The best things to do in Abu Dhabi are the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi at AED 70 and Qasr Al Watan, and two days is enough to see them without rushing. Add Yas Island for theme parks, the newer Saadiyat museums for a second art day, and the Corniche and Wahat Al Karama for free evenings. This guide ranks each sight, gives the time to allow and the price, and says what is new or closed.
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.
What are the top things to do in Abu Dhabi?
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi (AED 70, closed on Mondays), Qasr Al Watan (from AED 65), the BAPS Mandir and the Yas Island theme parks. Add the Zayed National Museum or teamLab Phenomena for a second museum day. Two days covers the main sights.
This guide also answers:
- Is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque free?
- Which Abu Dhabi attractions are closed on Monday?
- What can you do in Abu Dhabi in summer?
The six best things to do in Abu Dhabi, in order
#1
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The mosque's own website gives visiting hours of 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM from Saturday to Thursday, and 9:00 to 11:30 AM and 2:30 to 8:30 PM on Friday. You book online. Khaleej Times reported on 17 September 2026 that tourists now pay AED 10, so check the booking page. Women need loose clothing to the ankles and wrists and a hair covering. Our dress code and rules guide has the detail.
#2
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Tickets are AED 70 and visitors under 18 enter free, according to Visit Abu Dhabi, which says the museum is closed on Mondays and that most visitors spend two to three hours inside. The dome is 180 metres wide and has 7,850 stars in eight layers. Our Louvre Abu Dhabi guide covers hours and how to get there.
#3
Qasr Al Watan
The presidential palace sells Peak tickets for any time of day and Off Peak tickets for entry between 1:00 and 4:00 PM, according to its own website. Adult tickets start from AED 65 in our Qasr Al Watan guide. The audio guide comes in five languages and runs up to two hours. Knees and shoulders must be covered, and flip-flops are not allowed.
#4
Yas Island theme parks
Yas Island has Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, plus Yas Mall and the Yas Marina Circuit. One-day adult tickets in our park guides run from about AED 295 to about AED 375 online, and each park needs a full day. The Formula Rossa ride at Ferrari World is under maintenance. Our Yas Island guide shows what fits in a day.
#5
Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum and teamLab
These three opened last year: teamLab Phenomena in April, the Natural History Museum in November and the Zayed National Museum in December. The two museums charge AED 70 for adults, and teamLab starts from AED 155. Under-18s enter most Saadiyat museums free, according to Visit Abu Dhabi. See our guides to the Zayed National Museum and teamLab Phenomena.
#6
BAPS Hindu Mandir
The Mandir is closed on Mondays and open 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM from Tuesday to Sunday, according to its own website. Registration is mandatory, you must show a passport or Emirates ID, and a visit can be booked only after you arrive in the UAE. It is a stop on our city tour. Read our BAPS Mandir guide before you go.
Best things to do in Abu Dhabi: the short answer
Start with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan, then add Yas Island or the newer Saadiyat museums, depending on whether you want theme parks or more art. Two days covers the main sights. One day covers the mosque, the Mandir and the Corniche if someone else drives. Visit Abu Dhabi's travel guide suggests a minimum stay of three to five days for a full trip, but the sights are spread across the city, Saadiyat Island and Yas Island, so transport limits you more than opening hours do.
We ranked the places by how many first-time visitors should see them, then by the time and money each one takes. Prices come from Visit Abu Dhabi, the venues' own websites and reports in The National, Gulf News and Khaleej Times, as of 2 November 2026. They change, so check before you go.
The top sights at a glance: time, price and closed days
Use this table to compare the sights. Open it again when you plan your days, because the closed days decide the order.
| Place | Time to allow | Adult price | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | 1-2 hours | AED 10 for tourists, reported 17 September 2026 | Book online; on Friday it closes from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi | 2-3 hours | AED 70 | Closed on Mondays |
| Qasr Al Watan | 2-3 hours | From AED 65 | Last entry is at closing time |
| BAPS Hindu Mandir | 1 hour | Registration required; our guide lists entry as free | Closed on Mondays |
| Zayed National Museum | 2-3 hours | AED 70 | Timed entry from 10:00 AM |
| Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi | 2-3 hours | AED 70 | Free for under-18s |
| teamLab Phenomena | 1.5-3 hours | From AED 155 | Timed tickets; strollers are not allowed |
| Yas Island parks | A full day each | About AED 295-375 online | Formula Rossa is under maintenance |
| Corniche and Wahat Al Karama | 1-2 hours | Free | The honour guard marches around sunset |
| Guggenheim Abu Dhabi | 2-3 hours | AED 70 | Opens 11 December 2026; hours not yet published |
The time figures for the mosque, Mandir, palace and Guggenheim are our own planning estimates. The museum times come from Visit Abu Dhabi, The National and teamLab's website.
Saadiyat museums: how the Museum Pass saves money
The three older museums in the Saadiyat Cultural District share a Museum Pass: AED 120 for two museums or AED 170 for all three, valid for 30 days from first use. The National reported it on 6 April 2026, and it covers the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. It is sold online and at kiosks on Saadiyat Island, and under-18s enter free with every pass.
