Y – Yas Island | #AtoZChallenge

Y – Yas Island | #AtoZChallenge #BlogchatterA2Z

The previous post discussed the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and I highlighted that try to club your trip with other attractions across the city. Well, let me today take you to one such place where you will get multiple options across all interest levels. I am talking about the best place in Abu Dhabi – Yas Island.

Yas Island is an island in Abu Dhabi – multipurpose leisure, entertainment and shopping center. It was started in 2006 by Abu Dhabi based Aldar properties and is spread across a staggering 25 sq km. It is one of the most astounding manmade wonders and on days it feels as if both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are in a race to outwit each other that which one will come up with a more opulent island.
If you truly want to experience the best of Abu Dhabi, then head to Yas Island. It is about a 40-min drive away from the city center. I already gave you a glimpse of the adventurous side of Yas Island through the Ferrari World. Read the full post here.

Top attractions and places to visit on Yas Island.

Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi
As the name suggests, it is a Warner Bros. characters based adventure theme park. Everyone wanted to get an insider look on what it is like to live like a superhero – this park lets you do exactly that. You can unleash the superhero in you and get to relive those childhood fantasies through its six different zones – Warner Bros. Plaza, Metropolis, Gotham City, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock and Dynamite Gulch.

Yas Marina Circuit

Yas Waterworld
In continuation with adventurous theme parks, let me take you to something totally unique – Yas Waterworld. It is the best waterpark in UAE along with Aquaventure in Dubai. The most impressive feature of the park is its theme – ‘The Legend of the Lost Pearl’ that pays tribute to the Emirati heritage of Pearl Diving, usually water parks aren’t theme based.

Thanks to its 45 exhilarating slides, attractions, and rides out of which 5 of them are the world’s firsts, the Los Angeles Times named it the ‘second best waterpark in the world.’

Yas Marina Circuit
If you aren’t satisfied with the gravity-defying rollercoasters at Ferrari World and the adrenaline-charged slides of the Yas Waterworld and you really want to try your hand at one of the F1 cars then Yas Marina Circuit is the place to be.
Dive in the driving seat of an Aston Martin GT4 to a single-seater Formula 3000 Yas racing car show your mettle and driving skills on the 5.5 km track. It got global fame once it got on the F1 Calendar and is open all throughout the year for speed enthusiasts. Treat it as a warning the adventure can cause a severe hole in your pockets.

Seawings at Yas Marina
If you still have budget left after the ride around the marina circuit, try another unique experience – Seawings at Yas Marina. One has to skydive to enjoy the magnanimous beauty of Palm Jumeirah, here it is a lot convenient and less scary. Get on to a state-of-the-art Cessna seaplane at Seawings and fly over the Yas Island along with aerial views of Emirates Palace, Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the Abu Dhabi mangroves during the 25-minute flight.

Yas Mall
Yas Mall is to Abu Dhabi, what Dubai Mall is to Dubai. It is the main hot spot for people living in Abu Dhabi and the traveler visiting the city. It offers you an ultimate shopping experience through its 370 retail outlets. Watch out for the growing plant wall and the two 12m-high tree-themed sculptures by acclaimed South African artist Marco Cianfanelli, with leaves inspired by Arabic calligraphy.

Yas Marina
Yas Marine is promoted as a dock-dine-discover destination. Like the Dubai Marina, it is a scintillating place with 227-berth marina featuring 9 licensed restaurants and lounges, which cater to all taste buds and budgets. Sitting alongside the water promenade enjoy a drink with snacks with the views of the Yas Viceroy hotel and F1 circuit in the backdrop.

Yas Links
Yas Links is a golf course designed by Kyle Philips and is the best golf course in UAE. It is ranked 24th World’s best Golf courses outside the USA (Golf Digest USA, 2012). After a perfect day of golf make sure to head to their impeccable club for food and drinks.

Yas Viceroy

Yas Beach
An island is incomplete without a beach for the whole family – Yas beach is the perfect getaway from the adventure and thrill of the island. Located in a quiet corner spend a relaxing day with children activity, dining and water sports options.

Yas Viceroy
Yas Viceroy is a unique five-star property on Yas Island. It is the first hotel in the world to be built over an F1 race circuit. You will be simply blown away with its futuristic design and dazzling architecture. On the weekend of F1 race, there is no better place in the world to stay and I am sure you will still not find any of its 499 extravagant rooms vacant.

Where to Eat
Nolu’s Café – it is a place where Afghanistan meets California – the menu-spin comes from the secret recipes of the owner’s Afghan mother.
Felini Garden – It is an open terrace restaurant-bar renowned for its epic all-Italian Friday brunch.
Meylas – It is an amazing place to explore the Emirati flavors.
Stars ‘N’ Bars – it is located in Yas Marina and is voted Abu Dhabi’s best sports bar.
Cipriani – The fusion of Emirati design and Italian food with a terrace that looks out over the grandstands of the Yas Marina Circuit.
Café Bateel – Bateel is famous for its Arabian dates, try out the café version of Bateel where the Mediterranean meets the Middle East.
Tawa Bakery – Gluten free contemporary bakery in the Al Muneer Beach development area.

Getting There
Yas Island has very good public transport connectivity. Yas Express is their complimentary free bus shuttle service that will take you around all the attractions across the Island. Taxis are frequently available round the clock. One can also explore Yas by bike via ADCB Bikeshare, a bicycle sharing system powered by Cyacle that operates 24/7.

There are a plethora of options for everyone whether you are an adventure junkie, a shopaholic, a nature lover, a foodie or a traveler. Just say Yes to Yas Island.

For all the foodies out there,
For all the adventure freaks,
For all the explorers,
And
For all who say Yes to Yas…
It’s not a goodbye,
But it’s a GOOD BYE.

Manas ‘Sameer’ Mukul

This is the 25th post for the #AtoZChallenge #BlogchatterA2Z. My theme in Travel Category is ‘Dubai – the City of Gold’, where I would be covering everything about the city in the course of 26 posts.

Read the Previous post here: Dubai – City of Gold

Please do visit tomorrow for the final post with the letter ‘Z’
I am also taking part in the #AtoZChallenge #BlogchatterA2Z using another theme –‘IPL – Indian Parliamentary League’. If you are keen on following key issues pertaining to the upcoming General Elections head over to the Politics Theme and share your feedback.

Image ref:
Post banner: https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/explore/islands/yas.island.aspx
#YasIsland: https://www.traveldailymedia.com/yas-island-eid-al-adha-events/
Yas Viceroy: Image by Beatrice Schmuki from Pixabay
Marina Circuit: Image by wendy1704 from Pixabay