Itinerary · 5 days · 20 places
5 Days in Dubai
Five days in Dubai: a first evening at Burj Lake, a whole day in the souks and lanes along Dubai Creek, a day between the Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future, a desert safari with dune bashing and dinner at camp, and finally Palm Jumeirah and the Marina before your flight home.
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Photo: Kate Trysh · Pexels
The route on the map
The plan, day by day
Day 1Arrival and a first evening in Downtown
Arrival in Dubai
Hotel check-in
The hotel is in Downtown Dubai around the Burj Khalifa, within walking distance of Dubai Mall, Burj Lake and the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station.
Dubai Fountain on Burj Lake
On the artificial lake in front of the Burj Khalifa, jets of water shoot up to 140 metres high to music every 30 minutes — best seen from the lake boardwalk.
Day 2The old town on the Creek and the souks
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Dubai's oldest surviving quarter is a maze of narrow sandstone lanes and 19th-century wind-tower houses, now home to small museums and courtyards.
Textile Souk in Bur Dubai
Under the wooden arcade by the Creek, bolts of silk, cotton and pashmina are piled high, and traders cut fabric straight off the roll.
Abra crossing over Dubai Creek
For a few dirhams an open wooden boat takes you from the Bur Dubai jetty across to Deira in five minutes, with views of the old dhow wharves.
Spice Souk in Deira
Saffron, dried limes, frankincense and hibiscus are piled in open sacks, and the scent fills the lane before you even get there.
Gold Souk in Deira
Hundreds of shops display their 22-carat gold chains and bangles in the windows, sold at the daily price per gram plus a workmanship charge.
Perfume Souk on Sikkat Al Khail Road
Right next to the Gold Souk, traders blend oud, rose and musk oils to order in little flacons.
Evening: Al Seef on Dubai Creek
The newly built heritage-style strip on the water, with mud-brick façades, cafés and souvenir stalls, is lit up in the evening and lively until late.
Day 3Downtown, Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future
Burj Khalifa – At the Top
The lift whisks you up to the observation level at 452 metres in one minute, from where the Palm, the desert and Sheikh Zayed Road are all visible at once.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
On the ground floor of Dubai Mall, a ten-metre-high tank with sand tiger sharks and rays spans three floors, with a walk-through tunnel running beneath it.
Museum of the Future
The silver ring covered in Arabic calligraphy on Sheikh Zayed Road presents walk-through visions of the future on several floors, from a space station to a genetics lab.
Dubai Frame in Zabeel Park
The 150-metre-high golden picture frame has a glass floor at the top, from which you see the old town on one side and Downtown on the other.
Evening: City Walk
This largely car-free district of pavement cafés, street art and fountains only fills up after dark.
Day 4Desert safari in the dunes
Al Qudra Lakes
These man-made lakes in the middle of the desert attract flamingos, herons and oryx, and the Al Qudra Cycle Track runs along their shores.
Love Lake Dubai
Two interlocking heart-shaped lakes with rows of palm trees and a viewing hill, a few kilometres beyond Al Qudra.
Dune bashing in Al Marmoom Reserve
A 4x4 takes you over the red sand ridges of the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, with a stop for sandboarding on a high dune.
Camel ride at the desert camp
From the camp a short dromedary ride leads into the dunes, followed by dates and karak tea under the tent roof.
Evening: starry sky at Bab Al Shams camp
Far from the city lights you sit on carpets by the fire while tanoura dancers perform and the Milky Way comes into view.
Day 5Palm Jumeirah, the Marina and departure
The View at The Palm
The observation deck on the 52nd floor of The Palm Tower is the only place in the city that shows the island's palm shape from above.
Dubai Marina Walk
Seven kilometres of waterfront path run between the yacht harbour and the skyscrapers, with views of the twisted façade of the Cayan Tower.
Departure from Dubai
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