Things to do · Dubai · United Arab Emirates
20 best things to do in Dubai
20 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: GinaD, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Dubai are Burj Khalifa – At the Top, Dubai Fountain and Abra ride across Dubai Creek. Of the 20 picks below, 8 are free, 6 work on a rainy day and 13 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Burj Khalifa – At the Top
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- Dubai Mall
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burj Khalifa – At the Top | Downtown Dubai | 1.5–2 hours | Expensive |
| Dubai Fountain | Downtown Dubai | 30 minutes | Free |
| Abra ride across Dubai Creek | Dubai Creek | 30 minutes | Low cost |
| Museum of the Future | Sheikh Zayed Road | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Burj Al Arab | Umm Suqeim | 1 hour | Free |
| Dubai Mall | Downtown Dubai | 2–4 hours | Free |
| Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood | Bur Dubai | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Gold Souk and Spice Souk | Deira | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Dubai Marina and JBR Walk | Dubai Marina | 2–3 hours | Free |
| The View at The Palm | Palm Jumeirah | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Desert safari | Dubai desert | 6 hours | Mid-priced |
| Dubai Frame | Zabeel Park | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Alserkal Avenue | Al Quoz | 2 hours | Free |
| Etihad Museum | Jumeirah | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Dubai Miracle Garden | Al Barsha South | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Global Village | Dubailand | 3–4 hours | Low cost |
| Kite Beach | Umm Suqeim | Half a day | Free |
| Ski Dubai | Al Barsha | 2–3 hours | Expensive |
| Al Shindagha Museum | Bur Dubai | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers | Palm Jumeirah | Half a day to a full day | Expensive |
The 20 best things to do
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Viewpoint · Downtown Dubai
1.Burj Khalifa – At the Top
At 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa has been the world's tallest building since 2010. 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.
Sunset slots cost more and sell out; an early-morning visit is cheaper and often clearer, before the haze builds.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Book timed tickets online in advance, especially for sunset and on winter weekends.
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Architecture
- After dark
Landmark · Downtown Dubai
2.Dubai Fountain
The choreographed fountain on the Burj Khalifa Lake shoots jets of water up to about 140 metres high to music, with shows every half hour through the evening and a couple at lunchtime. It is free to watch from the lakeside promenade, the Souk Al Bahar bridge or restaurant terraces.
Watch from the Souk Al Bahar bridge, or take a short boat ride on the lake for a closer view.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Kids
- Couples
Experience · Dubai Creek
3.Abra ride across Dubai Creek
Wooden abra water taxis have carried passengers across Dubai Creek between Bur Dubai and Deira for generations. The crossing takes a few minutes, costs very little and passes dhows unloading cargo — the simplest way to see old Dubai from the water.
Cross from the Bur Dubai abra station near the Textile Souk to Deira, then walk into the Spice and Gold souks.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Kids
Museum · Sheikh Zayed Road
4.Museum of the Future
Opened in 2022, the torus-shaped building wrapped in Arabic calligraphy is one of the city's most photographed. Inside, immersive floors imagine life in 2071, with a space station, a library of living species, a wellness sanctuary and a children's area.
Book a morning slot and photograph the exterior from the Emirates Towers side of Sheikh Zayed Road.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Timed tickets must be booked online and sell out at weekends.
- Architecture
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Landmark · Umm Suqeim
5.Burj Al Arab
Shaped like a billowing sail on its own island, the Burj Al Arab is one of Dubai's best-known landmarks. 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.
Photograph it at sunset from Sunset Beach, or from the canals of Madinat Jumeirah.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Experience · Downtown Dubai
6.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. The aquarium's giant viewing panel can be seen free from the ground floor.
Go on a weekday morning, and use the air-conditioned walkway from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Free
- Food
Historic site · Bur Dubai
7.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. Its lanes hold small museums, galleries, the Coffee Museum and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
Book a cultural meal or heritage walk with the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding to ask questions about Emirati life.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Market · Deira
8.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. The Perfume Souk nearby blends oud and attars.
Bargaining is expected in the spice and textile souks; at the Gold Souk you can negotiate the making charge, not the daily gold price.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- History
- Food
Waterfront · Dubai Marina
1.Dubai Marina and JBR Walk
Marina Walk circles a canal lined with skyscrapers and yachts and leads to The Walk at JBR, a beachfront promenade of cafés and restaurants. Evening dhow cruises sail the marina past the illuminated towers and out towards the Palm.
Walk the marina at dusk, then take a dhow dinner cruise or eat at one of the JBR beachfront restaurants.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
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Viewpoint · Palm Jumeirah
2.The View at The Palm
From the 52nd floor of The Palm Tower, about 240 metres up, this observation deck reveals the full palm shape of the island, its fronds and Atlantis at the tip. The Palm Monorail stops at Nakheel Mall at the base of the tower.
