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Things to Do in City Walk Dubai During Your Vacation

By Lindsay Eagan

City Walk Dubai is one of the Emirate's newest and most exciting destinations. This city within a city features wide boulevards and scenic sidewalk cafes that would rival the likes of New York or Paris. There is also an enclosed mall with real, living trees and piped-in birdsong. The area is a peaceful oasis within Dubai's modern maze of soaring skyscrapers. The entire family will find a place to enjoy at City Walk Dubai, and it's especially a hotspot for dedicated shoppers. If you’re looking for things to do in City Walk Dubai during your trip, check out our list of the best local activities and attractions, including...

  • The Green Planet
  • Mattel Play! Town
  • Hub Zero
  • 3D Art
  • Luxury Shopping
  • Dining

Save on Dubai Creek Area Attraction Admission

Admission to a number of these top Dubai attractions and activities are included on the Go Dubai Card. Choose as you go from dozens of top attractions and save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available passes, attractions & prices – Learn more.

The Green Planet

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You don't have to go all the way to the Amazon to get a taste of a tropical rainforest. The Green Planet is a completely immersive, vertical tropical rainforest enclosed in its own four-story building. Open to the young and the old, the curious and the adventurous, The Green Planet is an educational and fun destination. You can explore and learn about each floor of the forest. Begin your visit with the base, the Flooded Forest on level one, featuring different types of marine and aquatic life. ext, the Forest Floor, is the humid, dark, and quiet area filled with plant diversity. The Midstory area of the forest follows on the third floor, with more lush greenery and space to soak up the sun that filters through the canopy layer. Finally, the Canopy level on the fourth floor showcases the roof of the rainforest, also a home to birds and other wildlife. As you make your way through each level and area of The Green Planet you'll learn about all the species of plants and animals that call it home, from butterflies and frogs, to tropical birds and insects. You will also get to witness firsthand the crucial role that the rainforest plays in our current and future environment, and how it should be protected and cared for. Getting In: The Green Planet Dubai tickets are included with the Go Dubai Card.

Mattel Play! Town

The family fun at City Walk Dubai continues at Mattel Play! Town. This action-packed 'edu-play' venue is designed for children from ages two to 10. Guests to Mattel Play! Town will be delighted with entertaining live shows, educational play experiences, and a ton of hands-on activities and crafts that prompt problem-solving skills and teamwork to induce children's creativity and social skills development. Your children's favorite characters will come alive as they meet Bob the Builder and help him in his mission to steady scaffolding and build a city. They will learn about health and safety precautions as they save the day with Fireman Sam. Or they can dress up for a dance performance with Angelina Ballerina at Camembert Academy. They can also delve into the world of Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends as they take part in the 4D experience. Or perhaps it's making crafts with Barney in his colorful create space that will tickle their fancy. No matter what their favorite character or experience is, there is always something to do at Mattel Play! Town. You can use your Go Dubai Card for entrance tickets into the attraction and many others like it all across the city. Getting In: Mattel Play! Town Dubai tickets are included with the Go Dubai Card.

Hub Zero

For older travelers, Hub Zero, the region's first immersive entertainment hub, will certainly strike their fancy. This is a collision of worlds, where the real meets the virtual to create the ideal gaming experience with a diverse range of games enhanced with crazy dimensions and cutting-edge special effects. Step into the future of gaming and technology at Hub Zero where you can immerse yourself in a number of interactive games, including a multi-level laser tag arena, 3D games and rides, shooting skill matches, climbing walls and even a race track to put your real life skills to the test. Most interestingly, Hub Zero is the only wireless virtual reality experience in the Emirate. For adults aged 13 and over your Go Dubai Card entitles you to unlimited access of the following games at Hub Zero: Gears of War Laser Siege, Hack Attack, Resident Evil Big Terror, Virtual Arena, Battlefield Armoured Assault, Asura’s Wrath, Hyper Drive, Double Agent, Plants vs. Zombies Backyard Brawl, Hero Zone Vertical Adventure, and Sports Academy featuring Pro Evolution Soccer. For children aged three to 12 they will have unlimited admission to the following: Plants vs. Zombies, Tiny Track Racers, and Double Agent. Getting In: Hub Zero Dubai tickets are included with the Go Dubai Card.

