Plan 01
1 day in Abu Dhabi
- 01
Day 1: Mosque, museum and Corniche
Reach the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque soon after it opens at 9:00 am, when the marble is cooler and the courtyard is quieter, and allow about 90 minutes. Take a taxi to Saadiyat Island for lunch and Louvre Abu Dhabi, and give the museum two to three hours in air conditioning. In the late afternoon, drive back along the Corniche and walk a short stretch as the heat eases. Dinner at an Indian vegetarian restaurant in Al Zahiyah or Madinat Zayed is the easy, familiar option.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque About 1.5 to 2 hours Moderate Morning on a weekday from November to March; evening for the lit pools Louvre Abu Dhabi 2 to 3 hours Easy Weekday morning; the dome's light patterns are best in daylight Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: The marble courtyard is level, but the walk from the car park and around the arcades is long and barefoot. Take a break in the shade, carry water, and ask about wheelchair help before you go.
Plan 02
2 days in Abu Dhabi
- 01
Day 1: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Watan
Start with the mosque in the morning. After lunch visit Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace that is open to visitors, where the interiors are air-conditioned and the pace is slow. End the day on the Corniche.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque About 1.5 to 2 hours Moderate Morning on a weekday from November to March; evening for the lit pools Qasr Al Watan About 2 hours Moderate Morning; the interior light is best before noon Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: The marble courtyard is level, but the walk from the car park and around the arcades is long and barefoot. Take a break in the shade, carry water, and ask about wheelchair help before you go.
With parents at Qasr Al Watan: Mostly indoors and air-conditioned, with lifts, but there is a long approach from the gate and a lot of standing in halls. Ask for a golf-cart or wheelchair if needed.
- 02
Day 2: Saadiyat Island
Visit Louvre Abu Dhabi in the morning, then look in on the Zayed National Museum or the Abrahamic Family House, all in the same cultural district. Use the afternoon for rest at your hotel and book the evening for dinner.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Louvre Abu Dhabi 2 to 3 hours Easy Weekday morning; the dome's light patterns are best in daylight Zayed National Museum About 2 hours Moderate Morning or late afternoon, with the garden in winter Abrahamic Family House About 1.5 hours Moderate Morning or late afternoon; winter months Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Zayed National Museum: Indoors and air-conditioned, with lifts, but the site is large and the Al Masar Garden is a long open-air walk. Pace yourself.
With parents at Abrahamic Family House: The complex is on level paving, with shaded walkways, but it is spread across an open site. Carry water, and ask about seating and assistance at the entrance.
Plan 03
3 days in Abu Dhabi
- 01
Day 1: Mosque and palace
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the morning and Qasr Al Watan after lunch, with a rest between them.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque About 1.5 to 2 hours Moderate Morning on a weekday from November to March; evening for the lit pools Qasr Al Watan About 2 hours Moderate Morning; the interior light is best before noon Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: The marble courtyard is level, but the walk from the car park and around the arcades is long and barefoot. Take a break in the shade, carry water, and ask about wheelchair help before you go.
With parents at Qasr Al Watan: Mostly indoors and air-conditioned, with lifts, but there is a long approach from the gate and a lot of standing in halls. Ask for a golf-cart or wheelchair if needed.
- 02
Day 2: Saadiyat Island museums
Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum on one day, with lunch between them and the Abrahamic Family House if energy allows.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Louvre Abu Dhabi 2 to 3 hours Easy Weekday morning; the dome's light patterns are best in daylight Zayed National Museum About 2 hours Moderate Morning or late afternoon, with the garden in winter Abrahamic Family House About 1.5 hours Moderate Morning or late afternoon; winter months Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Zayed National Museum: Indoors and air-conditioned, with lifts, but the site is large and the Al Masar Garden is a long open-air walk. Pace yourself.
With parents at Abrahamic Family House: The complex is on level paving, with shaded walkways, but it is spread across an open site. Carry water, and ask about seating and assistance at the entrance.
- 03
Day 3: Mandir, old fort or Yas Island
Book the BAPS Hindu Mandir at Abu Mreikhah for the morning, remembering that it is closed on Mondays and needs registration. On another day, swap this for Qasr Al Hosn and the Etihad Towers deck, or take children to Ferrari World on Yas Island.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Qasr Al Hosn About 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Morning or evening in the cooler months Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
Read before you go
Guides for the stops on these routes
Pacing
Pacing a Abu Dhabi trip for parents and children
- Do outdoor sights between November and March and before 11 am. From May to September, highs of 39 to 43 C make even short walks tiring, so plan for museums and malls.
- At the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, expect long barefoot walks on marble and standing queues. Wear modest, loose clothing, and ask staff about wheelchairs or seating when you book.
- Hire a car with driver for the day, since attractions are spread out. Book the BAPS Hindu Mandir slot in advance and carry your passport or Emirates ID.
- Choose hotels near a lift-served lobby and the pool; check that the room is not far from the lift. Air conditioning runs very cold indoors, so carry a light shawl.
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island is a large multi-specialty hospital. Buy travel insurance that covers hospital care before you leave India.
- Carry your regular medicines in original packaging with a doctor's letter, and check the UAE's rules on prescription medicines before you pack.
Book the pieces
Stay close to the route
Pick a base near the first day's sights. Our guide to where to stay in Abu Dhabi compares the areas.
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