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Abu Dhabi itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · UAEJune–September

Days
7
Stops
32
Per day
≈ 543 AED
First stop
07:30

By TripWalkers · Updated:

Short answer

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

  1. Day 1 Grand Mosque & 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 · 08:30–19:30

Grand Mosque & Qasr Al Watan

  1. Culture

    Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

    White marble mosque with 82 domes and the world's largest carpet. Free entry, register online, abayas provided. Closed Friday midday. Magical at sunset.

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Wahat Al Karama

    Martyrs' memorial made of aluminium panels, with a reflection of the mosque.

    Free

  3. Culture

    Qasr Al Watan

    The presidential palace: Great Hall dome, 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 in the famous "palace" hotel.

    ≈ 120 AED per person
  5. 3 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Corniche

    8 km of waterfront: sunset walk, 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 Memorial3D portrait of Sheikh Zayed (Constellation), lit up at night. An alternative to the Corniche.

Day 2 · 10:00–19:00

Saadiyat: the Louvre

  1. Culture

    Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Jean Nouvel's "rain of light" dome. A universal museum with Da Vinci's La Belle Ferronnière. Closed Monday, book tickets online, boat tour extra.

    ≈ 63 AED per person

  2. Food

    Louvre Abu Dhabi Café

    Waterside café under the dome.

    ≈ 80 AED per person

  3. Culture

    Abrahamic Family House

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

    Free
  4. 1 h 45 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Nature

    Saadiyat Beach Club

    Best after sunset in summer, when the sea is 35°C.

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

Day 3 · 11:00–21:00

Yas Island

  1. Culture

    Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

    Home of Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster (240 km/h). Indoors and air-conditioned. Book online (combined ticket with Yas parks).

    ≈ 345 AED per person

  2. Food

    Yas Mall Food Court

    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

    F1 track. Cycling and walking are free in the evening, Tuesday to Sunday. Yas Viceroy hotel.

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

  6. Food

    Yas Bay Waterfront

    Waterside restaurants and Etihad Arena; go in the evening.

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

Day 4 · 09:00–18:30Day trip

Al Ain

  1. Nature

    Al Ain Oasis

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

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Al Jahili Fort

    Fort from 1891 with a Wilfred Thesiger photography exhibition. Free.

    Free

  3. Culture

    Al Ain Palace Museum

    Sheikh Zayed's former palace; explore the rooms.

    Free

  4. Food

    Al Fanar Al Ain

    1960s Emirati decor; try machboos and harees (wheat and meat porridge).

    ≈ 90 AED per person
  5. 2 h 45 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Jebel Hafeet

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

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

Day 5 · 07:30–20:30Day trip

Desert safari & mangroves

  1. Nature

    Eastern Mangroves Kayak

    Kayak through the mangrove forest in the city. Flamingos and herons; cool in the morning.

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

  3. Culture

    Qasr Al Hosn

    Abu Dhabi's oldest building (1795 tower) and a good introduction to the city's history. Next to the Cultural Foundation.

    ≈ 30 AED per person

  4. Food

    Al Mina Fish Market Lunch

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

    ≈ 60 AED per person
  5. 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Desert Safari Al Khatim

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

    ≈ 250 AED per person

  7. Food

    Desert Camp Dinner

    BBQ buffet, shisha, henna and tanoura dance; 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 eggs).

Day 6 · 09:00–19:00

Heritage Village & Al Bateen

  1. Culture

    Heritage Village

    Reconstructed Bedouin village with craftspeople, next to Marina Mall. Free.

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

  3. Landmark

    Etihad Towers Observation Deck at 300

    300 m up on the 74th floor; 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

    Traditional wooden dhows being built at Al Bateen harbour.

    Free

  6. Food

    Erth Restaurant

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

    ≈ 180 AED per person
  7. 2 h 45 min · travel, break, free time

  8. Nature

    Umm Al Emarat Park

    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 BeachQuiet 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; a farewell treat.

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

  4. Nature

    Jubail Mangrove Park Boardwalk

    2 km mangrove boardwalk on the road to Saadiyat, 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 BateenVilla café serving Arabic breakfast.
  • Mushrif Central ParkCity 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 are cheap with a Hafilat card. The E100 bus to Dubai takes 1.5 hours (25 AED). The airport is 30 minutes away.
  2. SUMMER is 42-45°C and humid: do NOT go out between 11:00 and 16:00. Do the mosque and mangroves from 8:00 to 10:00, the Louvre or Ferrari World (indoors) at midday and the Corniche in the evening. Check Ramadan dates.
  3. The mosque is free (registration, abaya). Louvre 63, Qasr 65, Ferrari 345, safari 250-350. Tip 10%. Alcohol only in hotels and licensed venues.
  4. Dress: shoulders and knees covered in malls and at the mosque. The mosque is closed on Friday midday and the Louvre on Monday. Ferrari World is cheaper with an online combined ticket.
  5. Turkish citizens get 90 days visa-free. Cards are accepted everywhere. The weekend is Friday and Saturday.
  6. Emirati dishes: machboos, harees, luqaimat and camel milk. Try 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 07:30. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.

Which season is this itinerary for?

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