4 Days in Dubai - Itinerary

Published: July 18, 2024
Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner in Dubai | Go Dubai Pass

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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Best markets in Dubai

Dubai is known for its shopping. Its malls strive to be world beating when it comes to both size and the experiences they offer – is there anywhere else in the world you can watch a screening of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, ski and scuba dive all in the same afternoon in the same place? Probably not. But Dubai’s malls aren’t the only place to satisfy your need to splurge. A trading post long before the advent of modern stores, you shouldn’t miss Dubai’s souks and markets either. Which are the best markets in Dubai? We’ve brought together our hit list for anyone not sure where to start. The Ripe Market Running throughout the year, The Ripe Market was one of the first of a new crop of marketplaces to set up in Dubai. Primarily focused on foodstuffs, its stalls are piled high with fresh organic produce, tasty looking vegetables and regional delicacies, whilst food trucks stand ready for anyone wanting to sample a range of cuisines then and there. In the winter months, The Ripe Market occupies an outdoor space within Police Academy Park, beside Ski Dubai and the Mall of the Emirates. In the hotter summer months, it moves inside, to the Times Square Center every Saturday. Market at The Beach With something for everyone, Market at The Beach is exactly as it sounds. Located on the shoreline at Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) from first thing in the morning until last thing at night, the stalls here are split into two zones. Operating over the winter months, one section is dedicated to fashion, small homeware items and jewelry, whilst the other offers up a tempting array of meals which can be enjoyed on the beach alongside views across the water towards the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel. Spice Souk The aroma of spices will probably reach you long before you reach the Spice Souk’s official boundaries. Sacks of saffron and armfuls of cinnamon sticks release a rich scent alongside a selection of teas and sweets. For a taste of Dubai, look out for bezaar, a blend of spices made up of coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, cinnamon and turmeric. It’s used in recipes including majboos, a savory rice dish similar to pilaf. Dubai Flea Market Fans of previously-loved items and upcycling shouldn’t miss Dubai Flea Market. Popping up at one of several locations multiple times each month, be sure to check in advance whether it's Zabeel Park, Ibn Battuta Mall or some other address you’ll need to head to. Find the right place and you’ll be met by roughly 300 different stalls. The strict requirement for sale items to be second-hand ensures a certain level of uniqueness and spontaneity in purchasing, with fabrics, ceramics, furniture and clothing just some of what’s on offer. Throw a little friendly haggling into the mix, and the whole event is difficult to resist. Gold Souk For traditional shopping, head to the Gold Souk in the Deira neighborhood, which has been the center for the region’s gold trade for centuries. Partially covered, its narrow alleyways are lined with hundreds of independent jewelry stores showing off their best wares in glittering window displays. As one of its oldest souks, it has to be considered one of the best markets in Dubai too. Irrespective of whether you’re looking for a piece of gold or just looking to discover its streets for the experience, the designs you see will have you admiring the craftsmanship on display. ARTE Standing for ‘Artisans of the Emirates’, ARTE is a weekend market that’s been going from strength to strength during its 15 years of existence. It connects Dubai’s small time makers and craftspeople with an audience of appreciative buyers at pop-ups in malls including Mercato and Times Square Center. Around 150 different makers have items available at any one event, with a guarantee that each and every piece on sale has been designed and made by vendors themselves. It means that for unique Dubai souvenirs, there’s probably nowhere better to find textiles, soaps, pottery and greetings cards. The Farmer’s Market An alternative place to The Ripe Market for vegetables is The Farmer’s Market. Created as an outlet for those brave souls growing produce in one of Earth’s driest environments, this is one of the top food markets in Dubai and appears on Bay Avenue on weekends during the winter. The focus is on fresh produce, whether that’s eggs or eggplants, which may be of limited interest to visitors to Dubai. However, there’s also usually a good selection of edibles which make nice mementos of your trip, including local honeys and jams. The best thing is that most of the produce is sold by the farmers themselves, allowing a rare connection between grower and buyer. Global Village If the Spice Souk has history and authenticity on its side, Global Village has variety. Amidst the funfair rides and interpretations of the Kremlin in Moscow and Leaning Tower of Pisa in... Pisa are stalls selling trinkets from every continent. Just down the road from IMG Worlds of Adventure, some may find the whole enterprise slightly baffling. However, if you’ve any children in tow they’re sure to learn something. Nor has Global Village forgotten its 1990s roots as a group of stalls carrying everything from Afghan carpets to argan oil from Morocco. Souk Al Marfa Situated along the waterfront of the new development on the Deira Islands, Souk Al Marfa provides a modern take on Dubai’s traditional souks. This enclosed space is now home to around 400 stores which have a little bit of everything. It will soon rival the city’s big malls with around 1000 shops once fully opened. So whilst it may not meet some definitions of a market, it does fill a gap between the original souks of Deira and Dubai’s modern megamalls. Visiting the best markets in Dubai Markets and Middle Eastern destinations such as Dubai have gone hand in hand since before recorded history. The best markets in Dubai are as diverse as any you’ll find, with traditional souks and modern farmers’ markets creating plenty of choice. Include a stop at one of our market picks during your vacation in Dubai and you won’t regret it. Travel to Dubai with Go City and you won’t regret that either! We offer visitors substantial savings on admission to many top attractions so you get to see the sights without worrying about your budget.
Ian Packham

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