The Corniche

Boardwalk, beaches and a towering skyline

Word to the wise: From the walkway it’s possible to glimpse what was once the world’s largest flagpole, a 122m beast that adorns Marina Island.
The Corniche, a 6-kilometre-long promenade that hugs the coast along the Gulf, is easily Abu Dhabi’s most stunning feature. Lined with hotels and restaurants, locals and visitors alike use the walkway for jogging, cycling and other sporty activities. In recent years, the area has been renovated and now includes all manner of amenities, including a gorgeous stretch of (albeit artificial) beach, parks, bikes for hire and go karting.

Entrance to the beach clocks in at a very reasonable AED 10 and, although you can’t swim out very far (floating fences block the way past 40 metres), there's plenty of entertainment in the form of volleyball and wakeboarding.
The Corniche is also the site of several free public festivals during the year, including the WOMAD music festival.