Paddle through mangrove forests, watch wild flamingos and walk among dunes that turned to stone.
Abu Dhabi is towers and museums, but some of its best moments are completely quiet. Here's where to find them.
The mangroves
Mangrove National Park protects a vast mangrove forest on the city's eastern shore. Explore by kayak or paddleboard; go at high tide for the best experience and stay for sunset.
Jubail Mangrove Park lets you explore on foot, along a long wooden boardwalk where crabs scuttle below and birds feed in the shallows. It's one of the calmest places in the city.
Wild flamingos
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is one of the few places in the region where greater flamingos breed. Walk the 3km trails with binoculars. It opens seasonally, so check the dates before you go.
Dunes made of stone
Nearby, the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes are ancient sand dunes that hardened into wavy rock ridges, like a sculpture gallery in the desert. Free, silent and spectacular at sunset.
An island evening
Back in town, Al Hudayriyat Island has clean public beaches, a long cycling track and food trucks for dinner as the sun goes down.
A quiet hour
End at The Founder's Memorial, where The Constellation, more than 1,300 suspended shapes, forms a portrait of Sheikh Zayed as you walk around it. Entry is free and dusk is the best time.