Page 95 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Downtown Abu Dhabi ❮❮ 93

Etihad Towers
9 A CORNICHE AND CITY WALK
MAP N2 • Observation deck
at 300: Open 10am–6pm • Adm
• www.etihadtowers.com Marina Mall Abu Dhabi
Heritage Village
Dominating the southwestern end Emirates World
Abu
of the Corniche is the huge Etihad Palace Al Ittihad Trade Dhabi
Square
Center
Towers development, a cluster of five TAXI Mall Galleria
glistening skyscrapers with gently Corniche
curved outlines and a gleaming Towers Lebanese Qasr al Hosn
Etihad
metallic shine. There are superlative Flower Rotana
Beach
views over Abu Dhabi from the Al Maryah
Island
74th-floor Observation Deck at 300
(in tower two) and from Ray’s Bar MORNING
on the 62nd floor of the Jumeirah
at Etihad Towers hotel (see p115). Start with a stroll around the
stunning new Abu Dhabi Global
Market Square (Sowwah Square)
on Al Maryah Island (see p91) and
a wander through the boutique
shops of the Galleria (see p94).
Afterwards, head along the
waterfront before crossing the
bridge to the Downtown area.
Wander past the Abu Dhabi Mall
(see p94) and along 5th St, one of
the city’s liveliest shopping areas,
then have a look into the souk at
the World Trade Center (see p91)
and admire the quirky statues in
Al Ittihad Square. From here it’s
a short stroll past Qasr al Hosn
to the Lebanese Flower restaurant
(see p95), where you can break
for lunch.
AFTERNOON
Walk down past Al Markaziyah
Gardens to the spectacular
Etihad Towers dominating the skyline Corniche (see p90) and then
take a stroll along a bit of the
Qasr al Hosn
0 waterfront before jumping in a
cab and heading past the Etihad
MAP R2 • Al Nasr St (5th St)
Located at the heart of Downtown, Towers for afternoon tea in the
opulent surroundings of the
Qasr al Hosn (the Palace Fort) offers Emirates Palace hotel. Catch
an unexpected throwback to earlier another cab for the short drive to
times. This is the oldest building in the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village,
Abu Dhabi, first established back after which you can watch the sun
in the 1760s, after which it served as set from the top of the Sky Tower
home to the ruling Al Nahyan family in the Marina Mall (see p91).
for the next two centuries. Most of Catch a taxi back to Downtown
what you see now – a high white wall and enjoy the spectacular
dotted with a sequence of circular nighttime view of Al Maryah
battle mented towers – was built Island from the terrace of the
fashionable Finz restaurant at the
in the 1940s. The fort is currently Beach Rotana hotel (see p116).
undergoing extensive renovations End the day with a drink at
and will eventually reopen as a new the hotel’s German-themed
museum showcasing the city’s history, Brauhaus pub.
although the date is unknown.
See map on pp90–91
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