The Top 10 Places to Go and Things To Do in Dubai
Dubai at night
Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, and is well-known for its shopping, eye-catching architecture and endless entertainment options.
Burj al Arab
Dubai has a rich culture, rooted in Bedouin heritage and traditions of storytelling, poetry, song, dance, and falconry. The best thing is that there are plenty of opportunities to experience it.
Dubai Skyline
Dubai is really a very unique place on the planet. With an unbelievable shopping, miles of sandy beaches, desert and a coastline dominated by two man-made islands, Dubai should be on anyone’s bucket list of places to visit.
Aerial View of Dubai
As one of the world’s fastest-growing city, Dubai over the past four decades has metamorphosed from a small Gulf trading centre to become one of the world’s most spectacular, glamorous and futuristic urban destinations.
Getting To Dubai
Dubai is the Middle East’s largest airline hub, boasting excellent connections worldwide with the city’s own Emirates airline and other international carriers. These include numerous direct flights to various destinations in the Europe, plus a number of places in the US, Asia and Australia.
Burj Kalifa dominating the Dubai skyline
Things To Do and Places To Visit in Dubai
Dubai has a futuristic appeal and abundance of western entertainments and influence. It has a sleek metro which makes getting around a very smooth experience, sumptuous shopping malls, an indoor ski park, and countless bars. Here are our top picks of things to do and places to go and see in Dubai:
1. Go Shopping
Dubai Shopping
Dubai is a shoppers’ paradise! If you want a different experience to what the various malls have to offer, there are many souks (markets) where you can haggle on the price of everything from electrical goods to rugs.
2. Visit Bur Dubai
Dubai Museum
At the heart of the Dubai metropolis on the south side of the breezy Creek is Bur Dubai – the oldest part of the city. Bur Dubai offers a fascinating insight into Dubai’s traditional roots.
This is where you’ll find many of the city’s most interesting Arabian heritage houses, the waterfront Shindagha district, the excellent Dubai Museum and the atmospheric Textile Souk.
3. Visit The Deira
Spices for sale in Dubai Spice Souk
Dubai Spice Souk
On the opposite side of the Creek, is the Deira, the centre of Dubai’s traditional commercial activity, where you will find a vibrant array of old-fashioned souks, including the famous Gold and Spice souks.
4. Visit Downtown Dubai
South of the old city centre, you will find modern Dubai, home to an array of skyscrapers including the glittering Emirates Towers. The massive Downtown Dubai development at the southern end of the strip, is centred on the stupendous new Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
Burj Kalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Burj Khalifa is flanked by further record-breaking attractions including the Dubai Mall and spectacular Dubai Fountain.
5. Visit The Burj Khalifa
Burj Kalifa, Dubai
Dominating the Dubai skyline is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. You definitely want to take a trip to its summit before leaving Dubai. The Burj Khalifa has some really spectacular and breathtaking views, and the building is home to various multimedia exhibits which give interesting insights into how it was built.
6. Visit the Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall
Another great venue to visit is the Dubai Mall. With over 1,200 stores it is the world’s largest shopping mall.
7. Visit the Dubai Fountain
Dubai Fountain
The Dubai Fountain, located at the base of the Burj Khalifa, is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system. Set on the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake, at the center of the Downtown Dubai development in Dubai, this popular attraction jets up to 22,000 gallons of water as high as 150 metres in the air at any one time.
Dubai Fountain at night
8. Visit Jumeirah
West of the Downtown Dubai development is the sprawling beachside suburb of Jumeirah, which is the traditional address-of-choice for Dubai’s European expats. Here you will find a few shopping malls and a collection of low-key sights.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai
At the southern end of Jumeirah, there are more iconic sights in the Umm Suqeim suburb, including the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the extraordinary mock-Arabian Madinat Jumeirah complex and the world-famous Burj al Arab hotel.
Burj al Arab Hotel
Burj al Arab Hotel lobby
9. Visit Dubai Marina
To the south of the Burj stretches the spectacular Dubai Marina development, with its densely packed forest of glassy skyscrapers.
Dubai Marina
10. Visit the Palm Jumeirah
Just offshore the Dubai Marina is the Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island, which ends at the gigantic Atlantis resort.
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
When to go to Dubai
Dubai’s sub-tropical climate almost guarantees sunshine with the hottest weather from May to September. Not coincidentally, the scorching temperatures mean it’s the best time of year to find a cheap hotel in Dubai.
The coolest months are December to April and the offer of winter sun is a very attractive to visitors from colder climates, but this makes it harder to find travel bargains.
Take a Trip To Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital is a little over an hour’s drive away. Dubai’s neighbour is slightly smaller, although here too a string of new developments are gradually transforming the city landscape.
Emirates Palace Hotel
Leading attractions include the extravagant Emirates Palace hotel, while the various attractions of Yas Island, home to the vast Ferrari World theme park, lie just down the road.
The Top 10 Places to Go and Things To Do in Dubai
