2 days in Dubai

Day by day

1. Day 1: Burj Khalifa – At the Top and Dubai Fountain

   Burj Khalifa – At the Top, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Mall and Abra ride across Dubai Creek, then Dubai Marina and JBR Walk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Burj Khalifa – At the Top

      The At the Top observation decks on levels 124 and 125 look over the city, the desert and the Gulf, and a higher deck on level 148 adds a lounge experience. The base sits beside the Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Mall.

   2. Late morning

      Dubai Fountain

      It is free to watch from the lakeside promenade, the Souk Al Bahar bridge or restaurant terraces.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Shawarma

      Cafeterias in Deira, Bur Dubai, Satwa and Karama, many open late.

   4. Afternoon

      Dubai Mall

      The aquarium's giant viewing panel can be seen free from the ground floor.

   5. Late afternoon

      Abra ride across Dubai Creek

      The crossing takes a few minutes, costs very little and passes dhows unloading cargo — the simplest way to see old Dubai from the water.

   6. Evening

      Dubai Marina and JBR Walk

      Walk the marina at dusk, then take a dhow dinner cruise or eat at one of the JBR beachfront restaurants.

2. Day 2: Museum of the Future and Burj Al Arab

   Museum of the Future, Burj Al Arab, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Gold Souk and Spice Souk, then Global Village in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museum of the Future

      Inside, immersive floors imagine life in 2071, with a space station, a library of living species, a wellness sanctuary and a children's area.

   2. Late morning

      Burj Al Arab

      The free view from the public beaches of Umm Suqeim is the classic photo, while paid guided tours and restaurant bookings are the only ways inside.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Machboos

      Emirati restaurants in Al Fahidi and Al Seef, and cultural meals at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre.

   4. Afternoon

      Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

      Its lanes hold small museums, galleries, the Coffee Museum and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.

   5. Late afternoon

      Gold Souk and Spice Souk

      The Perfume Souk nearby blends oud and attars.

   6. Evening

      Global Village

      Go on a weekday evening, eat your way around the pavilions and check the fireworks schedule.

Before you go

• Burj Khalifa – At the Top: Book timed tickets online in advance, especially for sunset and on winter weekends.
• Museum of the Future: Timed tickets must be booked online and sell out at weekends.

If it rains

• Swap in Alserkal Avenue (Al Quoz): Visit on a weekday afternoon when most galleries are open, and have lunch at one of the avenue's cafés.
• Swap in Etihad Museum (Jumeirah): Save it for the heat of the afternoon, when indoor sights make most sense.
• Swap in Ski Dubai (Al Barsha): Book the penguin encounter in advance; it is the highlight for many children.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–21 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Metro. The driverless Red and Green Lines are clean, air-conditioned and inexpensive, with a Gold Class carriage and a section for women and children.

More or fewer days

• One day in Dubai
• 3 days in Dubai
• 4 days in Dubai
• 5 days in Dubai
• 7 days in Dubai

Questions travellers ask