48 Hours In Abu Dhabi

Move over, Dubai. Whether you seek the sun, some sand, or an adventure on roller coasters, Abu Dhabi has it all, and more. Want to explore Middle Eastern food, history, and culture? Here's a detailed itinerary to simplify your holiday

- Samreen Tungekar

I'm tired of talking about how much the pandemic hampered my travel plans in life, and now, given the abhorring process that securing visas has become, the last thing anyone wants to do is deal with anxiety, which is also why kicking off my 'revenge travel' plans with a destination that's full of life and easy to get to seemed like a smart decision. Abu Dhabi Do, Miranda Hobbes said in SATC 2. She was right, there's a lot to do.

UAE has, for far too long, been defined by Dubai for the travel lovers. But its capital, Abu Dhabi, has been changing that thought process for a while now. As a total comeback from the pandemic, the IIFA awards this year were held in Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, which holds the Yas Marina Circuit that has hosted the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009. From culinary hotspots to Emirati marvels, not to mention absolutely grand historic attractions, here's how you can go about exploring the capital.

DAY 1

I start my trip with a morning visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Full disclosure: I'm not art savvy, and as a lay person, I could understand, like, admire, and enjoy the wonders of this museum that has elevated Abu Dhabi's art scene. There are white buildings inspired by the medina, a silver dome in a woven structure that's said to be about the same height as the Eiffel Tower, perfectly complimenting the quietude and sophistication of the museum, and galleries that have artwork and installations of cultural and historical significance loaned from notable French museums such as Musée du Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Centre Pompidou. Louvre is genuinely an unmissable experience just for all that it stands with, which includes taking a kayaking tour around the museum another interesting way to explore it.