Erth Restaurant
Top pickModern Emirati
A Michelin-recognised Emirati restaurant in Al Hosn, Erth gives visitors a polished way into local flavour without losing the warmth of heritage cooking.
Best Things To Do
Abu Dhabi’s strongest days combine one major landmark with a slower second experience: mosque and palace, museum and beach, Yas park and marina, or mangroves and dinner.
Showing 1–24 of 28 places
City guide section
Top picks in Abu Dhabi
Showing 1–24 of 28 places
Browse the highlights below, then open any place for maps, area notes, and practical details.
Section guidance
Do not treat Abu Dhabi as a checklist of isolated icons. The city is at its best when the pace breathes: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with Wahat Al Karama, Louvre Abu Dhabi with Saadiyat Beach, Qasr Al Hosn with the Cultural Foundation, or Yas theme parks with an easy dinner on the island.
The capital’s appeal is deliberate rather than frantic. Architecture, Emirati heritage, island leisure, family attractions and desert-edge nature all sit within reach, but the quality comes from giving each zone enough time.
First-time visitors should prioritize Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan or Qasr Al Hosn, the Corniche and one island experience. Repeat visitors can go deeper into Al Ain, mangroves, Al Wathba, local restaurants and seasonal events.
Grand Mosque and Eastern Corridor
Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Top pick
Mosque and landmark
Abu Dhabi's defining mosque deserves more than a quick photo stop: visit for Sheikh Zayed's national legacy, contemporary Islamic architecture, prayer relevance and the way the marble complex changes from daylight to evening.
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Top pick
Museum
A museum worth planning around, not just passing through: Louvre Abu Dhabi combines Jean Nouvel's shaded dome, a global collection and Saadiyat's cultural ambition into one of the capital's most rewarding indoor stops.
Al Ras Al Akhdar / Corniche West
Abu Dhabi
Qasr Al Watan
Top pick
Palace and cultural landmark
A palace visit with real trip value: Qasr Al Watan turns UAE governance, craftsmanship and national identity into a polished cultural stop beside the Corniche.
Corniche and Central Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Qasr Al Hosn
Top pick
Historic fort and museum
Abu Dhabi's historic heart, Qasr Al Hosn is the clearest place to understand the city before towers and oil: fort, craft, coffee culture and urban memory in one walkable block.
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi
Zayed National Museum
Top pick
National museum
A major Saadiyat museum dedicated to the UAE’s story, Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and the deeper historical layers of the Emirates.
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
Top pick
Natural history museum
A Saadiyat museum built around Earth’s long story, from cosmic origins and dinosaurs to Abu Dhabi’s own prehistoric landscapes.
Corniche and Central Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Corniche
Top pick
Waterfront promenade and beach
The capital's classic waterfront gives visitors an easy Abu Dhabi rhythm: beach gates, family zones, skyline views, cycling and sunset walks without needing a complicated plan.
Corniche and Central Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
House of Artisans
Recommended
Craft and heritage centre
A compact, meaningful craft stop beside Qasr Al Hosn, focused on Emirati making traditions rather than souvenir-only heritage.
Corniche and Central Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Cultural Foundation
Recommended
Arts and culture centre
A central arts landmark beside Qasr Al Hosn, best for exhibitions, performances, workshops and a calmer local cultural rhythm.
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi
Manarat Al Saadiyat
Recommended
Art and culture centre
Saadiyat’s community art hub, useful for exhibitions, talks, workshops and understanding the island beyond its headline museums.
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi
teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi
Recommended
Immersive digital art museum
An immersive digital-art museum on Saadiyat where light, movement, water and visitor interaction shape the experience.
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi
Abrahamic Family House
Recommended
Interfaith cultural and worship complex
A Saadiyat interfaith complex with a mosque, church and synagogue, best approached as a place of learning, worship etiquette and quiet reflection.
Grand Mosque and Eastern Corridor
Abu Dhabi
Wahat Al Karama
Recommended
National memorial
A solemn national memorial opposite Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, best visited for reflection and one of the city’s strongest mosque views.
Corniche and Central Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
The Founder’s Memorial
Recommended
Memorial and public landmark
A contemplative Corniche-side tribute to Sheikh Zayed, anchored by The Constellation artwork and landscaped public space.
Corniche and Central Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Heritage Village
Recommended
Heritage attraction
A family-friendly heritage reconstruction near the Corniche Breakwater, useful for a simple look at pre-modern Emirati life and crafts.
Corniche and Central Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Observation Deck at 300
Recommended
Observation deck
A high-floor Etihad Towers viewpoint for Corniche, palace and Gulf views, best treated as a relaxed café-and-skyline stop.
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi
Saadiyat Beach
Recommended
Beach
A wide white-sand Saadiyat shore where Abu Dhabi feels more natural and resort-like, with turtle-protection rules shaping the setting.
Between Saadiyat Island and Yas Island
Abu Dhabi
Jubail Mangrove Park
Recommended
Mangrove park and boardwalk
A calm boardwalk-and-kayak nature stop between Saadiyat and Yas, Jubail Mangrove Park lets visitors see Abu Dhabi's mangroves without turning the day into a long wilderness trip.
