Last updated: 28 October 2026. Entry fees, opening times and transport details checked against official sites and current reports, including the Grand Mosque’s new tourist fee.
Abu Dhabi rewards a little planning. Its best-known sights are spread across the main island, Saadiyat and Yas, and the heat decides when you can comfortably be outdoors for much of the year. This guide covers 20 places to visit in Abu Dhabi, grouped the way most trips are planned: the big landmarks first, then free sights, family days and evenings.
Prices change often here, and one long-standing freebie has gone: from 1 September 2026, tourists pay AED 10 to enter Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Fees below were checked in October 2026; confirm them on the official sites before you book.
Combining the UAE with Oman? See our guide to Oman’s 14-day visa-free entry, and check your own passport with the Visa Requirement Checker.
Table of Contents
- 10 Landmarks to See First
- Free Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi
- Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi with Family
- Abu Dhabi at Night
- Getting There, Getting Around and When to Go
- Frequently Asked Questions
10 Landmarks to See First
If it is your first visit, start here. The mosque, the Louvre and Qasr Al Watan are within a 20-minute drive of each other, while Ferrari World and Warner Bros. World are next door to each other on Yas Island.
1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The mosque is built from white Macedonian marble and has 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns and one of the largest hand-knotted carpets in the world. Go about an hour before sunset: you see the marble in daylight, then the lighting changes after dark.
- Entry: AED 10 for tourists (AED 5 with an Emirates ID) since 1 September 2026; free for worshippers, visitors over 60, children under 3 and people of determination. Guided cultural tours are free; the prayer hall tour costs AED 30.
- Booking: Buy tickets on the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre website, up to a month ahead.
- Hours: Open to tourists most days until 10 pm. On Fridays tourist visits pause around midday prayers and resume in the afternoon, so avoid Friday mornings.
- Dress: Loose clothing covering arms to the wrists and legs to the ankles; women must cover their hair.
2. Louvre Abu Dhabi
Jean Nouvel’s museum on Saadiyat Island sits under a dome made of 7,850 metal stars, which scatters light across the galleries. The collection runs from early civilisations to contemporary art and is arranged by period rather than by country, so allow two to three hours.
- Entry: AED 65 for adults; free for under-18s.
- Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 10 am to 6:30 pm, Friday to Sunday 10 am to 8:30 pm. Closed on Mondays.
3. Qasr Al Watan
This is a working presidential palace that opens to visitors. The Great Hall’s dome is the highlight, along with the library and a room of gifts given to the UAE by visiting heads of state. A light show, Palace in Motion, runs on the facade on some evenings.
- Entry: General admission is around AED 65 through official resellers; check the Qasr Al Watan website for current prices and peak-hour rules.
4. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
The red-roofed indoor park on Yas Island is home to Formula Rossa, which reaches 240 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Most other rides are tamer, and there are driving simulators and a small area for younger children.
- Entry: Online tickets usually start around AED 295 to 345 for adults, and gate prices are higher. Multi-park passes cover Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld.
5. Qasr Al Hosn
The city’s oldest stone building started in the 1760s as a watchtower guarding a freshwater well and later became the ruling family’s palace. Inside, the displays follow Abu Dhabi from pearl-diving settlement to capital. The House of Artisans next door has weaving and craft demonstrations.
- Entry: A modest ticket fee applies; check the Department of Culture and Tourism website for the current price.
6. Kai Beach and the Saadiyat Cultural District
Saadiyat’s long white beach is backed by protected dunes where hawksbill turtles nest. The former public beach is now Kai Beach, a paid beach club. It pairs well with a Louvre visit, which is a short drive away.
- Entry: Kai Beach tickets start at about AED 75 on weekdays and cost more at weekends; part of the fee is usually redeemable on food and drink.
7. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
An indoor theme park split into six areas, including Gotham City, Metropolis and Bedrock. Everything is air-conditioned, which makes it one of the easiest full-day plans with children in summer.
- Entry: Day tickets are usually priced in the AED 300s; look for multi-park passes.
8. Abu Dhabi Corniche
About 8 km of waterfront promenade with cycle paths, playgrounds and a Blue Flag beach. It faces the city skyline and is busiest after sunset, when families come out for picnics.
- Entry: The promenade and public beach sections are free; the gated family beach charges a small fee.
9. National Aquarium, Al Qana
The largest aquarium in the Middle East has around 46,000 animals across 10 zones, from local Gulf species to sand tiger sharks. Extras include a glass-bottom boat and behind-the-scenes tours.
- Entry: General entry starts at about AED 110; all-access tickets cost more.
10. Observation Deck at 300
On the 74th floor of Etihad Towers, this is the highest viewing point in the city, looking down on Emirates Palace and along the Corniche. Many visitors book afternoon tea here.
- Entry: AED 95 per person, including an AED 55 credit for food and drink on the day.
