2 days in Abu Dhabi: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 1 of 8 free; 7 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 18:13 each day
- Start and finish
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque → Jubail Mangrove Park
- On foot
- ≈ 18 min in total
- Transport
- 5 rides, ≈ 3 h 14 min
- Lunch
- around 13:13
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- November to March. Put day two between Tuesday and Sunday because of the Louvre.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Abu Dhabi09:30–18:13 · 5 places · 8 h 40 min
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
· 1 h 30 min · AED 10 for tourists, booked online
- 58 min · transport or taxi
Qasr Al Hosn
· 1 h 15 min · ≈ AED 30, under-18s free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Abu Dhabi Corniche
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- 18 min on foot
Heritage Village
· 45 min · Free entry
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Emirates Palace
· 45 min · Free entry; gold cappuccino AED 90
Day 2 · Abu Dhabi09:30–17:34 · 3 places · 8 h
Qasr Al Watan
· 2 h · AED 65, ages 4–17 AED 30
- Lunch · 1 h
- 52 min · transport or taxi
Louvre Abu Dhabi
· 2 h 30 min · AED 70, under 18 free
- 42 min · transport or taxi
Jubail Mangrove Park
· 1 h · Boardwalk AED 10–20, kayak from AED 80
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
1 of 8 are free; 7 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | 45 | 1 h 30 min | AED 10 for tourists, booked online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Qasr Al Hosn | 38 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ AED 30, under-18s free |
| 3 | Abu Dhabi Corniche | 41 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| 4 | Heritage Village | 41 | 45 min | Free entry |
| 5 | Emirates Palace | 41 | 45 min | Free entry; gold cappuccino AED 90 |
| 6 | Qasr Al Watan | 35 | 2 h | AED 65, ages 4–17 AED 30 |
| 7 | Louvre Abu Dhabi | 40 | 2 h 30 min | AED 70, under 18 free |
| 8 | Jubail Mangrove Park | 24 | 1 h | Boardwalk AED 10–20, kayak from AED 80 |
| Total | 11 h 20 min | 1 of 8 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The UAE's great mosque: 82 white domes. Visitors pay 10 AED and book online; on Fridays it closes to visitors 11:30–14:30. Cover up — abayas are not handed out on site.
- 2
Qasr Al Hosn. The city's oldest stone building, an 18th-century fort. About 30 AED, under 18 free; on Fridays it opens only at 14:00.
- 3
Abu Dhabi Corniche. An 8 km seafront promenade with paths, parks and a free beach at Gate 4. Best at sunset.
- 4
Heritage Village. A reconstructed Emirati village on the Breakwater: market, workshops, a Bedouin camp. Free; on Fridays it closes 12:00–15:00.
- 5
Emirates Palace. The palace hotel with 114 domes. The lobby is usually open to non-guests; the gold cappuccino is 90 AED. No shorts or flip-flops.
Day 2
- 6
Qasr Al Watan. A working presidential palace: 65 AED, ages 4–17 30 AED, the evening show included. In November roughly 10:00–17:00.
- 7
Louvre Abu Dhabi. Galleries under a 180 m lace-like dome: 70 AED, under 18 free. Tue–Thu until 18:30, Fri–Sun until 20:30.
- 8
Jubail Mangrove Park. 2 km of boardwalks over the mangroves: 10–20 AED, kayaks from 80 AED. Best at high tide.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Abu Dhabi
- Museums and architecture
- Staying in Abu Dhabi, not commuting from Dubai
- Ferrari World and the Yas parks need another day
- The Louvre on Mondays — sources disagree, check first
November to March. Put day two between Tuesday and Sunday because of the Louvre.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Abu Dhabi itinerary. Day two starts in the west of the island at Qasr Al Watan, next to Emirates Palace, then heads north-east to Saadiyat for the Louvre and on to Jubail Island.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi
Jean Nouvel's universal museum: galleries and seawater pools under a 180 m dome. Tickets are 70 AED, free under 18; bring photo ID. You can stay under the dome until midnight.
Jubail Mangrove Park
Two kilometres of boardwalk over tidal mangroves — 10–20 AED, a guided kayak from 80 AED. Last entry to the boardwalk is 20:00. Come at high tide, in the morning or towards sunset.
2 days in Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
If these are your only two days in the UAE, swap day two for Dubai: Burj Khalifa and the old creek. With an extra day, Yas Island has Ferrari World (Formula Rossa is closed for maintenance) and Yas Marina Circuit with tours, karting and the free TrainYAS evening laps.
How to do it right
- At Qasr Al Watan there is no re-entry once you leave the building.
- Bags at the palace must be under 50 × 35 cm; there is no cloakroom.
- Mosques and palaces want shoulders and knees covered, and women need a headscarf; malls and museums also ask for no beachwear.
- The UAE uses the dirham (AED). Cards work almost everywhere; keep some cash for abras, souks and small museums. Dubai's metro needs a Nol card.
- A taxi between Saadiyat and downtown takes 15–20 minutes.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Abu Dhabi?
Day one: the mosque, the fort, the Corniche, Heritage Village, Emirates Palace. Day two: Qasr Al Watan, the Louvre and Jubail Mangrove Park.
Is 2 days in Abu Dhabi enough?
For the city, yes. Yas Island and its parks need another day.
How much is the Louvre Abu Dhabi?
70 AED for adults, free under 18.
Can you visit the presidential palace?
Yes, Qasr Al Watan is open to visitors: 65 AED, ages 4–17 30 AED.
Is the Louvre open on Mondays?
Sources disagree: the official site says yes, ticket resellers say closed. Choose another day if you can.
Do you need a guide at the mangroves?
No, the boardwalk is self-guided. Kayaks go with a guide.
How much does it cost?
Mosque 10 AED, fort ≈ 30, palace 65, Louvre 70, boardwalk 10–20 AED, plus taxis.
Is it good with kids?
Yes: the Louvre and the fort are free under 18, and children love the mangrove boardwalk.
Where to stay?
Near the Corniche or downtown — 10–20 minutes from every stop.
What currency is used in Abu Dhabi?
The UAE uses the dirham (AED). Cards work almost everywhere; keep some cash for abras, souks and small museums. Dubai's metro needs a Nol card.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan official websites
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre
