We took it easy on our last day of vacation in Abu Dhabi. We slept in and then had a leisurely dinner in our... hotel For breakfast. After checking out around 10 a.m., we drove for about 20 minutes to Yas Island. On this natural island covered with mangroves, a new world has been created for motorsport.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
First, we visited Ferrari World. This impressive hall, with a huge Ferrari logo on the roof, even houses a roller coaster. However, we didn't go into the exhibits because we found the ticket prices far too expensive. So we just watched a few rides on the fast-paced roller coaster.
Yas Marina Circuit
After leaving the entrance hall of Ferrari World, we tried to get a glimpse of the adjacent Formula 1 track. We drove around a bit until we suddenly found ourselves in front of a security checkpoint. After a brief inquiry, we were allowed to simply pass. We were now right in the middle of the racetrack.
As we drove past a grandstand, we saw an open door. We quickly decided to park and take advantage of the opportunity. Just for fun, I pressed a button for the elevator in the grandstand building and was quite surprised when it actually came. So we quickly went inside and up to the top floor. Suddenly, we were standing right in the middle of the VIP area in the grandstand on the start/finish straight. Awesome! We snapped a few photos and then wanted to make our escape. However, this time the elevator wasn't working, so we had to find a staircase. We found one in the empty grandstand building, which was cooled down to 17°C.
We left Yas Island via a six-lane highway heading north. We were almost alone on the road; hardly anyone was driving on this Friday, which, by the way, is considered part of the weekend in the UAE. All around us were, once again, incredibly vast, leveled construction sites. Who wants to build here? After a short trip to the beach on Saadiyat Island, we continued towards the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. To acclimatize a bit, we took a short break at the Marina Mall.
Heritage Village
After our visit to the mall, we checked out the Heritage Village across the street. It offered a fascinating look at the history of the country and its people. There were demonstrations of traditional crafts, such as carpet weaving, and historical replicas to admire. From there, we also had a fantastic view of Abu Dhabi, including its world-famous Emirates Palace Hotel.
Are you still looking for a suitable hotel in Abu Dhabi?
You can find a hotel to suit your budget via various online travel agencies such as Agoda, Booking.com, ebookers.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, lastminute.com, otel.com or Venere.com.
