30pm
Saturday - Sunday 10:00am - 8:30pm
Closed Monday
4. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque~1 hr 30 min
One of the world's largest mosques and the UAE's defining landmark — 82 white-marble domes, reflective pools, the largest hand-knotted carpet on earth, and chandeliers of Swarovski crystal. Arrive late for the moment the floodlights come up against the dusk sky.
Saturday - Thursday 9:00am - 10:00pm
Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm · 3:00pm - 10:00pm
20 min walk
Day 4
1. Heritage Village~1 hr 30 min
Heritage Village on the Marina Breakwater recreates pre-oil Emirati life with a Bedouin camp, a coastal fishing village, a working souq, and artisan workshops where craftspeople weave textiles, blow glass, and throw pottery. Free entry; falconry demonstrations on weekends.
Saturday - Thursday 9:00am - 4:00pm · Friday 7:30am - 12:00pm · 3:00pm - 9:00pm
Free
2. Umm Al Emarat Park~2 hr
The 22-hectare Umm Al Emarat Park in the Al Mushrif district was fully redeveloped and reopened in 2015, renamed to honor Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. It features a Shade House botanical garden, an Animal Barn with resident animals, a children's garden, an amphitheatre, and illuminated evening garden paths.
3. Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital~2 hr
The world's largest falcon hospital, treating approximately 11,000 falcons per year. The 2-hour guided tour takes visitors through the falconry museum, examination rooms where feathers are repaired, a free-flight aviary where guests can hold a falcon, and an outdoor area with traditional falconry demonstrations.
Sunday - Thursday 10:00am - 2:00pm
Closed Friday & Saturday
4. Yas Waterworld~5 hr
Yas Waterworld packs 60+ water rides and slides into 15 hectares on Yas Island, themed around the Legend of the Lost Pearl and the UAE's pearl-diving heritage. Named Middle East's Leading Water Park at the World Travel Awards multiple times.
Wednesday - Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Day 5
1. CLYMB Abu Dhabi~2 hr
An indoor adventure hub inside a striking triangulated glass-and-steel pavilion on Yas Island, home to two Guinness World Records: the world's largest indoor skydiving flight chamber and the region's tallest indoor climbing wall at 42 meters. Sessions are booked online in advance; no experience required for either activity.
Tuesday - Saturday 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Closed Sunday & Monday
No pictures available.
2. Yas Bay Waterfront~2 hr
A 3-kilometer boardwalk along a purpose-dredged bay, anchored by the Etihad Arena events venue and lined with more than 20 restaurants, cafés and nightlife venues over the water — Abu Dhabi's newest waterfront district, best walked at golden hour before dinner.
Open 24/7
Day 6
1. The Founder's Memorial~1 hr
A 3.3-hectare national tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE's founding president, centered on The Constellation — a three-dimensional portrait of Zayed formed from 1,327 geometric shapes suspended on 1,110 steel cables inside a 30-meter open-sided pavilion, lit like stars after dark. Free 30-minute guided tours run throughout the day.
2. Corniche Beach~1 hr 30 min
A Blue Flag-certified public beach along the 8-kilometer Abu Dhabi Corniche, the city's sweeping waterfront promenade running from the Hilton to Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street — dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths, shaded play areas, and calm swimming water, with the downtown skyline as backdrop.
3. Jubail Mangrove Park~1 hr 30 min
A boardwalk trail winding a kilometer or more through mangrove forest on Jubail Island, between Saadiyat and Yas Islands — herons, crabs and small fish are visible from raised timber walkways over the tidal channels, distinct from the Eastern Mangroves nearer downtown, with kayak and dragon-boat tours departing from its own visitor pavilion.
Daily 8:00am - 6:00pm
Weekly Closures
Museums · Closed Monday & Saturday
Water Parks · Closed Monday & Tuesday
Tours
Viator
A high-speed RIB cruise along the Corniche from Emirates Palace Marina, past Lulu Island, the Presidential Palace and the Emirates Palace, with live commentary — the skyline seen the way the city was meant to be, from the water.
1 hr · Small group
2. Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ · Camel Ride & Entertainment · Viator · 4.9 · 3256+ reviews
Six-hour expedition from Abu Dhabi to a Bedouin-inspired dune camp: 4×4 dune-bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride, and a BBQ buffet under the stars with tanoura and belly-dance shows.
6 hr · Small group
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A guided half-day sweep of the city's landmarks — Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan Palace, the Etihad Towers, and a scenic Corniche drive past the Emirates Palace.
6 hr · Small group
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Shared guided loop of Abu Dhabi's top sights — Grand Mosque, Heritage Village, Corniche, and the Louvre exterior — in four hours with a knowledgeable local guide and air-conditioned transport.
4 hr · Small group
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Full-day guided trip from Abu Dhabi into Dubai — Burj Khalifa base, Dubai Frame, Gold Souk, Dubai Creek, and the skyline along Sheikh Zayed Road.
9 hr · Small group
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GetYourGuide
A small-group guided walk through the Grand Mosque — the Islamic architecture, Swarovski chandeliers, and hand-knotted carpets explained by a knowledgeable local guide. Meet at Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant near the mosque.
2 hr · Small group
A 6-hour evening desert safari from Abu Dhabi — 4×4 dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, henna, and a BBQ buffet dinner under the stars with belly dance, tanoura, and fire shows.
