Best Abu Dhabi hotels and activities for an unforgettable group trip
21.07.2023 - 07:38
/ roughguides.com
Looking for a destination to stir your soul? Abu Dhabi serves up a romantic atmosphere, contemporary architecture, vibrant traditions, culture-rich museums and natural wonders in equal doses.
Here you’ll find magnificent palaces and forts, Bronze Age archaeological sites, tranquil mangroves and leafy desert oases. But there’s more: action-packed theme parks are surrounded by nature teeming with opportunities for the adventure of a lifetime.
With diverse experiences and a range of top-notch hotels at affordable rates, Abu Dhabi is a real adventure for solo travellers and a fun-pack place perfect for group travel.
Thousands of motorsport fans gather annually at the Yas Marina Circuit on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. They’re here to watch the spectacle that is the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, of course. But if you want to do more than just spectate, take your pick from other exciting experiences on offer.
Indulge your inner Formula 1 driver in a 3.0-litre V6 Formula Yas 3000. This powerful single-seat racecar goes from 0 to 100km per hour in a mere 2.8 seconds. It hits top speeds of 330km per hour. Hold on tight!
You can also book a drag race experience in a 6.2-litre V8 Chevrolet Camaro SS. Or, take a 60-minute guided tour of the circuit while driving a Polaris RZR RS1 vehicle.
Try a karting session at the 1km-long Yas Kartzone. Three track configurations and technical turns offer a fun challenge.
Yas 3000 Driving Experience [Image courtesy of LastMinute.com]
Stay at the Radisson Blu Abu Dhabi Yas Island, within walking distance of Yas Marina Circuit. Here, modern and spacious rooms with luxurious amenities overlook Yas Marina or the circuit.
Four restaurants and bars offer dining options for every preference, from Belgian beers to Italian cuisine.
At Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, you’ll find yourself hurtling along at a stomach-lurching speed of 240km per hour. Should you dare to ride Formula Rossa, the fastest rollercoaster in the world, that is.
Meanwhile, on the Turbo Track rollercoaster, you’ll be shot through the roof vertically only to then be subjected to a heart-pounding zero gravity fall.
Prefer racecars to rollercoasters? One of the best things to do in Abu Dhabi is to sign up for a Ferrari Driving Experience. You’ll take a Ferrari Portofino for a spin around Yas Island. You can bring two friends, for an extra charge.
It’s easy to spend an entire day here. There are motion-based simulators, a karting academy and fascinating exhibitions. Plus, take a behind-the-scenes look at the Ferrari factory.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi rollercoaster © Sean Wang/Unsplash
With rippled orange-red dunes, the Liwa Oasis stands at the edge of Rub Al Khali, otherwise known as the Empty Quarter. This is the largest