Two days in Abu Dhabi cost about AED 215 in tickets: Day 1 is Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche and the Grand Mosque at sunset, and Day 2 is the Louvre, a second Saadiyat museum and the Yas Marina waterfront. The plan below runs hour by hour, with the cost of each stop, the closed days to plan around, and swaps for summer, Mondays and children. Taxi fares and meals are extra.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
Is 2 days enough for Abu Dhabi?
Yes, for the main sights. Two days covers Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche, the Grand Mosque, the Louvre and one more museum, for about AED 215 in tickets. A third day suits Yas Island or Al Ain.
This guide also answers:
- What is the best order for two days in Abu Dhabi?
- Is the Louvre Abu Dhabi open on Monday?
- Can I see Abu Dhabi in 2 days from Dubai?
Five stops that make the two days
#1
Qasr Al Watan
The presidential palace is the first stop of Day 1. Its exhibits explain Emirati governance and culture, and the gardens are part of the visit. Buy a Peak ticket for a morning slot. The palace's website says knees and shoulders must be covered and flip-flops are not allowed. Our Qasr Al Watan guide covers zones and tickets.
#2
The Corniche and Emirates Palace
Visit Abu Dhabi describes Corniche Beach as 2 km of white sand with a seaside boardwalk and gardens. The Al Sahil section at Gate 4 is free, and the family sections at Gates 2 and 3 charge AED 10 per adult. Emirates Palace is a photo stop, not a visit. See our Corniche guide.
#3
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque at sunset
The mosque is open until 8:30 PM from Saturday to Thursday. Visit Abu Dhabi suggests an evening visit to see the facade lit up, combined with the Wahat Al Karama memorial opposite and dinner at Al Qana. Book online, dress modestly and take photos only at the designated photo stops. Our mosque rules guide explains the dress code.
#4
Louvre Abu Dhabi
The Louvre generally opens at 10:00 AM and is closed on Mondays. Tickets are AED 70, under-18s enter free, and Visit Abu Dhabi says most visitors spend two to three hours inside. A children's museum and a French brasserie are in the same building. See our Louvre Abu Dhabi guide for hours and the way there.
#5
Yas Marina waterfront
Visit Abu Dhabi describes Yas Marina as waterfront dining with live music that becomes the island's social hub at sunset, and Yas Bay Waterfront as restaurants, beach clubs and event venues. It is a good end to Day 2 if you have energy left, but it adds a taxi ride from Saadiyat. See our Yas Island guide.
Abu Dhabi in 2 days: the short answer
Spend Day 1 on the western side of the city, with Qasr Al Watan in the morning, the Corniche at midday and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque at sunset, and Day 2 on Saadiyat Island, with the Louvre at 10:00 AM and a second museum after lunch. Tickets for both days come to about AED 215 per adult, about $59 at the fixed rate of AED 3.6725 to the dollar. Taxi rides and meals are extra.
The order matters for two reasons. The Louvre is closed on Mondays, so put Day 2 on any other day. And the mosque is open until 8:30 PM from Saturday to Thursday, which makes an evening visit possible, but on Fridays it closes from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, according to the mosque's own website.
The plan assumes you sleep in central Abu Dhabi; if you are still choosing, read where to stay in Abu Dhabi. Prices are from Visit Abu Dhabi, the venues' websites and press reports, as of 2 November 2026, so check them before you go.
Book these before you leave your hotel
Most of the stops use online tickets or timed entry, so do this the evening before:
- Grand Mosque: book on the mosque's website. The form asks whether you are a tourist or an Emirates ID holder. Khaleej Times says to book no more than one month ahead and reported a tourist ticket at AED 10.
- Qasr Al Watan: buy a Peak ticket, valid at any time, or an Off Peak ticket for entry between 1:00 and 4:00 PM.
- Louvre and a second museum: buy online, or buy a two-museum Museum Pass at AED 120, which is sold online and at kiosks on Saadiyat.
- teamLab Phenomena, if you choose it: tickets are sold online for timed slots, and sales at the venue depend on availability.
- Clothes: knees and shoulders covered for the palace and museums. For the mosque, women need loose clothing to the ankles and wrists and a hair covering, and men should cover their legs.
Day 1: Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche and the mosque at sunset
Day 1 stays on the western side of the city, so the rides are short except the last one. Our Emirates Palace guide puts the mosque at 25 to 30 minutes by car from the palace.
| Time | Stop | Cost per adult | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Qasr Al Watan: state rooms and gardens | From AED 65 | Peak ticket; audio guide up to two hours; check the opening time for your date |
| 11:45 AM | Photo stop at Emirates Palace, then the Corniche | Free | Entry is mostly by booking a table; the exterior is the photo stop |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch near the Corniche | Your choice | Eat before the afternoon heat |
| 2:00 PM | Corniche promenade and beach | Free, or AED 10 for the family sections | Gate 4 is free; in hot months rest indoors instead |
| 4:30 PM | Taxi to the Grand Mosque | Taxi fare | About 25 to 30 minutes by car |
| 5:00 PM | Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the late light | AED 10 for tourists, reported | Open until 8:30 PM; on Friday it opens again at 2:30 PM; allow 1 to 2 hours |
| Around sunset | Honour guard march at Wahat Al Karama | Free | The memorial is opposite the mosque; arrive just before sunset |
| 7:30 PM | Dinner, then a taxi back | Your choice | Visit Abu Dhabi suggests dinner at Al Qana after an evening mosque visit |
Our mosque guide prefers a morning visit, because of the heat and the crowds. This plan chooses the evening, when Visit Abu Dhabi suggests seeing the facade lit up. In the cool months either works. On a Friday the mosque is closed from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, so go early or after 2:30 PM.