The arithmetic is simple. At AED 70 each, two museums cost AED 140 and three cost AED 210, so the pass saves AED 20 or AED 40. Visit Abu Dhabi says each museum is worth two to three hours and that the three are within walking distance of each other. Two museums in one day is a full day; the 30-day validity helps only if you stay longer. teamLab Phenomena and the Guggenheim are not part of this pass.
What is new this season, and what is closed
The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens on Friday 11 December 2026, and general admission is AED 70, according to The National. Opening hours had not been published in the reports we read, so do not plan a day around it yet; our 2-day itinerary leaves room to add it. Expect crowds in the first weeks.
Two things are not available. The Formula Rossa ride at Ferrari World is under maintenance, so a Yas Island day built around it would disappoint. The Louvre and the BAPS Mandir are closed on Mondays, so put the mosque, the palace and the Corniche on a Monday and the museums on another day.
Free things to do in Abu Dhabi
Visit Abu Dhabi lists these as free, and they suit the evenings between paid sights:
- Corniche Beach: a 2 km beach with a free public section at Al Sahil, Gate 4. The family sections at Gates 2 and 3 charge AED 10 per adult.
- Founder's Memorial: a 30-metre 3D art installation of Sheikh Zayed, set in gardens.
- Wahat Al Karama: a memorial opposite the Grand Mosque. The daily honour guard march takes place around sunset, so arrive just before.
- Mangrove National Park: a green place for a morning walk among local wildlife.
- Manarat Al Saadiyat: an art centre with free exhibitions and talks on its calendar.
- Umm Al Emarat Park: one of the city's largest and oldest parks, with an animal farm.
The Visit Abu Dhabi shuttle bus is also free and can take you to the main tourist areas, which helps when you plan a day without a car.
Heat, seasons and how to order your days
Visit Abu Dhabi gives 18 to 28 degrees from October to March, with December as the best month, and 28 to 40 degrees from May to September, when it advises indoor activities. In hot months put the mosque courtyard and the Corniche in the early morning and the Louvre, Qasr Al Watan or an indoor park in the afternoon.
In the cool months the order can reverse: museums at midday, then the Corniche, the mosque courtyard or Yas Marina at sunset. Yas Waterworld is the one outdoor park, and it suits November to April.
One day, two days or a third day
If you have one day, a tour is the simplest way to see the mosque, the Mandir and the Corniche. Our Abu Dhabi city tour takes 9 hours with an 8:00 AM pickup from hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman. It costs from $45 per person shared, or $245 for a private car for up to 7 guests. It adds Heritage Village and a photo stop at Ferrari World, and it does not include paid museums such as the Louvre.
With two days, split the sights by area: palace, Corniche and mosque on one day, Saadiyat museums on the other. A third day suits Al Ain, about 90 minutes' drive away according to Visit Abu Dhabi, with its UNESCO-listed oasis and the 1,249-metre Jebel Hafit, which you can reach on foot or by car.
Back in Dubai, our full-day desert safari from $45 gives a very different day from the capital's museums and mosques.
FAQ
What are the top things to do in Abu Dhabi?
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi (AED 70, closed on Mondays), Qasr Al Watan (from AED 65), the BAPS Mandir and the Yas Island theme parks. Add the Zayed National Museum or teamLab Phenomena for a second museum day. Two days covers the main sights.
How many days do you need in Abu Dhabi?
Two days is enough for the mosque, the palace, the Corniche and one or two Saadiyat museums. One day works only as a tour with transport arranged. Visit Abu Dhabi suggests three to five days if you also want Yas Island and a day trip to Al Ain.
Is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque free?
Visit Abu Dhabi's page still says there is no fee, but Khaleej Times reported on 17 September 2026 that entry now costs AED 10 for tourists and AED 5 for Emirates ID holders. Visitors over 60, children under 3 and people of determination enter free. The booking page on the mosque's website shows the current price.
What is free to do in Abu Dhabi?
The Corniche public beach section, the Founder's Memorial, the honour guard march at Wahat Al Karama around sunset, walks in Mangrove National Park, Umm Al Emarat Park and the Visit Abu Dhabi shuttle bus are free, according to Visit Abu Dhabi.
Which Abu Dhabi attractions are closed on Monday?
The Louvre Abu Dhabi and the BAPS Hindu Mandir are closed on Mondays. The mosque is open every day, with a break on Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Check Qasr Al Watan and the other museums for your date, because holiday and seasonal hours change.
What can you do in Abu Dhabi in summer?
Choose indoor sights: the Louvre, the Zayed National Museum, the Natural History Museum, Qasr Al Watan and the indoor parks on Yas Island. Visit Abu Dhabi gives 28 to 40 degrees from May to September, so keep outdoor stops for early morning or after sunset.
Can I see Abu Dhabi in one day from Dubai?
Yes, the main landmarks. Our shared tour takes 9 hours from an 8:00 AM hotel pickup and costs from $45 per person, with the mosque, the Mandir, the Corniche and Heritage Village. Museums and theme parks need a day of their own.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
- 3-4 hours
- Area
- Old Dubai: Bur Dubai and Deira
- Format
- Shared group walk
- Best for
- first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone who wants the old trading side of Dubai on foot
From $35 per person Full prepayment
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