Last updated: 28 October 2026. Entry fees and opening details checked against official sites and current reports.
Sharjah sits right next to Dubai but feels very different: older, quieter and built around museums, markets and family parks rather than malls and nightlife. Most museums cost AED 10 or less, and many of the best places to visit in Sharjah are free. This guide lists 20 of them, from the restored old town to the waterfront fountain and the east coast at Khorfakkan.
Table of Contents
- Best Places to Visit in Sharjah: Museums and Old Town
- Places to Visit in Sharjah for Free
- Free Places to Visit in Sharjah with Family
- Places to Visit in Sharjah with Kids
- Sharjah at Night
- Further Afield: Mosques, Desert and Wetlands
- Getting There and Practical Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Places to Visit in Sharjah: Museums and Old Town
Start in the old town by the creek. The four places below are within a 15-minute walk of each other.
1. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Housed in a former souq on the Corniche, the museum covers Islamic science, art and faith through manuscripts, astrolabes, ceramics and textiles. Look up in the central hall: the dome is decorated with a zodiac mosaic. Allow about two hours. Opening times and temporary exhibitions are listed on the Sharjah Museums Authority website.
- Entry: AED 10 adults, AED 5 children aged 2 to 12, free for under-2s and over-60s.
- Hours: 8 am to 8 pm Saturday to Thursday; 4 pm to 8 pm on Friday.
2. Rain Room
An installation by Random International where rain falls across a dark room but stops wherever you stand, thanks to motion sensors. Visits last about 15 minutes, so combine it with the Art Foundation’s other spaces in Al Shuwaiheen.
- Entry: AED 25 adults, AED 15 students, free for under-5s.
- Booking: time slots fill up at weekends; book on the Rain Room site.
3. Sharjah Art Museum
The largest art museum in the Gulf has a permanent collection of 18th and 19th-century paintings of the Arab world alongside changing modern and contemporary exhibitions. Entry is free, which makes it an easy stop between the souqs. Current shows are on the Sharjah Art Museum site.
4. Heart of Sharjah
The restored old quarter between the creek and Al Arsah, with coral-stone houses, wind towers and small museums such as Bait Al Naboodah, a merchant’s house from the 1840s. Walking the lanes is free; the small museums charge a few dirhams. Maps and events are on Visit Sharjah.
Places to Visit in Sharjah for Free
These cost nothing to enter. Visit outdoor ones after 4 pm from May to September, when daytime highs pass 40°C.
| Place | Area | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Al Majaz Waterfront | Khalid Lagoon | Lakeside lawns, playgrounds and the evening fountain show |
| Souk Al Arsah | Heart of Sharjah | Covered old souq with antiques, spices and a small café |
| Al Khan Beach | Al Khan | Public beach facing the Dubai skyline |
| Sharjah Art Museum | Al Shuwaiheen | Free permanent collection; some special exhibitions charge |
| Al Qasba | Between Khalid and Al Khan lagoons | Canal walk with cafés and the Eye of the Emirates wheel (ticketed) |
| Khorfakkan waterfall and amphitheatre | Khorfakkan, east coast | Free to see; about 1.5 hours’ drive from Sharjah city |
5. Al Majaz Waterfront
A landscaped park running along Khalid Lagoon, with lawns, a splash pad and restaurants facing the water. Locals come out after sunset, when the musical fountain starts. Al Noor Island sits just across the water, but note that the island itself charges entry.
6. Souk Al Arsah
One of the oldest souqs in the UAE, rebuilt in its traditional style with coral walls, palm-frond ceilings and carved doors. It is small and calm compared with Dubai’s souqs, so it is a good place to browse for spices, khanjar daggers and old coffee pots without pressure.
7. Al Khan Beach
A public beach at the Dubai end of the city, with views across the water to Dubai’s skyline. Facilities are basic, so bring shade and water. Families should note that Sharjah expects modest swimwear on public beaches.
Free Places to Visit in Sharjah with Family
8. Al Montazah Park grounds
The water park and rides at Al Montazah are ticketed, but the lawns and lagoon-side paths around them are open for picnics and walks, which makes it an easy half day with small children.
9. Sharjah National Park
A large park on the Al Dhaid road with lawns, play areas, barbecue spots and a cycling track. It charges a small entry fee per person; check the current amount at the gate.
10. Khorfakkan Beach and Corniche
Sharjah’s east-coast town sits between the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman, about an hour and a half by car through a mountain highway with long tunnels. The palm-lined corniche, playgrounds and clear water make it a full-day trip; pair it with the waterfall below.
