Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner in Dubai | Go Dubai Pass

4 Days in Dubai - Itinerary

By Dom Bewley

Picture the scene - you're on your plane ride to Dubai. Brilliant. However, over the tannoy, you hear terrifying news. The pilot is out cold. Shocking! For some reason, the attendants turn to you. Begrudgingly, you take the controls and wrestle this bird down towards the runway. You do so with a finesse you didn't know you had, and the passengers cheer your name as you land safely. You made it; congrats. You're here. But what do you do after all those heroics? You've only got 4 days in Dubai, and you're woefully unprepared. Stay calm, hero. You just saved a plane full of theoretical people. Breathe deep, and grab your reading glasses. We've put together an itinerary for your 4 days in Dubai. Now read, and cry tears of joy. Your vacation is saved.

Day 1

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Morning

You've probably eaten on the plane, so let's get straight to the fun stuff. Kick things off with a blood-pumping visit to Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm. Arguably Dubai's best water park, it features tons of amazing rides, slides, and everything in between.

Noon

Time for a bite to eat. There are tons of restaurants available, so it's really up to you. Go with something close to Aquaventure, or venture further afield to get something up your alley.

Then, we suggest you visit Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. The highlight is the long underwater tunnel you'll travel through to get to the aquarium proper. See sharks, rays, and other oddities up close.

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Night

Time for dinner. Grab a bite to eat at one of Dubai's brilliant restaurants, and then prepare for more water. It's a water day, so take to the seas and see the sights on an Ain Dubai boat tour. It's the perfect way to end the day while ticking one of your sightseeing checkboxes. Glide past the massive Ain Dubai observation wheel, see the beauty of Dubai Marina, and then head home for some much-needed shut-eye.

Day 2

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Morning

Rise and shine, sleepy head. There's vacationing to be done! We're brunching, baby, so head down to Bubbalicious in the Marriott's Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. Get your fill of bottomless lobster, curry, steak, Asian dishes, roasted meats, and much more.

Noon

After your lazy and satisfying morning, why not hit up the beach? Dubai has tons of brilliant beach spaces, but we'd recommend heading to Jumeirah Beach Residence - or JBR. This massive beach has everything you could ever want - clean white sand, warm blue water, and enough space to stretch out and make the most of it. Relax, let your food settle, and prepare for the evening's shenanigans.

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Night

Grab a bite to eat, and prepare for scares at No Way Out, Dubai's premier escape rooms! Pick from 10 spooky rooms, including authentic offerings from the IT and Ring universes, and contend with traps, puzzles, and creepy actors trying to scare you senseless.

If you're looking for a more passive experience, head to the interactive horror cinema and experience 5D thrills and chills as actors sneak up on you during the film's scariest bits!

Day 3

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Morning

Get some breakfast at the hotel, and then prepare for a morning desert safari through Dubai's dunes! With a lift to and from your hotel, you'll be able to enjoy camel riding, sand skiing, and even driving on a quad bike or dune buggy without worrying about getting home.

Noon

Next up on our list is the theme park with the fastest rollercoaster on Earth. Where else would you find such a thing than at Ferrari World? It's called the Formula Rossa and barrels your forward at speeds up to 150mph in 4.9 seconds. That's 5Gs of force, which is equivalent to F1 racecar drivers. So, if you've ever wanted to experience the feeling of speeding down the racetrack, this is it!

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Night

After a day of thrills, spills, and avoiding your ills, head to Bagatelle to see out your day. You'll be sure of a delicious meal thanks to the authentic French cuisine, with the likes of snails and frogs legs sure to sparkle the senses. But the real reason you'll spend your evening at Bagatelle is the nightlife. After dark, it transforms into a lively pseudo-club with live music, an enviable drinks menu, and plenty of room to dance! Now go to bed; you've got one day of Dubai left!

Day 4

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Morning

It's nearly over. Sad times. Get your morning started with a trip to one of Dubai's brilliant beach clubs. You'll be able to kick back, relax, get a light bite to eat, and even have a dip in a pool if you play your cards right!

