Sharjah city centre: planning a visit from the hotel

Sharjah city centre is a collection of historic, cultural and waterfront areas rather than a single attraction. Visit Sharjah highlights Heart of Sharjah, Central Souk (Blue Souk), Souk Al Arsah, Souk Saqr and Al Majaz Waterfront among the city’s stops.

Heart of Sharjah is the original city centre, once a hub of merchant trade and now a heritage and arts district. Its coral-walled houses, narrow alleys, artisan workshops, traditional cafés, art spaces and museums give the area its distinctive character. Bait Al Naboodah, dating to 1845, and Sharjah Calligraphy Museum are among its highlights.

Majlis Al Midfa is a historic gathering square within Heart of Sharjah, associated with Ibrahim Bin Mohammed Al Midfa, who started the country’s first newspaper in 1927. The round wind tower there is described by Visit Sharjah as the UAE’s only one of its kind; the site is within The Chedi Al Bait Hotel, behind Souk Al Arsa.

Cultural Square lies east of the old city centre, at an intersection of five main roads. For a broader look at local connections and trip planning, consult this guide to getting around Sharjah.

Sharjah city centre is about a 7-minute drive from Crystal Plaza Hotel, a two-star hotel offering guest rooms.

For city buses, Sharjah RTA directs passengers to Mowasalat’s website, the Rihlati SMS service at 2272 or its call centre at 600525252 for schedules and route information.

Route 14 serves Al Rolla Terminal, Al Arouba Street, Al Sharq Street and Al Sharq Terminal, as well as Sharjah Airport Terminal. Its published flat fare is AED 6 with a Sayer Ticket or AED 8 in cash.

Route 14 has different weekday and Saturday–Sunday departure schedules. The published timetables include departures at 06:30 and 08:30 on both schedules, but times and routes can change; check the official site before you go, using Mowasalat for bus details. If you are also planning a match, Sharjah Stadium access and match-day planning covers that area.

Start with Heart of Sharjah if historic architecture and museums are your priority. The district’s museums and art spaces can fill a whole day, according to Visit Sharjah, so you can also choose a shorter route through the lanes, a museum and one of the souks.

For a museum-focused visit, Sharjah Museums Authority says individual visitors do not need to book ahead. Advance booking is required for VIP groups, school visits, tourist groups and organization visits. The authority’s museums offer Arabic and English tours; audio guides in other languages may be available at some museums, subject to availability.

The Heart of Sharjah museums joint ticket covers Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah Fort Museum, Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Bait Al Naboodah Museum and Al Eslah School Museum. Sharjah Art Museum is in the Arts Area, Al-Shuwaihiyeen, near Al-Corniche post office and Heart of Sharjah; entry is free.

Opening schedules vary by museum, and public holidays and Ramadan can affect hours. Sharjah Museums Authority’s general hours for museums other than Sharjah Aquarium and Sharjah Maritime Museum are Saturday to Thursday, 8:00 AM–8:00 PM, and Friday, 4:00 PM–8:00 PM. Check the official site before you go for current timings and museum-specific facilities.

Sharjah Art Museum’s regular hours are Saturday to Thursday, 9:00 AM–8:00 PM, and Friday, 4:00 PM–8:00 PM. Ramadan hours differ: Saturday to Thursday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM and 9:00 PM–11:00 PM, with the evening shift closed during the last 10 days of Ramadan; the museum is closed on Fridays during Ramadan.

Wheelchairs are available in all Sharjah Museums Authority museums. For specific accessibility details, check the facilities information for the museum you plan to visit. Visit Sharjah gives Majlis Al Midfa’s hours as Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM; Sunday, closed.