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Abu Dhabi itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · UAEOctober–May

Days
7
Stops
32
Per day
≈ 543 AED
First stop
09:00

By TripWalkers · Updated:

Short answer

The TripWalkers Abu Dhabi itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 32 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:

  1. Day 1 Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Watan
  2. Day 2 Saadiyat: the Louvre
  3. Day 3 Yas Island

Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 4 and 5 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 543 AED a day (excluding accommodation and flights).

Day 1 · 09:00–18:00

Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Watan

  1. Culture

    Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

    A white marble mosque with 82 domes and the world's largest carpet. Free entry, online registration, abayas provided. Closed Friday midday; magical at sunset.

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Wahat Al Karama

    Martyrs' memorial of aluminium panels, with the mosque reflected in it.

    Free

  3. Culture

    Qasr Al Watan

    The presidential palace: the Great Hall dome, the library and an evening light show (Palace in Motion).

    ≈ 65 AED per person

  4. Food

    Emirates Palace Le Café

    Gold-leaf cappuccino and camel milk with dates at the 'palace' hotel.

    ≈ 120 AED per person
  5. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Corniche

    8 km of waterfront: a sunset walk, the beach (flagged area 10 AED) and cycling.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Al Mrzab EmiratiBib Gourmand Emirati restaurant; try machboos (spiced rice with meat) and luqaimat (sweet dumplings).
  • Founder's MemorialA 3D portrait of Sheikh Zayed (Constellation), lit up at night. An alternative to the Corniche.

Day 2 · 10:00–18:00

Saadiyat: the Louvre

  1. Culture

    Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Jean Nouvel's 'rain of light' dome and a universal museum, with Da Vinci's La Belle Ferronnière. Closed Monday; book online. Boat tour costs extra.

    ≈ 63 AED per person

  2. Food

    Louvre Abu Dhabi Café

    A waterside café under the dome.

    ≈ 80 AED per person

  3. Culture

    Abrahamic Family House

    A mosque, church and synagogue side by side. Free, with registration.

    Free

  4. Nature

    Saadiyat Beach Club

    A protected white-sand beach with turtle nesting sites and sunsets. Entry 150 (weekdays).

    ≈ 150 AED per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Fouquet's Abu DhabiA French brasserie inside the Louvre, with views of the dome.
  • Soul Beach SaadiyatA public beach; a cheaper option than the beach club.

Day 3 · 11:00–21:00

Yas Island

  1. Culture

    Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

    Home to Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster (240 km/h). Indoor and air-conditioned; book online (Yas 2-park combo).

    ≈ 345 AED per person

  2. Food

    Yas Mall Food Court

    A lunch break; return with your park ticket (until 16:00).

    ≈ 60 AED per person
  3. 2 h 15 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Landmark

    Yas Marina Circuit

    The F1 track: free cycling and walking in the evening, Tuesday to Sunday. Yas Viceroy hotel alongside.

    Free
  5. 2 h · travel, break, free time

  6. Food

    Yas Bay Waterfront

    Waterside restaurants and Etihad Arena; come in the evening.

    ≈ 120 AED per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Warner Bros WorldAn indoor cartoon theme park; an alternative to Ferrari World (with children).
  • Cipriani Yas IslandItalian restaurant above the marina; a smarter option than Yas Bay.

Day 4 · 09:00–16:30Day trip

Al Ain

  1. Nature

    Al Ain Oasis

    UNESCO-listed oasis with 147,000 date palms and falaj irrigation channels. 1.5 hours by car or bus; shaded paths.

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Al Jahili Fort

    An 1891 fort with a Wilfred Thesiger photography exhibition. Free entry.

    Free

  3. Culture

    Al Ain Palace Museum

    Sheikh Zayed's former palace; explore the rooms.

    Free

  4. Food

    Al Fanar Al Ain

    1960s Emirati décor; try machboos and harees (slow-cooked wheat and meat porridge).

    ≈ 90 AED per person
  5. 45 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Jebel Hafeet

    A 1,240 m mountain road, among the world's best driving roads. Sunset at the summit, with views over the desert and Oman.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Al Ain Camel MarketA camel market, lively in the morning. An alternative to the palace.
  • Mercure Jebel Hafeet CaféA hilltop hotel terrace for tea and views.

