Top places to visit in Dubai

• Burj Khalifa

  skyscraper observation deck · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's tallest building at 828 m. The At The Top observation deck on level 124 offers a 360° panorama to the Arabian Gulf and Hajar Mountains. The Dubai Fountain below dances nightly over Burj Khalifa Lake.

• Dubai Mall & Dubai Aquarium

  mega mall · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's largest shopping mall — 1,200+ stores, an Olympic ice rink and the spectacular Dubai Aquarium. The 10-million-litre tank is viewable free from the mall; paid tickets unlock the underwater tunnel. Dubai Fountain performs water…

• JBR Beach & The Walk

  urban beach · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  Dubai's most popular public beach — 1.7 km of free white sand backed by a lively pedestrian promenade with 60+ restaurants and cafes. Water sports operators offer jet ski, parasail, paddleboard and banana boat rides from the beach.

• Global Village Dubai

  festival park · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Dubai's largest outdoor multicultural festival park (October–April) — 90+ country pavilions, live concerts, fireworks on Wed/Fri and thrill rides. Over 25 million visitors per season. Essential Dubai experience for families.

• Palm Jumeirah

  man-made island · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's largest man-made island shaped like a palm tree. Home to iconic hotels — Atlantis The Palm, One&Only, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray — plus thousands of luxury villas. Best free views from The Pointe facing Atlantis. Palm Monorail links…

• Dubai Miracle Garden

  flower garden · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's largest natural flower garden — 150 million flowers in themed structures including a life-size Airbus A380 covered in flowers, castle arches and Smurfs village. Open October–May only. Adjacent Butterfly Garden has 15,000+…

• Dubai Frame

  landmark structure · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's largest picture frame soars 150 m over Zabeel Park with a glass-floored sky bridge. One side faces modern Downtown; the other faces historic Deira and the Creek. Multimedia exhibits trace Dubai's transformation from…

• Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

  historic district · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  Dubai's best-preserved historic district — wind-tower houses, narrow alleys and courtyard museums evoking the pearl-trading era. Traditional barjeel (wind towers) rise above ochre mud-brick walls. An abra ride across the Creek to Deira…

• Deira Gold Souk

  gold market · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Over 300 jewellery shops packed under a traditional wooden arcade roof display an estimated 10 tonnes of gold at any time. 22-carat Indian designs, 24-carat Gulf pieces, elaborate bridal sets. Adjacent Spice Souk fills the air with…

• Museum of the Future

  future technology · 4.6 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Opened 2022 — a torus-shaped steel building clad in Arabic calligraphy cut-outs. Seven floors take visitors on a sensory journey to 2071 via a space station, biodiversity lab and Healing dimension. Content evolves; budget 3 hours minimum.

• La Mer Beach Dubai

  urban beach · 4.4 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Dubai's hippest beach — a 2.5 km open public beach in Jumeirah 1 flanked by chic open-air dining, beach clubs and a surf pool (Surf House Dubai). Favoured for indie restaurants and Instagram-worthy murals.

• Dubai Creek & Abra Ride

  waterway · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The saltwater inlet that gave birth to Dubai. Traditional wooden abra ferries have crossed these waters for over a century for just AED 1. At dusk, dhow dinner cruise vessels and golden mosque minarets reflect in the water. Al Seef…

Things to do

• Desert Safari with Dune Bashing & BBQ Adventure · 6 h · from AED 140 per person
• Burj Khalifa At The Top (Floors 124 & 125) Sightseeing · 1.5 h · from AED 150 per person
• Dubai Creek Abra Ride & Souk Walk Cultural · 3 h · from AED 31 per person
• Aquaventure Waterpark Day Pass Water Sports · 8 h · from AED 270 per person
• Dubai Marina Dhow Cruise Cruise · 2 h · from AED 100 per person
• Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Dubai Desert Adventure · 4 h · from AED 540 per person
• Old Dubai Walking Tour — Al Fahidi & Creek Walking Tour · 3 h · from AED 140 per person
• Ski Dubai Snow Park Session Adventure · 2 h · from AED 230 per person

Day trips and tours

• Classic Dubai Highlights (Half Day) 5 h · from AED 210
• Dubai Desert Safari — Premium Overnight 18 h · from AED 370
• Old Dubai & Heritage Day Tour 8 h · from AED 250

Where to stay in Dubai

• Downtown Dubai about AED 900 per night

  The most central Dubai location — walkable to Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain. Metro on your doorstep. Hotels from the 3-star Rove to 5-star Address.

• Dubai Marina & JBR about AED 750 per night

  Lively waterfront district — 3.5 km canal with skyscrapers, restaurants and beach clubs. JBR Walk is an outdoor promenade. Perfect for couples and groups wanting nightlife and beach.

• Palm Jumeirah about AED 1,800 per night

  The most indulgent Dubai address — ultra-luxury hotels, private beaches and a 360° monorail. Expensive and car-dependent, but the experience of staying on the Palm is unique. Best for honeymoons and big-budget stays.

• Deira & Bur Dubai (Old Dubai) about AED 250 per night

  Budget traveller's Dubai — basic but characterful hotels, the historic Creek, Gold and Spice Souks and excellent cheap food. Metro nearby. No beach, all authentic culture.

