One day in Abu Dhabi might not be enough to see all the city has to offer, but you can still visit the highlights of the place. Whether you are on a stopover here or came on a day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, or one day is all your itinerary allows, you are in for a treat. The UAE’s capital is a cool city with some of the most interesting places to visit in the United Arab Emirates.

I must admit that I enjoyed Abu Dhabi much more than Dubai and would gladly have stayed there longer. But even with limited time, I enjoyed all the best things to do in Abu Dhabi. I hope to be back there eventually to see more of the city’s attractions.

If you are wondering how to plan your one day in Abu Dhabi, I’m here to provide all the information you might need for your trip. The capital of UAE offers plenty of attractions, so if your time is limited, it’s best to focus on the highlights. You will find them all here, together with practical information you might need. Read on and plan your perfect one-day in Abu Dhabi itinerary.

Why visit Abu Dhabi

Even though Dubai is the most popular destination in the United Arab Emirates, I found Abu Dhabi to be more interesting to visit. With plenty of green spaces and wide boulevards, the city isn’t as overwhelming. It also felt less artificial than Dubai; even if the luxury is still there, it’s just a bit less flashy and more sophisticated.

I found Abu Dhabi to be a great place to visit for culture, art, and architecture lovers, as you will find plenty of those in the city. With only one day in Abu Dhabi, you still can cover its highlights and get a feel of the place.

Day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

If you want to go on a day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, I can honestly recommend going on an organized tour. This way, your trip will be much smoother, and you can actually see more attractions in the time you have. Even if Dubai and Abu Dhabi are only around 140 km apart, the bus trip can get really long due to the traffic in Dubai.

If you still insist on going independently, take bus no E101, which departs from Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Bus Station, which is closer to Abu Dhabi; hence, you don’t need to go through the whole city. The other option is bus no E100 from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, 35 km further in Dubai.

You can easily reach both stations by metro. I took the bus to and from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, and even though the itinerary said it would take around two hours, it took me almost twice as much both ways.

Buses depart frequently, every 20-30 minutes. You need a special card to take the bus; you will get it at the bus station. It’s better to load the card already with the money for the return journey to avoid waiting in line in Abu Dhabi.

The ticket is not connected to the specific connection; you can simply arrive at the bus station and take the next available bus (although sometimes you might have to wait in line).

The central bus station in Abu Dhabi is located in the central part of the city. From there, you can take the city bus to all the main attractions.

If you prefer to take the Dubai to Abu Dhabi tour (which I honestly believe is a better option), here are the recommended ones:

• Private Abu Dhabi City Tour with Pick up from Dubai or Abu Dhabi
• Abu Dhabi Sightseeing Tour from Dubai
• Day Tour of Abu Dhabi from Dubai

How to get from the Abu Dhabi airport to the city

If you have a stopover in Abu Dhabi and want to see some of the attractions, you can easily reach the city by bus no A1, A2, A10, and N2. You need a Hafilat card to use the bus (more about it below), you can get it in a ticket machine at the airport. A faster option, if you are short on time, is Uber or a pre-arranged transfer.

How to get around Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has a good network of city buses, which are cheap and reliable and cover all the attractions. Unfortunately, the schedule can be a bit sparse, and often, you need to plan your day around it. If you still want to use buses when sightseeing in Abu Dhabi, you will find later in this article which routes serve each place. Google Maps also work fine when figuring out public transport in Abu Dhabi.

To use city buses in Abu Dhabi, you need a Hafilat card to load the amount you need. You can find ticket machines at the central bus station as well as at numerous bus stops all over the city (not all of them, though). You need to tap in and out your card each time you use the bus as the amount you will be charged depends on the distance (the lowest is 2 AED, the highest 5 AED).

If you only have one day in Abu Dhabi, it’s smarter to use a taxi or Uber, which works well in the city. This way, you will travel between places faster and more smoothly and save time for sightseeing.

What to see in one day in Abu Dhabi

If you have only one day in Abu Dhabi, here are the highlights you can see. You can visit them all if you start your day early enough.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

This is one of the most beautiful mosques you will ever see, definitely worth a visit. It’s a relatively new structure, completed in 2007, three years after the death of Sheikh Zayed. With 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat-gold gilded chandeliers, and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the 8th largest mosque in the world. The place is jaw-dropping and this itself is a good reason to visit Abu Dhabi.

Remember that this is a religious site, so wear modest clothes when visiting the place. Women need to cover their heads and put an abaya on – if you don’t have one, you can buy it in one of the shops near the entrance (the cheapest ones are around 50 AED). Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is closed to the public on Fridays.

