From the icy slopes of Ski Dubai and the thrills and spills of Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm to the high-fashion shops of Dubai Mall and dizzying heights of the Burj Khalifa, you can see and do it all in Dubai.
We've pulled together a week-long itinerary to help you get the most out of your Dubai adventure, breaking it down by district and packing in a plethora of exciting activities for families, couples and solo explorers, including….
- Palm Jumeirah water sports and cruises
- Big Bus Dubai
- Shopping at Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Mall
- Dhow dinner cruises
- Burj Khalifa
- Ski Dubai
- IMG Worlds of Adventure
- Desert safaris
- …and more!
Mix and match ideas, or follow our itinerary exactly as laid below – it’s your choice. Just don’t skimp on the sunscreen and be sure to pause for plenty of baklava and pistachio kunafa ice-cream breaks along the way.
Day 1: The Palm Jumeirah
Paddle The Palm’s waters
Paddle The Palm’s waters
The Palm Jumeirah is a quite extraordinary thing to behold. This man-made archipelago of artificial islands juts out into the Persian Gulf and is shaped (as you may have guessed) like a palm tree. Pro-tip: take yourself up to the observation deck at the top of the Palm Tower, a knee-knocking 800 feet up, for the best view of its fronds.
But before all that, get yourself out onto the water on a paddle round The Palm on this guided two-hour kayak tour or this stand-up paddleboard experience. Access to these (and around 60 more Dubai tours, activities and attractions) is included with the Go City Dubai pass, which can save you a packet – especially if you’re planning some serious sightseeing. Find out more about the passes, and how much you could save, here.
Lost Chambers Aquarium
This cool, themed aquarium brings a unique spin to the idea of an underwater habitat. Lost Chambers re-imagines – yep, you guessed it – the mythical lost city of Atlantis, and creates a walk-through that evokes the halls of a sunken palace. There are 10 themed chambers to explore, each highlighting different sea creatures, ranging from the exotic to the quotidian. You’ll spot thousands of aquatic critters from an up-close-and-personal perspective, including jellyfish, stingrays, sharks and more. Be sure to also join one of the hourly Myth of Atlantis tours (included with admission) to discover the stories and legends behind the lost city.
Day 2: Sheikh Zayed Road
Hop-on hop-off Big Bus
You should spend at least one day in Dubai journeying down Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai's main artery which connects almost every part of the city. We’d recommend a bus tour to fully appreciate the range of attractions and landmarks that punctuate this busy road.
The Big Bus hop-on hop-off option is ideal for visitors to Dubai because it gives you freedom to customize your day based on your interests. Some of the sights you can hop off at (or indeed just admire from the open-top bus) along Sheikh Zayed Road include the iconic Burj Khalifa, dancing Dubai Fountain, Dubai Mall and Museum of the Future.
Mall of the Emirates
Mall of the Emirates
Love to shop? Well, you’ve come to the right place. This mega-mall is like a mini universe and contains several hundred stores, from high-street to high-end, plus around 100 restaurants, a 4D cinema, ski slopes, a community theater and arts center, a Magic Planet entertainment facility for families, and many more attractions besides. It's a great place to shop for that essential Cartier souvenir or Louis Vuitton luggage, as well as exotic (and slightly cheaper) gifts for friends and family back home.
Ski Dubai
Ski slopes, you say? Yup: you can indeed go skiing in one of the hottest cities on Earth. You’ll find Ski Dubai inside the Mall of the Emirates, offering up a delightful way to cool down after all that outdoor sightseeing. With five slopes of varying difficulty for skiing or snowboarding, sled and toboggan runs, and an ice cave, Ski Dubai offers something for your entire crew. When you've finished your snowy activities, take some time to seek out the center’s wild inhabitants: cute Gentoo and King penguins that you can see waddling around the slopes at designated times of the day. Note that the Go City Dubai pass includes options for skiing or more general snow-based family fun (without skiing)
Day 3: Dubai Marina
Stroll the beaches
Stroll the beaches
Dubai Marina is one of Dubai's most beautiful residential and commercial areas, packed with gleaming glass-and-steel skyscrapers, luxury five-star hotels, public and private beaches, and an absolute gaggle of global cuisines at your fingertips. Take a stroll down Jumeirah Beach Residence, where we challenge you not to be drawn inexorably inside one of the many tempting restaurants and shops along the way. There's a public beach here, with breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf, best enjoyed accompanied by an ice-cream and traditional Arabic coffee.
Speedboat sightseeing tour
Seeking something a little more… high-octane? Hop aboard this thrill-a-second speedboat tour for a whiz around Dubai Marina, the Palm and beyond. Try to keep up with the fast-paced live commentary while also holding onto your seat and hanging onto your hat as the boat twists, rattles and rolls its way around the gulf. You’ll catch blink-and-you’ll-miss-it views of all the big hitters here – the distinctive pink arches of Atlantis The Palm, Jumeirah Beach, the Burj al Arab – with a couple of pauses for you to catch your breath and fill your camera roll with snaps.
Sunset dinner cruise
Take things back down a notch or six in the evening with an altogether more refined kinda cruise. This 90-minute sailing departs from Dubai Marina, serving up a five-star buffet as well as views of Dubai’s glimmering, shimmering, twilit skyline. The perfect end to your Dubai Marina day.
