Things to Do in City Walk Dubai During Your Vacation

By Lindsay Eagan
view-dubai-canal-skyline

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

adorable-sloth-bear-bending-on-tree-grren-planet-dubai

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

tourist-walks-through-one-largest

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

buffet-on-yacht-dubai-service-attendant

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

Continue reading

Sharjah Mosque Dubai
Blog

Visiting Dubai during Ramadan: top tips and things to do

From fasting to feasts, experiencing Dubai during Ramadan is a wonderful way to get a deeper understanding of Islamic culture and festivities.
Casey Makovich
transfer dubai
Blog

Dubai Airport Transfers and Transit

Picture the scene, if you will. You've booked your trip to Dubai, and you're excited. Looking forward to the warm weather and sunny days, you pack your bag with all your summer bits. You board the plane, eager for the long trip to be over so you can step into the desert oasis that is Dubai. You wake just as the pilot announces that your journey is nearly over. The wheels hit the tarmac, and your heart skips a beat. It's finally time. But when you finally get through security and leave the airport, this feeling washes over you. You brush it off at first; surely it's just nerves bundled with excitement? You head to a bus stop, but you can't read the listings. You open your GPS app, and you're having trouble connecting. The world begins to close in on you, choking you with all its sunny goodness. What if you never find your hotel? What if you're stuck here, on the cusp of paradise, doomed never to see Dubai in all its glory? Just like that movie with Tom Hanks, where he hangs out in an airport for years. Airport jail, probably Now imagine none of this happened, because you booked an airport transfer weeks ago, and your driver's here to greet you with a smile and some sweet aviator shades. Feeling like a diplomat, or someone of equal import, you shimmy into the backseat of an air-conditioned vehicle, and before you know it, you arrive at your hotel. Doesn't that sound way better than the whole 'eternal airport limbo' we made up earlier? So, here's everything you need to know about travel from Dubai airport, including transfers! Travel in Dubai - how long are airport transfers? The good news is that, if you're staying in the city center, it's only a 3-mile drive from Dubai International Airport. This will take roughly 25 minutes, or double that if you're staying in Downtown Dubai. Travel in Dubai - why you should book a transfer from the airport As a stranger in a strange land, it couldn't hurt to get some know-how from the locals. And that's what you'll get in spades if you book an airport transfer. Cab drivers will be able to provide you with local tips and tricks with a vacation twist, so be sure to strike up a conversation and see what tasty gossip nuggets you can mine. Besides, you may have already started celebrating your vacation on the plane, so leaving the driving up to someone else might be the best, and legal, course of action! We've touched on the stress many holiday-goers can feel when they leave the airport in an unfamiliar place. Not knowing the local language can be a barrier between you and public transport. So it's good to know that when you get off the plane, you'll have a car and driver waiting for you, who knows exactly where to take you! And better still, as they know your route, you'll already have a pre-agreed price. Hell, you may have already paid for the trip. With airport transfers, you don't have to worry about getting scammed or overcharged, or having enough local currency on you to pay. Travel in Dubai - types of transfer vehicles from the airport Cheapest - shuttle A cheap and cheerful shuttle will certainly do the job, with prices around $7-10. However, you will be traveling with others, and that may mean you end up making multiple stops before your desired destination. That also means your journey will be significantly longer at around 60 minutes, and you'll only have a small personal allowance for luggage. If you're traveling in a group, you're probably better off with one of the more expensive alternatives. Small group - private car These come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with some (around $25) allowing up to 3 passengers, and others like mini-buses (around $35), allowing up to 7 passengers. The quality/brand of the vehicle will determine the price you pay, with classier rides being significantly more expensive for the same short journey. But hey, if you want to pay over $200 to ride in style for 15 minutes, you do you! Large group - coach This one's for the extended family-type trips, where you meet three cousins you never knew existed. Seating anywhere from 35 up to 50 people, you'll pay handsomely for the privilege, but it's unarguably the best way for huge groups to travel. Travel in Dubai - final tips on airport transfers Whenever you book a transfer, make sure to research the travel company online to see their reviews. That way, you hopefully won't be surprised by false advertising, or end up in a car that's falling apart. Make sure that your luggage allowance is enough for the transfer vehicle you hire! At best, you might be stuck with heavy bags on your lap for the journey. At worst, they might refuse to take you entirely! If your driver is super helpful and goes above and beyond in regards to their advice, hints and tips, or they're clearly making an effort to be chatty, be sure to tip them right back. But like, with money rather than life advice or anything. And finally, make sure you keep all receipts/emails with your booking info handy, either printed out on paper or on your phone's mailbox. That way, if you do run into any problems, you'll have quick access to the info you'll need to resolve the problem! And that about covers everything you need to know about air travel and transfers in Dubai Airport! Looking for fun in Dubai without the fuss? Look no further than Go City. With our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass, you can see all of Dubai's best bits when and how you want. If you seek some extreme sports to get the blood pumping, why not check out our guide to the best thrill-seeking activities in the city? Live for the night? Read up on our recommendations for the best neon-soaked activities. Hungry and want to know what's good? We've got you covered, thanks to your ultimate guide to the best eats in Dubai.
Dom Bewley
A tourist takes a photo of the Dubai skyline
Blog

10+ Things to Do in Dubai for Adults

Dubai is a glittering playground for grown up vacations - from sophisticated dinner cruises to adventurous speedboat sightseeing and days spent relaxing at the beach.
Katie Sagal

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.