[Travel Guide] How to Take a Day Trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai

I’ve had sooo many people over the years ask me how they can take a day trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai, and what to see and do on a day trip to Abu Dhabi, so I thought I’d finally get around to writing up a full guide!

Usually I send people a Google doc with all my notes and they find it super helpful, so I figured writing it up as a blog post will help others outside of my friendship circle.

So, ready to take the best day trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai? Let’s go!

If you’ve been here for a while you’ll know that while I love Abu Dhabi, I merely like Dubai.

But, Dubai has far more going on and is much better if you’re a big foodie or into partying.

Abu Dhabi on the other hand, is more relaxed and feels like Dubai’s older, wiser sibling.

If you stay in Dubai, make sure you stay at the Four Seasons Jumeirah Beach. It’s my favourite hotel in Dubai and well worth the money!

How to Get to Abu Dhabi from Dubai

Getting to Abu Dhabi from Dubai is ridiculously easy!

You can either get a normal taxi, or an Uber or Careem (UAE’s version of Uber).

The prices are roughly the same, but ordering on an Uber or Careem just means you know for sure how much it’s going to cost.

The cost can vary, but it’s usually around £50-£60 each way.

One Day in Abu Dhabi Itinerary

So what should you actually do when you get to Abu Dhabi? Let’s get into it…

9am: Get a taxi/uber/careem to Sheikh Zayed Mosque

After enjoying your hotel’s epic breakfast buffet (trust me, Four Seasons Jumeirah Beach has one of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve ever had), get a taxi, Uber or Careem to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

It’s just over an hour’s drive, so not too long, and should cost around £60 one way.

I want you to start at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque because for me, the mosque is just one of the most beautiful places in the Middle East.

10am: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

When you visit, make sure you cover up.

For women, this means covering your hair, shoulders, cleavage, arms, and ankles, and for men you also need to cover up from your shoulders to your ankles.

If you’re not dresses appropriately, you won’t be allowed to enter, or you’ll be forced to buy appropriate clothing at the entrance.

My biggest tip for women is to wear a long maxi dress with long sleeves, and take a large, light scarf with you to cover your hair. For men, wear light chinos or linen trousers with a long sleeved linen shirt. It gets hot in Abu Dhabi!

But I promise the mosque is absolutely stunning and well worth a visit!

It was built by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, it’s one of the world’s largest mosques and an architectural masterpiece that beautifully combines Islamic architecture and design.

It usually takes an hour to wander around and enjoy the space. You can join a guided tour if you get there at the right time, or just wander freely.

12noon: Lunch at Soul beach

After the mosque, get an Uber/Careem/taxi to Soul Beach, a public beach open to all. There are loads of restaurants and cafes along the beach there, so take your pick and enjoy lunch while you stare out at the ocean and people-watch!

Personally I love American restaurant Black Tap, and highly recommend a visit. I went to the NYC original back in 2016 when there was the ‘freakshake’ craze, and they do really delicious burgers and milkshakes.

1pm: Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is much, much smaller than the original Louvre in Paris.

It’s a very manageable museum, with a great selection of artifacts, sculptures, and artwork, so only takes a couple of hours to explore depending on how much you enjoy the art there.

But, as well as the art, the building itself is like a piece of artwork all by itself.

The incredible architectural design wows you as you walk through it, it’s truly breathtaking!

3pm: Qasr Al Hosn

Qasr Al Hosn was designed by Mohammed Al Bastaki and built in 1761 as a conical watchtower to defend the only freshwater well in Abu Dhabi island.

The building has been resorted and renovated to a really impressive standard, with an interesting museum built onto the original fort that displays artifacts and photos representing the history of the country.

It’s a good way to spend an hour soaking up a bit of Abu Dhabi’s history, and also has a range of weapons, used through the region’s history, on display.

4pm: Qasr Al Watan

Qasr Al Watan, the new Presidential Palace that was built in 2017.

Qasr Al Watan is more than a palace though, it was built as a unique testament to the spirit of the United Arab Emirates’ people and its leaders.

The Palace invites the world to share their culture, knowledge and inspiring journey, providing an enriching interactive journey.

You’ll need around 2-hours to really enjoy the palace without rushing through. It’s a beautiful place to visit, especially at Golden Hour as the setting sun gleams off the brilliant white granite and limestone.

6pm: Emirates Palace

The Emirates Palace is one of the most famous luxury hotels in the world!

The best reason to visit Emirates Palace though, is not only to see the interior of the stunningly opulent hotel, but to enjoy their famous camel milk ice-cream(!) with 23-carat gold flake on top at Le Café.

I was super nervous about trying camel milk ice-cream, but I got the chocolate flavour and it’s so creamy and delicious!

Promise me you’ll try it!?

7pm: Dinner at Buddha Bar, St Regis Saadiyat Island

Abu Dhabi is full of great restaurants, but after such a busy day you’ll want somewhere a little more relaxed.

Head to Buddha Bar, which is located within the beautiful St Regis Saadiyat Island.

The restaurant overlooks beach, with both indoor and outdoor seating depending on whether you need the aircon or are willing to brave the heat.

Devour the delicious plates of sushi, ceviche, and other pan-Asian plates. I also thoroughly enjoyed the cocktails at Buddha Bar!

9pm: Taxi back to Dubai

And that’s it! You’ve completed a perfect day in Abu Dhabi, and it’s time to head back to Dubai.

If you have a little more time in Abu Dhabi, check out my Weekend in Abu Dhabi Guide, and visit Zaya Nurai or Saadiyat Beach Club!

If you have a few days there, make sure you read my five day itinerary for Abu Dhabi, and spend a night at Telal Desert Resort in Al Ain, and explore the desert town of Al Ain.

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