Sharjah itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Sharjah

1. 01

   Day 1: Old town and the creek

   Start in the Heart of Sharjah with Al Hisn fort, then walk to Bait Al Naboodah and Souq Al Arsah for coffee. After a lunch break, take a taxi to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization on the creek, and finish at Al Noor Mosque and the Central Souk in the evening.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Al Hisn (Sharjah Fort)	About 1 hour	Easy	Morning, from November to March; the courtyards are shaded in part but the walk across is hot in summer
   Bait Al Naboodah	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, before the courtyard heats up
   Souq Al Arsah	45 minutes to 1 hour	Easy	Midday, when outdoor sights are hot, or evening
   Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning or the hottest part of the afternoon; any month, since it is indoors
   Al Noor Mosque	45 minutes to 1 hour	Easy	Morning for a tour; after sunset for the illuminated exterior
   Central Souk (Blue Souk)	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon to evening; open until 10 pm according to the tourism site

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Sharjah

1. 01

   Day 1: Heritage quarter and creek

   Spend the morning in the Heart of Sharjah: Al Hisn, Bait Al Naboodah, the Calligraphy Museum and Souq Al Arsah. After a long lunch and rest, visit the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, then walk the corniche as the light goes.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Al Hisn (Sharjah Fort)	About 1 hour	Easy	Morning, from November to March; the courtyards are shaded in part but the walk across is hot in summer
   Bait Al Naboodah	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, before the courtyard heats up
   Souq Al Arsah	45 minutes to 1 hour	Easy	Midday, when outdoor sights are hot, or evening
   Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning or the hottest part of the afternoon; any month, since it is indoors

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Mosque, souk and canal

   Take a morning tour of Al Noor Mosque, then browse the Central Souk for carpets and crafts. In the afternoon visit the Sharjah Art Museum or the Maritime Museum, and end the day with an evening walk along the Al Qasba Canal.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Al Noor Mosque	45 minutes to 1 hour	Easy	Morning for a tour; after sunset for the illuminated exterior
   Central Souk (Blue Souk)	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon to evening; open until 10 pm according to the tourism site
   Sharjah Art Museum	1 to 1.5 hours	Easy	Afternoon, when outdoor sights are too hot
   Al Qasba Canal	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Evening, October to April

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 03

3 days in Sharjah

1. 01

   Day 1: The old town

   Walk the Heart of Sharjah: fort, merchant's house, calligraphy museum and souq. Keep the afternoon free for rest and an early dinner.

2. 02

   Day 2: Museums and mosques

   Visit the Islamic Civilization Museum, the Art Museum and Al Noor Mosque. Add the Central Souk in the evening.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Al Noor Mosque	45 minutes to 1 hour	Easy	Morning for a tour; after sunset for the illuminated exterior
   Central Souk (Blue Souk)	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon to evening; open until 10 pm according to the tourism site

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

3. 03

   Day 3: Archaeology and a day trip

   Start at the Archaeology Museum, then take an excursion to Mleiha, the Desert Park or Khor Fakkan by car, or spend a day in Dubai. Return for a quiet evening on the Al Qasba Canal.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Al Qasba Canal	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Evening, October to April

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Sharjah trip for parents and children

• Plan museums for the hottest hours. Most are air-conditioned and mostly level, so they make good rest stops.
• Use taxis or ride-hailing between sights; walking between districts in the heat is tiring.
• Carry travel insurance and a medication list. Sharjah has public and private hospitals, and Dubai has more, but cover matters.
• Dress modestly and carry a light scarf or shawl, which doubles as cover for mosques and for cool, air-conditioned galleries.
• Check opening days, because many museums close on Sunday or keep short hours.
• Ask hotels in advance for plain vegetarian or Jain-friendly meals, since options outside Indian restaurants are limited.

Sharjah with elderly parents: the full guide →