Dubai is a city of contrast. There’s so much to see, from the tranquility of the desert to the bustle of the city! Thanks to the central location at the heart of so many international long distance routes, Dubai is perfect Stopover city If you’re going through for a few days, here are some things to do in town!
Everything you need to do in Dubai
1. Enjoy views from the tallest buildings in the world
It’s a great way to start your time in Dubai and be grateful for the size of the city and head to Burj Khalifa, the top of the world’s tallest building. From here you can get a view of the entire city, but be aware that the view changes daily! For our visit, the view was very hazy, but on good days you can see well in the distance. Sunrise and sunset are the magical ages of visiting above the clouds to find yourself, but as towers are booked daily, book a visit a few weeks before your trip!
position: Burj Khalifa
Price: USD 40 per person
2. Swim in a glass pool
After quitting my 14-hour flight from Australia, my first phone port was the hotel swimming pool to refresh the day. We were staying at Four Seasons DIFC and soon found out it was the only home to glass pools in Dubai.
Location: Four Seasons Dubai International Financial Center
Price: Starting from $350 per night
3. Visit the Almaha Desert
Dubai city has a lot to offer by its activities, especially if you like experiencing desert safari Dubai. I have just visited the Dubai desert a few times now, and my favourite operator is still a platinum heritage and will take guests to a private dessert reservoir called Almaha. This reserve is owned by the royal family, who has a weekend home here and owns some of the tour companies famous for offering visitors the most authentic and charming desert safari.
Location: Platinum Heritage Safari Tours, Al Maha Deserts
Price: $160 per person for Heritage Safari or Camel Safari
4. Experience the Talyze Spa at Burj Al Arab
One of my favourite experiences on all my trips to Dubai was to arrive at Talyzepa, located on the 18th floor of the Burj Al Arabs. The hotel is known for being the only 7-star hotel in the world. The title is totally incorrect (5 stars are international Max), but as soon as you step inside, you can see why you won this title. Spas are a world of mosaic tiles, filled with millions of mosaic tiles and many of them (so incredible to see!)
Location: Talise Spa, Burj al Arab
Price: 45 min neck massage per person USD 176, including access to spa facilities
5. Check out the spices and gold souks
It took several visits to Dubai. Considering their place takes a short taxi ride out of the way, they had heard a bit (correction: lots!) on the tourist side, but despite this it’s a great way to feel “old Dubai” especially if this is your first visit. They have nothing about the experience you find in Muscat (Oman) or Marrakech (Morocco), but they are still experiences.
Location: Old Dubai Spice Souk and Gold Souk
Price: Free
6. Watch the Dubai Fountain Show
Every night, Dubai visitors can enjoy the famous Dubai Fountain Show, outside the Dubai Mall and beneath Burj Khalifa. That may not sound much, but the show has a glittering light from Burj Khalifa in the background, and it looks pretty and cool. My favourite place to see the fountain show is the Thiptara Thai Restaurant.
Location: Dubai Fountain Show// thiptara
Price: Free
7. Skiing indoors in Dubai
I can’t say that was the best skiing experience I’ve had (I compare it to mountain scenery like Zermatt, Arosa, Jasper, Chile, etc.), but it was still an experience! There’s only one chairlift and a full run, but if you’re looking for activity and want to see what all the fuss is, this is the perfect way to spend a few hours at the Emirates mall.
Location: Ski Dubai, Emirates Mall
Price: $74 per person
8. Going to Dune Bashing in the Desert
If the 4am call to ride a hot air balloon isn’t yours, Dubai desert safari might be a little more to your liking. There are a variety of tour companies that offer Afternoon Dune Bashing Excursions, so choose the one that’s best for your style. My preference is the Platinum Heritage Safari for those related to the desert in Dubai.
Location: Dubai Desert
Price: Platinum Heritage $160 per person
9. Arabic pastries overload
One of my favorite aspects of a trip to the Middle East is enjoying all the delicious Arabic pastries! My favorite is the old and faithful baklava, but there are so many variations around the continent that I’m spoiled for choice!
Price: Variety
10. Spend the day at Jumeirah Beach
If you’re more like a traveler like son, you’ll love Jumeirah Beach. Personally, there is a short span of attention, so lasts around 20 minutes on the beach, before heading for a new activity, the beach (ha!) doesn’t rival the beauty of Australian beaches, but find it difficult to find a beach that rivals other parts of the world outside of the Pacific Ocean.
Location: Jumeirah Beach
Price: 50 Dirham non-alcoholic drinks (not cheap!)
11. Met marine wildlife at Dubai Aquarium
Here in Dubai, marine wildlife conservation and education is a strong theme, with both the Dubai aquarium and the Lost Chamber of Dubai Mall having two very large and impressive aquariums. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of watching wildlife in enclosures, but if you’re traveling with kids, this is a great way to educate them and learn about conservation projects.
