Best things to do in Dubai
Dubai is a contrasting city. From the tranquility of the desert to the hustle and bustle of the city, there’s a lot to see and do.Dubai is perfect thanks to its central location in the heart of so many international long haul routes Layover city If you’re passing by for a few days of fun, here are some of the best things to do in the city!
Everything you have to do in Dubai
1. Take in the view from the tallest building in the world
It’s a great way to start your time in Dubai and understand the size of the city. Head to the top of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. From here you can see the whole city, but keep in mind that the scenery changes every day! On our visit, the scenery was pretty vague, but on good days we can see it far away. Sunrise and sunset are also magical times to visit above the clouds and find yourself, but the tower is booked daily, so be sure to book a few weeks before your trip!
position: Burj Khalifa
Price: US $ 40 per person
2. Swim in the glass pool
After getting off the 14-hour flight from Australia, my first port of call was the hotel pool for a refreshment of the day. We were staying at the Four Seasons DIFC and soon found that there was only one glass pool in Dubai with stunning views of downtown Dubai.
Location: Four Seasons Dubai International Financial Center
Price: From US $ 350 per night
3. Visit the Al Maha Desert
The city of Dubai has a lot to offer as an activity, but if you’re looking for its tranquility, there’s no better place to visit than the desert. I have visited the deserts of Dubai several times and my favorite operator is still Platinum Heritage, taking guests to a private desert reserve called Al Maha. This reserve is owned by the royal family, which has a weekend home here and owns some of the tour companies famous for offering visitors the most authentic and fascinating desert safari.
Location: Platinum Heritage Safari Tour, Al Maha Desert
Price: $ 160 per person for Heritage Safari or Camel Safari
4. Experience Tully’s Spa at Burj Al Arab
One of my favorite experiences on every trip to Dubai is arriving at the Tully’s Spa on the 18th floor of Burj Al Arab. This hotel is the only 7-star hotel in the world and the title isn’t quite right (5 stars is the international maximum), but once inside, it’s easy to see why you won this title. increase. The spa is a world of mosaic tiles, with millions of tiles and many of them filled with gold (very nice to see!)
Location: Burj Al Arab, Tully’s Spa
Price: $ 176 per person for a 45-minute neck massage, including access to spa facilities
5. See Spices and Gold Souk
I heard that the location of the souq is just a short taxi ride away and a little on the side of the tourists, so I finally visited Dubai several times to visit the souq (correction: lots!) Nonetheless. The souq is a great way to get a feel for the “old Dubai”, especially if this is your first visit to the souq. There is nothing about the experience in Muscat (Oman) or Marrakech (Morocco), but it is still an experience.
Location: Old Dubai Spice Souk and Gold Souk
Price: Free
6. Watch the Dubai Fountain Show
Every night outside the Dubai Mall and under the Burj Khalifa, visitors to Dubai can enjoy the famous Dubai Fountain Show. It may not sound like much, but the show is pretty spectacular and cool, with the glittering lights of Burj Khalifa in the background. My favorite place I found to see the fountain show is Tipptara Thai Restaurant.
Location: Dubai Fountain Show // Thiptara
Price: Free
7. Ski go indoor skiing in Dubai
It wasn’t the best skiing experience (compare with mountain landscapes like Zermatt, Arosa, Jasper, Chile), but it was still an experience! There’s only one chairlift and full run, but if you’re attending an activity and want to know what the fuss is, this is a great way to spend a few hours at the Mall of the Emirates.
Location: Mall of the Emirates Ski Dubai
Price: $ 74 per person
8. Go to dune bashing in the desert
If you’re not good at riding a hot air balloon on a wake-up call at 4am, you may prefer dune bashing a bit more. There are many tour companies that offer afternoon dune bashing tours, so choose the one that best suits your style. My favorite is the Platinum Heritage Safari for everything related to the Dubai desert.
Location: Dubai Desert
Price: $ 160 USD per person with Platinum Heritage
9. Arabian pastry overload
One of my favorite aspects of traveling to the Middle East is to enjoy all the delicious Arabian pastries! My favorite is still the old and loyal baklava, but there are so many variations on the continent that I’m content with the choice!
Price: fluctuates
10. Spend a day at Jumeirah Beach
If you are a traveler in the sun, you will love Jumeirah Beach. Personally, my attention is short, so it lasted about 20 minutes on the beach before going to a new activity (ha!) The beach is not comparable to the beauty of Australian beaches, but it’s hard to find an equivalent beach I think anywhere in the world except the Pacific Ocean!
Location: Jumeirah Beach
Price: 50 Dirham non-alcoholic beverages (not cheap!)
