Although finding where to stay in Abu Dhabi is not difficult since the capital of the United Arab Emirates has a wide range of hotels, we want to give you a selection of what we consider to be the best places to stay in Abu Dhabi to make your search as easy and fast as possible.
Based on our visit to the city during our trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Rub’ al Khali, here is a selection of places to stay in Abu Dhabi and the best neighborhoods. Let’s get started!
Neighborhoods where to stay in Abu Dhabi
Sometimes forgotten due to having the incredible Dubai as a neighbor, Abu Dhabi is also one of the visits that we recommend you to make if you travel to the United Arab Emirates, as there are few attractions in the city, which we are sure will not leave you indifferent.
Although many travelers come to the city on a day trip from Dubai, either by rental car, public transport or on an organized tour as this day trip with guide in English or this tour in English that includes the Grand Mosque and the Louvre, we recommend whenever you can, stay overnight in Abu Dhabi one night to enjoy the city in the evening and especially to see the sunset at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, one of the must-see places in Abu Dhabi.
Although there are many areas to stay in Abu Dhabi, considering that most travelers are only in the city for one night, we will focus on the most central and recommended ones.
- Downtown Abu Dhabi: staying in the Corniche area, the main artery of the city or near the Marina Mall will allow you to be in one of the most lively and central areas of the city.
- Yas Island: this artificial island is one of the most expensive areas of the city. It is home to the Yas Marina Circuit and Ferrari World.
- Saadiyat Island: known for being home to the impressive Louvre Museum, the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim, this is the most cultural island in the city.
Keep in mind that the main points of interest of the city are quite far from each other and as in Dubai, the city is not particularly pedestrian friendly, so it is important to have a rental car or move by public transport to see the attractions of the city.
1. Corniche, the best option to stay in Abu Dhabi
The most central area of the city, which includes the Corniche, the main artery and the Marina Mall area are, in our experience, the best areas to stay in Abu Dhabi.
Although as mentioned above the main tourist attractions are located far from each other and you will need to have transportation to get around, staying in an area like this, where there is a wide range of hotels and restaurants, will allow you to find accommodation that fits your budget.
In addition to this you will be on the Corniche, Abu Dhabi’s promenade, where you can enjoy the beach or stroll along the promenade when the sun goes down and temperatures drop.
The price of accommodation in Corniche and Marina Mall is usually 80-100 euros per night although you can find tighter options and more expensive options.
2. Yas Island, another place to sleep in Abu Dhabi
This artificial island, known for hosting the famous Yas Marina circuit and one of the most fashionable leisure and luxury areas of the city, is another of the most recommended areas to stay in Abu Dhabi.
In addition here you will also find Ferrari World, the Ferrari-themed amusement park and Yas Waterworld, an Emirati-themed water park.
Although we prefer the downtown area to find a hotel in Abu Dhabi, this can be a good option if you want to be in a lively area at night and be closer to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, which is in the adjoining neighborhood.
The price of accommodation in Yas Island is usually 70 euros per night although you can find more affordable options and more expensive options.
3. Saadiyat Island, another option to look for a hotel in Abu Dhabi
Saadiyat Island is known for being the place where the impressive Louvre Museum, the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim, three of the most important museums in the city and the country, are located.
Although we do not think it is the best option to stay in Abu Dhabi as most hotels are luxury and have very high prices, if you want to be close to these museums, it can be an option to value.
Keep in mind that as we have repeated several times, the main attractions of the city are quite separated from each other, so we believe it is best to choose to sleep in Abu Dhabi in an area that has a good range of hotels and restaurants and then move by transport to see all the sights.
The price of accommodation on Saadiyat Island is usually 250 euros per night.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation
In addition to the above, here is a selection of recommendations and tips to make your search for a hotel to stay in Abu Dhabi quick, easy and comfortable.
- Interestingly, and contrary to what it may seem, luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi are generally not too expensive, so if you feel like treating yourself, this may be a good time to do it.
- As we have mentioned on several occasions, the main places of interest are not close to each other, so you will need transportation to visit them. With this in mind, we recommend staying in an area like Corniche, one of the liveliest and from there make the visits.
- Although most travelers travel to Abu Dhabi for one day from Dubai, if you can stay one night you will not regret it as you can enjoy the sunset at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, one of the most impressive moments of the day.
- Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free of charge and will save you a lot of money.
