Qasr Al Watan: Visiting the Presidential Palace and the Evening Light Show
4 min read
The answer first
Qasr Al Watan is worth a visit if you want to see the presidential palace complex from the inside, not only from the road. The Qasr Al Watan Palace and Garden entry ticket costs €15.76, with 4.7 stars from 1,070 reviews. It is an entry ticket, not a guided tour. On the palace’s own website, the general admission ticket includes the evening light show, Palace in Motion; whether this GetYourGuide ticket includes it too is shown on its booking page.
What the ticket gives you
The GetYourGuide description says the ticket lets you step inside the gardens and the palace, which it calls the Presidential complex of Abu Dhabi. Whether a guide, audio guide or transfer is included is shown on the booking page. The palace says last entry is at closing time and that you can stay as long as you like but cannot re-enter; its own ticket includes the free shuttle bus and parking.
What to wear
The palace’s ticket page asks you to dress appropriately, with knees and shoulders covered, in line with local customs. Ticket sellers report that scarves are no longer handed out on site, so bring your own cover-up rather than counting on a loan.
The evening show
Palace in Motion is an evening light show on the palace. Details from the palace’s own website:
- The last entry to the show is 30 minutes before it starts, so arrive early.
- Show times are updated monthly. Check the current time on the official opening-hours page.
- The palace describes the show as running every evening; entry is subject to capacity.
If the evening show is your main reason for going, the palace also sells a show-only ticket on its website. Whether the GetYourGuide entry ticket includes the show is shown on its booking page.
Who it suits
- Architecture and history lovers, who want to see the palace and gardens.
- Visitors combining sights, since the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the palace appear together on several tours. The Grand Mosque, Royal Palace and Etihad Tower tour is a small-group trip with hotel pickup, listing admission to all three at €67.03 (4.9 stars, 6,580 reviews).
It suits less well anyone who would prefer a guide to explain the rooms: this is an entry ticket only. In that case, consider the organised tour.
Check before booking
- Opening hours for your date; the palace lists them on its website and says they are subject to change.
- Whether the ticket is timed or flexible.
- That you cannot re-enter once you have left, according to the palace.
- The cancellation terms on the booking page.
Our recommendation
Book the entry ticket if you want an independent look at the palace and gardens, dress to the rules, and check the show times separately if the evening matters to you. If you would rather see the palace as part of a bigger day, choose the small-group tour. Browse more tickets and sights for dates and prices.
