Updated April 19, 2026 櫻桃與魚 Abu Dhabi Dubai Guide

Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates, taking up about 87% of the country's total landmass! It's currently the second most densely populated of the seven emirates, right after Dubai~ Located just south of Dubai, it only takes about 1.5 to 2 hours each way by car. Even if you're basing your stay in Dubai, it's incredibly easy to do a spectacular day trip to Abu Dhabi!

Image from the internet

Abu Dhabi Travel Information

We've marked the most famous Abu Dhabi attractions and the main bus terminal on the map below so you can get a good feel for where everything is located:

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Etihad Towers (with Observation Deck)
Emirates Palace
Ferrari World
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal

Since we were only doing a day trip, there was no way we could fit all the attractions in. Plus, Cherry's ultimate fate at theme parks is usually just being the designated bag watcher for everyone else, so we automatically skipped Ferrari World! We decided to focus only on the first three attractions. We highly recommend visiting them in this exact order (we'll explain why later): Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ; Etihad Towers ; Emirates Palace.

1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / جامع الشيخ زايد الكبير

Image from the internet

If you can only choose one spot to visit in Abu Dhabi, it absolutely has to be the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque! It cost a staggering $5.5 billion to build and used 46 tons of gold alone! The mosque features 82 domes and four minarets that tower 107 meters high. The courtyard's gleaming, reflective white marble floor, adorned with gorgeous floral motifs, is just unbelievably spectacular. The courtyard alone covers about 17,000 square meters and is hailed as the largest marble mosaic piece in the world!

The pillars along the corridors match the courtyard floor's style, completely covered in intricate, colorful floral carvings 🌷🌹🌺 Image from the internet

Paired with a pristine white base and elegant gold accents, it looks incredibly luxurious yet graceful!

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Opening Hours
Saturday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday: 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
(Fridays open late at 4:30 PM due to Muslim prayers; visiting on Fridays is not recommended)

Address
Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed St - Abu Dhabi

The entrance to the Grand Mosque is actually inside the glass dome you see in the picture above. We originally thought we could just walk straight in (which locals and worshippers can do). But we, along with a few other tourists ahead of us, were quickly stopped by security and directed toward the glass dome. As a result, we ended up walking back and forth under the blazing sun for an extra 20 minutes~ so dizzying! 😵

Right at the entrance, there are huge signs explaining the Grand Mosque's dress code. Women must be covered from head to toe—hair, wrists, and ankles need to be completely hidden, and your clothes cannot be tight or transparent. Men can wear short-sleeve shirts and long pants (no sleeveless tops or shorts allowed). In the past, if a woman's outfit didn't meet the requirements, she could borrow a traditional cloak (Abaya) for free. But unfortunately, they no longer provide cloak rentals. If your clothes don't pass the check, you'll have to head to the nearby Souq Al Jami mall to buy or rent an Abaya to enter. Buying one starts at about 40 to 50 AED. To save both time and money, we strongly recommend preparing an appropriate outfit in advance!

First, we had to line up here (see picture above) to fill out our details. Thankfully, the line moved fairly quickly, and we only waited about half an hour.

It was truly a sea of people! We had to fill out a form that looked somewhat like a questionnaire. Only after filling it out could we head to the other side for security (remember, security checks are separated by gender!). In total, we probably spent an hour just lining up~ After passing security, you still have to walk through quite a long underground passage. Once you finally come up, you've reached the Grand Mosque. But the moment we saw this magnificent sight, all the agonizing waiting felt absolutely worth it!!!!!

Image from the internet

Next, you'll see the main entrance. Even the doors are incredibly intricate, deeply infused with stunning Arabian flair. Image from the internet

To the right of the archway in the photo above, there's a sign showing the time for the next guided tour. We highly recommend joining a tour if you have the chance! We arrived a bit after 1:00 PM and thought waiting until 3:00 PM was too late, so we skipped it… But guess what? We went completely crazy taking photos and ended up staying until almost 4:00 PM anyway! We totally forgot about the tour, so missing out on that was a tiny bit of a regret for us~ Also to the right of the same archway, there's a corridor that was cordoned off when we were there, with a security guard keeping watch. If you're a woman and need to use the restroom, just let the guard know, and he'll let you through! Take the escalator down at the very end of the hall, and you're there.

We seriously highly recommend checking out the restroom just to experience the sheer luxury! There are multiple "No Photography" signs standing inside the women's restroom. I'm guessing it's because tourists love taking photos too much! Plus, many local women take off their veils to touch up their makeup inside, so naturally, they wouldn't want to be photographed. Interestingly, Kevin mentioned there were no such signs in the men's restroom (which is at the end of the left corridor after entering the main gate).