Noon

Then, after your relaxing morning, try some chilly thrills at Ski Dubai! It's the world's largest indoor ski center and caters to both seasoned vets and complete newbies alike! With plenty of slopes to overcome, you can try your hand at skiing, snowboarding, or snow sledding. It's completely up to you. You'll even have the chance to see a family of penguins at certain times of the day. If the heat's overbearing, Ski Dubai is the best place to cool down.

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Night

And now, to end your 4 days in Dubai, we'll end events with a delightful trip to the desert for some food and entertainment! On this desert safari and BBQ dinner extravaganza, you'll see out your vacation with a relaxing return to Dubai's dunes.

You'll be chaperoned from your hotel in a plush, air-conditioned 4x4 and head into the desert. Make sure you snap pictures of the beautiful surrounding as the sun goes down. Then, you'll reach camp and be treated to a mouth-watering menu of BBQ meat and veg that will fill you to bursting.

Then, sit back and enjoy the evening's entertainment. Watch authentic belly dancing, smoke up a shisha storm, ride a camel, and even get a henna tattoo. Then, get a lift back to your hotel and prepare to leave. It's all over, but your memories will last forever - as long as you took some photos. After all, your brain isn't what it once was.

And that rounds out our itinerary to 4 days in Dubai! If some of our suggestions aren't up your street, check out the massive list of experiences on offer at Go City. With our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass, you can see all of Dubai's best bits when and how you want.

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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dubai in april
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Dubai in April