Places to Visit in Sharjah with Kids
11. Sharjah Science Museum
Hands-on exhibits on physics, space and the human body, with a planetarium and live science shows. Best for children aged about 4 to 12.
- Entry: AED 10 for ages 13 and over, AED 5 for ages 2 to 12.
12. Sharjah Aquarium and Maritime Museum
The aquarium at Al Khan shows marine life from the Gulf, from reef sharks and rays to seahorses, through tunnels and touch pools. The ticket also covers the Maritime Museum next door, with old dhows and pearl-diving gear.
- Entry: AED 25 for ages 13 and over, AED 15 for ages 2 to 12.
13. Arabia’s Wildlife Centre
An indoor zoo in the Sharjah Desert Park, about 25 minutes from the city, with Arabian leopards, oryx, hyenas, reptiles and a large indoor aviary seen through glass. Children under 12 have traditionally entered free; fees have changed recently, so check before you go.
Sharjah at Night
Evenings are when Sharjah’s waterfronts come into their own.
14. Al Majaz Musical Fountain
The fountain stretches about 220 metres across Khalid Lagoon and shoots water up to 100 metres, set to music and lights. Shows are free and run roughly every half hour from early evening until about midnight; check the schedule at the piazza on the day.
15. Al Qasba
A short canal lined with cafés, restaurants and footbridges, with the Eye of the Emirates observation wheel at one end. Walking it is free and pleasant on winter evenings.
16. Khorfakkan Waterfall and Amphitheatre
A 45-metre artificial waterfall on the mountainside above Khorfakkan, next to a 3,500-seat amphitheatre built in a Roman style. Both are lit at night and free to visit, which makes them a good end to an east-coast day.
Further Afield: Mosques, Desert and Wetlands
17. Al Noor Mosque
Modelled on Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Al Noor Mosque on Khalid Lagoon is the one mosque in Sharjah with regular tours for non-Muslims. Free guided tours, run by the Sharjah Centre for Cultural Communication, have traditionally taken place on Monday mornings at 10 am; confirm before going. Abayas are provided for women.
18. Mleiha Archaeological Centre
In the desert about an hour inland, Mleiha has Bronze Age and Iron Age tombs, a museum and Fossil Rock. Guided hikes, dune drives and stargazing evenings are booked through the centre.
19. Wasit Wetland Centre
A bird reserve on reclaimed marshland with indoor viewing galleries looking out on flamingos, herons and migrating waders. It is quietest early in the morning.
20. Souk Al Jubail
Sharjah’s main fish, meat, fruit and vegetable market, in a large building by the Al Jubail bus station. Go in the morning to see the fish hall at its busiest.
Getting There and Practical Tips
- From Dubai: bus E303 runs from Union station in Dubai to Al Jubail in Sharjah for about AED 12 with a Nol card. Rush-hour traffic in both directions is heavy, so travel mid-morning or after 8 pm if you can.
- Getting around: Mowasalat runs city buses, and taxis and Careem are easy to find. You will need a car or taxi for Mleiha, the Desert Park and Khorfakkan.
- Dress: Sharjah has a decency code. Cover shoulders and knees in public places, including malls and markets, and avoid tight or see-through clothing.
- No alcohol: Sharjah is dry, including hotels and restaurants.
- Entry rules: check your passport’s UAE visa rules with our Visa Requirement Checker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best free places to visit in Sharjah?
Al Majaz Waterfront and its musical fountain, Al Qasba canal, Souk Al Arsah in the Heart of Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum, Al Khan Beach and, on the east coast, the Khorfakkan waterfall and corniche.
Is Al Noor Island free?
No. Al Noor Island charges entry, about AED 35 for adults and AED 20 for children, with more for the Butterfly House. The lagoon promenade around it at Al Majaz is free.
What can you do in Sharjah at night?
Watch the free musical fountain show at Al Majaz, which runs every half hour or so in the evening, walk Al Qasba canal, or go to Al Noor Island, which is lit up after dark (ticketed).
Is Sharjah good for a family trip?
Yes. Many of the parks and waterfronts are free, the museums charge AED 10 or less for adults and AED 5 for children, and the Aquarium, Science Museum and Arabia’s Wildlife Centre are all indoors, which helps in summer.
How do I get from Dubai to Sharjah by bus?
The E303 runs from Union bus station in Dubai to Al Jubail bus station in Sharjah. It costs about AED 12 each way, paid with a Nol card. Traffic between the two cities can double the journey time at rush hour.