City Information       Reguljär flyg -              Queensway Travel
Airport  
Sharjah International Airport is 9 km from the city centre. Sharjah Airport is also a cargo hub. British visitors may find it simpler and more convenient to fly to Dubai International Airport and take either a taxi or a hotel courtesy coach/car from there to Sharjah – a 20-min journey.
Airport to City Centre
Most hotels will organise complimentary transfers from Dubai airport. Otherwise, taxis are always available outside the terminals. The 20-min trip may take 2 hrs if the traffic is bad.
Orientation
Downtown Sharjah comprises the area between the Corniche and Kuwait Rd, from the Blue Souk to Sheik Mohammed bin Saqr El Qassimi Rd. It is a compact area and here you will find most places of interest. Resort hotels are mainly situated along the shoreline in El Khan area. The main downtown artery is El Arouba St, which runs off El Khan Rd, through Rolla Sq, over the Gulf Flyover and out of the city to Ajman. The famous Blue Souk is situated lagoon side, opposite King Faisal Mosque. 
Excursions                   Sista minuten resor -      Queensway Travel
Natural History Museum: Situated on the Sharjah Desert Park site, approximately 45 mins drive from the centre of Sharjah; turn off at Intersection 8 on the Sharjah-El Dhaid highway. This is a state-of-the-art museum which covers not only the natural history of Sharjah, but also some wonders of the globe and outer space. One such wonder is the mechanical camel constructed out of everyday materials. The ‘animal’ roars horribly, but seeing its innards thus bared makes it an incredible creature. Videos play continuously as you wander through the various scenarios, be they under the sea or past the dinosaurs. This museum is very well worth a visit, and on the same site is Arabia’s Wildlife Centre, which gives a comprehensive overview of the Arabian Peninsula’s flora and fauna. See monitor lizards, camel spiders, blind cave fish, porcupines, and do not miss the endangered Arabian leopard.Make a day trip to the East Coast. This should take a good day with plenty of sight-seeing opportunities for you and your camera. Start out by taking the road to Masafi. Here you can stop at Friday Market, which is now open every day. Here you can pick up a local clay pot, drop your standards, buy a machine-made rug and eat a grilled cob of sweetcorn – just avoid the piles of dried fish. Just in front of the prison turn right to Fujairah. If you have time, make a diversion to the castle of El Hale, the mountain summer palace of the rulers of Fujairah. In Fujairah, turn left and follow the coastline all the way to Dibba, stopping along the way to take a dip in the Gulf of Oman. Dibba, almost in Oman, is where you can visit the oldest mosque in the UAE and marvel at the greenery. You should also visit the fish market if it is open. Retrace your route back right to Masafi through the mountains. Be careful on this road, as it is single carriageway and one of the most dangerous in the UAE – plans have just been announced to spend Dh50m to upgrade it. Back in Masafi, turn right and head back to Sharjah. 
Getting Around
The somewhat battered white taxis in Sharjah do not have meters and sometimes drivers even like saving money on the air-conditioning. Legally you can only be charged Dh5 for any trip within the city, but it is a brave passenger who travels from one end to the other and tries to get away with handing over the Dh5. Always agree on the price before getting into the taxi and don’t pay until you are standing on the pavement at the end of the journey. Many drivers have very little English. Most hotels have shuttle services which are worth taking advantage of.
What to see
El Mahatta Museum: Opened in 2000, this museum near El Mahatta Park commemorates the first airport in the UAE when the RAF, at the behest of the British Government, and with the agreement of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr El Qassimi, established a landing ground for commercial flights between the UK and points further east in 1932. Until recently, there was nothing but the burnt out shell of the control tower and the derelict ‘fort’ where early passengers were housed, but it has now been renovated and is surrounded by a stern perimeter wall. The old fort has many 1930s items of interest in contemporary settings. The runway is now a main road through the middle of Sharjah. 
The Islamic Museum: Located in the heritage area off the Corniche Rd and by El Qassaba Sq in an 18c house, this is the former residence of Saeed bin Mohammed El Shams. Each room provides a fascinating outlook on different aspects of Islamic heritage, with artefacts ranging from pottery, glass and metallic items to scientific instruments and important Islamic and Arabic manuscripts. 
Sharjah Art Museum: This museum was opened in 1997 by the Ruler, Dr Sheik Sultan bin Mohammed El Qassimi, who presented his personal collection of valuable paintings, historic documents and maps. It is architecturally beautiful and impressively equipped with 72 superb galleries with exhibitions of Old Masters, pottery and modern water colors, as well as frequently changing special exhibitions and lectures. 
El Corniche: With its vast shaded areas and outside cafés, all nationalities enjoy early an evening stroll or jog along here; 
alternatively, just sit and watch the world go by. 
