Aby Dhabi is an entirely different experience than Dubai. The capital of the United Arab Emirates has some of the country’s best tourist sights and activities. What is best about Abu Dhabi is visiting the city on a one-day trip from Dubai. You will leave early and return to Dubai in the evening.
The typical itinerary for your day trip to Abu Dhabi
When you book a one-day trip to Abu Dhabi you will be picked up by your guide and driver in the morning. After that your journey through the desert will start. The drive will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Exploring Abu Dhabi will be easy. You will be driven from tourist attraction to tourist attraction. The tour is relaxed enough to spend enough time at each of the sites. Once you arrive in Abu Dhabi, your first stop will be a visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; one of the most visited landmarks of Abu Dhabi. You will get some free time to explore the mosque’s white marble structure that consists of 82 domes, chandeliers, and flower-patterned designs.
After the mosque, you will take a drive along the Corniche; Abu Dhabi’s 8-kilometer-long man-made waterfront. You will experience scenic views of the Persian Gulf. Admire the harbor’s clean water as you continue to the opulent Emirates Palace, the official hotel of Abu Dhabi’s ruling government.
Then, enjoy a visit to another of Abu Dhabi’s landmarks, the Etihad Towers which featured in the movie ‘Furious 7’. After the Etihad Towers (entry ticket included), the next stop will be at the Marina Mall, where you can take a lunch break (not included) and dine at the mall’s restaurants or enjoy the food court options.
Afterward, visit the beautiful Qasr Al Watan palace housed in the presidential palace compound of the UAE. Notice the architectural features, artifacts, and other historical treasures of the palace. After the palace, your journey back to Dubai will start and you will be dropped off at your hotel. Some tours also include a stop to the Abu Dhabi Louvre.
Abu Dhabi Premium Full-Day Sightseeing Tour
This Abu Dhabi Premium tour takes a total of 9 hours. Pick up is available from Dubai city and cruise terminal. Immediately after pick up, you will drive to Abu Dhabi. Once in Abu Dhabi your one-day tour will bring you to: Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the Corniche, Emirates Palace, Etihad Towers, Marina Mall and Qasr Al Watan.
You can book this tour through GetYourGuide.com. The tour is popular and comes with very high ratings 4.8 out of 5 with almost 9,000 ratings. The day trip to Abu Dhabi can be booked in multiple languages.
Abu Dhabi Full Day Trip with Louvre & Mosque
Many tourists are interested in adding the Abu Dhabi Louvre to their itinerary. This trip does precisely that. You will spend about an hour extra on your trip, but that will allow you to visit the dependence of the famous Louvre museum in Paris. Of course, the journey is highly rated!
From Dubai: Abu Dhabi Day Tour with Ferrari World Ticket
Motor racing fans will be happy to learn that there is also an option to visit Marina Bay Racing Circuit during your one-day tour to Abu Dhabi. This one-day trip does exactly that. You ticket to Marina Bay’s Ferrari World is already included in the price of this day trip. Here you will be able to ride the famous Formula Rossa rollercoaster.
The rest of the trip brings you to the regular stops in Abu Dhabi. This includes Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Heritage Village, the Corniche and stop at Emirates Palace. Usually this day trip will not include a visit to the Louvre or Etihad Towers. The tour can be booked through GetYourGuide and is highly rated: 4.8 out of 5.
A very short trip to Abu Dhabi: only Sheikh Zayed Mosque
For those only interested in Sheikh Zayed Mosque, there is an option to make a shorter trip. This day trip to Abu Dhabi only takes about five hours. You will get about 2 hours at the mosque. The rest of the time, you will enjoy a relaxing drive through the desert. Once again, this trip is rated on GetYourGuide with 4.8 out of 5.
What will you visit on a one-day trip to Abu Dhabi?
Most one-day trips to Abu Dhabi include the following attractions you will visit during the day.
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque
- The Corniche
- Emirates Palace
- Etihad Towers
- Marina Mall
- Qasr Al Watan
- Louvre
- Ferrari World (on some trips)
How long is the one-day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
There is no strict dress code in Abu Dhabi. However, your visit will most certainly include visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque. At the mosque, you will need to respect the local culture.
- Women are recommended to wear long, loose clothing and ensure that their arms, legs, and heads are covered at all times.
- Men are asked not to reveal any skin above the knees, and their shoulders must be covered.
