Stand on the Corniche at Burj Avenue and you can walk in two directions that feel like two different cities: west into the reconstructed lanes of the Heritage Area, east across the road into the galleries of the Art Area. That short stretch is the simplest way to understand Sharjah, a city that treats its museums and its markets as equally serious business.
Sharjah suits travellers who want the Gulf without the gloss of a resort strip: people who will happily spend a morning on handwritten Qur'ans and Arab handicrafts, an afternoon haggling over carpets, and an evening on a lagoon-side promenade. It also suits families, since several of the museums and the aquarium are priced for a household rather than a single visitor.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, ordered with the strongest first, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions visitors ask most often. Note that most sites in the Heritage Area set aside opening times solely for women, so confirm these on arrival in the city.
Top things to do in Sharjah
1. Heritage Area
The Heritage Area is the compact, walkable core of old Sharjah, sitting near the Corniche between Burj Avenue and Al-Maraija Road. Many historic buildings have been reconstructed with traditional materials, and the result is a district you can cross on foot while moving between forts, museums and souqs.
Treat it as your anchor rather than a single stop: Al Hisn Fort, Literature Square with the House of Poetry, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Sharjah Heritage Museum and Souq al-Arsa all sit within it. Because most sites here have opening times set aside solely for women, check the day's timings when you arrive in the city and plan your route around them.
2. Al Hisn Fort
Al Hisn Fort, also known as Sharjah Fort, dominates the Heritage District on Al-Hosn Avenue. The fort has been restored by the present Sheikh, and the museum inside offers a glimpse at the social history of the emirate.
Be aware that many exhibit signs are solely in Arabic, and the English ones are often rife with errors, so allow time to look rather than read. It is open Saturday to Thursday, 8AM to 2PM, and closed on Friday; adult admission is 5 dirham, family 10 dirham, and children enter free. Combine it with the rest of the Heritage Area while you are already on foot.
3. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
This museum is a fascinating place for any visitor with an interest in the faith. Its collections include handwritten Qur'ans, letters from the Prophet Muhammad to other leaders, various artifacts from Mecca, and a comprehensive display of Arab handicrafts.
It opens Saturday to Thursday, 8AM to 8PM, and Friday 4PM to 8PM. Adult admission is 5 dirham, family 10 dirham, and children are free. It sits within the Heritage Area, so pair it with Al Hisn Fort or Souq al-Arsa in the same visit.
4. Souq al-Arsa
Souq al-Arsa is considered the oldest souq in the country, and it remains one of the most rewarding stops in the Heritage Area. The scale is human and the setting traditional, which makes it an easy counterpoint to the larger covered souks elsewhere in the city.
Stop at the traditional coffee house for a mint tea and a plate of dates. Opening hours are Saturday to Thursday 9AM to 1PM and 4PM to 9PM, and Friday 4PM to 9PM only, so a late-afternoon visit fits neatly between the museums.
5. Blue Souq
The Blue Souq, also known as Souq Al Markazi or the Central Souq, is an interesting if slightly chaotic shopping centre hosting around 600 shops in two wings. The ground floor tends to stock gold and expensive designer clothes, while the upper level holds carpets and curios from as far afield as Afghanistan and Tibet.
Haggling over prices in the upper-level shops will frequently attract massive discounts, and it is a good place to buy gifts and traditional goods. Western expatriates consider it superior to Dubai for carpets. The Fish Market on Corniche Road sits opposite, open daily 5AM to 1PM, so an early start lets you see both.
6. Sharjah Art Museum
The Sharjah Art Museum shows contemporary art by local and foreign artists, with the oriental collection being its highlight. It is also the home of the Sharjah International Art Biennale, a bi-yearly exhibition of international contemporary art and performance.
Admission is free, and it opens Saturday to Thursday 8AM to 8PM and Friday 4PM to 8PM. The Arts Area sits opposite the Heritage Area on the other side of Burj Avenue, so you can cross between the two without rearranging your day.
7. Sharjah Calligraphy Museum
This is a small museum in the Heritage Area with magnificent calligraphic works of art by Persian, Arabic and Turkish artists, and it includes a workshop where students are trained in the art of calligraphy.
It opens Saturday to Thursday 8AM to 8PM and Friday 4PM to 8PM, with adult admission at 5 dirham, family 10 dirham, and children free. Its size makes it a natural companion to the Sharjah Heritage Museum nearby.
8. Sharjah Heritage Museum
A small museum in the Heritage Area, this one covers the history and habits of the emirate. It is the place to go if you want context for the buildings you have just walked past.
Opening hours are Saturday to Thursday 8AM to 8PM and Friday 4PM to 8PM. Admission is 10 dirham for adults and 5 dirham for children, so it costs a little more than its neighbours; budget accordingly if you are visiting several sites in one day.
9. Sharjah Archeology Museum
This museum explores the changing environments experienced by the region's inhabitants from the Stone Age to the present day, through displays of artefacts, coins, jewellery, pottery and ancient weapons. You can investigate a dig in progress, explore models of burials, houses and tombs, and see the first forms of writing in this area.
It is on Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr alQassimi Rd and opens Saturday to Thursday 9AM to 1PM and 5PM to 8PM, and Friday 5PM to 8PM. Adult admission is 10 dirham and children 5 dirham. Note the long afternoon closure when planning your route.
10. Bait al-Naboodah
Bait al-Naboodah is one of the historic houses of the Heritage Area, and it is included among the district's most interesting sites. It is a short stop rather than a long one, which makes it easy to fold into a walking route.
