Things to do in Abu Dhabi, splurging
Forts, palaces and Saadiyat's new museums, with lunch at Zuma and dinner by the beach.
This itinerary is built for someone who wants the best table in the room every night and doesn't mind spending for it. The days move between the city's financial island, the Saadiyat Cultural District and the corniche, so you'll see Abu Dhabi's full range without any wasted motion. It suits a couple or a solo traveller who treats a long lunch as non-negotiable and considers a good cocktail bar a cultural institution.
Day 1: Al Maryah Island, full send
A morning inside Abu Dhabi's oldest stone fort, a Zuma lunch on Al Maryah Island, an afternoon browse, Armenian-Lebanese mezze at Almayass and a nightcap at Craft.
- 10:30 AM
Qasr Al Hosn
Abu Dhabi's oldest stone building, pre-oil history, the House of Artisans and a fascinating city museum.
Map - 12:30 PM
Zuma
Zuma in The Galleria: order robata skewers and the miso black cod, and book a terrace table.
Map - 2:30 PM
Abu Dhabi Mall أبو ظبي مول
A quick hop across the channel from Zuma, Abu Dhabi Mall is an easy air-conditioned afternoon browse.
Map - 7:30 PM
Almayass
Armenian-Lebanese mezze at Almayass: order the manti and the cherry kebab and let the table fill up.
Map - 9:30 PM
Craft by Side Hustle
A short walk from Almayass on Al Maryah Island, a small cocktail bar for one careful nightcap.
Map
Day 2: Saadiyat: art, then the waterfront
teamLab in the morning, a polished Italian lunch on Mamsha, and the new Zayed National Museum before a pan-Asian dinner by the sea at Buddha-Bar Beach.
- 10:30 AM
teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi
TeamLab Phenomena, 17,000 sq m of immersive environments that respond to you; the wet-zone experience is unlike anything else in the Gulf.
Map - 12:30 PM
Antonia
Italian on the Mamsha Al Saadiyat promenade, a proper sit-down lunch a short walk from the museums.
Map - 2:30 PM
Zayed National Museum
Opened December 2025 in Foster + Partners' building: the UAE's story from pearl diving to Sheikh Zayed.
Map - 7:30 PM
Buddha-Bar Beach Abu Dhabi
Pan-Asian dinner on the sand at the St. Regis Saadiyat; book ahead and ask for a terrace table by the sea.
Map
Day 3: Corniche and an acclaimed Italian finale
The presidential palace's gilded halls, a mezze lunch by the water, a marina browse, and Villa Toscana for a quiet, considered last dinner.
- 10:30 AM
Qasr Al Watan
Working presidential palace with spectacular ceremonial halls, gilded domes and marble, one of Abu Dhabi's must-sees.
Map - 12:30 PM
Li Beirut
Acclaimed Lebanese on the corniche, fresh mezze and grills in an elegant waterfront setting.
Map - 2:30 PM
Marina Mall
Marina Mall for a post-lunch browse through boutiques and design stores with views over the marina.
Map - 7:30 PM
Villa Toscana
Northern Italian at the St. Regis on the Corniche: handmade pasta and a long, quiet last dinner.
Map
Where to stay
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
A true resort on Saadiyat puts you a short walk from Day 2's entire programme and keeps the tone squarely four-dollar-sign throughout.
Beach Rotana
Beach Rotana sits right on Al Maryah Island, placing Zuma, Almayass and Craft by Side Hustle essentially at the door on Day 1.
Make Abu Dhabi your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: a few days ahead
- Louvre Abu Dhabi: a few days ahead
- Zayed National Museum: a few days ahead
- teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi: a few days ahead
- Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi: a few days ahead
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi: a few days ahead
Skip these
- The sub AED 100 desert safari: overfilled vehicles, aggressive driving, long pickup circuits and a vast camp with a mediocre buffet. Book the reputable version.
- Doing Yas as a day trip sprint from downtown with small children. Base a night or two on Yas, or pick one park.
- Ferrari World at full price for non riders: Warner Bros. or SeaWorld will make the same party happier for less.
- Emirates Palace as a sight without a booking: you need a restaurant, tea or spa booking to be there legitimately.
The full Abu Dhabi travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around