There is so much to do, see and eat in Dubai for every age group, every mood and preference. Here are a few of my favorite must-see and must-do things in Dubai.
Decadent Diaries Tips:
I strongly advise choosing a hotel close by or directly connected to one of the top malls of Dubai like the Mall of the Emirates or Dubai Mall. This will ensure plenty of eating options and entertainment options at your disposal close by. While choosing a hotel close to the malls also check if they have complimentary pickup and drop service to and from the mall, i.e. if they are not directly connected to the mall like the options above.
Travel by Emirates airlines if possible. Traveling by this airline gives you a variety of options for flight timings. Chose a flight that arrives in the morning at Dubai and while departure chose a flight that leaves by late afternoon or evening from Dubai. This ensures you make the most of your travel days including the last departure day. If you wish to apply for Dubai visa online, people traveling by Emirates can apply directly on their website for a visa (subject to a fee and terms and conditions as mentioned on their website)
Do not use the hotel taxi. When you ask the concierge for a taxi specify that you want them to call for a normal taxi. Hotel taxis are costlier.
Some big hotels like Burj Al Arab require you to have a reservation at one of their restaurants to be able to enter their premises. So ensure to take a prior reservation before you visit the hotel.
There are some months when even 5-star hotels have really good rates in Dubai. Though they may technically be off-season months but there is much to do all year round for you to enjoy.
It is scorching hot during the daytime in Dubai (be it any season), so it is a must to apply sunscreen and carry a water bottle and an umbrella to protect you from the sun if you are visiting any outdoor area in Dubai.
Day 1 - Mall of the Emirates and Souk Madinat
I personally really like Mall of the Emirates, it has an understated elegance and does not have as much rush as Dubai Mall, while having all the popular shopping brands and countless dining and entertainment options. This is a good mall to visit not only for shopping but to also enjoy attractions like Ski Dubai (Indoor Ski Resort), Magic Planet (gaming arcade), Dreamscape (virtual reality experience), Vox Cinemas with IMAX and more.
In Pic - Brunch at Common Grounds
In Pic - L'ETO Cafe
There are many popular dining options like the Cheesecake Factory, L'ETO Bakery (do try their honey cake), Din Tai Fung, Ladurée (French Macaron brand), Said Dal 1923 (known for its viral hot chocolate), Tiger Sugar (great for boba tea), Paul Cafe, YO! Sushi, Common Grounds (great brunch spot) and more. The retail space is a mix of all the well-known luxury and high-end brands, a huge Apple store, many tech stores, bookstores and of course many popular international brands as well. Overall this mall is a must-visit in my opinion. I usually like staying at the Sheraton Mall of Emirates Hotel as it is directly connected to the mall and is really convenient for me to have so many options at my disposal. In the evening you can take a short taxi ride to visit Souk Madinat, an elegant outdoor mall designed to give a feel of a traditional Souk (Middle Eastern Bazaar). Here you can also enjoy a boat ride in their beautiful canals and get some great views of the iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel.
Day 2 - Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is currently the biggest mall in Dubai. It is also next door to the Burj Khalifa which is currently known to be the world's tallest building. The beauty and grandeur of Dubai Mall is a class apart. This mall is so beautifully designed, especially its themed areas like the fashion avenue, the souk, etc.
It is also home to world-class entertainment options like the famous Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Ice Rink, At The Top Burj Khalifa, Infinity Des Lumières (immersive digital art space) and many more. One of the most famous attractions at Dubai Mall is the Dubai Fountain which hosts a water and light show held every evening at particular times. This attraction garners a huge rush so be sure to get a good vantage point on time. I suggest heading to the Time Out Market at Souk Al Bahar which is just opposite the Dubai Mall. Over there is an outdoor terrace where you can get a good and not too crowded view of the fountain at a good height as well. After which you can sit and dine there by choosing a variety of dishes and cuisines from the extensive range of specialty restaurants located in this market.
In Pic - Eataly
In Pic - Yamanote Atelier
Some of my favorite dining options at Dubai mall are Eataly (a well-known Italian food and marketplace chain, their Margherita pizza is mindblowing due to the rich tomato base), Magnolia Bakery (a New York establishment famous for its cupcakes and banana pudding), TWG for tea, Hafiz Mustafa 1864 (the best baklava you will ever have) and Yamanote Atelier (Japanese bakery with delicious treats). You will require an entire day at Dubai Mall as it is really extensive and to properly enjoy and appreciate this mall you need a full day. The combination of dining, entertainment and shopping options makes this the best mall in Dubai. Visit on a weekday to avoid the rush.