Dubai is fast becoming one of the most exciting places to visit on the planet. Thanks to an explosion of outside investment, a growing expat community, and year-round sun, plenty of folks flock to its shores every year to see what all the fuss is about. If you're one of them, or you're teetering on the edge of decision, let us help. Is April the perfect month to plan your vacation in Dubai? Read on, and discover our guide to Dubai in April. Including: Dubai in April - weather Water parks Beaches Desert shenanigans and more! Dubai in April: What to Expect Unlike most places in the northern hemisphere, where summer kicks into gear at the end of May/early June, Dubai sees its summertime rise in April. With highs of 93°F and lows of 72°F, it's probably the most comfortable summer weather you'll get if you're not into baking heat and mid-afternoon siestas. Leave the jackets at home, ladies and gentlemen - you won't need them. Instead, pack light, airy clothes that will keep you as cool as possible. As this is peak summer temperatures in much of the world, let's explore some fun summertime experiences that will help you make the most of the heat and let you cool off too! Dubai in April: What to Do Water is wet, and you can be too When the temperatures reach the 90s, are there many better places to cool off than a water park? Turns out Dubai feels the same way, as you'll find a number of brilliant water parks around the city. Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm is one of the best, with plenty of amazing rides to tickle the fancy of kids and big kids alike. From death-defying drops to snakey slides, you'll find a world of wet wonder within its walls. You'll also find a kids-only area for the really little ones. And, if you need a break from all the excitement or just a sliver of shade, head to the park's beach area and lounge beneath a parasol. Over on Yas Island, one of the landmasses around Dubai's coast, you'll find another amazing waterpark at Yas Waterworld. Visitors will be treated to a wealth of over 40 rides, including the world's largest sheet wave machine for your surfing pleasure and Slithers Sliders, which sees you twisting and turning through a snake's body before crashing out of its open maw. And then, for a kid-centric water park, you have LEGOLAND® Water Park. Featuring a colorful cast of LEGO characters made popular by the companies' cinematic outings, your little ones will enjoy over 20 rides of varying shapes and styles. Into the dunes April might be the last time to make the most of Dubai's dunes before the long and unforgiving summer grips the city. And rather than venture in on your own with no idea how to survive the sea of sand, why not take a curated tour of the dunes and take part in some activities? For the grease monkeys out there, you can try your hand at quad-biking or driving a dune buggy. Animal lovers might prefer a slower, natural tour atop a camel. And, if you're in the market for some good food and great relaxation, you'll want to check out the desert BBQ tour. No matter which you'll choose, you can expect 5-star service. A kitted-out 4x4 replete with delicious air-con and comfortable seats will pick you up from your hotel and take you out of the city. And, when the experience is over, they'll bring you right back. The perfect way to avoid all the hassle of booking cabs or planning public transport routes, our desert tours ensure you get to see stunning sights and thrilling experiences without worrying about planning! Refuel at one of Dubai's amazing restaurants After all the excitement of Dubai's myriad experiences, you'll need to get some food in you. Thankfully, Dubai has a metric ton of restaurants of all shapes, sizes, and cuisines within its walls. Italian-lovers will appreciate the upmarket sophistication of Armani/Ristorante, which has delicious lobster, wagyu beef, foie gras, and braised lamb ravioli, among many, many others. For a modern take on Indian culinary classics, waddle over to Masti. Thanks to award-winning chef Prashant Chipkar, you'll be surprised by the small plates and delight at the variety of spicy delights on offer. And, for a more aquatic affair, try Long Teng and its specialist seafood dishes. Thanks to its large aquarium, you can pick out the perfect fish or crustacean for your dinner, or sit down to some of its many vegetarian choices. View from the top If you want to see Dubai from up on high, why not ascend the world's largest building and get another perspective on this desert oasis? Thanks to Burj Khalifa, you can do just that. At over 2,700ft, you won't be taking the stairs. Thankfully, a double-decker elevator is there to help you on your way. Traveling at 10 meters per second, it still takes long enough for you to read the video displays that explain Dubai's history and how the Burj Khalifa came about. Then, when you reach your destination above the clouds, you'll find telescopes to zoom in on the people and places below. Then, head up to the top deck, snap some pics on your camera, and speak to the attendants to learn more about the landmarks visible below. Beach life And finally, we couldn't let you go without mentioning Dubai's sandy shores. There's plenty of spots to choose from, but we recommend you hit up Jumeirah Beach Residence - or JBR. This massive beach has everything you could ever want - clean white sand, warm blue water, and enough space to stretch out and make the most of it. You can't swim after sundown due to the lack of light in the water, but you can certainly pitch your tent on its shores all night long. So, no matter the weather, you'll find the perfect time to lay a towel, slip on your shades, and kick back. And that's our guide to Dubai in April! Want to know what other delights await you in Dubai? Why not check out Go City? With our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass, you can see all of Dubai's best bits when and how you want. There's so much to do, see, and experience that no matter what you decide to do, you'll love your time in the city!
Dom Bewley
Sunset over Dubai Creek
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Things to do in Bur Dubai

