Written By Arabiers Digital & Reviewed by Robeena Brown
12 November 2024 | 13 min read
Sharjah, as the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offers spectacular options to spend time meaningfully when you visit the Emirate. First, it is a family-friendly destination.
The activities you plan to do in Sharjah will also have a bearing on the season of your visit. Climate-wise, the summer months are from June to September, with temperatures going above 40 °C. Thanks to the presence of mountains, the east coast is still cooler in the summer.
Perhaps the ideal time to visit Sharjah is the window of December to February, as the weather will be cool with around 20 degrees Celsius, no rain, and very low humidity. March and April are also fine, and the daytime highs of temperature from November to April will be in the range of 25°C to 35°C.
Sharjah is quite different from other emirates as the focus is not on beach vacations, shopping, or contemporary city glitz, but its perfect tourist attractions are showing more of history, culture, science, and heritage. UNESCO honoured Sharjah by calling it the Arba cultural capital.
The scenic views, city skyline, and many marvels of urban architecture also add to the sober and calm profile of the Emirate in contrast to the effervescence of luxury feel of Dubai, which is just 40 km away.
Keep in mind that Sharjah is a bit more conservative than Dubai, and the modest dress code and the prevailing curbs on the sale and public consumption of liquor have to be borne in mind.
Sharjah can be reached by many means, including flights. Many airlines offer flights from Delhi to Sharjah. The carriers include Air India, Air Arabia, Emirates, etc. The flight from India to Sharjah takes around 3 hours and 50 minutes.
There are also Air Arabia buses connecting Sharjah with Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras al Khaimah.
Sharjah is the third largest emirate in the UAE, covering 2,590 sq. km. and is 3.3 percent of the total area of the UAE, excluding the islands. Sharjah itself is around 250 square kilometers. The picturesque landscapes and seascapes of Sharjah fascinate the visitors.
Sharjah is also the favorite venue of many international cricketing events at its Sharjah Stadium. The city also hosts many annual events, such as the Sharjah Art Fair, the Sharjah Book Fair, and the Sharjah Design Event.
Sharjah houses many beautiful parks, such as Al Ittihad Square Park and Sharjah National Park. There are exotic places to live, including Al Shaab Village and Sharjah Discovery Centre. The family-friendly destination also attracts with its Sharjah Desert Park.
Some of the must-visit sites include the renowned Sharjah Art Museum, and the faithful will love the detailing inside the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. The key museums to explore include Sharjah Aquarium, the Maritime Museum, and the Classic Car Museum.
Outside the city limits, you can also explore Mleiha Archaeological Site, which offers a two-in-one attraction with desert activities and is the significant archaeological site of the UAE. The UNESCO-nominated World Heritage Site houses significant sites that have Bronze Age tombs and pre-Islamic forts.
For a broad overview of the city, you can go on a private or group tour that stops by important attractions, including the Al Noor Mosque, Sharjah Fort, and Buhaira Corniche.
The advantage of a hop-on, hop-off bus ride will be the pace and freedom it offers to enjoy your own itinerary.
The hop on, hop off tour usually covers 20 locations, introducing the city’s history, culture, and tales about specific locations. There is variety; you can experience the white sands of Ajman or go to the Sharjah aquarium to watch jellyfish and eagle rays.
The interesting audio commentary in the bus in 7 languages will update your GK too as it takes you to Central Souk, Palm Tree Oasis, Al Noor Island, Al Majaz Waterfront, Buhaira Corniche, Al Khan Beach, Sharjah Aquarium, Al Qasba, Sahara Center, Sharjah City Centre, etc.
Enjoy some splendid options in accommodation too for a king-size experience of Sharjah. You can try out some of the luxury hotels adorning sea faces and important tourist locations. By the way, the accommodation costs in Sharjah are 25 percent lower than Dubai.
Some of the prominent brands include the following:
• Kingfisher Retreat Resort hotel
• The Chedi Al Bait Sharjah Hotel
• Golden Sands Hotel
• Centro Sharjah Hotel
• Occidental Sharjah Grand
• Sahara Beach Resort & Spa Sharjah
• Resort Hotel
• City Max Hotel, Al Wahda Street
• TIME Ruby Hotel
• Al Majaz Premiere Deluxe Hotel
• Sharjah Carlton Hotel
• Resort Hotel
You can spare a day after a good breakfast to explore some of the top-notch museums in the city.
