Day 1: the old city and the water
Start at Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest building in the city, for the guided tour and the House of Artisans, then walk to the Corniche for lunch by the water. In the afternoon, hire a bike or walk a stretch of the promenade. Time your visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for late afternoon so you see it in daylight and as the lights come on; read the visitor guide for the dress code and visiting times.
Day 2: Saadiyat
Take the morning at Louvre Abu Dhabi and a long lunch on the island. In the afternoon, choose one: the beach, Zayed National Museum or, in the evening, teamLab Phenomena. From 11 December the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi joins the district, and it is worth leaving a half-day for it on a later trip rather than rushing it into this one.
Day 3: Yas Island, or the desert
If you travel with children, spend the day on Yas Island, one park, not two. If you do not, drive out of the city in the afternoon: Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba is open from 30 October to 14 March, with the best hours between 4pm and the fountain show after dark. For something quieter, a private evening at a desert camp is about 50 minutes from the city, with dinner under the stars.
Adjusting for the calendar
Race week (3 to 6 December) fills hotels and clogs Yas Island; do Saadiyat and the city and avoid Yas unless you are at the track. National Day (2 and 3 December) adds fireworks and crowds on the Corniche. Frieze Abu Dhabi (19 to 22 November) fills Saadiyat. Book hotels first.
Coming from Dubai? The new Etihad Rail passenger service takes about an hour between the two cities; see our train guide.
Where to stay
Abu Dhabi spreads out, so the base matters. The Corniche and the city centre put restaurants and the water within walking distance and keep the Grand Mosque and Saadiyat about 20 to 30 minutes away by car. Saadiyat Island is calmer, beside the museums and the beach. Yas Island is the choice for families and race week, but it is a half-hour from the centre. Whichever you pick, book first in December, when National Day and the Grand Prix fill most hotels.
If it rains, or you only have one day
Rain is rare but it happens between December and March. The swap list is easy: Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Warner Bros. World are all indoors. With one day, do Qasr Al Hosn and the Corniche in the morning, the Louvre after lunch and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque at sunset. It is a full day on foot and by taxi, but it covers the three things most people mean when they say they have seen Abu Dhabi.
If you have a fourth day, spend it in Al Ain: see our Al Ain in a day route, or take the Etihad Rail to Dubai for a change of scene.
Questions people ask
Is three days enough for Abu Dhabi?+
Yes, for the main sights. Add a day for Al Ain or a night in the desert if you can.
What should I avoid during Grand Prix week?+
Yas Island and the roads around it. Spend the days on Saadiyat or in the city.
Photo: FritzDaCat, CC BY-SA 3.0