The entrance to the mosque is free of charge, but you need to book a visit through the official website (wifi is available at the entrance, so you can do it there, too). There are 15-minute slots available, and in general, you should be at the site within your slot.

It’s a rather busy place, so don’t expect to visit it freely; you will be mostly walking around in a line of people. But despite those minor inconveniences, it’s still a wonderful place to visit and admire all the beauty and splendor around.

If you travel with larger luggage, there’s a storage room available. There is a small shopping area with a few cafes, too, if you want to get a snack or relax a bit in the air-conditioned space.

Opening hours: you can current opening hours here.
Website: https://www.szgmc.gov.ae/
How much time for a visit:
Buses to get there: 24, 94, 401, A10

Qasr Al Watan

Another stunning place to visit in Abu Dhabi is Qasr Al Watan – a presidential palace that is used for diplomatic visits. It was opened to the public in 2019 and, in a typical UAE style, is simply jaw-dropping.

The building looks rather modest from the outside, but the beauty and opulence you can find inside can be a bit overwhelming, in a good way. Besides vast spaces, you will also see official rooms, an exhibition of diplomatic gifts, a small museum, and a library there.

You need to buy the ticket to visit Qasr Al Watan, you can do it via the official website. Once you arrive at the visitors center, you will need to go through the security check. Then, minibusses will take tourists for a short ride to the palace entrance.

You are not allowed to wander the premises independently. If you travel with larger luggage, the staff will take it to the storage for you, and you can collect it when you leave the visitors center.

Opening hours: you can check current opening hours here.
Website: https://www.qasralwatan.ae/
How much time for a visit:
Buses to get there: 9, 34, 69

Observation Deck at 300

Not far from Qasr Al Watan, you can visit Observation Deck at 300, located on the 74th floor of Tower 2 of Etihad Towers. It’s the highest viewing platform in Abu Dhabi, and you can admire the panorama of the city and the Arabian Gulf from there. If you like looking at places from above, this is a must-stop in Abu Dhabi.

Opening hours: Open Daily, 10 am – 8 pm
Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/auhetci-conrad-abu-dhabi-etihad-towers/dining/observation-deck-at-300/
How much time for a visit:
Buses to get there: 9, 34, 69

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental

Across the street from the Etihad Towers, you can see Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Hotel – one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. While staying there overnight can be rather pricey, it’s still nice to take a look at the place.

Parts of the hotel are open to the public, free of charge, so you might even visit a place inside if you have a moment in your one-day Abu Dhabi itinerary. The only requirement is a neat outfit, so no flip-flops or shorts. Inside, you can try to make a cappuccino sparkled with 23-karat gold flakes.

Website: https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/abu-dhabi/emirates-palace
How much time for a visit:
Buses to get there: 9, 34, 69

Qasr Al Hosn

The oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Hosn, might not look very impressive at first, especially when you compare it with modern, opulent architecture all over the city. But once you see its pictures from years back, you will realize what a gem this is.

The small fort dates back to 1761, when it was used as the royal palace until 1966. It’s mostly empty inside, but it’s still worth stepping in to see this monument, which is important to local history.

The ticket to Qasr Al Hosn allows you to visit the House of Artisans located next door. It’s an interesting place with local crafts, where you can also attend the presentation on the traditional preparation of Arabic coffee.

Opening hours: you can check current opening hours here.
Website: https://qasralhosn.ae/
How much time for a visit:
Buses to get there: 5, 7, 8, 23, 24, 33, 34, 40, 65, 67, 161, 175

Corniche

After the busy day of sightseeing in Abu Dhabi, head to Corniche – the main hangout spot for both locals and tourists. The road stretches for a few kilometers along the waterfront and is perfect for a stroll to get a true vibe of the city. It’s best to come here in the late afternoon or evening when everyone goes outside to enjoy the time outside.

Other great things to do in Abu Dhabi

If you somehow have extra time in your itinerary or some of the highlights don’t sound appealing to you, here are more interesting things to do in Abu Dhabi:

• Louvre Abu Dhabi – the largest art museum in the Arabian Peninsula, works on display include those from the Louvre Museum in Paris
• Yas Island, with Formula 1 race track, waterpark, amusement park, and numerous other attractions
• The National Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the Middle East, with more than 45,000 animals

Final thoughts on visiting Abu Dhabi

While the city deserves more time (I even dare to say it’s better than nearby and more popular Dubai), you can see a lot in one day in Abu Dhabi. If you plan your itinerary smartly, you will visit all the highlights and get a taste of the city.

Abu Dhabi might surprise you, just as it surprised me, and you can eventually return there for a longer time. I’m thinking about another trip there, too.

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