Dubai is a metropolis of contrasts – from the tranquillity of the desert to the hustle of town, there’s a lot to see and do! Because of its central location on the centre of so many worldwide lengthy haul routes, Dubai is the proper stopover metropolis to take pleasure in for just a few days, so for those who’re passing via, listed here are among the finest issues to do within the metropolis!
All the pieces you should do in Dubai
1. Take within the Views from the World’s Tallest Constructing
A good way to begin your time in Dubai and achieve an appreciation for the dimensions of town, head to the highest of the world’s tallest constructing – the Burj Khalifa. From right here you may absorb views of the whole metropolis, although do word that the view modifications daily! For our go to, the view was fairly hazy, however on a great day, you may see nicely into the gap. Dawn and sundown are additionally magical occasions to go to and end up on high of the clouds, however remember to e-book your go to just a few weeks prematurely of your journey because the tower is booked out day by day!
Location: Burj Khalifa
Worth: $40 USD per individual
2. Swim in a glass pool
After stepping off the 14 hour flight from Australia, my first port of name was the lodge swimming pool to refresh for the day. We have been staying on the 4 Seasons DIFC, which we quickly found was house to Dubai’s solely glass pool with an unbelievable view of downtown Dubai.
Location: 4 Seasons Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre
Worth: From $350 USD per evening
3. Go to the Al Maha Desert
The town of Dubai has rather a lot to supply by the use of actions, particularly for those who fancy experiencing a desert safari Dubai. I’ve visited the desert of Dubai a few occasions now and my favorite operator remains to be Platinum Heritage, who take their visitors to a personal desert reserve referred to as Al Maha. This reserve is owned by the royal household who’ve a weekend house right here and personal part of the tour firm who’re famend for providing essentially the most genuine and interesting desert safari to guests.
Location: Platinum Heritage Safari Excursions, Al Maha Desert
Worth: $160 USD per individual for the Heritage Safari or Camel Safari
4. Expertise the Talise Spa on the Burj Al Arab
Certainly one of my favorite experiences on all of my journeys to Dubai has been arriving on the Talise Spa, positioned on the eighteenth ground of the Burj Al Arab. This lodge is understood for being the world’s solely 7 star lodge, a title that’s not in any respect appropriate (5 stars is the worldwide max), however you’ll quickly see why it gained this title if you step inside! The spa is a world of mosaic tiles, stuffed with thousands and thousands of them and plenty of of them gold (so unbelievable to see!)
Location: Talise Spa, Burj Al Arab
Worth: 45 minute neck therapeutic massage $176 USD per individual, consists of entry to spa amenities
5. Go to the Spice and Gold Souks
It took me just a few visits to Dubai to lastly go to the souks, given their location is a brief taxi trip out of the best way and I had heard they have been a little bit on the touristy aspect (correction: rather a lot!) Regardless of this, the souks are an effective way to get a really feel for “outdated Dubai”, particularly if that is your first go to to a souk. They don’t have anything on the expertise you’ll discover in Muscat (Oman) or Marrakech (Morocco), however they’re nonetheless an expertise nonetheless.
Location: Outdated Dubai Spice Souks and Gold Souks
Worth: Free
6. See the Dubai Fountain Present
Every night exterior of the Dubai Mall and beneath the Burj Khalifa, guests to Dubai can benefit from the famend Dubai fountain present. Whereas it may not sound like a lot, the present is fairly speccy and funky to see, with the glittering lights of the Burj Kahlifa within the background. My favorite place I’ve discovered to look at the fountain present is at Thiptara Thai Restaurant.
Location: Dubai Fountain Present // Thiptara
Worth: Free
7. Go Snowboarding indoors at Ski Dubai
I can’t say it was the very best ski expertise I’ve had (granted I’m evaluating to the mountain surroundings of the likes of Zermatt, Arosa, Jasper and Chile), however it was an expertise nonetheless! There’s only one chairlift and one full run, however for those who’re up for an exercise and wish to see what all of the fuss is about, then this can be a nice method to spend a few hours within the Mall of the Emirates.
Location: Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates
Worth: $74 per individual
8. Go Dune Bashing within the Desert
If a 4:00am get up name for a scorching air balloon trip is just not your factor, a Dubai desert safari may be a little bit extra to your style. There are a number of tour corporations providing afternoon dune bashing excursions, so remember to choose one which most accurately fits your fashion. My choice is Platinum Heritage safaris for something desert-related in Dubai.
Location: Dubai Desert
Worth: $160 USD per individual with Platinum Heritage
9. Overload on Arabic Pastries
Nonetheless one in every of my favorite features of a visit to the Center East is to take pleasure in the entire scrumptious Arabic pastries! My favorite remains to be the outdated and devoted baklava, however there are such a lot of variations across the continent that you simply’ll be spoilt for alternative!
Worth: Varies
10. Spend the Day at Jumeirah Seaside
In the event you’re extra of a lay-in-the-sun sort of traveller, you then’ll love Jumeirah Seaside. Personally I’ve a brief consideration span, so lasted roughly 20 minutes on the seaside earlier than making my method to a brand new exercise (ha!) The seashores don’t examine to the fantastic thing about Aussie seashores, although I discover it arduous to seek out comparable seashores wherever else on the planet exterior of the Pacific!
Location: Jumeirah Seaside
Worth: Non-alcoholic drinks for 50 dirhams (not low cost!)
