Dubai. The city that is home to the biggest, largest, tallest and the greatest. Surreal constructions, man-made islands which mimic the map of the world, Eco-tech destinations, the tallest building in the world, and the biggest shopping mall on the planet – this one-time fishing village has really managed to transform itself into a curious travel magnet that a traveler has to experience at some point in time.
Its futuristic wonders are always famous for creating headlines, but its age-old culture, beautiful desert locales and incredible history also ensure that visitors never have a shortage of places to choose from. Here is a short list of some of the best things to do in Dubai.
Dubai Private Tour with Burj Khalifa Ticket
The Dubai Private Tour is perhaps the best way of discovering old and new Dubai in a way that would never be possible on a tour bus. This unique tour brings you closer to some of the hidden jewels of the city and your guide accompanies you throughout the tour to showcase the city’s rich and beautiful history. Some of the main highlights of the tour include the Old Town and its spice markets, Burj Khalifa and its unparalleled views, Palm Islands and the Dubai Marina. What makes the Dubai Private Tour so special is that the route and the journey can be entirely customized to suit your personal interests.
Insider Tip – Those choosing for the evening tour can also enjoy the water fountain display at the Burj Khalifa.
Manmade Islands
Some of the best examples of the outlandish architecture that Dubai has become famous for are its manmade islands. Start off your explorations with the Palm Jumeirah, the self-proclaimed 8th wonder of the world, which resembles the shape of a palm tree. Another group of islands that is equally is The World, an archipelago that is actually a miniature version of the world map. All islands at the archipelago are for sale, so the rich and wealthy might want to buy a “mini country” for themselves.
Dubai Museum
The Dubai Museum is your ticket to travel back in time and look at Dubai when it wasn’t a mega-city full of architectural wonders. As unbelievable as it sounds, Dubai was once a sleepy Bedouin fishing village, and the Dubai Museum is your best bet of exploring all that history. Located in the oldest structure in the city, the Al Fahidi Fort, this museum is home to a number of historic wonders such as ancient wooden fishing boats, bronze cannons, traditional huts made from palm fronds and mud, handcrafted weapons, mock souqs and ancient dhows.
Interesting Fact – The biggest highlight of the museum is its archaeology section that showcases ancient Jumeirah settlements and many other archaeological sites that were established between the years 2000 BC and 1000 BC.
90 Min Sightseeing Boat Tour Dubai Marina
This exciting boat tour shows everything there is to see about the Dubai Marina. It introduces you to its stunning vistas and then takes you on an enchanting cruise around the Palm Jumeirah, while offering ample time for the perfect photo opportunity as well. You also get to see the beautiful Atlantis Hotel, an ideal tribute to mysteries and wonders of the lost city of Atlantis. Get close to the Burj Al Arab, the most exotic hotel on the planet, without having to book a table at its restaurant or bar, to see how beautiful it truly is. Marveling at the fascinating Dubai skyline from the sea is another experience that shouldn’t be missed. Remember to carry your cameras along as the photo opportunities in store for you throughout this tour are truly amazing.
Gold Souk
Dubai is famous for its cheap gold. Hone your bargaining skills and haggle a bit, and you can really save a lot of money while purchasing gold at the Gold Souks. And even if purchasing gold isn’t high on your list of things to do, visiting the Gold Souk is a must. This dazzling complex is home to a number of stores that sell gold, silver, platinum and diamond merchandise and you can always expect your purchases to be genuine because the government keeps a tight check on the merchandise sold here.
Insider Tip – Stay away from the street vendors selling “genuine” watches and handbags. Most of the goods, including those Guuci handbags, which you get outside the Gold Souk are fake.
Burj Al Arab
Burj Al Arab, the only 7-star hotel on the planet, has been one of the most popular attractions of Dubai ever since its creation. A number of fancy hotels have come up all over Dubai, but visiting the Burj Al Arab still has a unique charm and lure. From underwater seafood restaurants to aquarium-flanking escalators, from the exhilarating views of the Skyview Bar (which needs to be booked a week in advance) to gold-leaf undercoats, everything about the hotel screams extravagance and luxury, but you don’t go to the Burj Al Arab for muted delights, do you?