6 hr · Small group
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3. Abu Dhabi: Morning Desert Tour · Camel Riding & Sandboarding · GetYourGuide · 4.9 · 3827+ reviews
A morning desert safari from Abu Dhabi — 4×4 dune bashing, sandboarding, and a camel ride in the desert dunes outside the city.
4 hr · Small group
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A guided city tour covering the Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace, and Etihad Towers — three of Abu Dhabi's most iconic landmarks in a single half-day sweep with an expert guide.
5 hr · Small group
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A focused half-day guided tour of the Grand Mosque from Abu Dhabi — architectural history, Islamic art and craftsmanship explained in depth, with transfers from your Abu Dhabi hotel included.
3 hr · Small group
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TripAdvisor
An evening desert safari from Abu Dhabi — 4×4 dune bashing · 6 per vehicle, camel ride, henna, and a BBQ buffet dinner with belly dance, tanoura, and fire shows at a Bedouin camp.
6 hr · Small group
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A 60-minute guided sightseeing cruise on the Corniche aboard a Yellow Boat — live English commentary on the city's skyline, Qasr Al Watan, Etihad Towers, and the Emirates Palace from the water.
1 hr · Max 20
3. Guided Abu Dhabi City Tour with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque & BAPS · TripAdvisor · 4.9 · 256+ reviews
A full-day guided tour from Dubai to Abu Dhabi covering the Grand Mosque, BAPS Hindu Mandir, Emirates Palace, Corniche, and Heritage Village — with an expert guide throughout.
8 hr · Small group
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A 2-hour sunset cruise from Al Bateen Marina along the Abu Dhabi Corniche — passing Qasr Al Watan and Etihad Towers with refreshments on board, up to 8 guests per sailing.
2 hr · Max 8
A shared 4-hour city tour of Abu Dhabi — Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, Heritage Village, Dates Market, and Etihad Towers — with a knowledgeable local guide.
4 hr · Small group
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Cappuccino
Shot Specialty Cafe · 4.5 · 171+ reviews
Restaurants Near Hotel
Li Beirut · 4.6 · 363+ reviews
Refined Lebanese — mezze and charcoal grills with sea views.
Monday - Thursday 7:00pm - 11:30pm
Closed Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Downtown Restaurants
Bait El Khetyar · 4.4 · 4054+ reviews
Syrian-Levantine — shawarma, manakish and generous mezze done right.
Daily 7:00am - 12:00am
Local Tastes
Karak Chai
The UAE's everyday street drink — strong black tea boiled with cardamom and sometimes saffron, sweetened with evaporated milk. Sold from roadside cafeterias for small change and drunk all day long.
Luqaimat
Golden deep-fried dough dumplings, crisp outside and soft within, drizzled with date syrup and sesame — the classic Emirati sweet, especially in Ramadan.
Machboos
Food Delivery
Talabat
Foreign number: accepted. — the code comes by SMS, and Google, Apple or email sign-in skips the phone step altogether.
The dominant food delivery platform in the UAE — covers Abu Dhabi comprehensively, from local shawarma joints to hotel restaurants. Largest restaurant selection of any platform; works with any international card and no local SIM required.
Deliveroo
Foreign number: not required. — sign-up runs on Google, Apple, Facebook or email with no phone field at all, so no verification code has to arrive.
Covers Abu Dhabi city, one of six UAE markets it serves, with a deliberately shorter roster than Talabat's that skews upscale and toward hotel restaurants. It runs its own rider fleet rather than contracting out, which shows in tighter delivery windows.
Noon Food
Foreign number: not required. — registration asks for an email address and nothing else, so no code is sent at sign-up.
Noon's food delivery arm — solid coverage in central districts with a smaller restaurant network than Talabat but strong on local Emirati brands not found elsewhere. Useful for combining grocery and restaurant orders in one delivery.
Shows, Performances & Concerts
Etihad Arena
Middle East's largest indoor arena hosts major concerts, sport and touring performances.
Getting Around
Careem
Foreign number: accepted. — the four-digit code arrives by SMS or WhatsApp, so it reaches a foreign number even where local SMS filtering blocks it.
The dominant ride-hailing app across the UAE and the Middle East, used by essentially everyone in Abu Dhabi. Works with international numbers and cards — no setup required beyond the download. Fares are shown upfront; surge pricing applies during peak hours and major events at the F1 circuit.
Michelin Restaurants
Hakkasan
Cantonese fine dining in low candle-lit rooms at the Emirates Palace.
Talea by Antonio Guida
Refined Italian from the Milan-trained chef, also at the Emirates Palace.
Erth
Modern Emirati cooking — the first Emirati restaurant to win a star.
Worth Knowing
What I Noticed
Abu Dhabi compresses about three centuries into a fifteen-minute drive. Qasr Al Hosn — the watchtower built to guard the island's only well — now sits almost in the shadow of the towers it eventually paid for, and Erth, the first Emirati restaurant to earn a Michelin star, is tucked into the same fort's grounds. The oldest and newest versions of the city share one address.
It's also a place that does very little by halves. The Grand Mosque holds the world's largest hand-knotted carpet; Ferrari World runs the fastest roller coaster on earth; SeaWorld is the largest indoor marine park; the Louvre is the first of its name to open outside France. Two days here is less a tour than a sequence of superlatives — which is, in the end, exactly the impression the place is built to leave.
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