Contradictorily meaning ‘mainland Dubai’, Bur Dubai is an island separated from the rest of the emirate by Dubai Creek. The term can be used to describe the entire island that results – stretching across to the At the Top observation decks of the Burj Khalifa in downtown. However, it’s more generally used to describe the area immediately opposite the Deira neighborhood around the Al Fahidi Historic District. You’re sure to find yourself here at some point, so what are the main things to do in Bur Dubai? Site of the original settlement that developed into the modern day city, Bur Dubai has plenty of history and atmosphere. Still an important hub for everything from culture to commerce, you won’t want to miss this neighborhood when visiting the region. Grab a bird’s eye view Whilst Dubai as a whole isn’t short of lofty panoramas, the historic nature of Bur Dubai means most of its structures only rise to three or four stories. One way to take in the mix of old and new is at Dubai Frame, whose upper reaches stand 150 meters over Zabeel Park. Forming a physical link between the historic and the contemporary, the frame’s interior contains a museum detailing the city’s past, and features suggesting how it may develop in future. Its upper levels have the expansive vistas you would expect alongside glass-bottomed floors so that visitors can look roughly 40 stories directly down. Described as the world’s largest picture frame, it may be better to think of it as a magical door between one world and another... Explore the quiet streets of Al Fahidi The Al Fahidi Historic District, lining the northernmost parts of Dubai Creek, takes visitors back to Dubai’s humble origins as a trading post between the sea routes of the Middle East and the home of pearl divers. An unofficial living museum, its alleyways are a huge contrast to the thoroughfares of downtown Dubai, whilst many of its structures date back to the nineteenth century when barjeel wind towers provided cooling air currents in homes long before the advent of modern air conditioning. Although home to important historic documents and photographs, it’s the structure itself of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House which holds our fascination, being the residence of one of Dubai’s most important rulers from 1912 until his death in 1958. However, the district’s oldest structure is Al Fahidi Fort, now Dubai Museum. Perhaps best reached as part of a Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus tour, it is Dubai’s oldest surviving structure, dating from 1787. As well as slightly twee dioramas of everyday life before the oil boom, there are some real treasures worthy of any museum in the world. Delve into the culture of Bur Dubai If your visit to Dubai Museum has you yearning to discover more about Emirati culture consider making your next stop the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). Established in 1998 to foster cross-cultural comprehension, it organizes a range of events designed to bridge the gap between Dubai’s traditions and visitors’ understanding of them. There are regular visits to Jumeirah Mosque whatever your religious beliefs, as well as the chance to take part in a traditional tea ceremony or Emirati meal, with a host of dishes laid out on the floor in the time-honored manner. For dining with a view, we’d instead recommend a dhow dinner cruise of Dubai Creek. Taking place as the sun sets and the lights flicker on over landmarks including the National Bank of Dubai building, you can tuck in to an all-inclusive buffet dinner of international scope. Hit the shops For shopping in Bur Dubai with a touch of the OTT it’s difficult to beat the ancient Egyptian theme of WAFI Mall. Its name means trustworthy in Arabic, and there are few more trustworthy places to laden your arms with shopping bags than here. Passing the ranks of Anubis sculptures, obelisks and giant pharaonic statues you’ll enter a space that’s home to 350 stores and stained glass pyramids decorating the interior with splashes of color. If money’s no object, check out the designer stores, which include Burberry. They stand beside a range of smaller independent boutiques with just as much to recommend them. The same can be said for the Textile Souk back beside Dubai Museum. Each trader’s wealth of silks, cottons, damasks and colorful linens are ideal for anyone planning some interior design or looking for the next viral post on Instagram – in which case why not share them with @GoCity? Pay a visit to Dubai’s ‘Little India’ Bur Dubai has long been a bastion of the emirate’s Indian diaspora. Al Nahdha Street’s Meena Bazaar will whisk you away to the subcontinent, with a blend of wedding jewelry, ceramics and spices forming the stock of the hundreds of merchants eager to sell their wares. Shopping aside, there’s a choice of spots to satisfy your hunger, from stalls selling takeaway samosas for a few dirham to restaurants serving up authentic curries originating as far afield as Kathmandu in Nepal and Karachi in Pakistan. Keep a look out for the too-good-to-be-true prices of some goods, and thanks to its ambience, there’s a good chance you’ll consider it one of the best places to visit in Bur Dubai! How to visit Bur Dubai When it comes to things to do in Bur Dubai visitors aren’t limited in choice. Though it may not offer the beach vibes of other neighborhoods, it’s one of the easiest places to discover Dubai’s often forgotten history, as well as the culture of the emirate and the people who call Dubai their home. Remember too that the rest of Dubai is only a short metro, boat or taxi journey from Bur Dubai, and there’s no reason you can’t explore Bur Dubai one morning or afternoon before heading to Deira, downtown or Dubai Marina. But whatever you decide to do with your time in Dubai, be sure to do it with Go City. That way you’ll get reduced admission to many of the region’s top attractions, meaning more cash for shopping at WAFI Mall or dining at Meena Bazaar!
Ian Packham
Dubai
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10+ Things to Do in Dubai for Teens

Keeping the teenagers entertained in Dubai.
Katie Sagal

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