3D Art

If you're lucky enough to be visiting Dubai during the more temperate winter and spring months you can catch a glimpse of the incredible 3D art produced at venues around the city, including City Walk Dubai. Selected artists from around the world have been picked by the city to showcase their work in the urban living destination of City Walk Dubai, converting the space into an open-air canvas for the Emirate's 3D Art Festival. Many visitors are even able to watch the artists in action as they craft their masterpieces. A few United Arab Emirates-based organizations will also host free workshops and art talks throughout the festival. Getting In: Public entry to this activity is free, and any specific events may be separately ticketed.

Luxury Shopping

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Dubai is truly a shopper's paradise and City Walk Dubai is no exception. The development was designed on a multi-concept experience, with an extremely diverse selection of stores, boutiques, and malls to entice any buyer. From international high fashion, to jewelry designers, to fragrance emporiums, homeware stores, and souvenir outlets, whether you're shopping for yourself or for gifts to bring back home, City Walk Dubai is sure to have a place to suit whatever you desire. Using your Go Dubai Card throughout your trip will save your valuable pocket money so you can literally shop until you drop. Getting In: Public entry to the Dubai shopping malls is free.

Dining

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Once you've worked up an appetite from the shopping and the gaming you might want to tuck into one of City Walk Dubai's many delicious restaurants or cafes. Featuring an international lineup, from Italian to American, to Arabic to French to Spanish cuisine you will feel like you're in the heart of a truly bustling city spoiled for choice. If it's not too hot, grab a seat at one of City Walk's outdoor tables lining the picturesque boulevard to enjoy your day as you watch the city go by. There are a number of different dining options available on the Go Dubai Card.

Remember to Save on City Walk Dubai Attraction Admission

There you have it – a few great recommendations for things in the City Walk Dubai area. Many of these fun attraction options and more are included on the Go Dubai Card, where you can save up to 55% on combined admission vs. paying at the gate. We hope you consider adding a few of these great options to your Dubai vacation plans.

Lindsay Eagan
Go City Travel Expert

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Relaxing things to do in Dubai

