If you’re visiting the UAE capital for an event such as the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, chances are you already have a packed out itinerary.

But if you do happen to find a spare day to explore the city, here are our tips to make the most of it.

While 24 hours in Abu Dhabi definitely isn’t enough to see all the things the UAE capital has to offer, you can still explore some of the best things to do here.

Here, the team at Time Out Abu Dhabi have prepared the perfect itinerary for 24 hours in Abu Dhabi.

Ready, set, explore.

The ultimate 24 hours in Abu Dhabi

Go kayaking at dawn

The Eastern Mangroves are one of Abu Dhabi’s most stunning natural attractions and one of the best times to visit is in the morning. We recommending setting your alarm clock and going kayaking before the heat gets too much. It’s definitely worth waking up at the crack of dawn for. Hire kayaks and weave in and out of the lush greenery, keep an eye out for wildlife, discover pristine white sandy beaches and enjoy the sights. Tours will also give you info on the local ecosystem, its significance to the local area and history in Abu Dhabi.
Click here for your guide to the best places to kayak in Abu Dhabi.
From Dhs80. Eastern Mangroves Promenade, sea-hawk.ae and noukhada.ae.

Enjoy breakfast outdoors

After a morning of putting some welly into your kayaking, you’re going to be hungry. While we are spoilt for choice for cafés in Abu Dhabi, Joud café is one of the best. Located at Al Seef Village Mall, the Emirati-owned spot is ideal for a quiet breakfast. The airy café offers breakfast, salads, sandwiches, pastas and mains. If you are a staunch breakfaster, an Americano and croissant will go down just nicely. Add this to your 24 hours in Abu Dhabi itinerary.
Click here for the best places to enjoy breakfast outdoors in Abu Dhabi.
Open daily, 8am-11pm. Al Bateen, joudcafe.com (02 632 9599).

Pay a visit to the Heritage Village

Looking to immerse yourself in local culture? Here you can explore the awesome reconstruction of a traditional Emirati settlement. It’s a really cool way to connect with old Abu Dhabi with a souk, craft workshops and even a camel among the star attractions. The adjacent beach with a handful of abandoned wooden boats make for a beautiful photo opp.
Free. Sat-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri 3.30pm-9pm. Corniche Breakwater, visitabudhabi.ae.

Sit back and relax at a beach club

We are spoilt for choice in Abu Dhabi when it comes to beach clubs. In fact, many people struggle to leave after a long day chillin’ out, maxin’ relaxin’ all cool (sorry). If you really want your breath taken away, go back onto the mainland to the Emirates Palace Beach Club for the ultimate spot of luxury. Head to the hotel first to awe at the stunning architecture before taking a buggy ride down to its 1.3km private sandy beach where you’ll have access to two pools and plenty of water sports options like windsurfing, wakeboarding and water skiing.
Click here for everything to know about Emirates Palace.
From Dhs310. Emirates Palace, mandarinoriental.com (02 690 8888).

Wander around Abu Dhabi’s glorious parks

Only have 24 hours in Abu Dhabi? It would be rude not to explore one of Abu Dhabi’s green spaces, of which there are many. Our favourite is Umm Al Emarat Park. It’s cheap as chips (Dhs10) and on Fridays and Saturdays you can head over to Park Market for al fresco dining, live music and food stalls. If the market isn’t on, check out SALT where you’ll find one of the first food trucks in the UAE, serving delicious burgers.
Click here to explore some of Abu Dhabi’s best parks.
Dhs10. Al Mushrif (02 666 9559).

Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

You can’t spend 24 hours in Abu Dhabi and not visit one of the most breathtaking attractions in the UAE capital. You can join free tours every day of the week bar Fridays and it’s the perfect way to find out more about the incredible place of worship.
Click here for your guide to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, szgmc.gov.ae (02 419 1919).

Immerse yourself in some art

The sun will now be setting on your 24 hours in Abu Dhabi, so it’s round about time for you to head over to Saadiyat Island and visit Louvre Abu Dhabi. This isn’t your average art gallery or museum, by the way. Even the building and latticed roof is worth Instagramming. It’s definitely worth checking out the new Impressionism: Pathways to Modernity exhibition which will showcase 150 important impressionist masterpieces from pioneering artists like Monet, Cézanne, Degas, Pissarro, Renoir and Manet.
Click here to learn more about the Impressionism exhibition.
Open now until Sun Feb 5, 2023. Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, louvreabudhabi.ae.

Hydrate at a bar with a view

Once you’ve had your fill of culture, make a quick move over to the nearby Buddha-Bar Beach. Sit outside, right on the pure white sands of Saadiyat Beach, or inside the stylish bar area. Drinks are from Dhs35 from 5pm to 7pm. Enjoy the last light of the day in a dreamy setting with a holiday feel.
Click here for the best bars with a view in Abu Dhabi.
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, buddhabarbeachabudhabi.com (02 498 8888).

Treat yourself to a delicious meal at a top restaurant

If there’s one place to head for your evening meal, it’s Al Maryah Island. Here, you’ll find the highest concentration of top-quality restaurants in the capital. And you can’t spend 24 hours in Abu Dhabi without a visit to COYA, one of Abu Dhabi’s best restaurants. Tuck in to Puruvian dishes, including anticucho skewers, octopus with mashed potato and tuna sashimi, among an extensive list of dishes on the menu. Room for dessert? Of course you do. We recommend diving into the rice and quinoa pudding or peanut butter mousse.
Click here for the best new restaurants to try in Abu Dhabi.
Open daily. The Four Seasons Hotel, Al Maryah Island (02 306 7000).

Enjoy a night cap with Yas Marina views

There’s no better way than to wave your 24 hours in Abu Dhabi goodbye than to enjoy a delicious drink while admiring the beautiful views of Yas Marina. For a late-night experience, head over to Yas Island where you can chill out at Iris Yas Island’s incredible outdoor area. Open until 3am, this is a super-hip bar that gets packed out with the city’s most fashionable and fun-loving crowd.
Click here for a guide to the Yas Marina Circuit.
Open daily, 6pm-3am, irisabudhabi.com (055 160 5636).