The Sharjah Museum facilitates the best close-quarters view of the marine life active in the Persian Gulf and other water bodies. The aquarium overlooks the lagoon in Sharjah’s Al Khan district.
Housed in two levels of a modern building, the aquarium boasts of more than 100 species ranging from exotic fish to stingrays, and the visit is fun and educational too.
Aquarium visitors will walk through an underwater tunnel to see many creatures up close. It replicates natural habitats, including coral gardens and mangroves, hosting reef sharks, turtles, moray eels, eagle rays, clownfish, seahorses, and jellyfish, among others.
The visit to the aquarium will be perfect only with a close watch of the contents at the nearby Sharjah Maritime Museum sketching Sharjah’s maritime history.
Never miss the Arabian wild center within this Sharjah Desert Park, where a large collection of Arabian wildlife spanning more than 100 species, including fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals native to the Arabian Peninsula, live in natural surroundings. The desert park is in the Al Dhaid Road, Interchange 9, Sharjah Rural, Sharjah.
The Arabian Wildlife Center is ideal for families with kids and animal lovers. Photography is not allowed inside the place.
Do not skip the walk-through cave in the aviary of birds to see blind fish from Oman and the rock hyrax tailless creatures moving with their odd three toes on each foot. There are also rare Arabian leopards to watch.
For automotive lovers, the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum is a treasure trove of delights. It houses more than 100 vintage cars, trucks, bicycles, and motorcycles that are more than a century old. It finely displays the evolution of the automobile in different decades in terms of designs and engines since 1915. The car museum also exhibits some amazingly restored vehicles across many makes and models.
Located on the airport road near the 5th intersection and opposite the landmark Sharjah Discovery Center, the classic car museum will make great memories.
This is a learning-centric entertainment center best recommended for visitors with coming children. Those kids in the age group of 3 to 12 years have a lot to enjoy. The place provides a unique opportunity to discover how science and technology make our world a better place to live.
The area is divided into 7 sections with each areas adding insights on specific areas and activities. The main hall charms with its attractive colors and thematic exhibits. The theater inside hosts live shows and workshops.
Located within Khalid Lake, Al Noor Island is a lush nature-and-art sanctuary in the heart of Sharjah. It is the top family attraction in Sharjah, famous for its tropical biosphere filled with floating butterflies. The island also has several art installations, including the globally famous OVO structure. It is also the venue of the Sharjah light festival.
Visitors can engage in wandering boardwalks through shady palms, walk amid butterflies, relax on white sands, and enjoy art installations, reading retreats, and light shows.
The Butterfly House, the calligraphy-decorated Literature Pavilion, a scenic 3.5-kilometer boardwalk, and regular events such as illuminated night trails, yoga workshops, and stargazing make the place perennially interesting for nature and art lovers.
A tour to the east coast can give a rustic touch, departing from the urban pleasantries as you cross the Hajar Mountains towards the Fujairah town. The medieval fort and beaches lapped by the Gulf of Oman will be interesting sights.
Also enjoy an Arabian dhow cruise into neighboring Oman’s Musandam Peninsula.
To relax in Sharjah, try the comfort of sandy beaches at places like Al Khan or Al Mamzar Beach Park.
Al Khan Beach is a 600-meter strip of sand with dedicated areas for swimming and water sports. The surf school provides for activities such as parasailing, surfing, kayaking, and flyboarding.
For a relaxed experience, why not lounge on the sand and enjoy the sunny weather, or wade into the swimming area, hop onto a banana boat, or play some active beach volleyball?
Al Mamzar Beach on Al Khaleej Road is a public beach spanning more than 100 hectares. The beach park includes a massive public lawn, a public pool, and cycle paths. It has fabulous vistas to enjoy warm sands as well as cool grass in the afternoon.
This amusement park at Al Khalida Street offers thrilling rides and fantastic wonders to indulge in many hours of non-stop fun. They have perfect rides for the family and special ones too. One major attraction is the Eye of the Emirates Wheel, offering unmatched views of the glittering emirate. A spin on the wheel is perfect to enjoy the famous landmarks on the horizon. The wheel takes you to the skies at 60 meters high, overseeing the park and lagoon below.
The Al Majaz Waterfront in Shrajah is an all-time family destination with its myriad activities covering golfing, short cruising, and fine dining. The place also hosts concerts, events, and festivals throughout the year.
The Sharjah Musical Fountain is one of its mesmerizing experiences, backed by a variety of services such as free Wi-Fi, public facilities, and vast parking spots.