The photo below shows the foot-washing area in the men's restroom (the women's side has an identical one). Isn't it unbelievably grand?! Since the direction toward the women's restroom was cordoned off, the corridor had very few people.

Next, we made our way to see the massive Swarovski crystal chandeliers! Along the way, we passed this gorgeous chandelier perfectly framed by intricately carved backgrounds and vibrant Arabian stained-glass doors. It was just breathtaking! Every single detail of this mosque is crafted to absolute perfection. The marble floors are so polished they practically glow, reflecting everything crystal clear.

Then we entered the main prayer hall—and there it was, the grand chandelier itself!!! It is seriously spectacular!!! On a side note, looking at the time, we "strongly suspect" that the group of people in the bottom right corner of the picture above were on that free guided tour! All of us regular tourists were blocked outside, while only they were allowed in~ We were so jealous! 😆 Aside from the magnificent lighting, word is that this carpet spans 5,627 square meters, making it the largest carpet in the world! It took 1,200 to 1,300 artisans two whole years to complete, and the entire thing weighs 35 tons!! The primary material is wool imported from New Zealand. It's almost impossible to imagine what 35 tons of wool actually looks like!

I originally thought there was only one of these insanely luxurious chandeliers, but… around the next corner…

THERE. WAS. AN. ENTIRE. ROW. OF. THEM!!! 😱😱😱

The Arabian-style architecture and painted carvings are deeply lavish, yet they never lose their unique, elegant charm. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque truly opened our eyes in the best way possible. If you ever visit Abu Dhabi, you absolutely cannot miss this!

2. Etihad Towers

Etihad Towers is actually a complex of five buildings (the five towers on the left in the photo above). The reason we recommend putting Etihad Towers second on your itinerary is that Tower 2 features an Observation Deck on the 74th floor. From 300 meters up, you can take in a panoramic view of the Abu Dhabi cityscape! Because Abu Dhabi doesn't have quite as many towering skyscrapers as Dubai, this observation deck is definitely best enjoyed during the day. They also have a lovely spot for afternoon tea~ Our ideal plan was to explore the Grand Mosque, come here for a relaxing cup of tea, grab a bite to eat, and then continue our adventures! But because we lost track of time at the Grand Mosque and stayed way too late… and because we were starving, we ended up rushing to Emirates Palace to eat first (Pro tip: you make bad decisions when you're incredibly hangry 😭). By the time we finally made it to Etihad Towers, it was completely dark…

◆ Opening Hours: Daily 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM | Map Link
◆ Tickets: Official Site | Check Klook Prices | Included in Attractions Pass
◆ Official Website: www.etihadtowers.ae

When we finally dragged ourselves to the entrance of the Observation Deck, the ticket lady hit us with the bad news: it was already closed for the day… Talk about a bolt from the blue!!!

But hey, that's just how travel goes sometimes. You learn from experience, and we hope that by sharing our little mishap here on the blog, you'll be able to create an even better, memory-filled trip of your own!

Signature Mocktail: Etihad Sparkler
Silver Moon Tea
Brothers Club Tea

The afternoon tea is priced at 250 AED per person. Even though we didn't actually get to experience it ourselves… since we already did the research, we figured we'd still share it! The drinks listed above are what other travelers highly recommend.

3. Emirates Palace

Emirates Palace is right across the street from Etihad Towers, so you can easily just walk over. As you're crossing the street, you'll spot this incredibly majestic gate on your left. Google Maps says it's the "UAE Presidential Palace" behind it. We're not entirely sure what its actual everyday purpose is, but one thing is for sure: tourists are definitely not allowed in!

Even from the outside, it looks super imposing!

We actually highly recommend stopping outside Emirates Palace right around sunset! Taking photos of the illuminated palace against the colorful, glowing sky is stunning!

The faintly lit Etihad Towers paired with flags fluttering in the wind offers a completely different, yet beautiful, vibe.

The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but alas, twilight is fleeting—this saying is so true! It felt like the sky went pitch black in just a matter of minutes.

Since we made it all the way to Emirates Palace, how could we not step inside to marvel at this literal 8-star hotel built with 30 tons of gold? There are actually a lot of conflicting rumors online saying you absolutely must have a restaurant reservation to enter the grounds. However, when we arrived by taxi that day, the security guard rolled down our window, took one look at us, and let us right through without asking for a reservation code! Maybe we just looked exactly like eager tourists ready to spend money? (For context, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai is incredibly strict! You cannot get in without a reservation code. Check out our further reading for details on that.)