11. Meet marine wildlife at Dubai Aquarium
Marine wildlife conservation and education is a powerful theme here in Dubai, with two very large and impressive aquariums in both the Dubai Aquarium and the Lost Chambers of the Dubai Mall. Personally, I don’t like to see wildlife in the enclosure, but if you’re traveling with kids, this is a great way to educate and learn about conservation projects.
Location: Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall
Price: $ 28 per person for an underwater zoo.Free if standing at the shopping mall viewpoint
12. Ride a hot air balloon and cross the desert
Last morning in Dubai, I woke up at 4am and got over the desert with a hot air balloon. This was my third hot air balloon experience and was arguably the most memorable. Compared to other hot air baron rides, the desert landscape and landscape was unmatched!
Location: Dubai Desert
Price: $ 360 USD pp at Platinum Heritage
13. Step into Jumeirah Zabeel’s Talise Ottoman Spa
Another beautiful spa to check if you like to pamper yourself is at Jumeirah Zabeel Sarai. If you’re not in the palm of your hand, the properties get a little in the way, but the spa is worth it! It is popular not only with visitors from outside the town, but also with locals.
Location: Jumeirah Zabeel Sarai
Price: Treatment prices vary from $ 150 USD
14. Stay overnight in the desert
Another way to encounter the Dubai desert for those looking for a real adventure is to stay overnight in a traditional Bedouin camp. After a safari tour in the late afternoon, spend the night under the stars and wake up to a traditional Bedouin breakfast in the morning.
Price: Available on Platinum Heritage Safari Tour.Add-ons to the selected Safari package
15. Check out Palace Hotel Downtown
One of my favorite hotels in Dubai is also one of the most beautiful hotels to check out, even if you’re not staying. The Palace Hotel Downtown is connected to the Dubai Mall via a souq, so be sure to walk around if you want to see the symmetry of the hotel’s exterior. The lobby is equally impressive, with non-hotel guests enjoying drinks and dining at one of the restaurants. We highly recommend the Tipta La Thai restaurant, which is connected to the hotel. It offers stunning views of the Dubai Fountain Show.
Location: Palace Hotel Downtown
Price: Free when you come to see it!
16. Get on the boat at Madinat Jumeirah
Once at Jumeirah Beach, stop by Madinat Jumeirah and board a traditional boat along the waterfront. There are many restaurants and beach clubs in the area where you can stop by for a drink.This is a fairly residential area of the town and a great place to check if you want to move to Dubai (remember that the United Arab Emirates has some great tax benefits!) There are some great places Dubai movers and packs To help take you there if you want to move to the middle of the world.
Price: US $ 23 per person
17. Book a room with a view
Often, the best way to see Dubai is through a hotel window or balcony. Therefore, be sure to request a room with a view. Some of the best views are common in Dubai’s financial district. Dubai’s financial district is generally not the first choice for leisure travelers. This view comes from Shangri-La downtown Dubai, which has a business hotel-like atmosphere, but it’s definitely one of the best views of the city!
18. Eat a milkshake for lunch
This little gem has been on my foodie bucket list in New York for a long time, but the lines are always so long that I would choose the second option elsewhere. When I heard that Black Tap opened a restaurant in Dubai, I thought it was destined to visit! They are most famous for milkshakes (going for a whopping $ 25 AUD in Dubai), but they also make really great burgers. Not cheap, but what’s in Dubai?
Location: Black Tap Dubai
Price: A milkshake costs $ 18 per pop, but it’s worth it.
19. See Dubai from above
One of the experiences I haven’t tried in Dubai yet is also one of the most popular. It’s a helicopter flight through the city to see the palm from above. It’s not cheap, but this is another great way to get a bird’s eye view of the city from above (a cheaper option is to visit the top of Burj Khalifa and expect fine weather!)
Location: Heli Dubai
Price: US $ 180 per person for 12 minutes
20. Find wildlife in the Dubai desert
Another activity I highly recommend in the desert is to attend a wildlife safari and see the famous Orix and Gazelle. In the end it took me three visits to Dubai to do this, but I think it should be one of my favorite experiences.
Location: Dubai Desert
21. Check out Atlantis, The Palm Hotel
One of Dubai’s most iconic buildings, the Atlantis Hotel is a staple of Dubai’s itinerary for most visitors. Hotels are often booked and not cheap, but you can visit them without staying. If you are visiting as a non-hotel guest, you are only allowed in restricted areas (Aqua Venture Park, Lost Chambers, Shopping Areas, Restaurants, etc.).
Location: Atlantis The Palm Dubai
22. Day trip to Abu Dhabi
The cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are so close that they will sell out unless you make at least a day trip to nearby Abu Dhabi. Here, we recommend visiting the Grand Mosque (a truly eye-catching sight) and the Emirates Palace (as well). If you haven’t done so already, go to the desert.
Location: Abu Dhabi (139 km from Dubai)
