14 December 2023
Over the years, Dubai has developed into one of the most renowned and well-liked tourist destinations in the world. Luring people from all parts of the world to its shores by offering many "must-see" locations in the country, it has become a leading tourism center.
In addition to being a top vacation destination in Asia, Dubai, the most luxurious and wealthy city in the United Arab Emirates, is also one of the most well-liked international travel destinations worldwide.
Dubai, also known as the "jewel of the Middle East," is a place worth visiting. This city is a traveler's paradise for those with an incurable touch of wanderlust. Beautiful, gleaming skyscrapers, cutting-edge structures, stunning beaches, dunes, great cuisine, extraordinary all-inclusive hotel options, historical sites, futuristic architecture, a vibrant nightlife, shopping at the Dubai Mall, adrenaline-pumping activities and exceptional attractions all contribute to Dubai being a wonderful travel destination.
Are you planning a Dubai tour this year?
In this article, we've compiled the 10 best things to do in Dubai and the 25 best places to visit in Dubai.
There are many things you can do in Dubai. You can find things to do that are fun and adventurous like dessert safari or sky diving. Or you can take a city tour for a more calm and entertaining experience. Here are some of the best things to do in Dubai listed and explained:
Dubai hosts some of the world’s best restaurants. The variety of food available in Dubai ranges from local to Middle-Eastern to European to any part of the world honestly. The range of restaurants available here amazes you. Manousheh, Mandi, Shish Tawook, Iranian Sangak, Al Harees, Oozie, Samboosa, Knafeh, Luqaimat, etc. are some of the popular dishes you should try in Dubai. Street food is also equally popular here. You should spend at least one night exploring the streets of Dubai for street foods.
Image: Samboosa
Dubai consists of fantastic beaches with beautiful scenery and water activities. The stunning beaches with enchanting sands and waves attract thousands of visitors annually. Water activities and beach parties are some of the major attractions in Dubai. Sea swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing, snorkeling, and many other water sports are available on the beaches of Dubai. Jumeirah Beach, Kite Beach, and Marina Beach are some of the most-visited beaches in Dubai.
Image: Beach in Dubai
One of the biggest reasons Dubai is popular around the world is the unique buildings in Dubai. Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, is in Dubai. It has 163 levels you can explore. 163 levels also define how high the building truly is. Another amazing building, Sky Views Dubai provides you with breathtaking views of Downtown Dubai's beautiful sights below and the magnificent city skyline beyond. You also take a slide from level 53 to level 52 of the building. Burj Al Arab, Emirates Tower, etc. are some buildings you can visit in Dubai.
Palm Jumeirah is a man-made archipelago, a group of islands, in Dubai. The island is a symbol of the massive success of human creativity. The island consists of many top hotels and beaches where you can choose to entertain yourself. This amazing masterpiece is a beauty of view from atop. It includes some of Dubai’s most important tourist destinations like Lost Chambers Aquarium, Aquaventure Waterpark, Atlantis, Sofitel Dubai, Jumeirah Beach, etc.
Many tourists to Dubai like taking trips into the Arabian Desert. There are many options available to you. You can take a day trip to the desert, an overnight stay, or just dinner. For thrill-seekers, the dunes around the emirate are ideal and thrilling. Activities like sand skiing and boarding can be easily organized here. Similarly, the deserts of the UAE provide a peaceful setting for letting your stress out as you slide down the golden dunes. Be sure to go on a desert safari and take advantage of the dance show, desert mint tea, sand surfing, and many other activities in this exceptionally beautiful place.
Image: Desert Safari from Dubai
Dubai is massively popular for its shopping experience. Dubai includes some of the biggest malls in the world. The Dubai Mall is the most popular among the numerous unique shopping malls. The Dubai Mall features over 1200 retail stores and hundreds of food outlets. The total area covered by Dubai Mall is over 200 football fields.
The shopping experience in Dubai will not disappoint with its never-ending selection of delightful local shops, premium designer boutiques, affordable wholesale outlets, and handicraft stores. Furthermore, despite popular belief, if you are one of the bargain hunters, you can still travel to Dubai as there are plenty of fantastic locations for inexpensive shopping outside the glamorous malls and high-end shops.