11. Encounter Marine Wildlife on the Dubai Aquarium
Marine wildlife conservation and schooling is a robust theme right here in Dubai, with each the Dubai aquarium and the Misplaced Chamber on the Dubai Mall having two very massive and spectacular aquariums. Personally I’m not an enormous fan of seeing wildlife in enclosures, however for those who’re travelling with children this can be a nice method to educate them and study in regards to the conservation tasks.
Location: Dubai Aquarium on the Dubai Mall
Worth: $28 per individual for the underwater zoo; Free if standing on the shopping center viewing level
12. Take a Scorching Air Balloon Trip over the Desert
On our final morning in Dubai we awoke at 4:00am to take a scorching air balloon trip over the desert. This was my third scorching air balloon expertise however undoubtedly essentially the most memorable. In comparison with different scorching air ballon rides, the surroundings and panorama of the desert was incomparable!
Location: Dubai Desert
Worth: $360 USD pp with Platinum Heritage
13. Step inside Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
One other lovely spa to take a look at for those who wish to spoil your self is at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. The property is a little bit out of the best way for those who’re not staying on the palm, however the spa is completely value it! It isn’t solely standard with out of city guests, however locals too.
Location: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Worth: Remedy costs differ, from $150 USD
14. Keep In a single day within the Desert
One other method to encounter the Dubai desert for these in search of an actual journey, is to remain in a single day at a conventional Bedouin Camp. You’ll be able to be part of a safari tour within the late afternoon, adopted by an evening beneath the celebrities and a morning waking as much as a practice bedouin breakfast.
Worth: Accessible with Platinum Heritage Safari Excursions; Add-on to chosen Safari Package deal
15. Try the Palace Resort Downtown
Certainly one of my favorite resorts in Dubai can also be probably the most lovely to come back to take a look at, even for those who’re not staying there. The Palace Resort Downtown is linked to the Dubai Mall through the Souks, so remember to wander alongside if you wish to see the symmetry of the lodge’s exterior. The foyer can also be equally spectacular and non-hotel visitors can go to for a drink or meal at one of many eating places. I can extremely suggest Thiptara Thai restaurant linked to the lodge and it has an unbeatable view of the Dubai fountain present!
Location: Palace Resort Downtown
Worth: Free for those who’re coming for a go searching!
16. Take a Boat Trip at Madinat Jumeirah
If you end up over on Jumeirah seaside, then remember to drop by the Madinat Jumeirah for a conventional boat trip alongside the waterfront. There are many eating places on this space and seaside golf equipment to cease by and revel in a drink. That is fairly a residential a part of city, making it an ideal location to take a look at for those who fancy shifting to Dubai (bear in mind, the United Arab Emirates has some nice tax advantages!) There are some nice movers and packs in Dubai to assist get you there for those who fancy a transfer to the center of the world.
Worth: $23 USD per individual
17. E book a Room with a View
Usually one of the simplest ways to see Dubai is out of your lodge window or balcony, so remember to request a room with a view! A number of the finest views are sometimes discovered within the Dubai monetary district, which isn’t generally a primary alternative for leisure travellers. This view is from the Shangri-La Downtown Dubai, which has extra of a enterprise lodge really feel to it, however undeniably probably the greatest views over town!
18. Eat a Milkshake for Lunch
This little gem has lengthy been on my foodie bucketlist in NYC, however the traces have all the time been so lengthy that I wind up choosing a second alternative elsewhere. After I heard that Black Faucet had opened a restaurant in Dubai, I knew it was destiny for me to go to! Whereas they’re most well-known for his or her milkshakes (which go for a whopping $25 AUD in Dubai), additionally they do a extremely nice burger. It’s not low cost however what, if something, is in Dubai!?
Location: Black Faucet Dubai
Worth: Milkshakes are a whopping $18 USD a pop, however value it!
19. See Dubai From Above
One of many experiences I’m but to attempt in Dubai can also be probably the most standard – a helicopter flight over town to see the Palm from above. Though not low cost, that is one other nice method to see Dubai from above and get a birdseye view of town (a less expensive choice can be to go to the highest of the Burj Khalifa and hope for clear skies!)
Location: Heli Dubai
Worth: 12 Minutes for $180 USD per individual
20. Spot Wildlife within the Dubai Desert
One other exercise I’d extremely suggest within the desert is to hitch a wildlife safari and see the well-known Oryx and Gazelle. It took my three visits to Dubai to lastly do that, however I’d say it must be one in every of my favorite experiences!
Location: Dubai Desert
21. Try the Atlantis the Palm Resort
As probably the most iconic buildings in Dubai, the Atlantis Resort is a staple in most guests’ Dubai itineraries. The lodge is usually booked out and doesn’t come low cost, however the excellent news is you may go to the property with out staying. In case you are visiting as a non-hotel visitor, you’ll solely be allowed in restricted areas (just like the Aquaventure park, Misplaced Chambers, purchasing space and eating places).
Location: Atlantis the Palm Dubai
22. Make a Day Journey to Abu Dhabi
With such shut proximity between the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you’ll be promoting your self brief for those who don’t make not less than a day journey to to close by Abu Dhabi. Right here I’d suggest visiting the Grand Mosque (actually a sight for the eyes), Emirates Palace (ditto on that one), and for those who haven’t already, enterprise out to the desert. In the event you’re trying to do lots of the highlights in Dubai, try these Dubai Combos to take advantage of your stopover in Dubai.
Location: Abu Dhabi (139 kilometres from Dubai)
Over to you! What are your favorite issues to do in Dubai!?