Day 5 · 09:00–19:30Day trip

Desert safari and mangroves

  1. Nature

    Eastern Mangroves Kayak

    Canoe through the mangrove forest in the city, spotting flamingos and herons. Cool in the morning.

    ≈ 160 AED per person
  2. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Culture

    Qasr Al Hosn

    Abu Dhabi's oldest building (1795 tower), telling the city's history. Next to the Cultural Foundation.

    ≈ 30 AED per person

  4. Food

    Al Mina Fish Market Lunch

    A harbour market: pick your fish and have it cooked at the restaurant next door.

    ≈ 60 AED per person

  5. Nature

    Desert Safari Al Khatim

    Dune bashing (4x4), camel rides and sandboarding, then sunset and camp.

    ≈ 250 AED per person

  6. Food

    Desert Camp Dinner

    BBQ buffet, shisha, henna and tanoura dancing. Included in the tour.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Cultural Foundation Abu DhabiExhibitions and a library, next to Qasr Al Hosn.
  • Meylas Al MuneeraEmirati breakfast and lunch; try balaleet (sweet vermicelli with omelette).

Day 6 · 09:00–17:00

Heritage Village and Al Bateen

  1. Culture

    Heritage Village

    A recreated Bedouin village with craftspeople, next to Marina Mall. Free entry.

    Free
  2. 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Landmark

    Etihad Towers Observation Deck 300

    On the 74th floor at 300 m, tea included, with views of Emirates Palace and the Corniche.

    ≈ 95 AED per person
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Landmark

    Al Bateen Dhow Yard

    Wooden dhows are still built by hand at Al Bateen harbour.

    Free

  6. Food

    Erth Restaurant

    Michelin-starred modern Emirati cuisine, next to Qasr Al Hosn. Reservation required.

    ≈ 180 AED per person
  7. 45 min · travel, break, free time

  8. Nature

    Umm Al Emarat Park

    A city park with a shaded greenhouse and a petting zoo.

    ≈ 10 AED per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Al Bateen BeachA quiet city beach; an alternative to the park.
  • Li Beirut Jumeirah Etihad TowersLebanese restaurant with tower views.

Day 7 · 09:30–14:00

Souk morning and a gentle farewell

  1. Shopping

    World Trade Center Souk

    Foster's modern take on the souk: spices, dates and oud for souvenirs.

    Free

  2. Food

    Al Hosn Coffee Break

    Arabic coffee and dates for a farewell.

    ≈ 40 AED per person
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Nature

    Jubail Mangrove Park Boardwalk

    A 2 km wooden boardwalk through the mangroves, on the road to Saadiyat and 20 minutes from the airport.

    ≈ 15 AED per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Landmark

    Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport

    30 minutes by taxi; farewell.

    ≈ 90 AED per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Cafe Arabia Al BateenA villa café serving Arabic breakfast.
  • Mushrif Central ParkA city park; an alternative to the mangroves.

Good to know: 6 things that make an Abu Dhabi trip easier

  1. Taxis (Careem/Uber) are the main way to get around; buses with a Hafilat card are cheap. The E100 bus to Dubai takes 1.5 hours (25 AED). The airport is 30 minutes away.
  2. From November to March it is a perfect 22-28°C. December brings the Yas F1 race (hotels fill up), January and February suit the beach; visit the mosque at sunset.
  3. The mosque is free (registration and abaya), Louvre 63, Qasr 65, Ferrari 345, safari 250-350. Tip 10%; alcohol is served only in hotels and licensed venues.
  4. Dress: shoulders and knees covered in malls and the mosque. The mosque is closed on Friday midday and the Louvre on Monday; Ferrari World is cheaper booked online as a combo.
  5. Turkish citizens can stay 90 days without a visa; cards are accepted everywhere; the weekend is Friday and Saturday.
  6. Emirati food to try: machboos, harees, luqaimat and camel milk. Good places: Al Fanar, Meylas, Al Mrzab and Erth.

Spending: ≈ 3,800 AED per person for 7 days

  • Food1,500 AED
  • Entry and tours1,400 AED
  • Local transport600 AED
  • Other300 AED

Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.

We did the planning. You just pick the dates.

TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Abu Dhabi?

This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 4 and 5; skip it on a short stay.

How much does a day in Abu Dhabi cost?

In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 543 AED per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.

What time should you start the day in Abu Dhabi?

The first stop is at 09:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.

Which season is this itinerary for?

This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.