Hotels

• Burj Al Arab Jumeirah 5-star · AED 6,500 to AED 35,000 per night
• XVA Art Hotel 4-star · AED 450 to AED 900 per night
• Address Sky View 5-star · AED 1,400 to AED 3,200 per night
• Courtyard by Marriott Dubai, Al Barsha 4-star · AED 149 to AED 240 per night
• Address Downtown Dubai 5-star · AED 900 to AED 4,500 per night
• Atlantis The Palm 5-star · AED 1,200 to AED 8,000 per night

Where to eat

• Nobu Dubai japanese, peruvian, fusion · about AED 450 per person
• At.mosphere european, contemporary · about AED 600 per person
• Zuma Dubai japanese, izakaya · about AED 500 per person
• Asia Asia asian, japanese, thai · about AED 220 per person
• Al Ustad Special Kabab iranian, middle_eastern, grills · about AED 45 per person
• Arabian Tea House emirati, middle_eastern, cafe · about AED 85 per person
• Pierchic seafood, mediterranean · about AED 500 per person
• Operation: Falafel middle_eastern, levantine · about AED 35 per person

Getting to Dubai

Airport: Dubai (DXB), Dubai (DWC)

How visitors arrive in Dubai

• Flights into Dubai International (DXB) By air · common

  Dubai International is the main airport and the home base of Emirates and flydubai; Al Maktoum (DWC) mostly serves low-cost carriers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus or road from Abu Dhabi By road from Abu Dhabi · common

  Government-run intercity buses and the E-numbered routes connect Dubai with Abu Dhabi and the other emirates' capitals. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Via Sharjah International (SHJ) By air from Sharjah · possible

  Sharjah airport, mainly Air Arabia, is a road transfer away from Dubai and linked by a bus to Rashidiya metro. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Cruise ship to Port Rashid By ferry · possible

  Cruise ships dock at the international terminal at Port Rashid. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Metro from Dubai International (DXB)

  Terminals 1 and 3 have their own metro station for the city centre. Source: dubai.ae

• Bus F55 from Al Maktoum airport

  Bus F55 links the airport with Expo metro station, and N55 runs to Ibn Battuta bus and metro stations. Pay with a Nol card, as cash is not accepted. Source: dwc.dubaiairports.ae

• Taxi from Al Maktoum airport

  Taxis are available at DWC, nearly 60 km from central Dubai. Source: dwc.dubaiairports.ae

• Al Maktoum (DWC) is far from central Dubai, so check which airport your airline uses. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Metro useful for some trips

  The Dubai Metro runs through the city on elevated and underground sections and links many of the main districts and malls.

  RTA nol card

• Ride Hail

  Careem, Uber and Bolt apps can be used to book taxis in Dubai.

• Walking

Paying

• Careem, Uber, Bolt and TaxiF are listed as booking apps citywide. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake Tour Operator Scam

  Dubai Creek area, Deira, tourist zones

  Touts approach tourists near Al Fahidi and Dubai Creek offering "official" guided tours, dhow cruises or desert safaris at prices that seem too good. They take payment then deliver a vastly inferior product, or simply disappear.

  How to avoid it: Book all tours through reputable platforms (GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook) or hotel concierge only. Never pay cash to street touts. Legitimate operators are licensed by Dubai Tourism.

• Overpriced Taxi (Unlicensed)

  Dubai International Airport arrivals, tourist hotspots

  Unofficial taxi drivers lurk at airport exits and outside malls offering "cheaper" rides. Fares are negotiated and always far higher than the metered RTA fare — sometimes 5–10× the legal rate.

  How to avoid it: Use only white RTA taxis, Careem or Uber booked via app. Both apps show the fare estimate upfront. Always confirm the meter is running in an RTA taxi.

• Fake Perfume / Gold Souk Overpricing

  Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Perfume Souk, Deira

  Vendors in the souks quote wildly inflated prices to tourists and rely on social pressure ("special price just for you") to close sales. In the Gold Souk, the gold is genuine but prices must be cross-checked against the published daily gold rate.

  How to avoid it: Check the Dubai gold rate (published daily by DGCX) before entering the Gold Souk. Bargain firmly — 30–50% reduction from first quote is normal. In the perfume souk, only buy what you can smell first.

• Timeshare / Holiday Club Pitch

  Dubai Mall, JBR, tourist promenades

  Promoters approach tourists and offer free gifts (a dinner, tour, shopping voucher) in exchange for attending a "30-minute presentation" that turns into a high-pressure 3-hour timeshare sales pitch.

  How to avoid it: Politely decline any offer of a free gift that requires attending a presentation. There is no obligation but the experience is unpleasant and wastes significant time.

Best time to visit Dubai

• Jan 24°C
• Feb 25°C
• Mar 30°C
• Apr 34°C
• May 38°C
• Jun 40°C
• Jul 42°C
• Aug 42°C
• Sep 40°C
• Oct 37°C
• Nov 31°C
• Dec 26°C

More in United Arab Emirates

• Abu Dhabi
• Sharjah
• Ras Al Khaimah
• Fujairah
• Ajman
• Umm Al Quwain

Frequently asked questions about Dubai

How many days do you need in Dubai?

A typical trip to Dubai is 3-4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Dubai?

The highest-rated places in our Dubai guide are Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall & Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Creek & Abra Ride, Palm Jumeirah, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

Where should I stay in Dubai?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Dubai: Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina & JBR, Palm Jumeirah, Deira & Bur Dubai (Old Dubai).

How do I get around Dubai?

Ways to get around Dubai covered in our guide: Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Dubai?

Scams reported to us for Dubai include Fake Tour Operator Scam; Overpriced Taxi (Unlicensed); Fake Perfume / Gold Souk Overpricing. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Dubai?

Average daytime highs in Dubai run from 24°C in Jan to 42°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Dubai?

The nearest airport to Dubai has the code DXB.