It opens Saturday to Thursday 8AM to 8PM and Friday 4PM to 8PM. Adult admission is 5 dirham, family 10 dirham, and children are free. Visit it in the same stretch as Al Hisn Fort and Souq al-Arsa.
11. Al-Mahattah-Museum
Al Mahatta was the first airport in the Gulf region, opening in 1932 as a staging post for commercial flights from Britain to India. The museum shows an interesting film about daily life at the airport and in Sharjah town in the 1930s, and four original propeller planes stand in the hangar.
It is at Estiqlal Square and opens Saturday to Thursday 8AM to 8PM and Friday 4PM to 8PM. Adult admission is 5 dirham, family 10 dirham, and children are free.
12. Sharjah Aquarium
The Sharjah Aquarium features deep-sea creatures, and the adjacent Sharjah Maritime Museum gives you a close-up look at local fishes and lets you learn about Sharjah's historic coasts and ports. The two work as a single outing.
It is on Al Meena Street in the Al Khan Area, near the Sharjah Maritime Museum. Admission is 35 dirham per adult aged 13 and over, 25 dirham per child aged 2 to 12, free below age 2, or 90 dirham for a family of two adults and three children.
13. Al-Qasba Waterfront and Eye of the Emirates
Al-Qasba Waterfront, on Al-Taiwoon Road by Al-Khan Lagoon, is where you can enjoy culture, entertainment and leisure attractions representing the very best from the Arab world and beyond. Qanat al Qasba has a beautiful mosque right by the canal.
It opens Saturday to Thursday 10AM to 11PM and Friday 4PM to 11PM. From Al Qasba there is a ferry that gives a boat tour around Sharjah, which is a good way to close an afternoon of walking.
14. Sharjah Desert Park
Sharjah Desert Park sits 28 km from Sharjah on the road to Al Dhaid and has three components spread over 1 km²: the Natural History Museum, the Arabian Wildlife Centre and the Children's Farm. The museum's five halls cover A Journey through Sharjah, Man and the Environment, A Journey through Time, The Living Desert and The Living Sea, while the Arabian Wildlife Centre holds more than 100 species of animals across a reptile and insect house, aviary, nocturnal houses, viewing area, and a section for large predators and monkeys. The Children's Farm lets children come into close contact with donkeys, goats, sheep and chickens.
It opens Sunday to Thursday 9AM to 5:30PM, Friday 2PM to 5:30PM, and Saturday 11AM to 5:30PM. Adult admission is 15 dirham, children aged 12 to 16 are 5 dirham, and children under 12 are free. Because it lies well outside the city, give it a half day of its own.
15. Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, on Second Industrial Street, has reemerged as an international cricket ground, used either as a neutral venue for Pakistan and its opponents or for inter-associate games involving the UAE. If a match falls during your visit, it is a straightforward way to spend an evening with a local crowd.
Check what is scheduled before you build a day around it, since the ground is only worth the trip when a game is on.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start early at the Fish Market on Corniche Road, which opens at 5AM and runs to 1PM, then cross to the Blue Souq opposite while the ground-floor shops are quiet. Walk from there into the Heritage Area between Burj Avenue and Al-Maraija Road, and give the middle of the morning to Al Hisn Fort, which closes at 2PM and is shut on Fridays. Confirm the women-only opening times in the district before you set out.
Afternoon: Stay in the Heritage Area for the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and Souq al-Arsa, stopping at the traditional coffee house for a mint tea and a plate of dates. Cross Burj Avenue to the Arts Area for the Sharjah Art Museum, which is free, and add the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum or the Sharjah Heritage Museum if time allows.
Evening: Head to Al-Qasba Waterfront and Eye of the Emirates on Al-Khan Lagoon, open until 11PM Saturday to Thursday and from 4PM on Friday. Take the ferry from Al Qasba for a boat tour around Sharjah, then finish by the canal, where Qanat al Qasba has a beautiful mosque right beside the water.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Heritage Area?
Most sites in the Heritage Area set aside opening times solely for women, so visitors of both genders should make certain of these on arrival in the city. Al Hisn Fort is open Saturday to Thursday 8AM to 2PM and closed on Friday, while several neighbouring museums run until 8PM on those days and reopen Friday from 4PM to 8PM.
Do I need to pay to enter the museums?
Several are free or inexpensive. The Sharjah Art Museum is free. Al Hisn Fort, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Bait al-Naboodah, the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum and Al-Mahattah-Museum charge 5 dirham for adults, 10 dirham for a family, with children free. The Sharjah Heritage Museum and Sharjah Archeology Museum charge 10 dirham for adults and 5 dirham for children.
Is Sharjah Desert Park worth the trip out of the city?
It depends on your interests and your time. It lies 28 km from Sharjah on the road to Al Dhaid and combines the Natural History Museum, the Arabian Wildlife Centre and the Children's Farm across 1 km². It is a strong choice for families and for anyone interested in the flora and fauna of the Arabian Desert, but it will take a half day away from the city.
What can I do in Sharjah in the evening?
Al-Qasba Waterfront and Eye of the Emirates is open until 11PM Saturday to Thursday and from 4PM to 11PM on Friday, with a ferry from Al Qasba offering a boat tour around Sharjah. Jet skiing is popular around Khalid Lagoon in summer, and the F1 Boat Races take place around the human-made island in the Buhaira Corniche sometime around December.
Pick your dates, check the women-only timings in the Heritage Area, and start building your days around the fort, the museums and the lagoon.