Long airport layovers are usually a pain in the neck that’s already stiff from hours of in-seat contortions. But on the bright side, they also provide a chance to sample a destination you might otherwise not have visited. Less than an hour’s taxi ride from Dubai International, Sharjah is a fascinating place to explore and connect with Emirati culture, history and hospitality without the frenetic pace of high-octane Dubai.
The best way to get from the airport into town is by taxi with rides costing about Dh60, including the Dh20 airport surcharge (ie Dh40 for the return trip). Traffic often slows to a crawl during rush hours, which roughly run from 7am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm, so allow an extra half hour if you’re traveling during those periods.
Touring Sharjah
Central Sharjah is quite easily explored on your own, but if time is too tight, your mind too fuzzy from jetlag or you’re just more comfortable on a tour (nothing wrong with that!), there’s City Sightseeing Sharjah. This hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus tour with narration in eight languages checks off 22 sights and landmarks on two 90-minute loops that intersect at the Central Souq. Take a taxi there and hop on!
On the other hand, if you’re more the DIY type, check out the following itineraries calibrated to various layover lengths.
If you have eight hours…
Focus your explorations on the Heart of Sharjah, the emirate’s historic district. Many of the top sights cluster in this compact maze of narrow, car-free lanes whose old-timey vibe is best sampled on an aimless wander. Some of the coral-and-gypsum buildings have been rebooted as museums, including the excellent Sharjah Heritage Museum that offers a peek at Emirati customs and traditions.
Nearby Souq al Arsah is the oldest bazaar in town and handy for picking up antiques, pashmina shawls or other souvenirs. While here, refuel with coffee or cardamom-infused karak tea in the atmospheric café.
A treat for art aficionados is the nearby Sharjah Art Museum, which was the Gulf region’s first art museum when it opened in 1997. Its high-ceilinged galleries train the spotlight on works by Arab and international artists whose works interpret the history and culture of the Gulf region. Visiting high-calibre exhibits complement the permanent collection that ranks as one of the finest and most comprehensive in the Arab world.
If contemporary art is more your thing, check out the latest exhibits in the edgy white-cube galleries curated by the prestigious Sharjah Art Foundation, perhaps breaking for coffee and global fare with an Emirati twist in the sleekly minimalist Fen Café.
If you have 12 hours…
Half a day is a good chunk of time to tap more deeply into Sharjah’s culture scene. Make your first stop the Central Souq, a massive beehive of commerce featured on the five-dirham note. It’s nicknamed the Blue Souq because of the coloured tiles decorating its façade. Some 600 vendors vie for your attention on two floors in two long parallel buildings, with the more interesting shops upstairs. Haggling is a must if you’re in the market for carpets, brass lamps, antiques, Bedouin silver jewellery and other covetables.
Continue to the Heart of Sharjah and check off the stops described under the eight-hour itinerary above at greater leisure, perhaps folding a stroll along Souq Al Shanasiya into your route. Recently rebuilt atop the foundations of an historic souq demolished decades ago, it’s home to hipster cafe Ratios, perfume shop Hamayem, a store selling local vintage soda and a couple of others selling local designer crafts. Wrap up your visit at the Rain Room (book ahead), a fascinating art installation where you walk through pouring rain – without getting wet! Trust us: posing in the pitch-black hall lit by a single spotlight is the ultimate Insta-op. Skip the need for airline food later by filling your belly with Sharjah’s best falafel from Falafil al Comodor en route back to the airport.
If you have 24 hours…
With this much time, your stay in Sharjah is turning into a mini-vacation. Spend the morning cherry-picking from the shopping or museum-hopping activities mentioned above. Then in the late afternoon, seek respite from the urban pace of the city by catching a taxi to Al Noor Island, an artificial patch of land in Khalid Lagoon, just off the grand Al Noor Mosque. The main attractions are a Butterfly House and kooky sculptures set amid landscaped gardens that are lit up like a magical fairyland after sunset. Continue to the Al Majaz Waterfront, a family-friendly park on the south end of Khalid Lagoon.
Take in the fabulous views of the high-rises while strolling along the promenade and waiting for the dancing fountain show to light up the night sky. There are lots of cafes and restaurants along here, but one highlight is definitely Al Fanar, where you can choose from a wide array of traditional Emirati dishes you’ll still be dreaming of long after being folded back into your economy seat on the plane.
Produced by Lonely Planet for Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. All editorial views are those of Lonely Planet alone and reflect their policy of editorial independence and impartiality.