When we think of UAE, our mind always goes to Dubai and we don’t blame you, for the city has everything you would want to see. From pristine beaches to iconic buildings, Dubai is an amazing place to visit.
However, while the “UAE is more than just Dubai” cliche might sound a little old, you have to go to other emirates to actually believe it.
One of which is Abu Dhabi, the most chill capital of the middle-east (Not literally though).
If you are heading to the UAE, we plead that you spend at least a day in Abu Dhabi. The city has a positive vibe, plenty of awesome places to eat, and even better beaches than Dubai! The entire city is well connected by buses and at extremely affordable prices. You do not need to use a cab even once while you are there.
While in Abu Dhabi, make sure you stay here:
Top Stars Hotel: 500m from Sultan Bin Zayed St / Al Falah St 1 bus stop AND 270m from Sultan Bin Zayed St / Central Post Office bus stop.
Places to eat around Top Stars Hotel: Fiamma Restaurant & Grills (Mutton Biryani), Top Grills (Beef burger, chicken sandwich).
How to reach from airport: Take the A2 bus, which is the direct option to the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Buy Halifat card at the airport: You need it for public transport. You can either recharge it later online or at vending machines at various bus stops. (More on this in another post)
Places to see in Abu Dhabi:
The Sheikh Zayed Mosque:
IMPORTANT TIP: Do not plan anything that is time-restricted on the day of visiting the mosque. The whole tour is quite a time taking and get ready to walk A LOT. Women, please ensure you have your head, elbows, knees, and legs covered. If you are not, you’ll have to buy the necessary accessories inside the mall. Also, yes, a mall literally houses the stunning mosque!
Corniche Beach:
If you have the time, you can walk across the entire stretch. It has several viewpoints, including the ones that need tickets.
Heritage Village:
A family-friendly spot where you can experience the traditional life of pre-modern UAE. It has an old-world souk (market), where you can shop, discover artifacts and watch artisans make pottery, blow glass and weave fabric on a loom. But the best part about visiting the village is its private beach. The views are gorgeous.
There are other places like Ferrari World, Warner Bros Amusement Park, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, etc, where you need to pay heft prices to get in. However, if you’re a fan of Formula 1 or Ferrari in particular, it might be worth it. We did not feel so and more importantly, we gave ourselves just one day before we headed out to explore other parts of the country.
To find out more about our UAE trip, click here.
Comments by Pramod Ananth