4 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

      Allow 1.5–2 hours (expensive). Sunset slots cost more and sell out; an early-morning visit is cheaper and often clearer, before the haze builds.

   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

      Allow 2–4 hours (free). Go on a weekday morning, and use the air-conditioned walkway from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station.

   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

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

   2. Late morning

      Museum of the Future

      Allow 2 hours (mid-priced). Book a morning slot and photograph the exterior from the Emirates Towers side of Sheikh Zayed Road.

   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

      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.

   5. Evening

      Global Village

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

3. Day 3: Kite Beach and Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

   Kite Beach, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Al Shindagha Museum, then Dubai Marina and JBR in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kite Beach

      Allow Half a day (free). Swim only between the flags, and come early in the morning in the warmer months, before the sand heats up.

   2. Late morning

      Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

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

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Harees

      Emirati restaurants, especially during Ramadan.

   4. Afternoon

      Al Shindagha Museum

      Allow 2 hours (low cost). Combine it with a walk along the Al Seef waterfront and an abra ride across the creek.

   5. Evening

      Dubai Marina and JBR

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Abu Dhabi

   About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or bus each way. Getting there: Car, taxi or intercity bus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Abu Dhabi

      About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or bus (Car, taxi or intercity bus); about 140 km.

   2. Day

      Abu Dhabi

      The UAE capital's highlights are the white-marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, open to respectfully dressed visitors, the Louvre Abu Dhabi beneath its latticed dome on Saadiyat Island, and the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace.

   3. Evening

      Back in Dubai

      Dinner: try Luqaimat.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Burj Khalifa – At the Top and Museum of the Future before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 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 19–25 hours of visiting over 4 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
• 3 days in Dubai
• 5 days in Dubai
• 7 days in Dubai

Questions travellers ask