The Louvre Abu Dhabi, the largest art museum on the Arabian Peninsula, is a cultural masterpiece located on Saadiyat Island. Designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel, the building itself is worth a visit for its unique floating dome, which creates a serene 'rain of light' effect. Inside, the museum presents a 12-chapter history of humanity, from prehistoric artefacts to modern artworks, and also hosts temporary exhibitions.

No holiday in Abu Dhabi would be complete without a visit to this fascinating centre. Local female Bedouin artists and artisans, usually wearing a traditional dress, demonstrate age-old crafts, including henna body painting, embroidery and silver thread work in a series of small huts. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the huts, as is the local custom.

The National Museum of Nature and Science offers a comprehensive journey through Japan’s natural history and scientific development. Its collections span from pre-Meiji scientific instruments to modern technology, including a real rocket launcher and a digital seismograph tracking earthquakes in real time. The museum is famous for its lifelike dinosaur exhibitions, a major draw for younger visitors, and houses the taxidermied figures of the loyal dog Hachikō and the Antarctic sled dogs Taro and Jiro. The Japan Gallery explores the archipelago's diverse ecosystems, featuring wildlife from Hokkaidō bears to Okinawan giant beetles. Other notable exhibits include an Edo-period mummy and an immersive 360-degree theatre.

Even though he was born in Brooklyn, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt was educated in Limerick and wrote the book "Angela’s Ashes", which is about his childhood in both cities. His old school is now a museum, and a classroom from the 1930s is stored inside.