Abu Dhabi: In A Day
- Ajeng Araini-Kusno
- 2 Apr 2023
- 3 menit membaca
Your flight stops over at Abu Dhabi? Are you traveling with kids? Instead of staying in the airport, why don't you get out and spend a day in Abu Dhabi?
Here is my itinerary for a day in Abu Dhabi with the kids. Perhaps it suits you...
Qasr Al Hosn
I prefer to start the day by visiting Qasr Al Hosn, an old Arabian fort and palace which turned into a museum. Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest fortification site in Abu Dhabi. Its watchtower was built in 1760.
Children are free to enter Qasr Al Hosn. They even got free children's activity books to accompany them in the museum.
The museum's permanent exhibition is divided into several parts of the palace. On the inner part of the palace, the exhibition tells the history of Abu Dhabi, from a small village of pearl hunters to the oil industry, and the present-day bustling city. Visitors could also enter the watchtower.
While, on the outer part of the palace, visitors could experience life in the palace through touch and smell. There are stories about the Sheiks and sheikhas of Abu Dhabi. There is also information about the palace's architectural functions and decorative elements as well.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
As I do love museums, then my second recommendation is the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art museum located on Saadiyat Island. The museum is a branch of the Musee du Louvre Paris. Its architecture was designed by Jean Nouvel. The museum consists of white cube buildings symbolizing Arabian architecture, covered with a semi-open dome decorated with a geometrical design.
I suggest you have lunch at the museum's cafe. Although the cafe is, obviously, expensive, it was one of my once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences. The cafe provides both Emirati and European flavours, and most importantly: a kids' menu.
Louvre Abu Dhabi also has a children's museum. Kids could play inside the children's space while seeing and learning about the artwork. Although the museum's labels are short enough for children to read, for me, the trilingual label (in Arabic, English, and French) is a bit annoying. Too many languages though!
For the permanent exhibition, Louvre Abu Dhabi provides children's activity books in both Arabic and English. Ask for it at the ticketing counter. Besides, the museum is also an inclusive museum. It provides tactiles and replicas of objects to be touched. A fun activity for children anyway.
Etihad Towers Observation Deck at 300
I always enjoy seeing views from above. That is why I recommend you to end the day by visiting the Observation Deck at 300, located within level 74 of the second tower of the Etihad Towers. The Observation Deck at 300 is the highest vantage point in Abu Dhabi where you could see the cityscape and the Arab gulf. The view in the late afternoon will be stunning though. The cafe at the Observation Deck at 300 is also famous for its afternoon high tea. While some amount of the ticket's price is redeemable for food and drinks.
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
As an alternative, you could also book the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour provided by Big Bus Tours to go around the city of Abu Dhabi. The bus has two routes: the red route and the green route, which covered all of Abu Dhabi's landmarks, from museums to the mosque, beaches, and shopping malls. Each route takes about two hours.
With the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour, you only have to pay once. Then you could get on and get off wherever you like at each stop for free for the whole day. Quite an easy option for a "lazy" traveler like me who doesn't want to get lost on public transport, or pay for an overpriced taxi. Also a good option for travelers with kids though. If you don't want to get off the bus, you could just sit and relax while seeing the city view and listening to its history.
Enjoy Abu Dhabi in a day!
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