Life in Dubai can feel like a movie in the Fast & Furious franchise. However, it doesn’t have to. If you’re a speed freak or adrenaline junkie Dubai won’t disappoint, with some of the fastest roller coasters in the world and a wealth of extreme sports. But if it’s a slower pace of life you’re after, don’t discount a trip to the largest of the United Arab Emirates just yet! Why? Because relaxing things to do in Dubai include everything from luxurious spa stays to sumptuous afternoon teas. Check out the top relaxing spots in Dubai right here! Sample incredible foods Boozy brunches have become a staple with the expat crowd come the weekend. The rest of the week morning dining is a far more tranquil affair, with plenty of spots offering refuge to remote workers and those keen to take it easy, whether with the latest coffee creations or something more substantial. Menus range from full English breakfasts to pastry selections that would make Julia Child and Heston Blumenthal blush. Alternatively, you could swap the full English for an afternoon tea. Expect a blend of traditional British high tea and modern inventiveness, with contemporary flavors served up on porcelain your grandmother would be proud to have owned. If you’re looking to splash the cash, head straight for the Skyview Bar at the Burj Al Arab or the Chart Room of the QE2 floating hotel. For an authentic Emirati experience, tea and coffee houses dot the souks of Deira, with prices starting at just a handful of dirhams and the conversation that ensues entirely free or charge. Hit the stores Whilst the narrow lanes of Dubai’s souks were until very recently the only place to shop, the expectation that you need to haggle or be taken advantage of can make it less than relaxing. The air-conditioned arcades of their modern equivalent, Dubai’s malls, have some extraordinary shopping opportunities. They don’t call it retail therapy for nothing. Dubai being Dubai, its malls are glittering – sometimes literally – representations of conspicuous consumption. But even if you’re not someone who enjoys shopping for shopping’s sake, their range of alternative attractions still makes them a good bet when considering relaxing things to do in Dubai. Mall of the Emirates hosts Ski Dubai, complete with live penguin meet and greets, whilst Dubai Mall provides a home for the denizens of the deep at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Marvel at sparkling waters The sound of waves is known to bring down heart rates, and most of Dubai’s neighborhoods are close enough to waters to make this another option for the most relaxing things to do in Dubai. Traditional trading vessels known as dhows continue their passage as they must have done for centuries. Today, they are just as likely to be carrying tourists on a dinner cruise along Dubai Creek than cargo, taking in some of Dubai’s top waterside developments. The smooth waters that generally kiss the Dubai coast are also ideal for stand-up paddleboarding. The channels that slip between the island fronds of the Palm Jumeirah are a popular haunt for those stepping onto a board for the first time. Drift amongst the clouds Arguably though, Palm Jumeriah’s form is best taken in from the air. Most of us wouldn’t claim to find skydiving a relaxing pastime – in which case, there is another way. The Ain Dubai observation wheel provides 38 minutes of airborne panoramas without the need of a light aircraft or checking if your life insurance is still in order. Reaching a top height of 250 meters – that’s an almost unbelievable 75 stories up – views extend as far as the Burj Khalifa in downtown. Looking in the opposite direction, the gondolas of Ain Dubai are orientated to reveal the emirate’s spectacular sunsets too. Opt for some spa time It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to the world of spas or looking for a very specific treatment, the likelihood is that there will be a spa somewhere in Dubai right for you. Those staying at any of Dubai’s top hotels will find themselves no more than an elevator ride away from spas featuring spacious wellness centers and treatment lists reading like a who’s who of international massage, from Japanese Iyashi to homegrown hammams. There’s also a whole host of yoga-themed retreats, including ‘underwater yoga’ based at the Lost Chambers Aquarium of Atlantis The Palm. Flop onto a sun lounger One of the closest stretches of free sand to the Burj Al Arab, in the early hours of the day Sunset Beach is quiet, making it a good shout for those seeking out a relaxing place to soak up the sun. As the day progresses it gets slightly busier, partly due to its proximity to the world’s most luxurious hotel, but also because of its popularity with surfers. Numbers hit their peak as the sun sets, with those who’ve gathered to take in the nightly spectacle then dispersing to the nearby mall for a bite to eat or one of the nearby bars for a drink. At the opposite end of the emirate, Al Mamzar Beach sits tucked into a tightly curved pocket of water backed by Alexandria Street and brushing the unmarked border with Sharjah. It’s western side links to a park of the same name which incorporates 55,000 square meters of picnic-ready lawn and almost 2000 palm trees for shade. The best ways to relax in Dubai From massage tables to breakfast buffets, Dubai is a destination which knows what it means to relax. Carve out some me-time on your trip to tick off the most relaxing things to do in Dubai and you’ll immediately feel the benefits. Head to Dubai with Go City, and you’ll also gain reduced admission to many of its top attractions! Relaxing in Dubai doesn’t have to break the bank!
Ian Packham
A woman tries sandboarding down a Dubai desert dune
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Outdoor activities in Dubai you have to try

