3 days in Dubai

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Burj Khalifa – At the Top

      At 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa has been the world's tallest building since 2010.

   2. Late morning

      Dubai Fountain

      Watch from the Souk Al Bahar bridge, or take a short boat ride on the lake for a closer view.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Shawarma

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

   4. Afternoon

      Dubai Mall

      One of the largest malls in the world, with more than 1,200 shops, the Dubai Mall also holds the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, an Olympic-size ice rink and a dinosaur skeleton in its souk-style atrium.

   5. 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: Abra ride across Dubai Creek and Museum of the Future

   Abra ride across Dubai Creek, Museum of the Future and Burj Al Arab, then Global Village in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Abra ride across Dubai Creek

      Cross from the Bur Dubai abra station near the Textile Souk to Deira, then walk into the Spice and Gold souks.

   2. Late morning

      Museum of the Future

      Opened in 2022, the torus-shaped building wrapped in Arabic calligraphy is one of the city's most photographed.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Machboos

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

   4. Afternoon

      Burj Al Arab

      Photograph it at sunset from Sunset Beach, or from the canals of Madinat Jumeirah.

   5. Evening

      Global Village

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

3. Day 3: Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Al Shindagha Museum

   Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Shindagha Museum and Gold Souk and Spice Souk, then Dubai Marina and JBR in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

      Also known as Al Bastakiya, this maze of restored sand-coloured houses with wind towers — an early form of air-conditioning — was built by pearl and textile merchants.

   2. Late morning

      Al Shindagha Museum

      Combine it with a walk along the Al Seef waterfront and an abra ride across the creek.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Harees

      Emirati restaurants, especially during Ramadan.

   4. Afternoon

      Gold Souk and Spice Souk

      Deira's covered souks show old Dubai at its liveliest: the Gold Souk's hundreds of shop windows glitter with necklaces and bangles priced by weight, while the Spice Souk next door sells saffron, frankincense, dried limes and dates from open sacks.

   5. Evening

      Dubai Marina and JBR

      Beach bars, sports pubs and lounges along the waterfront and in hotels.

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

With 3 nights, Downtown Dubai keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Business Bay ($$$) suits budget, first-timers and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 18–23 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

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

Questions travellers ask