Day 2: the Louvre, a second museum and the Yas waterfront
Day 2 is on Saadiyat Island, which Visit Abu Dhabi puts 15 to 20 minutes by car from the city centre. The Louvre and the two newer museums are within walking distance of each other, according to Visit Abu Dhabi, so you can change plans on the day without another taxi.
| Time | Stop | Cost per adult | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:45 AM | Taxi to Saadiyat Island | Taxi fare | 15 to 20 minutes by car from the centre |
| 10:00 AM | Louvre Abu Dhabi opens: galleries and the dome | AED 70 | Closed on Mondays; allow 2 to 3 hours |
| 12:45 PM | Lunch in the museum or the cultural district | Your choice | A French brasserie, Fouquet's Abu Dhabi, is inside the Louvre |
| 2:00 PM | Second museum: Zayed National Museum or Natural History Museum | AED 70 | Allow 2 to 3 hours; timed entry; a two-museum pass is AED 120 |
| 5:00 PM | Walk to Mamsha Al Saadiyat, or time at the beach | Free; Kai Beach is AED 125 on weekdays | Visit Abu Dhabi ends its Saadiyat museum day at Mamsha Al Saadiyat |
| 6:30 PM | Optional: taxi to Yas Marina or Yas Bay for dinner | Taxi fare; your choice | Waterfront dining and live music at sunset |
| 8:00 PM | Taxi back to your hotel | Taxi fare | Book a ride in an app if the rank is busy |
For the second museum, the Zayed National Museum tells the story of the UAE and Sheikh Zayed, with more than 1,500 objects on display, and the Natural History Museum has a T. rex skeleton called Stan. teamLab Phenomena, from AED 155, is the third choice and needs 1.5 to 3 hours in the dark, without strollers.
What the two days cost
Tickets add up to about AED 215 per adult. Children under 18 enter most Saadiyat museums free, according to Visit Abu Dhabi.
| Item | Day | Cost per adult |
|---|---|---|
| Qasr Al Watan | 1 | From AED 65 |
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | 1 | AED 10 for tourists, reported 17 September 2026 |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi | 2 | AED 70 |
| Second museum | 2 | AED 70 |
| Total tickets | 1 and 2 | About AED 215, or about $59 |
| With a two-museum pass | 2 | About AED 195, or about $53; the pass replaces AED 140 with AED 120 |
Taxi rides are extra. Abu Dhabi Mobility lists a minimum fare of AED 12, and our getting around guide has the full tariff and the free shuttle.
Swaps for summer, Mondays and children
In summer, Visit Abu Dhabi gives 28 to 40 degrees from May to September. Keep Qasr Al Watan and the museums, drop the beach hour, and visit the mosque after 5:00 PM.
On a Monday, the Louvre is closed. Move Day 2 to another day, or use the Natural History Museum, which The National's guide lists as open from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM from Monday to Thursday. Confirm on the museum's website.
With children, swap Day 2 for a theme park on Yas Island. A park needs a full day, so it replaces the museums. The Formula Rossa ride at Ferrari World is under maintenance.
With a third day, Visit Abu Dhabi suggests Al Ain, about 90 minutes away, for its UNESCO-listed oasis and the 1,249-metre Jebel Hafit.
If you are staying in Dubai
Day 1 is the part a tour can replace. Our Abu Dhabi city tour takes 9 hours from an 8:00 AM hotel pickup in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman and costs from $45 per person shared, or $245 for a private car for up to 7 guests. It visits the Grand Mosque, the BAPS Mandir, the Corniche and Heritage Village, with a photo stop at Ferrari World. It does not enter Qasr Al Watan or the museums.
A museum day from Dubai is better as its own trip: expect 1.5 to 2 hours each way by road. Ask us on WhatsApp whether the private car can fit a Saadiyat stop, and we will tell you plainly what is possible.
FAQ
Is 2 days enough for Abu Dhabi?
Yes, for the main sights. Two days covers Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche, the Grand Mosque, the Louvre and one more museum, for about AED 215 in tickets. A third day suits Yas Island or Al Ain.
What is the best order for two days in Abu Dhabi?
Put Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche and the mosque on Day 1, and the Saadiyat museums on Day 2. Keep the Louvre off Mondays, and visit the mosque in the evening if you want the light on the facade, or in the morning for fewer crowds.
Is the Louvre Abu Dhabi open on Monday?
No. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is closed on Mondays and generally opens at 10:00 AM on other days. Plan your Saadiyat day for a different day, or use the Natural History Museum, and check its hours first.
Can I see Abu Dhabi in 2 days from Dubai?
Yes, as two separate trips. Our 9-hour tour covers the mosque, the Mandir and the Corniche from $45, and a museum day by taxi or private car takes 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Staying one night in Abu Dhabi saves a lot of road time.
How much does a 2-day Abu Dhabi itinerary cost?
About AED 215 per adult in tickets, or AED 195 with a two-museum pass. Taxis and meals are extra, and hotel rooms start from as little as $30 a night, according to Visit Abu Dhabi.
What should I wear for the mosque and the museums?
At the mosque, women wear loose clothing to the ankles and wrists with the hair covered, and men cover their legs. At Qasr Al Watan, cover knees and shoulders and wear closed shoes, not flip-flops. The Zayed National Museum asks for shoulders and knees covered.
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