Observation Deck at 300 Guide

The Emirates Palace is one of the most expensive hotels and a cultural hub in Abu Dhabi. It is located on the city’s waterfront and gives access to tourists to take a look around, even if they are not staying here. You will be able to access certain areas of the hotel such as the lobby, exhibitions and outdoor areas during your visit. The impressive hotel is decorated with domed gatehouses, flying ramps and a vestibule and will captivate you with the view of its 114 domes. Walk into the hotel to get a view of the sheer magnificence of the place with 1002 crystal chandeliers. For those who wish to stay, there are 400 luxury rooms. Hotel guests can enjoy private time at its private beach with a 1.3 km coastline. The hotel is known as a cultural hub and hosts various operas and orchestras during concert season.

Qasr Al-Watan, the Presidential Palace, is a heritage structure which is yet another architectural landmark of Abu Dhabi. The magnificent palace is reflective of the city’s culture and governance. Take a tour of the palace made of white granite and limestone and get an understanding of the excellent design and decor of UAE's artistry. Stroll through the hallways full of grandeur and visit enchanting zones. Take a look at the gigantic library containing over 50,000 books and then walk into the Great Hall, a prime attraction of the palace.

Feel awe-struck as you look at the antique decor of the Hall with its royal chandelier made with 350,000 pieces of crystal. Take a look at the memoirs of the Arabian leaders throughout the palace as you make your way toward the massive dining space that has been laid out with its 1,49,00 pieces of china, crystal and silver. The palace holds a light and sound show daily at 7:30 pm narrating about Qasr Al-Watan.

If you want to take a look at the traditional way of life in the desert, an excellent way to do so is to visit the Heritage Village where time has been encapsulated to the pre-modern UAE period with an old-world souk, mosque and a camp. Visit the traditional oasis village located on Marina Mall Island and get a glimpse into the city’s past. Enjoy a shopping expedition in the old-world souk, delighting in watching artisans blow glass, make pottery, and weave fabric on a loom. Check out the small spice shop where you will be able to find handmade soaps, a range of dried herbs, and souvenirs which you will want to take along.

Inside the village, you will find the Emirates Heritage Club, where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills such as pottery, weaving, metalwork, and spinning yarn and host workshops to give you an opportunity to try your hand at these skills.

Abu Dhabi Corniche Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the city and is frequently visited by locals and tourists. You can take a stroll along the 8 km long beach which starts from the Hilton Hotel and extends up to Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street along the Corniche Road. During your walk, you can take a pause to visit the Presidential Palace or shop at Marina Mall, both of which are located nearby.

You can also opt to spend some time on the beach which has hosts of facilities for its visitors ever since it opened in 2008. The beach has its own library for the beachgoers to spend time on the beach reading books. There is a cycling path for anyone who wants a ride. Children can play on the Children’s playground and those interested in sports can play football, volleyball and basketball.

The Qasr Al-Hosn is an exhibition centre where evidence of the historic events of the city of Abu Dhabi has been displayed. The exhibition, the oldest of its kind in the city, will narrate a story about the city and its people. You will see Qasr Al-Hosn featured on the back of the AED 1000 note. The iconic structure was built as a watchtower in 1760 and served as the ancestral home of the ruling family Al Nahyan since 1793 and remained with the royal family till 1966.

Stroll across the place to take a look at its various exhibits consisting of photographs and testimonials that will take you to the bygone eras of this Arab city.

The Zayed Centre in Abu Dhabi was built as a tribute to the life of Abu Dhabi’s ‘Father of the Nation’, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Explore the museum to take a look at personal memorabilia from his life along with a number of artefacts. The star attraction of this museum is his collection of four vintage cars, including his favourite blue Mercedes. Other personal items belonging to him include hunting rifles, a cologne bottle, a falcon clock, as well as gifts and souvenirs received by him from all over the world.

Other than these you will also find 3 smaller galleries in the Zayed Centre. You can look into the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations gallery where you will find walls full of timelines with important dates and events written on them. You can also take a look at the huge collection of stamps and envelopes from Abu Dhabi when you visit the Emirates Post gallery. And finally, there is the Abu Dhabi Police gallery where you will find a display of uniforms that have been worn by the Police Department over the years, as well as tools used by them.