Al Reem / Eastern Mangroves corridor
Abu Dhabi
Mangrove National Park
Recommended
Protected mangrove reserve
A protected mangrove landscape near the city, best experienced by kayak, paddleboard or carefully managed eco-operator tours.
Al Wathba
Abu Dhabi
Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve
Recommended
Protected natural wonder
A desert geology stop east of the city, with sculptural fossil dunes, walking trails and a very different Abu Dhabi landscape.
Al Wathba
Abu Dhabi
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve
Recommended
Wetland reserve
A protected wetland known for flamingos, birdwatching hides and walking trails, especially rewarding outside peak summer heat.
Yas Island
Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina Circuit
Recommended
Motorsport circuit
Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 home on Yas Island, worth visiting for motorsport events, track experiences and the island’s high-energy contrast to the city core.
Yas Island
Abu Dhabi
Yas Bay Waterfront
Recommended
Waterfront dining and entertainment district
Yas Island’s evening waterfront district, useful for dining, concerts, arena events and a more energetic night out than central Abu Dhabi.
Hudayriyat and Beach Leisure Corridor
Abu Dhabi
Hudayriyat Island
Recommended
Island leisure and sports district
Abu Dhabi’s outdoor sports-and-beach playground, with cycling, beach areas, activity zones and a more local weekend feel.
Keep exploring Abu Dhabi
More restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Keep exploring Abu Dhabi and add more stops to your plan.
More hotels in Abu Dhabi
Keep exploring Abu Dhabi and add more stops to your plan.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi
Top pickLuxury Hotels
Abu Dhabi's palace hotel is a destination in its own right: choose it for ceremony, family beach time, grand public spaces and easy access to Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche and Emirates Palace dining.
Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
Top pickLuxury Hotels
A polished Corniche-west base with skyline views, beach access, Observation Deck at 300 and enough dining on site to suit travelers who want luxury without losing city access.
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi
Top pickLuxury Hotels
A classic Corniche luxury stay with private beach-club access, polished service and strong family convenience near the western waterfront landmarks.
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
Top pickLuxury Hotels
A high-end Saadiyat beach resort for travelers who want white sand, cultural-district access and a calmer Abu Dhabi rhythm.
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas
Top pickLuxury Hotels
A composed Saadiyat Island beach resort with villas, pools and easy access to the cultural district, best for travelers who want quiet luxury rather than spectacle.
Saadiyat IslandJumeirah Saadiyat Island
Top pickLuxury Hotels
A polished Saadiyat beach resort for families and couples who want a contemporary, Gulf-facing stay with a strong resort rhythm.
W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island
Top pickLuxury Hotels
A landmark Yas Island hotel built around the Yas Marina Circuit experience, best for F1 energy, nightlife, events and theme-park access.
Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island
Top pickExpensive Hotels
A practical Yas Bay waterfront hotel for families, arena visitors and theme-park trips, with easy access to Etihad Arena and Yas attractions.
The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton
Top pickThemed family hotel
A themed Yas Island hotel beside Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, ideal for families who want the easiest theme-park logistics.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
Top pickLuxury Hotels
A destination desert resort in the Liwa region for travelers who want Abu Dhabi beyond the city: dunes, stillness, villas and a full Empty Quarter escape.
More shopping spots in Abu Dhabi
Keep exploring Abu Dhabi and add more stops to your plan.
Yas IslandYas Mall
Top pickshopping mall
Yas Mall is the practical indoor anchor of Yas Island: shopping, food, prayer planning, KidZania, cinema and theme-park adjacency in one air-conditioned base.
The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Top pickshopping mall
The Galleria is Abu Dhabi's polished Al Maryah Island mall, useful for luxury shopping, waterfront dining and a quieter high-end break between Corniche, business district and hotel plans.
Abu Dhabi Mall
Top pickshopping mall
A central, practical shopping mall with strong everyday retail, dining, and family appeal in the Tourist Club area, useful for visitors staying in the city core.
Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre
Top pickshopping mall and gold centre
A classic Abu Dhabi shopping stop with more than 400 shops and a useful gold-centre next door, best for travellers who want breadth, value, and a more traditional retail feel.
The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri
Top picksouk
A contemporary souk with canals, abra rides, and strong views toward the Grand Canal and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, best for travellers who want atmosphere with their shopping.
Marina Mall
Recommendedshopping mall
A landmark mall near the Corniche and Breakwater, useful when you want shopping, a meal, and a familiar Abu Dhabi waterfront setting in one stop.
Al Wahda Mall
Recommendedshopping mall
A large, polished inner-city mall with strong everyday shopping, dining, and family entertainment, especially useful for people based near Hazza Bin Zayed Street.
Mushrif Mall
Recommendedshopping mall
A spacious neighbourhood mall with strong everyday retail and a useful fresh-food market, ideal for travellers staying in central Abu Dhabi and families buying practical items.
Reem Mall
Recommendedshopping mall
A newer retail giant on Al Reem Island, with a strong family angle, big-brand shopping, and the kind of scale that makes it a practical modern Abu Dhabi stop.
World Trade Center Mall and Souk
Recommendedshopping mall and souk
A smart hybrid of mall convenience and traditional souk atmosphere, useful if you want one shopping stop that feels more characterful than the city’s standard malls.