Abu Dhabi to Trivandrum Flights

What's new in Abu Dhabi

• November 2025: Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi opened on Saadiyat Island, adding science and natural-history galleries to the island’s museum circuit.
• December 2025: Zayed National Museum opened to the public, giving visitors six permanent galleries exploring the UAE and its founding president.

Tips for travellers from India

A Corniche hotel suits waterfront walks and the central island, whereas Saadiyat accommodation makes the museum district easier to reach. Yas Island is a different choice, geared towards its parks and entertainment venues. The airport is on the mainland, so the transfer to each area follows a different route; name the island as well as the hotel when arranging a pickup.

Build one day around Saadiyat instead of alternating its museums with Qasr Al Watan at the western end of Abu Dhabi island. Louvre Abu Dhabi’s galleries and outdoor dome spaces reward different pacing, especially when combining it with another museum. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque also belongs in its own part of the schedule because it is away from both clusters. Qasr Al Watan is within a working presidential compound, making its official visitor calendar particularly relevant when selecting a ticket. The Corniche is the flexible walking component between these scheduled visits, while airport bus timetables help determine whether a central bus stop is useful for the final hotel connection.

Tips for travellers

Hotels in the centre around Thampanoor and East Fort are close to the railway station and the temple, while Kovalam, about 16 km south, suits a beach stay. KSRTC runs city circular buses, and app cabs and auto-rickshaws cover most trips; there is no metro. The two airport terminals are on opposite sides of the runway and reached by different roads, so confirm yours before setting out. Varkala is on the main railway line north of the city, so its cliffs can be reached by train, and Kanyakumari, about 90 km south, makes a long day trip by road or rail.

The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple admits only Hindus and keeps a strict dress code: men wear a mundu or dhoti without a shirt, and women wear a saree or a long skirt, and a dhoti can be hired near the gates. Phones and cameras must be deposited before entry. The Attukal Pongala, usually in February or March, brings huge numbers of women into the city to cook offerings along the roads, and traffic stops across the centre for the day. The south-west monsoon lasts from June to September, with a second rainy spell in October and November; December to February is the driest season. Onam, in August or September, is marked by a week of state celebrations and lit-up streets.