If you want to go to a commercial street, this commercial complex offers a perfect package of entertainment and the glitz of Sharjah. You can try out the best restaurants and theaters too. It is in the heart of Sharjah waterfront. It is also the favorite of the business class with its large number of conference halls. The huge array of restaurants and retail outlets sparkles the entire area.
For a desert experience, try this largest sand dunes near Sharjah as a great spot for desert sports and scenic views. You can do dune bashing, quad biking, and sand skiing. It is also apt for picnicking with family and kids watching the sunset over a sea of red sand. You can also set up your own desert camp in the soft sand.
Al Montazah Park is a must-see in Sharjah. It is a fun place for the whole family to spend a day. The park is one of the favorites for both tourists and locals. Its two sections, Pearls Kingdom and Island of Legends, offer thrilling rides and amazing entertainment.
The Chinese dragon at the entrance gives a hint of the thrills in store and is a place for the brave and the adventurous. The Dragon Discovery is the ultimate excitement, and you will reach for the clouds literally as it pulls you up into the sky.
In Sharjah, your quest for a cultural outing will be fulfilled by watching contemporary Islamic art like Arabic calligraphy or shopping at a souk or old Arab market, relishing Emirati cuisine or street food, and even exploring some modern art.
As you take a walk along the Sharjah corniche, you can come across the Sharjah Museum and Al Noor Mosque, opening rich insights into the cultural elements of the Emirate.
Sharjah's elegance as the cultural emirate is epitomized by the Sharjah Art Foundation. It has an array of connected venues within walking distance and are easy to explore.
Regional and international artists share their work in the foundation's annual exhibitions. The Sharjah Biennial is famous, and its 16th edition is due in February 2025.
Never miss it; it is an extension of Sharjah’s honor as UNESCO World Book Capital of 2019. The hi-tech library and culture center has been envisaged as a cultural quarter housing more than 100,000 books.
The library building adorns the exterior of University City and is on the road going to Sharjah International Airport. Landscaped gardens, a huge floating roof, and moveable aluminum screens that filter out sun beams make a great spectacle.
Your Sharjah experience gets a top-up by chartering into the shopping avenues of the Emirate, including the traditional ones beyond chic malls.
Famous for stores of traditional men's and women's attire, electronic shops, and style accessories Al Shaab Village Mall is the best place to take kids along. They will enjoy the time at Sharjah’s largest ice-skating rink with its beautiful indoor games and activities. It is located in the Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammed Street at Al Hazannah.
Famous as the Blue Souk, the market attracts shoppers who marvel at its fantastic architecture style. Its two large buildings are connected via bridges. More than 600 shops are open vending gift products, electronic appliances, antiques, rugs, jewelry, clothes, etc. The location is Al Buhaira Corniche in Khalid Lagoon.
This is the oldest market in Sharjah. The massive air-conditioned alleyways of the soul will give a feel as if you are going down the rustic roads of the past.
At this traditional souk, the architecture looks stuck in time with merchants selling vintage Arabic products such as antiques, copper coffee pots, ethnic and handmade jewelry, shawls, palm-leaf baskets, and much more. The location of the souk is Al Sharq Street, opposite Old Souk, Shuwaihean.
This novelty of Sharjah needs to be experienced and is a very popular attraction in the city. The room has year-round rains. Offering an immersive experience, the Rain Room lets guests walk through curtains of rain without getting wet under its watchful sensor settings.
The custom-built dark room has bright spotlights, offering cool photo opportunities too. It is opposite the Lulu Hyper Market at Al Majarra Park.
Sharjah is also a paradise of culinary delights besides its towering grace as a place of culture, art, and architecture. The fine dining scene offers creative dishes that push the boundaries of a tasty meal.
Black Salt is a gem that offers pasta, pizza, burgers, and Turkish kebabs. Located in the Muweilah area, its menu satisfies every palate, and the desserts are superb. The variety of Black Salt’s offerings is also a visual feast.
For indulging in Mediterranean cuisine, Caya is great. Located at University City’s Nshama Town Square, it will sweep you away with the ambiance, earthy tones, and wooden furnishings making an inviting atmosphere.
For a cozy café experience, go for its delectable bakery items, beverages, and café dishes like Iced Matcha, Khameer Bun, and Turkish eggs. The place is equally good for a quick breakfast or a leisurely brunch with its relaxed settings.
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