With temperatures during its coldest months still hitting lows of 16°C and daily highs of 24°C, Dubai has been attracting those seeking out winter warmth for years. And though images of this constituent part of the United Arab Emirates tend to focus on its modern architecture and air-conditioned malls, there are few limits to getting out and about into the fresh air and sunny skies. Let’s take a look at the outdoor activities in Dubai you won’t want to miss! Desert safaris A dream world of lofty dunes and wandering antelope, Dubai is one of the easiest places in the world to get out into the desert. Just a short drive will have you waving goodbye to the towers of downtown and gazing in wonder at expansive desert panoramas. Don’t worry about having no off-road skills though, there are plenty of guided desert safaris to choose between, combining the experience of capping the dunes in a 4x4 with some time on the back of a camel or sitting around the open fire of a Bedouin camp come evening. If you’re a morning person, you can swap the sunset for the sunrise, with hot air balloons drifting across this ethereal landscape as oryx and gazelles feel the first warmth of the new day. Sailing adventures Before the advent of international air travel, it was the seas and waterways around Dubai that were its lifeblood. Signs of its significance aren’t hard to find, from the design of the Burj Al Arab to the stumpy hand-carved trading vessels called dhow which still dock at wharves within Dubai Creek. Smaller abra remain a popular alternative to the metro system for transporting people between one side of the creek and the other. However, to fully discover the sparkling waters head out on an organized sightseeing tour of the creek or Dubai Marina. Green spaces Dubai may not be known for its parks, but know where to look and you’ll find small pockets perfectly suited for getting away from it all. When it was first inaugurated, Safa Park was on the outskirts of the city. Today its palms and public boating lake are at the heart of it all, with views facing back towards downtown and the Burj Khalifa. Facing downtown from the opposite direction is Zabeel Park, whose grasses also include Dubai Frame. Another alternative is Creek Park, whose length of almost three kilometers is covered in flowers and liberally sprinkled with benches. Amusement parks Straddling multiple past times, Global Village is part funfair and part market, sharing the traditions of 78 different cultures across 26 pavilions. Whilst the replicas of the leaning tower of Pisa and London’s Big Ben are impressive enough, many visitors come for the food alone, since there’s around 200 different stalls in all – a similar number to the dining options at Dubai Mall. For splashing around there’s a couple of great options, with La Mer’s Laguna Waterpark and Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm leading the way. At Laguna cabanas overlooking the Persian Gulf make it as easy to relax as it is to get the heart pumping with its Free Fall plunge and surf machine. Meanwhile Aquaventure mixes lazy river rides with the twisted slides of aquaconda and over 100 other water-based activities for all the family. Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing Take to the open top deck of a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus and let the most instaworthy of Dubai sights come to you without having to move from your seat. Stay onboard for the entire route and you’ll get two hours of commentary on attractions including Deira’s Gold Souk and downtown’s Burj Khalifa. Of course, there’s no better way to experience them than by seeing them for yourself. This is actually what a one day ticket allows you to do without having to pay any more to rejoin a later bus. Win-win. Beaches Beaches line Dubai’s coastline and are universally well-kept stretches of sand. Hitting their busiest on the weekends and during holiday periods (which does not include Christmas), they are also relatively popular on warmer evenings. Sundown at The Palm Jumeirah’s Palm West Beach is a particular favorite, since it gives visitors views of the setting sun. Its promenade’s 300 palms are lit up not long after, creating an attractive place for an evening stroll. At other times of day the beach hums with the sound of jet ski engines and speedboats towing inflatables, with wakeboards, efoils and flyboards all available too. Heritage village Created in 1997 but harking back to the time of Dubai’s earliest settlers, Al Shindagha district’s Heritage Village seeks to keep the emirate’s culture and tradition alive for future generations. It provides a space for visitors to explore traditional ways of life in the mountains, on the coast and in Dubai’s desert regions. A living museum, craftspeople such as potters and weavers sit within historic structures, whilst there’s also a functioning fishing village using age-old techniques to haul in the daily catch. Diving A much more modern approach to interacting with the region’s fish stocks is by snorkeling and scuba diving. Dubai itself is short of major dive sites, with Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo one of its top locations. On the plus side, Fujairah – another of the United Arab Emirates – has a number of sites and can be reached by road from Dubai in a couple of hours without having to worry about any passport formalities. Situated on the Gulf of Oman, Fujairah has both natural and artificial coral reefs, with most tours taking divers to Dibba Rock, Martini Rock, Snoopy Island or Inchcape, where species including green turtles, black-tipped reef sharks and clownfish can be encountered. Enjoy the best outdoor activities in Dubai with Go City You don’t have to look too far to find fun in the sun on a trip to Dubai. Nor does it take much searching to find ways of receiving significant savings on admission to many of its top outdoor attractions, since Go City does just that! So whether it’s desert safaris, the amusement parks or diving opportunities, don’t miss your chance to enjoy the outdoor activities in Dubai you just have to try.
Ian Packham
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The best Dubai souvenirs to buy on your next trip

The word souvenir comes from the French for ‘memory’. Find the right souvenir and the memories of your trip to Dubai will live on long after you’ve returned home. What you pick will largely depend on your travels and experiences, but in case you’re struggling for ideas, we’ve put together a selection of the best Dubai souvenirs right here! Finding the best souvenirs in Dubai with Go City There’s no better souvenir than the memories which come with the experience of gazing out across Dubai from the At The Top observation decks of the tallest building in the world or taking a stand-up paddleboard lesson and tour through the waters of the Palm Jumeirah. However, many of us want to remember our trips abroad with a physical memento. The best Dubai souvenirs certainly won’t disappoint, so make sure you leave time to stop by the souks and malls in between using Go City to obtain significant reductions on admission to many of Dubai’s top attractions. So grab a Dubai pass and save while you sightsee!
Ian Packham

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