Dubai is fast becoming a bucket list travel destination. And because so many people travel through Dubai to another country, it is a convenient stopover should you have a few days to spare. However, with so many fascinating things to see and do, one might wonder how long you should stay to visit Dubai and explore everything the city has to offer?
According to travel experts and Dubai travel websites, you would need three to five days to truly explore Dubai. While a week or more will allow you to visit some of the museums and spend time with the locals, three to five days is sufficient to see the major attractions in Dubai.
What are the major attractions in Dubai, you might ask? This article explores some of the must-see places when you are in Dubai. We will list everything you absolutely must do when in the city and some areas that would be nice to visit if you have more time. We’ll also share some tips for ensuring you get to explore the city as much as possible without spending too much time waiting around.
How Long Should You Plan To Visit Dubai?
Although a week would be the perfect time to stay in Dubai, staying for a whole week isn’t always possible. Therefore, you might want to know the shortest time you can visit Dubai while still being able to see all the sights and experiencing the best Dubai has to offer.
Many people suggest spending at least three days in Dubai. This will allow you to spend one day in the city, exploring the malls and seeing the famous city sites. The second day you can spend on the beaches or at the marina. The final day can then be used to explore the desert or visit Abu Dhabi if you don’t have separate Abu Dhabi travel plans.
While three days is sufficient, it won’t leave you with any spare time for impulsive trips or extra fun. Therefore, it would be best to spend four or five days in Dubai to get the most out of your trip – especially if you’re unsure when you will be able to revisit Dubai.
In addition to spending a day or two longer in Dubai, there is also another way to ensure you have the most time available for exploring the city. That is to buy your passes ahead of time. You will need tickets to visit some of the main attractions in Dubai anyway, including the Burj Khalifa, and standing in a queue to buy these tickets is a waste of precious time.
Buying the tickets and passes in advance will save you time and ensure that you have a precise itinerary and that you can explore everything you want during your stay in Dubai. You can buy induvial tickets for each attraction or purchase a one-time pass that allows you to visit multiple attractions.
These passes are more affordable than buying each ticket individually. If you want to explore everything Dubai offers, you can also buy an unlimited pass. While this pass is quite expensive, it is still cheaper than paying for everything separately. You can get access to the passes here.
What To Do When Visiting Dubai
The options are endless when you visit Dubai, and if you relocate there, you will have plenty of time to visit all the sights. However, with only a few days, you will have to select a few things to do and be content with those. While the sights you choose to visit will depend on personal preference, there are a few attractions you cannot leave Dubai without visiting. Here are some must-see attractions in Dubai.
The Burj Khalifa
You have undoubtedly heard of the Burj Khalifa before, as it is currently the tallest building in the world. Because it is such an icon in Dubai, you cannot visit this city without visiting the Burj Khalifa. While you can purchase tickets to see the sights from the top of the tower, you can also view the spectacular light show from the ground. This show takes place every evening and will leave a lasting impression.
The Dubai Marina
The Dubai Marina is a vibe on its own. Set among the many skyscrapers and unique eateries, the Dubai Marina is a must-see on your visit to the city. Fortunately, you only need a few hours to explore the marina, grab a bite to eat, and go for a boat ride across the marina. Therefore, you can easily fit this in during one of your mornings in Dubai.
Visit One Of The Many Beaches In Dubai
You cannot complete a Dubai trip without visiting at least one of its beautiful beaches. Jumeirah Beach and Kite Beach are two of the most popular beaches in Dubai, but you can spend two weeks in the city and not be able to visit all the fantastic beaches. Because there are so many foreigners in Dubai, the beach is the one place where you can show a little more skin.
Go For A Safari In Dubai’s Desert
Although not everyone finds the desert attractive, it is a key contributor to what makes Dubai such a unique city. Therefore, you should give the desert its due and take a safari in the sandy hills of the Arabian desert.
Voted Tripadvisor’s #1 bucket list experience when visiting Dubai, you can take a camel ride, relaxed cruise, or extreme offroading adventure to explore the desert.
Visit One Of Dubai’s Malls
Dubai has many malls to choose from, but the Dubai Mall is the most famous of them all. This mall not only offers shops and restaurants but there are also various activities to choose from. For example, you can go indoor skiing in the mall or visit the aquarium.
In addition, there are thousands of shops and stalls to browse through. The Dubai Mall really deserves a day of its own, but if you are crunched for time, a few hours will suffice.
Visit Old Dubai
History isn’t for everyone, but it is truly amazing to visit the old part of Dubai and see how far the city has progressed since. Old Dubai has many restaurants and museums and offers an interesting break from the many skyscrapers and modern architecture in the rest of the city.
If you are interested in history or photography, Old Dubai is a must-see addition to your Dubai travel list. Be sure to include a dhow trip from the old Deira Souk district to Bur Dubai (across the Dubai Creek that separates the two parts of the old Dubai districts) to your bucket list.
Take A Trip To Abu Dhabi
Unless you are planning a separate visit to Abu Dhabi, it is well worth the effort to set aside time to visit this city when in Dubai.
Only an hour’s drive away, Abu Dhabi is an entirely different city from Dubai, and you can easily spend several days exploring this city on its own. However, if you are short on time, a day trip to Abu Dhabi will suffice.
Conclusion
As you can see, Dubai has plenty to offer, and the list above just scratches the surface. However, if you don’t have a week or two to spend in Dubai, you can easily cover the main attractions within three or four days.
Purchase your passes ahead of time to skip the queues and have an itinerary to ensure you visit the most important sights in Dubai. Ultimately, you should spend one day in the city, one day at the beach/marina, and one day in the desert.