Location: Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall
Price: $28 per person at the underwater zoo. Free if you are in the view of a shopping mall
12. Riding a hot air balloon across the desert
On our last morning in Dubai, we woke up at 4am and ran through the desert. This was my third hot air balloon experience and was definitely the most memorable. Compared to other hot air balloon rides, the desert scenery and scenery were unparalleled!
Location: Dubai Desert
Price: 360 US$ PP with Platinum Heritage
13. Ottoman Who
Another beautiful spa to check on if you want to ruin yourself is at Jumeirah Zabeel Saleh. If you don’t stay in the palm of your hand, the property is a bit out of the way, but the spa is well worth it! It is popular not only with town visitors but also with locals.
Location: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Price: Treatment prices vary from USD 150
14. Stay in the desert overnight
Another way to encounter the Dubai Desert for those looking for a real adventure is to stay overnight in a traditional Bedouin camp. After taking a safari tour in the late afternoon, you will have a morning where you will be waking up under the stars and a traditional Bedouin breakfast.
Price: Available on Platinum Heritage Safari Tours. Add-ons to selected Safari packages
15. Check out the Palace Hotels in Downtown
One of my favourite hotels in Dubai is one of the most beautiful things to check out, even if you’re not staying there. Downtown Palace Hotels are connected to Dubai Mall via Souk, so be sure to line up if you want to see the symmetry of the hotel’s exterior. The lobby is equally impressive, with non-hotel guests able to visit drinks and meals at one of the restaurants. I highly recommend the Thiptara Thai restaurant connected to the hotel. Enjoy invincible views of the Dubai Fountain Show.
Location: Palace Hotel in Downtown
Price: Free if you come and see it!
16. Take a boat at Madinat Jumeirah
Once you find yourself at Jumeirah Beach, stop by Madinat Jumeirah for a traditional boat ride along the waterfront. There are many restaurants and beach clubs in the area, as well as beach clubs for dropping in and enjoying a drink. This is a very residential area in the town and a great place to check if you like moving to Dubai (don’t forget that the UAE has a huge tax benefit!) There are some great movers and packs to help you move into the middle of the world.
Price: $23 per person
17. Book a room with a view
Often the best way to see Dubai is through your hotel windows or balcony, so request a room with a view! Some of the best views are often seen in Dubai Financial District, but this is generally not the first option for leisure travelers. This view comes from Shangri-La in downtown Dubai. This has a more business hotel feel, but is definitely one of the best views of the city!
18. Eat milkshakes for lunch
This little gem has been on New York’s foodie bucket list for a long time, but the line is always so long that I ended up choosing my second option elsewhere. When I heard that Blacktap had opened a restaurant in Dubai, I knew that my visit was destiny! They are most famous for their milkshakes (which are a whopping $25 ode in Dubai), but they also have really great burgers. It’s not cheap, but if anything, what is it in Dubai? ?
Location: Black Tap Dubai
Price: The milkshake is a whopping $18 pop, but it’s worth it!
19. See Dubai from above
One of the experiences I haven’t tried in Dubai yet is one of the most popular ones. This is a helicopter flight through the city to see the palms from above. Not cheap, but this is another great way to look at Dubai from above and get a Bird Iree View of the city (the cheap option is to visit the top of Burj Khalifa and hope for a clear skies!)
Location: Helidbai
Price: 12 minutes per person at USD 180
20. Spot the wildlife of the Dubai Desert
Another activity I highly recommend in the desert is to take part in a wildlife safari and see the famous Orix and Gazelles. It took three visits to Dubai to ultimately do this, but I think it must be one of my favorite experiences!
Location: Dubai Desert
twenty one. Check out Atlantis The Palm Hotel
One of Dubai’s most iconic structures, the Atlantis Hotel is a staple food on most visitors’ Dubai itinerary. The hotel is often booked and not cheap, but the good news is that you can visit the grounds without staying. If you are visiting as a non-hotel guest, you will only be allowed in restricted areas (such as Aquaventure Park, Lost Chambers, Shopping Areas, Restaurants, etc.).
Location: Atlantis Parm Dubai
22. Day Trip to Abu Dhabi
With close proximity between Dubai and Abu Dhabi cities, you will sell yourself shortly unless you take a day trip to nearby Abu Dhabi at least. Here we recommend visiting the Grand Mosque (really the sight of the eyes), Emirates Palace (also for one of them). If you want to do many highlights in Dubai, check out these Dubai combos to make the most of your stopover in Dubai.
Location: Abu Dhabi (139km from Dubai)
to you! What do you like about Dubai? ?