Free Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi
Plenty of good sights cost nothing, but most of them work best in the morning or after sunset from May to September.
| Place | Area | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| The Founder’s Memorial | Western Corniche | Open daily 9 am to 10 pm; free 30-minute guided tours |
| Abrahamic Family House | Saadiyat Island | Free, but visitors must book a time slot online |
| Heritage Village | Corniche Breakwater | Recreated oasis village with craft demonstrations and skyline views |
| Al Wathba Wetland Reserve | Al Wathba, on the city’s eastern edge | Free; open in the cooler months on set days only |
| Corniche public beach | Corniche | Free public sections; showers and lifeguards |
| Mina Zayed fish and date markets | Mina Zayed port | Free to walk; go early, when the fish market is busiest |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi | Saadiyat Island | Free for anyone under 18 |
11. The Founder’s Memorial
A garden memorial to Sheikh Zayed, the UAE’s founding president. Its centrepiece, The Constellation, is a portrait made from 1,327 geometric shapes hung on cables; it only reads as a face from certain angles, which is half the fun.
12. Abrahamic Family House
A mosque, a church and a synagogue share one site on Saadiyat Island. Entry and the hour-long guided tours are free, but you need to book online. Dress as you would for the Grand Mosque.
13. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve
Set up by Sheikh Zayed in 1998, the reserve shelters more than 250 bird species and around 4,000 flamingos in autumn and spring. There are two marked trails of 1.5 km and 3 km and a bird hide, but no café, so bring water. Opening days are limited, so check with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi first.
14. Heritage Village
A small open-air museum on the breakwater with a recreated oasis, a souq and workshops where you can watch pottery and weaving. Walk to the end for one of the best views back across the water to the skyline.
Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi with Family
With children, the deciding factor is usually heat. These four mix indoor days with outdoor mornings.
15. Yas Waterworld
More than 40 rides and slides themed around a pearl-diving story, including Dawwama, a six-person tornado slide. There are shallow splash areas and a lazy river for younger children.
16. Umm Al Emarat Park
One of the city’s oldest parks, with an animal barn, a children’s garden and large lawns. Entry is AED 10, and pony rides and animal feeding cost extra.
17. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
An indoor marine park on Yas Island with eight themed realms, a very large multi-species aquarium and rides such as the Manta coaster. Box-office tickets are about AED 375, so buy online or with a multi-park pass.
18. Mangrove National Park
The city’s largest mangrove area starts just off the Eastern Corniche. Walk the boardwalk, or book a guided kayak trip at high tide to see herons, crabs and, in winter, flamingos.
Abu Dhabi at Night
Evenings are when Abu Dhabi is most comfortable outdoors for much of the year. The Founder’s Memorial (until 10 pm, free) and the Grand Mosque (until 10 pm, AED 10) are both lit after dark, and the Corniche fills with walkers and cyclists.
19. Yas Bay Waterfront
A boardwalk of restaurants and bars facing the water, with views of the W hotel’s lit canopy over the Yas Marina Circuit. It is free to walk and busiest on Thursday and Friday nights.
20. Al Qana
A canal-side promenade near the National Aquarium with footbridges and restaurants. It is quieter than Yas Bay and easy with a pushchair.
Getting There, Getting Around and When to Go
- Flying in: Zayed International Airport (AUH) is the hub for Etihad Airways and is about 30 minutes from the Corniche by taxi.
- From Dubai: the E101 bus runs from Ibn Battuta to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station for about AED 25 and takes around 1.5 hours. Pay with a Dubai Nol card. Driving the E11 takes a similar time.
- Getting around: city buses use the Hafilat card. Taxis, Careem and Uber are the easiest way to reach Saadiyat and Yas Island.
- When to go: November to April, when daytime temperatures are mostly in the 20s °C. From June to September, plan outdoor sights for early morning or after dark.
- What to wear: shorts are fine on beaches and the Corniche; in malls, palaces and museums cover shoulders and knees, and fully cover up at mosques.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best free places to visit in Abu Dhabi?
The Founder’s Memorial, the Abrahamic Family House (book a free slot online), Heritage Village, the public sections of Corniche Beach and Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in the cooler months are all free. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque now charges tourists AED 10.
Is Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque still free to visit?
Not for tourists. Since 1 September 2026 tourist entry costs AED 10, or AED 5 with an Emirates ID. Worshippers, visitors over 60, children under 3 and people of determination enter free, and the guided cultural tours are still free. Book the ticket on the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre website.
Is one day enough for Abu Dhabi?
One day covers the Grand Mosque, the Louvre and a walk on the Corniche if you start early and go to the mosque in the late afternoon. Two or three days lets you add Qasr Al Watan, a Yas Island theme park and a beach or mangrove morning.
Where should families stay in Abu Dhabi?
Yas Island puts you next to Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld and Yas Waterworld. The Corniche area is better for parks, beaches and the older city sights, and it is closer to the mosque and Qasr Al Watan.
What can you do in Abu Dhabi in summer?
From June to September daytime highs are often above 40°C, so plan days around air-conditioned places: the Louvre, Qasr Al Watan, the theme parks on Yas Island and the National Aquarium. Leave the Corniche, Yas Bay and Al Qana for after sunset.
How do you get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus?
Take the E101 from Ibn Battuta bus station in Dubai to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. The fare is about AED 25 each way and the trip takes around 1.5 hours. Pay with a Dubai Nol card; Abu Dhabi’s Hafilat card does not work on this route.