It really is sparkling with gold everywhere you look!

Honestly, we actually did have a 1:30 PM "lunch" reservation at Le Cafe inside the palace. We were just a full 3 hours late! 😆 I have no idea why Cherry thought that, with our famously "relaxed" (read: lazy) travel style—where we rarely leave our hotel before 9:00 AM at the earliest—we could somehow make it to the palace by 1:30 PM?! (Facepalm) But despite being 3 hours late, since we had a reservation on the books, the staff still graciously seated us at our reserved table!!

Truly living up to its limitless luxury, even the cutlery at Emirates Palace is gorgeously engraved!!

Le Cafe is famous for its dishes sprinkled with real gold flakes. We happily ordered the camel burger and the gold-flake soft serve. Then Kevin casually mentioned from the side, "You just rode a camel yesterday, and now you're here eating one…" Thanks to that, I lost my appetite instantly! 😆 … If you're not adventurous enough to try camel meat, don't worry! You can always opt for a gold-dusted coffee or the gold-flake soft serve instead! Our karma really caught up to us that day… We heard that just as the kitchen was preparing our gold-flake soft serve, the ice cream machine suddenly broke down!! So, with absolute despair, we were forced to cancel the order…

📌 September 2024 Update: Le Cafe has now permanently closed. However, there is another restaurant inside Emirates Palace called Episodes, which is highly renowned for its gold-flake cappuccino. You can check out their menu and booking details below:
◆ Episodes Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
◆ Episodes Online Menu: Full Menu | Gold-flake Cappuccino Menu | Official Booking

Unique Architecture in Abu Dhabi

For those of you who naturally drift into a daydream state during car rides, just like Cherry does—pay attention! Abu Dhabi has some seriously unique buildings that you might pass by on the road. Remember to snap out of your daze so you don't accidentally miss them as you drive by!

★ Al Bahr Towers (Pineapple Towers)

You can spot these on the left side of your bus about 10 minutes before arriving in Abu Dhabi from Dubai! We also drove past them in a taxi heading from the Abu Dhabi main bus terminal to the Grand Mosque. When driving from the Grand Mosque toward Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers, you can see them on the right side of the road.

★ The Giant Boot: Andaz Capital Gate Hotel

This building that looks exactly like a giant boot is incredibly unique. We looked it up and discovered it's actually a hotel! We spotted it on the right side of our taxi ride from the Grand Mosque heading toward Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers.

Other Recommended Attractions

★ Ferrari World

If we hadn't run out of time, even though we're too scared for the rides, we would have definitely loved to pop by the world's only Ferrari theme park just to snap a quick "we were here" photo! Image from the internet

★ Louvre Abu Dhabi

If you're a fan of stunning, unique architecture, you absolutely cannot miss this distinctively designed Louvre museum! Image from the internet

That wraps up our Abu Dhabi day trip guide! Cherry has also put together a list of 12 must-visit Abu Dhabi attractions with more detailed introductions, as well as a comprehensive Abu Dhabi transport and itinerary guide. If you're planning a trip, definitely go check it out!

More Abu Dhabi Travel Guides

★ 【Abu Dhabi Itinerary Guide】15 Must-Visit Attractions ★ Includes Maps, Transport & Itineraries
★ 【Abu Dhabi】Dubai to Abu Dhabi Transport Guide ☆ A Must-Read for Your Dubai Trip

Abu Dhabi Travel Information

Dubai Travel Information

★ 【Transport】 Dubai Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus
★ 【Combo Tickets】 Dubai Explorer Pass
★ 【SIM Cards】 UAE 5G eSIM
★ 【Observation Decks】 Burj Khalifa | Dubai Frame | The View At The Palm | Sky Views
★ 【Theme Parks】 Legoland Dubai | Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
★ 【Desert Experiences】 Morning Desert Safari | Evening Desert Safari | Camel Trekking | Hot Air Balloon
★ 【Abu Dhabi】 Day Tour | Itinerary Guide
★ 【Dubai Guide】 Itinerary Guide | Neighborhood Hotel Guide | Top Attractions Ranking

For more must-visit Dubai spots and essential travel info, check out 👉🏻 【Dubai Itinerary】30 Attractions Map, Transport, Accommodation, Itinerary, & Visas | The Ultimate Guide

Other Travel Guides

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Top Must-Visit Attractions for Your Abu Dhabi Itinerary ☆ Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque + Emirates Palace + Etihad Towers

United Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Travel Information

1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / جامع الشيخ زايد الكبير

2. Etihad Towers

3. Emirates Palace