One day in Dubai: your see-it-all stopover itinerary

Start your day early and immerse yourself in the best of downtown Dubai from a classic open-top Big Bus Dubai tour. Cruise along Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s main highway, and into Deira, the oldest part of the city, home of the iconic gold, spice and perfume souks. An onboard guide provides lively and entertaining commentary, adding context and history (and the occasional fun anecdote) at each stop along the route.

With buses passing through every 30-40 minutes, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to hop off at your chosen landmarks, snap a few pictures and hop back on board to continue on your way? Choose your own adventure: popular highlights along the red route include the mighty Burj Khalifa, the Palm Jumeirah, Ain Dubai, Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai Creek and more.

No Dubai stopover would be complete without even a quick look at the eye-popping artificial archipelago that is the palm-tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah. For the best views of its fronds and islands, ascend the Palm Tower to The View at The Palm observation deck.

Alternatively, make like a fish and head for the Lost Chambers Aquarium, part of the luxury Atlantis The Palm complex. You know: the one with the palatial pink facade and absolutely enormous Arabian archway. Inside, you'll find an aquarium themed around the lost city of Atlantis, with 10 zones to explore, each allowing you to get up close to thousands of marine critters. Sharks, stingrays, tropical fish, giant arapaima, piranhas: if you can think of it, it's probably here. Keep eyes peeled out for scuba-diving staff, who regularly enter the tanks for animal checks and feeding sessions. It's also worth joining the regular Myth of Atlantis tours to discover the secrets of the legendary city, and learn more about its current fishy residents.

Once you've completed your grand tour of the Palm, cruise back down SZR to the Downtown Dubai area for a stop at Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain. Equivalent in size to 50 soccer fields, Dubai Mall is the daddy of all shopping experiences. There's somewhere in the region of 1,000 places to splash the cash here and well over 100 more if you're ready for a bite to eat which – unless you grabbed a snack at the Palm – you certainly will be. Just don't spend all day squabbling about where to have lunch – remember you're on the clock here!

That said, there are plenty of other ways you could kill time here if you choose to do so. Another aquarium? Sure, why not. Quick skate on the ice rink? Break a leg! Catch a movie or six at the cinema megaplex? Show me the popcorn! Say hello to the resident (real) diplodocus skeleton? Um, yeah, go on then.

But, in fact, one of the mall’s most interesting features can be found outside of it. We're talking about the famous dancing Dubai Fountain. Move over Bellagio Las Vegas: with 6,600 lights and 25 color projectors this is the world’s biggest choreographed fountain system. It springs to life every evening with epic half-hourly music and light performances set to Arabic and international hits. Pro-tip nab a  spot near the Souk Al Bahar Bridge for prime viewing rights.

Next up, it's the ultimate Dubai tourist attraction: the Burj Khalifa. Got a head for heights? Good, you're going to need it. The elevator speeds you up to a dizzying 1,483 feet, way up on the 124th and 125th floors of the planet's tallest building. From here, you’ll enjoy a jaw-dropping panoramic view of Dubai, a fine vantage point for appreciating the vivid and daring architecture of this desert oasis city. Gaze out across the gulf and into the desert and – hey – isn't that the Dubai DFountain down there, too? Why yes, yes it is. Be sure to nab that souvenir selfie before heading back down to terra firma.

If you still have time before the next leg of your journey, there's no better way to wrap up your Dubai day than with one of these wonderful traditional experiences. First up: a dhow dinner cruise on Dubai Creek. Enjoy a red-carpet welcome complete with drinks and dates as you board one of these traditional Arabian wooden sailboats and set off on a gentle twilight meander along the Creek, with illuminated glass-and-steel skyscrapers towering overhead. And, if you can wrench your attention away from the city sights, there's also a 5-star all-inclusive dinner buffet to attend to.

Alternatively, go all in on a desert safari, which comes complete with – deep breath – 4x4 dune-bashing, belly dancers, traditional music, henna painting, camel riding, sandboarding, shisha and, of course, a delicous BBQ dinner.

• You've got to visit At The Top at Burj Khalifa.
• Cool off at Ski Dubai – complete with snowy slopes and actual penguins – at the Mall of the Emirates.
• Add a little lunch and retail therapy while you're already at the mall.
• Use the hop-on hop-off Big Bus Dubai to see a bit more of Downtown.
• Another mall? Go on then. Head over to Dubai Mall for dinner at the Al Hallab Restaurant, where you'll enjoy an Arabian culinary experience on the outdoor terrace with views of the Dubai Fountain show.

• Take a speedboat sightseeing tour from Dubai Marina.
• Swim at The Beach (JBR) and grab lunch at many of the restaurants and shopping outlets there.
• Head to Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates for some afternoon snow and shopping.
• Head to At The Top – Burj Khalifa.
• Choose between Al Hallab Restaurant on the Dubai Mall terrace, a desert safari or a dhow dinner cruise.