A melting pot of cultures, Dubai is the land of glamour, glitz, and fantasy. There are so many places to see and so many things to do when you are in Dubai. Even though it is impossible to cover Dubai in a matter of days, we list a few must-do activities you must do when in Dubai.
Day 1: Enjoy the Glamour and glitz of the crown prince of UAE
Dubai Aquarium
The Dubai Aquarium is the world’s largest suspended aquarium with a whopping 10 million litre tank. The aquarium contains more than 33,000 aquatic animals belonging to 140 species of sea life.
Three stories high, this aquarium is home to the largest collection of sand tiger sharks. The 48-metre long tunnel with a 270-degree view of the aquarium will leave you spellbound.
If you are an adrenaline junkie then you can also don a mask and go snorkelling in the snorkelling cage and be adventurous by carrying an oxygen mask and swimming with the sharks. And when here do not miss to click a few pics with the gigantic King Croc.
Dubai Mall
Shop till you drop when you are in Dubai. With over 1000 retailers in the Dubai Mall, you will run out of shopping time. With many options for entertainment such as SEGA republic, Hysteria, Rainforest café, Kidzania, Olympic sized Dubai IceRink, and Dubai Dino there is something for everyone irrespective of age.
You will also not go hungry with umpteen options for dining at the Dubai Mall. For the fashionistas in you, head to the Fashion Avenue where you can experience the latest collections from different world-renowned brands and designers. With over 70 signature outlets you will not fall short of fashion ideas.
Burj Khalifa
After a day of fun-filled activities at Dubai Aquarium and shopping to your heart’s content visit The Burj Khalifa. The crown jewel of Dubai and the tallest building in the world, the sight of Burj Khalifa will make your drop your jaw.
Do not miss to see the beautiful musical fountain at The Burj Khalifa. This fountain consists of a 275-metre long central arc of jets connected to smaller arcs. The water jets spray water up to 150 metres accompanied by 6000 powerful lights and 50 colour projectors.
The evening shows start at 6 pm and continue until 11 pm. Musical hits are included in the music that is accompanied by the fountain. Ensure to come early in the evening and stand in a good location for clicking an amazing pic of the fountain.
The musical fountain is beautiful at night. Also, you can visit the observatory at the Burj Khalifa in the evening to see Dubai’s magnificence with everything lit up.
Day 2: Experience the grandeur of the best entertainment destination in the world
Motiongate Dubai
Motiongate Dubai is a theme park inspired by Hollywood that’s located inside Dubai Parks and Resorts. Once you enter the park through a huge movie reel gate you walk into the 1920s of New York.
The attractions and the theme areas are based on three of Hollywood’s biggest studios, Columbia Pictures, Dreamworks Animation, and Lionsgate. With over 30 attractions there is something for everyone.
Al Bastakia
Al Bastakiya is a historic neighbourhood of Dubai which was built in the late 1800s. The historical town was used as a warehouse and accommodation for foreign labourers who came to work there in the 1980s.
This sleepy town has some amazing places to visit. The Mawahab Gallery in Al Bastakia is a unique art studio where students from 16 years and above can use this space to display their art skills. The vision of this studio is to encourage each individual regardless of their disability to reach the highest potential through art.
The Coffee Museum in Al Bastakia is a two-storeyed building where coffee lovers can enjoy different coffee from around the world. In the ground floor, coffee lovers can buy from a different variety of coffee which are roasted and brewed differently. The second floor of the museum consists of different books related to coffee.
Shaikh Muhammad Centre for Cultural Understanding is a museum that was created to establish a cultural relationship among the people of Dubai.
The Arabian Tea House located in Al Bastakia is a café where you can enjoy traditional Arabic food. This café is designed keeping in mind the old heritage of Dubai.
Desert Safari
How can one not go for desert safari when in Dubai. The sands are inviting and safari is a different experience altogether. Be it dune bashing, camel riding, sand boarding or just lazing away the night under the stars, the experience is just mesmerising.
With many operators providing desert safari tours you will never fall short of options. Enjoy soulful music, belly dancing, and widespread of delicious buffet for dinner and spend time in the desert while the moon shines on your shoulder.
Day 3: Take a trip to Dubai’s memory lane
Dhow Cruise
Head along the classy Dubai marina while sailing on a dhow cruise for a unique dining experience. Gliding along the Dubai creek enjoy light music along with a spread of a delicious buffet.
The riverbank, home to countless attractions is itself one of Dubai’s iconic sights. The restored dhows will allow you to enjoy the charm of the old city enjoying a spectrum of onboard activities.
If you want to enjoy a more modern take to the waters of Dubai, then go for a yacht rental. It’s a more luxurious way of cruising through the enchanted waters of the magnificent city.
Dubai Bus Tour
Dubai has so much to offer and to cover it all in a matter of days is not easy. The best way to cover most of Dubai sight-seeing is by hopping on a bus.
Most tour operators operate a hop-on-hop-off bus which will allow you to see the glittering beauty of Dubai in the most cost-effective way. You can skip an attraction or spend more time in a specific attraction.
If the bus leaves it is no problem, you can hop on another bus that comes. From the tall skyscrapers to the old city of Al Bastakia you can cover them all.
JBR Beach
The beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence is a family-friendly beach which anyone can access. From a wide variety of beachside dining to enjoying some amazing water sports, you can do it all.
Be it parasailing, wakeboarding, or bashing the waves through banana boat ride you can pump up the adrenaline rush in your blood here. If you are not much of a water person, you can keep your feet dry and take a camel ride along the beach.
Plus the 600-metre jogging track and the outdoor gym allows you to pump up some iron when you are at the beach. Try your hand with some beach volleyball or give your muscles a stretch with an outdoor yoga session. Visiting this beach will ensure your day is made.
Takeaway
Whether it is a three-day visitor a thirty-day, it is important to spend time in the city the right way to experience the essence of this great city. We hope this itinerary makes even a short span of 3 days the most memorable for you.
More about the Author
This was a guest post by Neha Singh. She is an avid trekker, explorer and a true foodie; Neha finds happiness in small endeavours of life and loves to pen them down as a cherished memory. A firm believer that “we have just one life to live and so much to do”, Neha lives every moment to the fullest.
Read more on her travel blog: http://www.dubaiwikia.com/
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I hope this article has given you some ideas on what to see in Dubai.
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Happy travels!
This is a great list, I’m pleased I managed to do quite a few of them when we stayed in Dubai for three days. More things to add for next time!
Author
I am so pleased you enjoyed reading the Dubai guide. Dubai is a fantastic place to visit.