Skydiving is a unique adventure experience that one must try, getting a skytop view of the city comes second. Dubai offers a range of skydiving options to choose from. Tandem skydiving, Indoor diving, Diving Coaching, and Single Diving for experienced divers, Dubai has it all.
Dubai’s history is not as deep as many major cities of the world, but it is certainly inspiring and worth exploring. Dubai is about 200 years old and its amazing rise is something worthy to study. Dubai Creek is said to be the first settlement ever in Dubai. Similarly, the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood provides a cultural and historical exploration. You get to discover what it was like in Old Dubai in the 19th century.
The city of Dubai is packed with parks and resorts where you can immerse in various fun games and activities. Water parks such as Wild Wadi Waterpark Jumeirah, Aquaventure Waterpark, AquaFun Waterpark, etc. are great for people who enjoy water activities. Zabeel Park has live music, flea markets, and other family-friendly activities. It is also great for leisure walking. Likewise, IMG Worlds of Adventure and Dubai Parks and Resorts are great for children-adventure.
Dubai hosts many shows every year. Dubai hosts cultural shows and various concerts for its citizens and tourists to be entertained. Fashion shows are also rapidly increasing in the city. You can get tickets to some of these shows and enjoy them.
There you have it, 10 exciting things to do in Dubai.
Dubai is home to some of the best places to visit in the world. Visiting these locations in Dubai gives you a memorable experience that you want to relive. Here are the 25 best places to visit in Dubai:
Burj Khalifa is one of the most magnificent monuments that has made Dubai popular. It is the tallest building in the world at 828 meters height. The lavish and magnificent skyscraper building was built to hold some of the most popular hotels, restaurants, and office spaces. The building currently houses the Armani Hotel, At.mosphere, The Lounge, At the Top Burj Khalifa SKY, etc. The panoramic view from the Burj Khalifa is memorable for a lifetime.
Image: Burj Khalifa Building
Dubai Museum is located in the Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest existing structure in Dubai. The museum showcases the history of Dubai from a small village to a great city. It includes historical and cultural artifacts, archaeological findings, and infographics that highlight the remarkable evolution of Dubai. It also includes some of the finest galleries devoted to souks and marine life. The museum is undeniably spectacular from the outside as it is inside. Learn about the city's major revolution from a backwater into a wealthy modern city while viewing reconstructed reed houses and a souk from the pearling era, among other intriguing artifacts. In addition to items from recent finds that date back as far as 3000 BC, it also features several art pieces that depict life in the emirate before the invention of oil. As of 8th December 2023, it is temporarily closed.
Image: Dubai Museum
The View at the Palm sits atop an amazing glass building from where you can get a fantastic view of the Palm Jumeirah. The observation deck has an amazing height of 240 meters and offers views of the Dubai skyline, Palm Jumeirah, and the Arabian Gulf’s waters. Do not forget to try the interactive theatre which explains the history of the island. For adventure lovers, you can also try one of the longest ziplines in Dubai from here.
The Lost Chamber Aquarium is one of the most exquisite aquariums in the world. You can get to view and explore more than 65,000 marine creatures in one day at this aquarium: species of sharks, clownfish, piranhas, seahorses, eels, lobsters, etc. You can get all the information you want about these creatures through interactive screens and displays. You can also get to feed some of the fish.
Image: Lost Chambers Aquarium
Nakheel Mall is one of the primary attractions in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. It has more than 300 active shops which provide an absolute premium shopping experience. The mall is also known for various entertainment features like a trampoline park, cinema, game room, children’s playroom, etc. The main attraction still is shopping mainly at the Waitrose supermarket and the MODO department store.
Image: Nakheel Mall
The Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark is a fantastic place for water-adventure lovers. The waterpark has more than 20 adventure water slides. The waterpark has slides and pools for all age groups making it suitable for family trips. It also has ample restaurants and dining spots for a complete day off. Slitherine, Poseidon’s Revenge, The Torrent, etc. are some of the popular slides in this waterpark.
Image: Aquaventure Waterpark
Burj Al Arab is the world’s only seven-star hotel. Burj Al Arab is one of the most important monuments in Dubai. It is popular for its sail-shaped structure and the fact that it is situated on its own island. You can enter the Burj Al Arab without booking a room up to its lobby. Just exploring the lobby gives you an idea of how luxurious the hotel is.