Visit near sunset, then ride the monorail to Atlantis and walk the boardwalk.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
Nature · Dubai desert
3.Desert safari
Most safaris drive 45–60 minutes into the red dunes around Lahbab or the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve for 4x4 dune driving, sandboarding and camel rides, followed by dinner at a desert camp with henna painting and music. Morning safaris and sunrise hot-air balloon flights are quieter alternatives.
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.
- Time needed
- 6 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Book with a licensed operator that includes hotel pick-up.
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Zabeel Park
4.Dubai Frame
A 150-metre picture frame clad in gold-coloured steel stands in Zabeel Park, with a glass-floored bridge across the top. The view north takes in old Dubai and the creek, and the view south the towers of Sheikh Zayed Road.
Go in the late afternoon to see both old and new Dubai in daylight and then lit up.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Neighbourhood · Al Quoz
5.Alserkal Avenue
In the industrial Al Quoz district, converted warehouses on Alserkal Avenue house contemporary art galleries, design studios, the independent Cinema Akil and cafés. Entry to the galleries is free.
Visit on a weekday afternoon when most galleries are open, and have lunch at one of the avenue's cafés.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Jumeirah
6.Etihad Museum
Beside Union House, where the rulers of the emirates signed the agreement founding the UAE on 2 December 1971, this museum's manuscript-shaped building tells the story of the country's creation through films, documents and personal belongings.
Save it for the heat of the afternoon, when indoor sights make most sense.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Garden · Al Barsha South
7.Dubai Miracle Garden
Open from autumn to spring, this flower park arranges tens of millions of blooms into hearts, arches, castles and a full-size Airbus A380 covered in flowers.
Visit in the late afternoon in November or December, when it is cooler and the displays are freshest.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Nature
Theme park · Dubailand
8.Global Village
Open from about October to May, Global Village gathers pavilions representing dozens of countries, with food stalls, handicrafts, funfair rides, stage shows and fireworks on some evenings. It is busiest at weekends, when families come for dinner and shopping.
Go on a weekday evening, eat your way around the pavilions and check the fireworks schedule.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- After dark
- Food
- Shopping
Beach · Umm Suqeim
9.Kite Beach
A long, free public beach with kitesurfing, beach volleyball, food trucks and cafés, a running track and views of the Burj Al Arab. Lifeguards watch over the designated swimming areas.
Swim only between the flags, and come early in the morning in the warmer months, before the sand heats up.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
Experience · Al Barsha
10.Ski Dubai
Inside the Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai keeps real snow on an indoor slope with several runs, a snow park for tobogganing and a colony of penguins that visitors can meet. Winter clothing is included with tickets.
Book the penguin encounter in advance; it is the highlight for many children.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Rainy day
Museum · Bur Dubai
11.Al Shindagha Museum
At the mouth of Dubai Creek, the Al Shindagha Museum fills restored coral-stone houses, including the former home of the ruling Al Maktoum family, with displays on the creek's history and pearling, plus a Perfume House exploring Emirati scents.
Combine it with a walk along the Al Seef waterfront and an abra ride across the creek.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Theme park · Palm Jumeirah
12.Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers
At Atlantis The Palm, the Aquaventure water park has dozens of slides, a long river ride and a private beach, while the Lost Chambers Aquarium leads through tunnels of sharks, rays and tropical fish.
Arrive at opening on a weekday, and visit in the cooler months when queues on the open-air slides are bearable.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Museum of the Future, Alserkal Avenue, Etihad Museum and Al Shindagha Museum |
| History | Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Abra ride across Dubai Creek, Gold Souk and Spice Souk and Etihad Museum |
| Views | Burj Khalifa – At the Top, Abra ride across Dubai Creek, Dubai Marina and JBR Walk and The View at The Palm |
| Outdoors and nature | Dubai Marina and JBR Walk, Desert safari, Dubai Miracle Garden and Kite Beach |
| Food and markets | Dubai Mall, Gold Souk and Spice Souk and Global Village |
| After dark | Burj Khalifa – At the Top, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Marina and JBR Walk and Global Village |
| With children | Burj Khalifa – At the Top, Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain and Abra ride across Dubai Creek |
| On a rainy day | Dubai Mall, Museum of the Future, Alserkal Avenue and Etihad Museum |
What to book ahead
- 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.
- Desert safari: Book with a licensed operator that includes hotel pick-up.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Dubai?
Burj Khalifa – At the Top. At 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa has been the world's tallest building since 2010.
+What can you do for free in Dubai?
Dubai Fountain, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Mall, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Gold Souk and Spice Souk. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Dubai when it rains?
Head indoors to Dubai Mall, Museum of the Future, Alserkal Avenue and Etihad Museum.
+What is there to do in Dubai at night?
Burj Khalifa – At the Top, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Marina and JBR Walk and Global Village are best after dark.