🕌 Sharjah 3-Day City Walk Guide
Schwarz
🕌 Sharjah 3-Day City Walk Guide
The cultural capital of the UAE, where museums and traditional souqs stand side by side — a city of half desert, half sea
Sharjah is the UAE's third-largest emirate, right next to Dubai, and was named "Islamic Culture Capital" by UNESCO. Unlike Dubai's skyscraper spectacle, Sharjah preserves its traditional Arabian character — blue-tiled markets, centuries-old forts, waterfront promenades, and dozens of museums. Three days lets you explore the old town cultural district, Blue Souk, Al Noor Island, and desert archaeological sites for the purest Emirati cultural experience.
🚶 Day 1: Old Town Walk + Waterfront Night
Morning: Heart of Sharjah
Start in the restored heritage district. Visit Al Hisn Fort — Sharjah's oldest building, now a cultural center (free entry). Walk to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization for historic Islamic art, fine ceramics, and scientific instruments (AED 5, approx ¥10). Browse Souq Al Arsah for handcrafted copperware, frankincense, and dates.
Lunch: Traditional Emirati Food
Try Machboos (spiced lamb rice, AED 25-35, ¥50-70) or Luqaimat (sweet dough balls with honey, AED 10, ¥20) at an old town café.
Afternoon: Blue Souk (Central Market)
Sharjah's iconic building with stunning blue tile exterior. Ground floor: textiles; second floor: gold jewelry; third floor: antiques and handicrafts. Great for photos and souvenirs.
Evening: Al Majaz Waterfront
Khalid Lagoon promenade with nightly musical fountain light shows (free). Waterfront restaurants line the shore — order a Shawarma (AED 10-15, ¥20-30) with Arabic tea.
🚶 Day 2: Art Island + Marine World
Morning: Sharjah Art Museum
One of the Gulf's largest art museums (free entry), featuring Arab modern art and Islamic calligraphy exhibitions. Several smaller galleries nearby.
Lunch: Al Noor Island
Cross the pedestrian bridge (AED 35, approx ¥70) to explore the butterfly house, sculpture trail, and landscaped tropical gardens. The bridge itself offers excellent lagoon reflection photos.
Afternoon: Al Qasba + Sharjah Aquarium
Canal-side leisure district with abundant cafés and restaurants. Visit Sharjah Aquarium (AED 25, approx ¥50) to learn about Gulf marine life. Ride the "Eye of the Emirates" Ferris wheel for skyline views.
Evening: Dhow Cruise
Traditional wooden boat ride on Khalid Lagoon (AED 30-50, ¥60-100), enjoying the illuminated cityscape reflections.
🚶 Day 3: Desert Archaeology / Slow Living
Option A — Mleiha Archaeological Centre
Half-day trip (1 hour from city). See fossil remains, Bronze Age tombs, experience dune bashing, and watch the sunset in the desert (tour AED 200-350, ¥400-700, including transport and guide).
Option B — Local Slow Day
Morning: Visit Al Noor Mosque — Sharjah's most beautiful mosque, Ottoman-style white architecture. Non-Muslims can join guided tours (free, reservation required, women need abaya).
Lunch: Al Jubail Fish Market — watch local fishermen trade, buy fresh seafood and have nearby restaurants cook it (AED 30-50, ¥60-100).
Afternoon: Relax at Al Majaz Park or Al Khan Beach, then head back.
🍜 Food Guide
- Machboos: UAE national dish, saffron stewed meat rice, AED 25-40
- Shawarma: Street-side grilled meat wrap, everywhere, AED 5-15
- Luqaimat: Fried dough balls with date syrup, AED 10
- Karak Chai: Rich spiced milk tea, AED 3-5 (¥6-10), available at gas stations and shops
- Harees: Slow-cooked wheat and meat porridge, Ramadan specialty, AED 15-25
- Camel Burger: Local specialty experience, AED 30-50
🚗 Transport Tips
- Getting there: 30 min drive from Dubai, taxi AED 80-100 (¥160-200); buses E303/E304 from Dubai
- Local transport: Careem/Uber recommended, starting from AED 10; limited public buses
- Car rental: AED 100-150/day (¥200-300), best for desert trips
- Exchange rate: 1 AED ≈ ¥2
💡 Practical Tips
- Best season: October-April, pleasant temperatures (20-30°C); May-September extremely hot (40°C+), limited outdoor activities
- Dress code: Cover shoulders and knees in public; remove shoes at mosques, women wear headscarves
- Cost level: About 30% cheaper than Dubai, hotels AED 200-400/night
- Budget: 3 days approx ¥2000-3500 (excluding flights)
- Friday note: Muslim Jumma prayer day — mosques closed to visitors in the morning, some shops open later