Itinerary · Dubai · United Arab Emirates
One day in Dubai
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Dubai, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 5. Day 1: Burj Khalifa – At the Top and Dubai Fountain. Base yourself in Downtown Dubai.
Key facts
- Days
- 1
- Sights covered
- 5
- Day trips
- None
- Best base
- Downtown Dubai
- Book ahead
- Burj Khalifa – At the Top
Day by day
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.
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. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Late morning
Dubai Fountain
Watch from the Souk Al Bahar bridge, or take a short boat ride on the lake for a closer view. Allow 30 minutes.
Lunch
Lunch: Shawarma
Cafeterias in Deira, Bur Dubai, Satwa and Karama, many open late.
Afternoon
Dubai Mall
Go on a weekday morning, and use the air-conditioned walkway from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station. Allow 2–4 hours.
Late afternoon
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. Allow 30 minutes.
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.
Before you go
- Burj Khalifa – At the Top: Book timed tickets online in advance, especially for sunset and on winter weekends.
If it rains
- Swap in Museum of the Future (Sheikh Zayed Road): Book a morning slot and photograph the exterior from the Emirates Towers side of Sheikh Zayed Road.
- 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.
Where to stay for this itinerary
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, luxury and families
Downtown Dubai
The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the fountain shows
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 7–10 hours of visiting over one day, 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
Questions travellers ask
+Is one day enough in Dubai?
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 5. How many days Dubai needs.
+What should I book before visiting Dubai?
Burj Khalifa – At the Top.