5 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

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

   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. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Shawarma

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

   4. Afternoon

      Dubai Mall

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

   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. (30 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Museum of the Future

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

   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. (1 hour, free).

   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

      Book a cultural meal or heritage walk with the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding to ask questions about Emirati life. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Al Shindagha Museum

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

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Harees

      Emirati restaurants, especially during Ramadan.

   4. Afternoon

      Gold Souk and Spice Souk

      Bargaining is expected in the spice and textile souks; at the Gold Souk you can negotiate the making charge, not the daily gold price. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   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. Best for culture, first-timers and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Dubai

      Dinner: try Luqaimat.

5. Day 5: The View at The Palm and Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers

   The View at The Palm, Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers and Desert safari, then Downtown and DIFC in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The View at The Palm

      Visit near sunset, then ride the monorail to Atlantis and walk the boardwalk. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers

      Arrive at opening on a weekday, and visit in the cooler months when queues on the open-air slides are bearable. (Half a day to a full day, expensive).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Luqaimat

      Emirati cafés, festivals and stalls at Global Village.

   4. Afternoon

      Desert safari

      Choose operators that work inside the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, and skip dune driving if you are pregnant, have back problems or have very young children. (6 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Downtown and DIFC

      Rooftop bars, cocktail lounges and upmarket restaurants in the financial centre and around the Burj Khalifa.

Before you go

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

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 28–34 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 4 days in Dubai
• 7 days in Dubai

Questions travellers ask