For those visiting Dubai for the first time, the ideal is to have at least 3 full days. Enough time to see the main points of the destination without too much rush. I’m not going to say you’ll be able to see everything, but if it’s a connection or stopover, it’s a good time for a first visit.
Now, if you are organizing an itinerary for Dubai, with the city as your main destination, I recommend between 6 and 7 days of travel – even considering a trip to Abu Dhabi.
If I have more time, I can say that I stayed in Dubai for 10 days on my last trip and I really enjoyed it. It’s more than enough time to get to know the city and enjoy each day at a great pace. I had unique experiences and I can assure you that Dubai has what it takes to be your main destination.
Dubai in 1 or 2 days, is it Possible?
Yea! As has happened to me, it is common to have this short connection time in Dubai. Emirates, the company that will take you from India directly to Dubai, usually has tickets that allow this connection time.
The pace, of course, is faster and you will have to filter your priorities. Not all attractions can be seen in full and, of course, the trip will leave you wanting more.
Visiting Dubai in 24 hours, is it worth it?
My experience of a few hours in Dubai was super positive. As I arrived at 10pm, I decided to choose a hotel close to the airport to save time. I stayed at Rove City Center and I highly recommend this hotel: comfortable, super new and at an ok price for Dubai.
The next day, I left very early to explore the city and was able to leave my hand luggage at the hotel – which helped a lot. At the end of the day I went back to the hotel to get my things and it was already a few minutes from the airport.
Soon I will share here the itinerary of that day in Dubai to help those who are in this situation of few hours in the destination.
How not to have a boring script in Dubai:
Although Dubai is a very organized city, it is bigger than it looks. Some of the main attractions are spread out in opposite areas, which will consume some travel time.
Regardless of how many days you stay in Dubai, the best way to optimize your itinerary is to group attractions by region. I really like making lists and it helps me in this planning!
You will see that in Dubai, for example, the Souks, which are the old markets, are located in one region. The Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall, which is the largest mall in the world, are located in another area. The Palm Jumeirah, which is the artificial island shaped like a palm tree, is even further away.
Your best ally to cover these distances will be the Dubai Metro, but even with it, travel will consume time. The good news is that the city’s subway is super simple and takes you to “almost” all the main attractions in the city.
For points you can’t reach by subway, the solution is to get off at the nearest station and, from there, take a taxi or order an Uber. For Visa approval
Tip: Uber is not cheap in Dubai and you can often get a cheaper taxi. A good alternative, for you not to be surprised by the values, is to check the price on Uber and look for a taxi. In 80% of the time the taxi ride will be cheaper – remembering that the taxi runs there with the meter on.
Tips for your Dubai Visit:
As I mentioned, here on the blog I am posting many tips to help you on your trip to Dubai. Anyway, I want to leave here in this post a list of 3 places that I really think you can’t miss on your first trip to Dubai – regardless of your style as a traveler and how many days you’ll be staying in the city.
Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall:
Going to Dubai and not seeing the Burj Khalifa is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower.
If it’s feasible in your schedule, try to visit in the late afternoon. The light at the Burj Khalifa is beautiful at dusk and at 6:30 pm you can enjoy the fountain show which is truly a must-see.
Tip: for a complete experience, watch the show on one of the boats that sail through the fountain. I did this on my most recent trip and loved the experience. This tip is even valid if you have little time, so you can already take a panoramic tour of the region around the Burj Khalifa. I highly recommend! Schedule an appointment click here
Another unmissable tour in Dubai that deserves to be part of your itinerary is At The Top, the highest viewpoint in the world. This is, without a doubt, the experience that completes your trip to Dubai. If seeing the Burj Khalifa is amazing, going up to the viewpoint is like the icing on the cake. Even with little time in the itinerary, try to fit this tour.