Day 4: Downtown Dubai
Burj Khalifa – At The Top
Burj Khalifa – At The Top
You’ve been eyeballing the world’s tallest building for the last three days, so now it’s time to put your money where your mouth is and ascend its lofty heights. Well, to around halfway up, anyway. For that’s where you’ll find ‘At The Top’, the Burj Khalifa’s must-do viewing decks. Still, at 1,483 feet up it’s still plenty high enough for most, and it’s well worth overcoming any jangling nerves to take in those stellar views across the city, gulf and desert. Pro-tip: it also puts you in prime position for watching the Dubai Fountain show.
Dubai Mall
Well, you could pretty much spend an entire day inside this, the largest mall in town (and therefore, as is the norm for Dubai, also among the most cavernous on the planet – equivalent to around 50 full-size soccer fields, fact fans). As well as somewhere in the region of 1,000 – yes, ONE THOUSAND – retailers, you also find dozens of places to eat, drink and play – think an aquarium and underwater zoo, a VR amusement park, KidZania, a cinema megaplex and an actual diplodocus fossil. Only in Dubai…
Dubai Opera
Look no further than the high-tech Dubai Opera for your midweek culture fix. Designed – rather successfully – to resemble a dhow, this 2,000-capacity performing arts venue has hosted world-class productions including Les Misérables, the Phantom of the Opera and the BBC Proms as well as performances by Hans Zimmer, the Russian State Opera, Andrea Bocelli and more. Check listings for what’s on when you’re in town, don your best theater togs and monocle and get ready for one heck of a show!
Day 5: Dubai theme parks and desert safaris
Pick the perfect park for you
Pick the perfect park for you
If there’s one thing Dubai ain’t short of it’s theme parks (and malls and restaurants and beaches and boat tours and… well, you get the general idea). Day five feels about right for trying one or – if you really stretch yourself – two of these out. And, as you may expect, many of them lay claim to the biggest, best, tallest and fastest rides on the planet. Let’s start with IMG Worlds of Adventure (world’s largest indoor theme park). An epic love letter to Cartoon Network and Marvel superheroes including The Avengers and The Powerpuff Girls, the park spans several awesome adventure zones and also includes a haunted hotel maze and a dino-filled prehistoric valley.
Then there’s Legoland Dubai (the Middle East’s first Legoland theme park) and its splash-tastic water park (the only water park in the region that’s specifically aimed at families with young kids).
Motiongate is – wait for it – the Middle East’s largest Hollywood-inspired theme park, and features movie-inspired fun by the (popcorn-)bucketload, from a Green Hornet coaster and Ghostbusters battle to a kid-friendly Smurf village and a chance to meet the residents of Hotel Transylvania.
Safari so good
Safari so good
You’re now five days deep in your Dubai adventure. You’ve ascended the world’s tallest building, gone skiing, had a night at the opera, done the world’s biggest theme park and the world’s biggest water park. How can you possibly top all that? Here’s how: by strapping in for a 4x4 race across the sand dunes at sunset, followed by a traditional Arabian dinner beneath the stars, complete with traditional music, belly dancers, henna tattoos, fire shows and camel rides. The hits just keep on coming!
There are two such desert safaris included with the Go City Dubai pass. Find them here and choose your adventure.
Day 6: Deira and Dubai Creek
Day trip to Deira
Day trip to Deira
Bring your best haggling game on a morning trip to Dubai’s historic quarter, Deira, home of the city’s storied Gold and Spice Souks. These atmospheric covered markets have been operating here for more than a century, and mornings tend to be best for beating the crowds (but don’t quote us on that!). Step inside for what can only be described as a fiesta for the senses: think musky scents and spices, glinting jewelry and the general hubbub of traders and their customers bartering on every corner. Hit the sweet spot with your negotiating knowhow and you could emerge victorious, with best bargains on saffron, oudh and shiny gold things.
An afternoon of culture and/or relaxation
Delve deeper into the heritage of this historic district with a visit to the Heritage House and its fascinating insights into early 20th-century Emirati culture. Nab a selfie by the unusual but iconic landmark that is the Deira Clock Tower, or cruise across the Creek aboard a traditional wooden abra boat – a trip from Deira Old Souk Abra Station to Bur Dubai will cost you the princely sum of 1 AED (around 30¢).
All that sound a little… hectic? Then mosey over Al Mamzar Beach Park for a spot of light snorkeling or a refreshing dip in one of the pools there instead.
Dhow dinner cruise
Hold onto that laid-back vibe for your dinner cruise aboard an authentic dhow. Synonymous with Dubai Creek, these eye-catching wooden vessels celebrate the intersection of modern and traditional that so characterizes Dubai. A dinner cruise is a fine way to sample a variety of local and international cuisines, as well as a fun sunset sightseeing opportunity. You'll get to see highlights of the downtown area, where Dubai Creek divides the city's urban heart into two. Eyes peeled for towering waterfront icons including the National Bank of Dubai and the Chamber of Commerce.
Day 7: A day of leisure
Day 7: A day of leisure
Your last day in town is a chance to mop up any great Dubai experiences you might have missed. Want to check out the magical Dubai Butterfly Garden? Flap right this way! Skipped the dune bashing on day five? Do it today! Haven’t yet snorkeled the clear waters off Jumeirah Beach? Dive in!
Or, y’know, just kick back on the beach with a good book (and a pair of oversized sunglasses for people-watching), and reflect on all the fab adventures you’ve had across your wonderful week in Dubai.
Looking for Dubai itineraries of different lengths? Check out our tips for acing a long weekend, plus how to do Dubai in a day.
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