Sightseeing in Sharjah

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Sharjah, well known for having land on the both sides of the coast, was designated as the Cultural Capital of the Arab World. It was awarded this status in the year 1998 by the UNESCO because of dedicated efforts towards preserving the Arab art, culture tradition and heritage. Home to 25 museums says a lot about the city’s consciousness about its cultural roots.  So, whether you want to trace the Arabic history or just spend your time in souqs, Sharjah is the place to be.

The tourist places in Sharjah are:

Museums

Sharjah is a haven for a history lover as one can get many opportunities to visit the museums and study the displayed artifacts. The important museums worth visiting in Sharjah are the Sharjah Archaeological Museum, Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah Arts Museum, Sharjah Science Museum and Planetarium, Discovery Center, Al Mahatah Museum, Sharjah Police Museum, Sharjah Natural History Museum and Islamic Museum. These museums are home to cultural, historical and traditional antiquities of this region and give you minute details about the past life of the people of this region.

Sharjah Arts Area

Visit the Sharjah Arts Area to know all about arts and painting. The Souq Al Bahar comprises of five heritage buildings and a mosque important for their architectural features dating back to the 18^th century AD. The Art Café, Art Studio, Emirates Fine Arts Society, Sharjah Arts Center, Sharjah Arts Galleries, Sharjah Arts Museum and Very Special Art Center are all located in this area.

Sharjah Heritage Area

Sharjah Heritage Area is a carefully renovated area devoted to the heritage of the region. Here you will find the Islamic Museum, Heritage Museum, Al Hisn Fort and Museum, other small museums, meeting places and local markets. the collection at the museums include antique jewelry, old time currencies, pearl trade tools, priceless maps, rare manuscripts and timeless photographs. 

Discovery Center

The Discovery Center is the first interactive museum of its kind in the United Arab Emirates. There are several themes where you can learn about various aspects of each theme practically. So there is ‘Body Zone’ describing about various parts and functions of the body; ‘Drive Town’ teaches you about road sense, driving a car and many mechanisms of the car; ‘Sharjah Airport’ is all about aircrafts and at ‘Water World’ you can make fountains, build dam over streams and sail a boat. The other themes include banks, shops, sports etc.

Beaches

With land on both sides of the coast, there are bound to be several breathtaking beaches in Sharjah. Beaches are the right place to relax under the sun, to get a golden tan, to build sand castles, to collect seashells and to undertake adventure water sports. While in Sharjah, do visit Al Khan Lagoon, Al Khan Beach, Corniche Beach and Hamariya Lagoon to enjoy the beach facilities.

Parks

With the active interest of the rulers of Sharjah in allocation of land, demarcation of budget and expertise of engineers, there are several ornamental and attractive parks in Sharjah. The parks are lined with manicured trees, lush greenery, flowerbeds, coffee shops, swings and play areas for the kids. While some parks also have pond, streams, fountains, cycling tracks, waterfalls, birds and animals as well. The parks worth visiting are the Sharjah National Park, Al Majaz Park and Al Jazeira Park. While the Sharjah National Park is the largest park in Sharjah with features like duck pond, giant slide, walking track, cycling track, barbecue facilities and construction of miniature Sharjah, Al Jazeira and Al Majaz Park also features several facilities like fountains, swimming pool, waterfalls etc.

Desert Safaris

While in Sharjah, you cannot miss the excitement and adventure of the desert safari. The deserts are very near to the city and the most popular area for the dune bashing is around the Fossil Rock. Wadi Bashing is the name given to this adventure sports where you cross the boulders, bounce over the rocks, drive on sand and pass through the water streams. It is the right place and perfect sport to get a highly exhilarating effect that cannot be forgotten so easily.

Souqs

If you have not seen the souqs or markets of Sharjah, you have missed a wholesome entertainment and experience. The typical souqs are lined on or around the Corniche Road and are the right place to get first hand experience of Arabian traditional shopping. The Fish Souq is where you will find all the varieties of freshest of fishes at good bargain price. For buying and selling of the animals like camels, cows, goat, rabbits and sheep, you can go to the Bird and Animal Souq. To watch the riot of colors and tantalizing aroma, the Fruit and Vegetable Souq is the place to be. For a complete shopping experience, visit the shops at Al Wahda Street, Souk Al Arsah and Al Majarrah Souk. The Blue Souq or Souq Central is the largest market in Sharjah. Named Blue Souq because of the blue tiles on the outside wall, it is well known for its typical Islamic architecture. With more than 600 shops, the Blue Souq is divided into two sections connected by a tunnel. One section deals in gold, jewelry and gemstones while the other has electronics, carpets, textiles and gift items.