Image: Burj Al Arab
The Museum of the Future is one of the most incredible museums in the world. It is a new-era museum that aims to display the lifestyle, gadgets, and architecture of the future. The museum gives fascinating insights into how human life could evolve and futuristic technologies. The museum has 7 floors of amazing installations and exhibits that can change the way you look at daily life. The architectural design of the museum is also equally intriguing. It was designed by Shaun Killa, a talented architect and owner of Killa Partnership. The exterior is built with massive steel panels with Arabic inscriptions of Arabic poems.
Image: Museum of the Future
Dubai Mall is the world’s largest shopping complex. The massive mall houses 1200 shops and more than 100 restaurants and cafes. It also has 3 parking spaces to house vehicles of people visiting the mall. The mall also has many top cinema halls. The Dubai Mall is the epitome of a luxurious shopping experience with many boutiques, antiques, and cosmetics shops. You can find all of the major brand shops here. The VR Park, KidZania, and Dubai Ice Rink are among other attractions of the Dubai Mall.
The Dubai Aquarium is located inside the Dubai Mall. It is an inspiring architectural creation with a length of 51 meters and a height or depth of 11 meters. The tank holds actual sea water transported using tanks. The aquarium houses 140 different species of exciting marine creatures for you to explore. The endangered Tiger Shark is one of the most popular creatures in this grand aquarium. A 48-metre walk-through tunnel lets you explore this aquarium in further depth. Once you’re atop the aquarium through the Underwater Zoo, you can take a glass-boat trip on the water surface of the aquarium for an even better experience of life in the aquarium.
The Underwater Zoo is located above the tank. The underwater zoo lets you explore the life of marine creatures in further detail. You can read about them on the interactive screens as well. The Underwater has 3 main zones: Rainforest, Rocky Shore, and Living Ocean. While the main theme of the zoo is still aquatic creatures, you can see and explore other animals as well such as crocodiles, penguins, snakes, birds, and other reptiles. There’s a whole section for penguins called Penguin Encounter.
Image: Dubai Aquarium
Dubai Fountain is one of the largest water fountains in the world. The fountain is so large it can be easily spotted from about 20 miles away when a show is on. The fountain consists of 5 circles and two arcs from which nozzles shoot water up to a height of 500 feet. Approximately, 83 thousand liters of water are shot upwards at a time. With various color projectors and lighting, the shows at the Dubai Fountain are something you must not miss.
Image: Dubai Fountain
The Dubai Frame is a unique structure in Dubai that gives a beautiful panoramic view of the city of Dubai. The Dubai Frame is situated in the Zabeel Park in Dubai. It is constructed in such a way that the two vertical towers are connected by a horizontal bridge from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city. You can also visit museums inside the frame and enjoy the cuisines available here. The Dubai Frame and Zabeel Park are popular among tourists and locals as relaxing places. You can take walks in the park and enjoy various events happening.
Image: Dubai Frame
The Dubai Miracle Garden is a fabulous natural flower garden with millions of flowers showcased in various designs. It is a big garden of natural flowers covering an area of approximately 72,000 sq. km. Some of the major attractions of the garden are the Heart Tunnel, Floral Clock, Cabanas, Teddy Bear, Floating Lady, etc. These attractions are built craftily for a calm and relaxing visit. The Emirates A380 flight is one of the leading attractions of the garden. It is a lifelike exhibit made entirely of flowers.
Image: Dubai Miracle Garden
Ain Dubai is one of the largest observation wheels in the world situated in Bluewaters Island, Dubai. The highest point of the wheel is at a height of 250 meters. As you go up to the highest point, you get to view various top attractions in Dubai such as Burj Al Arab, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina, and the Palm Jumeirah islands. The sunset view is one of the best from the wheel.
Dine in the Sky in a unique dinner experience where you have dinner at 50 meters height from the ground on a small flight where a grand table is mounted. This 60-90 minutes experience is thrilling and fantastic.
Image; Ain Dubai
IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the best and largest amusement parks in the world. It is a state-of-the-art indoor theme park in Dubai. It has activities that provide entertainment to all age groups and interests. It has 4 adventure zones, more than 10 cinematic zones, 25+ retail outlets, and many more fun things you can explore. Roller coasters, photo studios, live plays, interactive games and activities, top food courts, art centers, etc. all combined make for a fantastic visit to the IMG Worlds of Adventure. The park is believed to cover an area of a whooping 1.5 million sq. km. You will surely find something that entertains you here.
