If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me for a Dubai itinerary for their upcoming travels, I’d have enough dollars to open a travel agency, and charge for said itinerary.  So, I figured I would make my life a bit easier; I will write it all down here, and just forward the link the next time someone asks 🙂 Here are some of my favorite touristy things, and places in good ol’ DXB. Keep in mind that these things may vary depending on the time of year you are traveling, because a lot of stuff closes in the Summer.

Where to stay – This depends on your preference really.  You have a few different hubs to pick from.  The marina, and JBR areas have a ton of things to do, but you will face tons of traffic, and it’s basically at the far end of Dubai, so a taxi, or an uber into the downtown area will run you about 60-70 dirhams each way.  Downtown hotels may be pricey, but you can walk to many places, and the taxis and ubers to the nearby areas (trade center, DIFC, where there are many clubs, restaurants, and bars) will cost much less than if you stay in the marina.  Deira is an option if you want to stay in Dubai on a budget, but this is the least glamorous part of town.  It is closer to the Old Dubai part of town, which is packed with character (and characters), but If you’re looking for glitz, and glam, this is NOT where you will find it, though it’s all just a short taxi ride away.  Staying on the Palm seems to be something a lot of people want to do, but I try to avoid the Palm like the plague, here’s why: The Palm was literally built to be seen from the air without much concern for driving around there.  Traffic flow on that thing is a nightmare.  There is literally only one road in, and out, and there will always be traffic jams.

Burj Khalifa – Most websites will tell you to go to the top of the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world).  I’ve done it, and I think it’s overpriced, and underwhelming.  Here’s the thing about it… Dubai is in the middle of the desert, so the only interesting thing to see from up there is the “aerial” view of the Palm Jumeirah, and the world islands which you can see from many other places – like Observatory, a cool restaurant/bar near the marina.  Again, this is just my opinion, so if you feel inclined to spend 500 dirhams to go up to the 146^th floor, because you’re a sucker for a view, then be my guest, but don’t say I didn’t tell you what to expect.  The good news is that the Burj Khalifa is virtually impossible to miss when you’re in Dubai.  You’ll see it from almost everywhere (it’s kinda big, ya know?). Definitely get up close, and personal if you have the chance, and take 675 photos of it, like the rest of us do.

Desert Safari – The desert is beautiful to see, but it’s much more beautiful when you’re on the sand than it is from 146 floors up.  For this, you can book a desert safari, where they will take you dune bashing (like off-roading on the sand dunes), sand boarding, camel riding, have lunch/dinner, and sometimes a show out in the desert.  Keep in mind, you will be picked up, and dropped off by the company you make your booking with, meaning you cannot just leave when you’re ready to be done with the sand in your shoes, eyes, hair (it will get everywhere), and the heat of the desert.  Plan for several hours out there, and take a sweater if you’re going in the evening, it will get chilly! Do not do this in the Summer, it’s WAY too hot!

Burj al Arab – A lot of people want to go and see the Burj al Arab, the world’s only 7-star hotel.  You must have a reservation to get in, or you will not get through the guard gate.  There are plenty of restaurants, and bars inside.  My suggestion is to make a reservation at one of the bars – Gold on 24 is a good one with some good views – because the restaurants are very expensive, and you can get a better meal for much less elsewhere.  If you don’t care about getting inside, there are plenty of places you can go nearby, and get some cool shots from the outside.

Gold Souk – The Gold Souk should definitely be a stop on your Dubai tour.  Even if you have no plans to buy gold, it’s quite an experience.  Prepare for a few things: 1. You will be harassed… the shop owners will literally follow you down the street telling you to come into their shop. 2. You will spend money.  Inevitably you’ll find a scarf (or 10), a necklace or 2, and a bargain you just can’t refuse.  Lamps, shoes, dresses, cushion covers, tea sets, mini burj khalifas, gold card decks, hookahs, spices, and of course, all kinds of intricate jewelry, are among the things you will find in the Gold Souk.  You can take an abra (the traditional wooden boat, not the Pokemon) ride across the Dubai Creek for 1 dirham, and spend the rest of the afternoon strolling through the textile souk when you make it to the other side of the water.  Take cash, and patience.  Haggle, it’s part of the fun, and you can usually get them to come down on the price for virtually everything!

Friday Brunch – Brunch is a big thing in Dubai.  Not like, a nice Sunday brunch with your mom, but a gluttonous display of food, and libations that will have you out of commission the next day (if you’re into that kinda thing).  Obviously, not all brunches are created equal, and some are much quieter than others, but seriously, if you love food, why not engage in a 5 hour all you can eat and drink party? There are all sorts of brunches, but Saffron is one of the most popular party brunches.  It’s at Atlantis on the Palm, and they will literally bus you over to the other side of the hotel for the after party after the brunch.  Saffron has a big display of all sorts of food, so even the pickiest of your group will find something they can enjoy, and if they’re having difficulty with the food, head over to the station where they fill a watermelon with vodka, and give her one of those.  The dj is always playing good tunes, and it’s sure to be a good time.  It is the most expensive brunch that I know of, at a whopping 535 dirhams ($145), but you know what they say…. Go big, or go home, right?

If you have kids –

Atlantis – Atlantis is a hotel, but also has a bunch of stuff to do!  If you can round up enough dirhams, it’s worth staying a night or 2.  The rooms are a bit dated, but you will get access to all the fun stuff the hotel has to offer “free of charge.”  All these things are also accessible for those not staying in the hotel, you’ll just have to pay. First, Aquaventure Waterpark – This place is fun for children, and adults alike! A lazy river that connects to the water slides, so you don’t even have to get out of your floating tube to enjoy them?? Yes please!

The Lost Chambers is great if you enjoy aquariums, but you can access the aquarium free of charge in one of the hotel corridors if you don’t want to spend the 1– dirhams it will cost to get into the Lost Chambers.  Saffron brunch, mentioned previously, is also here in Atlantis, along with all sorts of restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Global Village – It’s like Epcot Center in Disney World.  For those of you who have never been, it’s like a world showcase.  A park divided into sections, each representing a different part of the world.  Bring your dirhams, because you WILL want to buy stuff.  This is a nice place for some great photos, shows, and good eats.  They do fireworks shows on weekends.  Expect to spend several hours wandering this place, so bring your comfy shoes.

And last, but not least –

The Mall – I wrote a whole post just for the Dubai Mall. Here you go.

Coming in 2018 – The Dubai Frame, and the Dubai eye (world’s biggest ferris wheel, duh), which will both surely offer great views of the city.

If you have some time to spare, the Dubai Miracle Garden is worth a visit.  Make sure to take your camera, for obvious reasons.  I wouldn’t call this a “must-see,” but if you want to do something a little low-key on one of the days of your trip, this is a nice and inexpensive option.

There you have it, some of the most popular tourist things you should try to get to in Dubai.  Obviously there’s much more to do and see.  If you want to know about food, you’ll have to wait until the Dubai Food post, cause Dubai DEFINITELY knows how to do good food, and it deserves its own post!

#LauraTheeExplora over and out! Ma’salama!