United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi
The capital's grand mosque, cultural district and corniche. Stay 2 nights. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- August
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- March
4 See · 2 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta
from our route notes
39°C / 101°F avg high
22°C / 72°F avg high
about 13 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Abu Dhabi
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
4 sights worth building a day around across Saadiyat Island, Al Ras Al Akhdar and Al Hosn.
Photo: SALIL SOLKAR · GoogleSeeSheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
White marble mosque with 82 domes, a vast hand-knotted carpet and reflective pools.
Tip Book a free time slot online; closed to tourists Friday mornings.
Photo: M BOZAYED · GoogleSeeLouvre Abu Dhabi
Jean Nouvel's domed museum on Saadiyat Island, spanning world art from antiquity to now.
Tip Watch the 'rain of light' under the dome at midday.
Photo: Qasr Al Watan · GoogleSeeQasr Al Watan
Working presidential palace open to visitors, with a domed Great Hall and library.
Tip Stay for the evening light show on the facade.
Photo: Majid M (MBA) · Google
Do
2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Eastern Mangroves and Yas Island.
Photo: Chanel Van Der Westhuizen · GoogleDoMangrove National Park kayaking
Guided kayak tours through channels of protected mangroves near Eastern Mangroves.
Tip Go at high tide; operators set times accordingly.
Photo: Mohamed Fayaz Khan · GoogleDoFerrari World Abu Dhabi
Indoor theme park on Yas Island home to Formula Rossa, one of the fastest roller coasters.
Outdoors
1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Saadiyat Island.
Photo: Roman Radakovics · GoogleOutdoorsSaadiyat Public Beach
Long white-sand beach with calm water, where hawksbill turtles nest in season.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Abu Dhabi across Mina Zayed and Corniche.
Photo: Tony Lampa · GoogleEatAl Mina Fish Market
Port market where you pick fresh fish and have it grilled or fried at nearby stalls.
Photo: Li Beirut · Google
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Abu Dhabi in Corniche.
Photo: Observation Deck at 300 · GoogleDrinkObservation Deck at 300
Café on level 74 of Etihad Towers known for afternoon tea and Gulf views.
How to fit Abu Dhabi into a trip
Abu Dhabi is stop 2 of 3 on our Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta route. Follow it as-is or lift Abu Dhabi into your own plan.
Stop 2 of 3
Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta
Skyline, souks, grand mosques and mountain dams
- Trip length
- 7 days
- Best season
- Nov – Mar
- Pace
- easy
Getting here and onward
- Dubai to Abu DhabiDubai is about 123 km / 76 mi away in a straight line
- Abu Dhabi to HattaHatta is about 181 km / 113 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Abu Dhabi month by month
Average daily highs run from 22°C / 72°F in January to 39°C / 101°F in August. March is the wettest month, with about 13 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan22° / 72°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb23° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar26° / 79°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr30° / 87°F average high
- May35° / 94°F average high
- Jun36° / 98°F average high
- Jul38° / 101°F average high
- Aug39° / 101°F average high
- Sep37° / 98°F average high
- Oct34° / 92°F average high
- Nov29° / 84°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec25° / 76°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Abu Dhabi weather and the best time to visit →
Near Abu Dhabi
2 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.
Abu Dhabi questions, answered
How many days do you need in Abu Dhabi?
Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Abu Dhabi. On our Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 23 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Abu Dhabi best known for?
The capital's grand mosque, cultural district and corniche. Stay 2 nights. Standouts on our list: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (White marble mosque with 82 domes, a vast hand-knotted carpet and reflective pools); Louvre Abu Dhabi (Jean Nouvel's domed museum on Saadiyat Island, spanning world art from antiquity to now); Qasr Al Watan (Working presidential palace open to visitors, with a domed Great Hall and library).
When is the best time to visit Abu Dhabi?
Our Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta route is best Nov – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (39°C / 101°F), the coolest in January (22°C / 72°F) and the most rain in March (about 13 mm).
What are the best things to do in Abu Dhabi?
Start with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, Qasr Al Hosn and Mangrove National Park kayaking. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 2 activities, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Abu Dhabi?
Our picks: Al Mina Fish Market (Mina Zayed); Li Beirut (Corniche).
What is near Abu Dhabi?
The closest destinations in our guides are Dubai (about 123 km / 76 mi) and Hatta (about 181 km / 113 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Abu Dhabi with your crew
Open the Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.