A One Day Journey in Dubai

Planning a day in Dubai? Great, you can fully experience this city of contrasts. In this post, I'll give you the keys to seeing the city's most important features and landmarks.

Dubai, the emirate's capital, has so much to discover. Whether you prefer historical sites, a day of shopping, or a stroll along the seaport, this is the destination for you. In this post, I'll give you a tour of the most distinctive places in Dubai, all of which you can enjoy in one day. You'll love the opportunity to discover the city's past, enjoy the views from the top, or visit the underwater zoo.

Start your day early with a stroll along Dubai Creek.

When you think of Dubai, what comes to mind? It's certainly not a traditional, modest city, but that was the case until not so long ago, before the mega-structures began to rise and the city became a symbol of luxury and modernity.

I recommend making the most of your day in Dubai by starting with a walk through the oldest part of the city. The first inhabitants, pearl merchants and fishermen, settled along the riverbanks. If you're truly interested in learning about Dubai's history, I recommend taking a tour of both old and new Dubai. Today, you can still get a sense of this old-world style by walking along the water. I particularly recommend the areas of Deira Creek or the Heritage Village for a walk.

A Cruise Along Dubai Creek

If walking along the banks of Dubai Creek makes you want to cross the water, you can do so in a traditional boat. An abra, Dubai's traditional boat, costs around $28 per hour, regardless of the number of passengers.

You can also take a ferry ride from there, where you can enjoy views to the north and south. On each side is one of the city's historic districts. To the south, you can see Bur Dubai, the more modern area, and to the north, the more traditional Deira. There are two interesting routes you can enjoy by ferry. A Dubai Marina Cruise, each lasting about an hour, costs around $12 (approximately AED 50):

A tour of Dubai's oldest and most historic areas, departing from Al Ghubaiba Pier on Bur Dubai Beach, departs twice daily at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

From Dubai Marina, a second ferry route takes you to Palm Jumeirah, departing daily at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.

Another great option is to book a yacht tour of Dubai Marina to see Dubai's main sights, admire its stunning skyline, and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner, depending on the time of day you choose. Don't miss it!

Visit the beautiful Al Fahidi Historical District

You're so close: Al Fahidi District is also located in Bur Dubai, the traditional part of the city. It's a historic district filled with magnificent buildings.

While we think of Dubai today as a center of modernity, the old district, with its Arabian-style buildings, is a wonder of Dubai. It's even been designated a World Heritage Site and is ripe for tourism with all its charm.

But it's not just the buildings that offer a stroll through the district. In addition to the wind towers, you can wander through the beautiful narrow streets, visit museums and art galleries, or sample the local cuisine. With its unique flavor, Al Fahidi District will remain in your memory. Not to be missed!

Take a Tour of the Textile Souk

You can't leave Dubai without visiting one of the typical old Arab markets, or souks, and practicing your bargaining skills with the vendors. Or at least try, as mastering this technique takes time.

There are three main souks in Dubai:

Textiles

Spice Souk

Gold Souk

Today, all souks have been converted into tourist markets, and you'll find that the number of souvenirs sold far outnumbers the number of textiles, but it's an irresistible visit if you love shopping. Additionally, many traditional tailors have converted their workshops into shops, although you can still find offers for a beautiful custom-made suit.

Taste the traditional flavors of Dubai

The Al Fahidi neighborhood is an ideal place to sample local cuisine. There are plenty of places to choose from. When it's time to refuel on your city tour, I recommend taking a Dubai street food tour... or visiting one of these two places I recommend.

A Bedouin Meal at the Centre for Cultural Understanding

Pause your visit to the Centre for Cultural Understanding's restaurant, located in a restored wind tower, where they prepare authentic Emirati cuisine while offering a program of talks about local culture.

Under their motto, "Open Doors, Open Minds," they offer a free experience: from cultural meals, where they answer visitors' questions, to guided tours of one of Dubai's finest mosques.

They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner to share while sitting on the floor, in keeping with Bedouin tradition. It's a wonderful experience! Remember to make a reservation to guarantee a seat, as it's always full. You can also stop by for coffee served in traditional Finjan cups, straight from a Dallah coffee pot. The centre is located on Musalla Road.

Taste the modern tradition: Asilah Restaurant

For a fusion of traditional and contemporary cuisine, don't miss the Asila Restaurant in the heart of the old city. It's decorated with Arabic motifs and features a magnificent mulberry tree in the center. Traditional dishes like fish or shrimp are delicious! Prices vary depending on what you order, of course. Options start at around $40, but the bill per person can be quite high depending on the dish. You can find it on Baniyas Street.

Enjoy a wonderful tour in Dubai Mall

Now that you've gotten to know old and traditional Dubai, I suggest a radical change of scenery: visit the Dubai Mall.