Image: IMG Worlds of Adventure
Motiongate is a fun theme park inspired by Hollywood. The theme park consists of adventure rides and cinematics centers heavily inspired by Hollywood. These cinematic centers take you behind the curtains to understand the procedures of movie-making, editing, etc. Exploring around this park helps you have fun and understand the illusions of movies. On a lucky day, you might be able to meet your favorite stars and take pictures with them here.
Image: Motiongate
Legoland Dubai is a massive water theme park located inside Dubai Parks and Resorts. The park is suitable for all age groups to enjoy and have a great time. Mainly, there are six zones in this park: Factory, LEGO City, Miniland, Kingdoms, Adventure, and Imagination. There are more than 30 fun rides and about 15000 Lego models. Rides like Wave Rider and Red Rush are some of the most preferred rides in this park. One of the best features of this park is the family-friendly nature of the majority of the activities.
Image: Legoland Dubai
The Museum of Illusions is a creative and interactive museum chain with branches in various cities worldwide. One of them is located in Dubai. The museum has many scientific exhibits based on various theories of physics, mathematics, geometry, and human psychology. Using these theories, the exhibits in the Museum of Illusions show you various thrilling and fascinating illusions. You can get to learn the theory behind each illusion as well if you’re interested. The Vortex Tunnel and Rotating Cylinder are some of the most popular exhibits in the Museum of Illusions in Dubai.
The World Island is a man-made archipelago built in such a way as to resemble the structure of the world. This archipelago is made of 300 mini islands combined resembling the map of the world. This unique approach depicts all seven continents in one sight. This group of islands is best viewed from an airplane when landing in Dubai. The island consists of some of the best hotels and restaurants in Dubai. You can also rent villas to spend your days and nights here staying in this magnificent example of human creativity. You can rent villas that have underwater rooms meaning you would be sleeping among sea animals.
Dubai Butterfly Garden is another exquisite garden in Dubai like the Dubai Miracle Garden located right next to it. The garden boasts more than 15,000 butterflies and many gardens for you to view and amaze yourself. There are more than 40 species of butterflies you can find here. You can learn about these species and their entire life. Also, explore the Koi Pond to view the beautiful Koi fish.
Image: Dubai Butterfly Garden
Dubai Dolphinarium is one of the most popular water-themed parks in Dubai. It is popular for various shows and the level of close interaction with the dolphins it offers. You can play with dolphins, pet them, and feed them. Dolphins are intelligent friendly creatures and you’ll have fun interacting with them. The lively shows offer fantastic sports and activities with seals and dolphins. There are also many bird shows for you to enjoy. You can simply view them without booking any particular shows as well.
Image: Dubai Dolphinarium
Jumeirah is one of the most popular beaches in Dubai and probably the largest one in Dubai. The beach is named after the Jumeirah district where it is located. There are many great hotels and shopping centers near this beach. It is a great place to relax and enjoy your stay in Dubai. You can also try water activities such as banana boating here.
The Kite Beach gets its name from Kitesurfing for which the beach is hugely famous. The beach offers many more water sports such as parasailing, skiing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, etc. If you’re not much of an adventure lover, you can still do other beach activities. You can take walks on the beach simply by watching others kitesurfing and taking beautiful pictures.
The Black Palace Beach is one of the must-visit places in Dubai. It is also known as Al Sufouh Beach or the Secret Beach. The fantastic location of this beach gives you a good view of the Palm Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab. This is a relatively less commercialized beach in Dubai. It is best for people looking to unwind and relax.
Marina Beach is one of the most popular and crowded beaches in Dubai. There are many water sports and activities here which is one of the leading reasons for huge crowds here along with gorgeous scenery. The view of Ain Dubai is also quite pleasing to the eye. Water Sports such as snorkeling, swimming, jet skiing, etc. most of them are available here.
So, you have it: 10 Top Things to Do in Dubai and 25 Best Places to Visit in Dubai for Tourists. All in one list.
If you are planning a tour to Dubai, contact Guru Travels.
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