Insider Tip – Travelers visiting Burj Al Arab must have a reservation at one of the bars or restaurants inside the hotel in order to be allowed entry. However, just looking at the hotel from the outside is an experience in itself and there are a number of photo opportunities to be had as well.
The following tour will allow you to enjoy a cup of tea in Burj Al Arab, visit Burj Khalifa and do sightseeing at Dubai Marina.
Wild Wadi Waterpark
The Wild Wadi Waterpark is an exciting theme park in Dubai that flanks the foot of Burj Al Arab. The park is modeled after the legend of Juha – the one who always sailed with Sinbad – and is full of exhilarating theme rides and play areas. Visitors term the water park as one of the most exciting things in Dubai and it is entirely possible to spend the whole day here (in fact, we recommend to spend a whole day here!).
Insider Tip – Purchase your tickets about 2 hours before the park closes to enjoy the “Sundowner discount”.
Dubai 4WD Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner
The 4WD Desert Safari tour lets you add some fun and excitement into your Dubai tour. It offers a unique opportunity to enjoy an Arabian sunset and experience a traditional Bedouin camp in the midst of the desert. Some of the biggest highlights include a camel ride, traditional dance shows, BBQ dinner and the Arabic shisha water pipe.
Dubai at Night Tour with Burj Khalifa Ticket
The Dubai at Night Tour lets you see the city in an entirely different light. This panoramic tour is famous for taking you closer to the most important landmarks in the city and showing them at their beautiful best, as they shine under the starry sky. The tour takes around 4 hours and it covers the city’s history, its charm and some of its top attractions such as the Dubai Marina, Downtown Boulevard, the Palm Islands, the Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab. The main highlight of this tour is the Dubai Fountain, which is famous for its enchanting water displays.
Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall, the largest shopping mall in the world, is home to the world famous Dubai Shopping Festival. Spread over 12.1 million sq. ft of retail and entertainment space, the mall has more than 1200 stores, about 150 F&B outlets, a humongous aquarium, an ice skating rink, an indoor theme park and a dinosaur skeleton. It also has the first Bloomingdale outside the US and hosts most of the main European brands. Some of the top areas to visit include Fashion Avenue, a high fashion precinct spread over 440000 sq. ft., and The Souk, an indoor souk that is home to all sorts of gold and jewelry stores.
Jumeira Beach
The Jumeira Beach is located very close to the Burj Al Arab and is considered to be the best public beach in Dubai. It is always full of tourists and locals and is an ideal place for sun worshippers, water sports enthusiasts and beach lovers. There are round-the-clock lifeguards and the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf are famous for being cool and calm. The beach is also home to numerous picnic and barbeque areas as well as a children’s playground.
Insider Tip – It becomes very hot in the afternoon, so the best time to visit the beach is in the mornings. You would want to be done with your trip to the beach by 11 AM. And don’t forget to carry plenty of sunscreen.
Private Full Day Tour to Abu Dhabi
Why cut short on your Dubai tours to visit Abu Dhabi when this exciting tour lets you enjoy the very best of the city in a single day! This tour starts at 08.30AM in the morning when you’re picked up at your hotel and ends late in the evening when you’re dropped back. It starts with a trip to the one of the largest mosques on the planet, the Sheik Zayed Mosque, and also takes you to popular attractions such as Ferrari World and the Formula 1 circuit. Other highlights include Heritage Village and Saadiyat Island.
Insider Tip – The Saadiyat Island shall soon host a cultural center which will feature a Guggenheim as well as The Louvre.
The following two tours are recommended:
Dubai is another paradise on earth. I love to visit there. Thank you for sharing this wonderful article. Very informative and very good pictures.
Thank you for your tips. Dubai is a place which provides a lot of options for gaming and entertainment with a lot of entertainment centers in the city. City Centre Deira has got a huge entertainment area http://www.citycentredeira.com/entertainment which provides more fun and enjoyment for all age groups. I have not visited the places mentioned here. I am planning to visit these places soon.