Day 3 - Desert safari/Theme Parks, Bluewaters Island
Anyone coming on their first trip to Dubai would be advised by people to do the quintessential "Desert Safari" experience. You head into the desert in an SUV and experience a thrilling drive through the sand dunes. Personally, I prefer the desert buggy/desert bike experience where I get to drive a buggy/bike at my own pace inside a designated area in the desert. Alternatively, you can visit a theme park of your choice. Dubai is home to countless theme parks and water parks to suit every age and interest. Some popular parks are Legoland, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Wild Wadi Waterpark and more. You can also visit the Ferrari World, Warner Bros World (Yas Island), etc. by taking a day trip to Abu Dhabi. It is up to how park-centric you want to make your trip. Another popular place to visit is the Dubai Miracle Garden which is known to be the world's largest natural flower garden. Also popular is the Museum of The Future which is located inside a beautifully designed structure. So as you can see, Dubai is filled with a mind-boggling number of entertainment options, which is why Dubai is one of my most loved travel destinations.
In Pic - Bluewaters Island
In the evening time take a pleasant stroll along the Ain Dubai Boulevard on Bluewaters Island with its iconic Ferris Wheel and dazzling installations while taking in the view of Palm Jumeirah which is close by.
In Pic- Bluewaters Pedestrian Bridge
Then proceed by the Bluewaters pedestrian bridge towards Marina Beach which has some amazing restaurants and hotels where you can dine.
Day 4 - Dubai Expo and Global Village
In Pic - Al Wasl Dome
Dubai Expo was a huge hit with millions of people who traveled to visit the stunningly designed pavilions and zones. Those who missed out can still visit the same as some of the pavilions have been recently reopened for public access.
In Pic - Alif Pavilion
You can visit the paid pavilions like Alif - The Mobility Pavilion and Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion. Or you can just admire the general magnificence of this area and spend some time at the mesmerizing Al Wasl Dome and the Fire Falls which are free of charge. There is a lot of effort and thought that has gone into designing this Expo and I truly appreciated it.
TIP - If you want to visit the expo-city, either travel there by metro or if you want to go by taxi then have a prearranged car for your ride back. As it is very difficult to call a taxi there especially if you have an international roaming number, the app used to book the local taxis does not send the OTP to international numbers as per my experience and the waiting times for taxis over calls are unending. We had a bad experience where we were stuck there as there was no taxi stand/taxi area from where we could get a taxi back home.
In Pic - Global Village
Then in the evening, you can proceed to Global Village (which opens usually at 4 pm) a wonderful theme park that is a melting pot of cultures and countries. It has some stunningly designed recreations of iconic wonders and locations of the world. You can enjoy the local cuisine and shop from a huge variety of countries, each with its separate impressively created area. There are many rides and other experiences as well. Global Village is usually active between October and April so if you are traveling another time, you can replace it with some other activity you wish to do. Also, I suggest getting here a little early around 5 or 6 pm so that you get less rush while you are exploring. You can instead visit La Mer or Al Seef - two notable areas for shopping, entertainment and dining. As I always say, it is up to you how you wish to tweak and design your trip, these are just some suggested options.
Day 5 - Palm Jumeirah
In Pic - Atlantis The Palm
Another early evening spot to head towards is the famous Palm Jumeirah, a remarkable man-made island designed to look like a palm tree, where there are some of the most iconic 5-star hotels in the world including the famous Atlantis The Palm. You can head first to Atlantis to have an evening tea/snack and admire the breathtaking beauty of this hotel (better to take a reservation and go to the restaurant you wish to visit).
In Pic - Fountain Show at The Pointe
You can then head to The Pointe, an outdoor shopping mall at Palm Jumeirah for some incredible sunset views and the evening fountain show set in the background of the Atlantis Hotel. There are many dining options to have a wonderful outdoor dinner while overlooking this fountain show and enjoying the evening sea breeze.
Departure Day
On the departure day, I suggest heading to the Dubai airport a little earlier than usual so as to enjoy the airport and all its shopping and dining options. Once you pass the security check you can visit all the terminal's departure areas (as per my last experience) and enjoy the shopping and dining options there as well. The Dubai Duty-Free Shops have a great variety and loads of offers. You can research all their offers online on their official website before you visit the airport in case you are looking for specific items/gifts to buy in order to find the best deals available.
So this is my suggested 5-day itinerary for you to get some ideas for your upcoming Dubai Trip. Tweak as per your preferences. Thank you for reading. ❤️
Comments