El Hisn Fort: Former home of the ruler of Sharjah. Built in 1820, it stood tall and proud in the then limitless desert. Every week an open majlis was held at the main entrance where the Ruler’s subjects could bring their concerns for an airing. The exterior has been over-restored, but step into the cool dark interior and wander back into history, with rooms themed to the development of Sharjah from its early beginnings. Parking is difficult, but that keeps the tourists away so it’s nice and quiet. 
Shopping                       Restresa                     Queensway Travel
Although by no means a designer label haven like neighboring Dubai, Sharjah still has plenty to offer the inquisitive and imaginative shopper. El Wahda St between the 1st and 2nd flyovers is ideal for clothing and shoes and well worth a stroll just to look at the incredible styles. If you venture beyond the 2nd flyover, you’ll be amazed at the local taste in furniture. The Blue Souk, so called because of its distinctive blue vaulted roof, is undergoing some enlargement. It’s divided into two sections – the ground floor is the place for perfume, cosmetic, textile and jewellery shops, while the upper floor is a treasure chest. If you love digging to find the most unusual object to bring back home or you’re after a new carpet or rug, then upstairs is the place to shop – it’s universally agreed to offer the best range and value in the Emirates, from beautiful Iranian rugs to Omani and Yemeni jewellery and artefacts, carved chests and doors to silver boxes and brass Arabian coffee pots. In the smaller shops with shelves crammed with antique and reproduction goodies, be prepared to drink endless cups of Turkish coffee or mint tea and to enjoy a half hour or so of bargaining with friendly shopkeepers. A useful rule of thumb is to pay whatever the article is worth to you. Souk El Arsah is Sharjah’s oldest souk. Situated behind the waterfront of the creek, it used to be the heart of trade for many centuries. Renovated in a traditional manner, it now consists of some 50 interesting shops in a series of peaceful dark alleyways. The Old Bazaar, sometimes called the Iranian Bazaar, takes you back to times past, with higgledy-piggledy little shops crammed with local headgear, products in bags you don’t know whether to eat, burn, or wash your hair with – a good area for enjoying the company of locals. It can be reached from the Corniche, opposite the dhows. If you’re in the market for ethnic furniture, head for Pinky’s in the Industrial Area – it’s legendary among the expats. Ask a taxi driver to take you there the first time. It’s made up of vast pink warehouses full of heavy wooden and painted furniture; tables made from beautiful old studded doors are a speciality, but beware the termites. Just round the corner (almost) are some yellow warehouses belonging to Lucky’s, also filled with local furniture. 
Shopping Centres 
Those who prefer Western-style shopping with some limited international brands should try El Fardan Shopping Centre on the Buhaira Corniche Rd. The Ajman City Centre shopping mall is a smaller version of its Dubai namesake, with a vast Carrefour hypermarket and some interesting line shops, while in Sharjah itself Carrefour is due to open in El Whada St in Aug 2001. The new El Taawon Shopping Centre with its Foton amusement centre opened in 2000 – as yet, the retail space is not fully occupied. Several new shopping complexes are under construction. 
Where to walk
Temperatures and humidity from Apr-Oct rather take the edge off outdoor strolls, while Jul and Aug are so hot that even the nights cause major perspiration. However, if you are visiting Sharjah in Nov-Mar there are several round trips that will introduce you to the city, its heritage, its people and its everyday life. Comfortable shoes are essential though. Wander from the Blue Souk, under the underpass, into the fish market, where everything looks particularly good in the early evening lights and the atmosphere buzzes with people haggling in a manner unchanged for centuries. The colourful outdoor displays of the fruit and vegetable market over the road are well worth a look, with some of the characters as colorful as their produce. Stroll along the plant souk for other displays to please the eye before reaching the livestock market, a seething whirl of goats and sheep with customers and traders bargaining as loudly as the animals are bleating. The bird area is especially interesting: a lot of falcons are for sale,   as falconry is a major pastime here. Young nationals often go into the desert at the weekend armed with just a falcon to keep them in food. Finally, turn right out of the bird market and walk along the street of farming and tool shops for a fascinating finale. A pleasant early evening stroll before the light goes is along the newly constructed canal between Khalid and El Khan lagoons. The low buildings lining the canal are faced in white stone in Arabic style – arched windows and many pillars. The paved broad walks are lined with murals, grassy areas, fountains and ubiquitous palm trees as well as Sharjah’s current objet du jour – cast-iron Victorian lamp posts. Walk along to the end and gaze out to sea, or sit on one of the benches and watch the small pleasure craft taking families for an evening trip. 
Weather and Climate
The best weather is between Oct and Apr, when coastal temperatures hover around 24ºC-25ºC. It will be slightly warmer inland, but still comfortable. Nights can get cold, but rain is rare. Temperatures from May-Sept are invariably hot, well in excess of 40ºC and occasionally peaking around 50ºC at midday. Humidity can also top 90%, making it unpleasant outdoors for most of the day and night.