How to get to Dubai Mall

You can take the green metro line to BurJuman station, from where it connects to the red line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. The journey will take about an hour by public transportation. You can purchase a one-day unlimited travel card for about $5. You can also get there by taxi or Uber, which takes about 20 minutes and costs about $8. If you see a pink taxi, it's a female-driven taxi that only serves other women.

What will you find?

The truth is that Dubai's shopping malls are amazing, and I find the Dubai Mall to be the most impressive in the city. In fact, it's the largest mall in the world.

It's not just a place to shop: inside this massive complex you can find all these attractions and experiences:

There's an ice rink, the Dubai Ice Rink, where, if you're lucky, you can witness snowfall.

There's also an impressive indoor waterfall. You'd never expect one inside a shopping mall.

The aquarium houses 300 species of animals, including stingrays and sharks. It's open Sunday to Wednesday, between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM. The price is around $38, and I recommend purchasing tickets to the Dubai Aquarium in advance.

The flight simulator lets you sit in the pilot's seat of an A380. You must purchase tickets in advance. The price is around $85 for half an hour.

If you're going with children, don't miss the Haunted House or the KidZania amusement park. Of course, reservations are required. Admission to KidZania costs about $50 per person.

And of course, there are also shops: more than 1,200 stores from around the world, such as Bloomigsdale's or Galeries Lafayette Haussmann.

You can also visit a 7-meter-high, 24-meter-long Diplodocus fossil—yes, just like the one in the movies.

And if you suddenly get hungry, don't worry—there are restaurants to suit all tastes and ages.

Visit the Miracle Garden

Miracle Garden is a park in Dubailand that opened on Valentine's Day in 2013 and quickly became a tourist attraction.

How to Get There

From Mall of the Emirates or Dubai Mall, you can reach the Miracle Garden directly by public transportation. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes by bus number 105, as well as by taxi or Uber.

What You'll Find

This visit will be even more impressive if you remember that Dubai is built in a desert area. This is the largest cultivated flower garden in the world (72,000 square meters, with 45,000 flowers planted), and the flowers are arranged in shapes such as hearts or stars.

Interesting Details

Ticket Price: Entrance to the garden costs approximately $11.

Opening Hours: The garden is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, but only six months of the year, during the winter months. The climate in Dubai is so hot from June to October that even the plants cannot tolerate it in the summer.

Wander through Downtown Dubai and Business Bay

Be sure to take a walking tour of Downtown Dubai, a touristy and modern area with stunning corners and a fast-paced lifestyle.

From Business Bay, you can take a selfie with the city's skyline, including the luxurious towers of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. Strolling through the neighborhood's streets, you'll find everything from Dubai to your favorite destinations, from the opera to international fashion stores.

What You'll Find

A vibrant neighborhood with modern Dubai buildings and experiences.

Climb the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper

The Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest skyscraper and a Dubai landmark. Located in the Downtown Dubai area, it stands 828 meters tall. But don't worry, you'll get there quickly: high-speed elevators.

How to Get There

You can get there on foot from Jumeirah Beach, which takes about 15 minutes on foot. If you're coming from another part of the city, getting to the Burj Khalifa is easy.

Enjoy the city from above

You can climb to the 124th and 125th floors and enjoy a 360-degree view from the top of the Burj Khalifa, encompassing the city, sea, and desert. Be careful if you're afraid of heights! The floor of the observation decks on these floors is made of glass.

It's very common to ascend the tower at sunrise or sunset: these are the most intense times. There's another observation deck even higher, on the 148th floor, and if the heights make you feel peckish, you can have a drink at the world's highest café: The Lounge Burj Khalifa.

The tour also includes a multimedia presentation on the history of Dubai and how this skyscraper was built. I recommend getting your Burj Khalifa ticket online, as it costs around $40 per person and must be booked.

Contemplate the view of the fountains

What time is it? 6:00 PM? Come on down! Just 300 meters from the Burj Khalifa, there's a water show that won't disappoint. On Burj Lake, there's a daily fountain show featuring a 275-meter-long fountain, with jets shooting up to 150 meters high. But if you want a more spectacular experience, in true Dubai style, I recommend purchasing tickets for the fountain show. This includes a nighttime ride on a traditional boat and transportation to and from your hotel.

Interesting facts

Location: Opposite Burj Dubai, on the Dubai Mall terrace.

Opening hours: Every day from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, every 30 minutes.

Dinner in Downtown Dubai

Time to stop for a break and a drink, right? The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa area is known as Downtown Dubai, the center of the modern city. Here, you can find restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, from fast food to fine dining.

Here are my favorite places:

Royal Orchid: Located on Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, this restaurant specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine, from Japan to Thailand. The dishes are carefully presented and the flavors are meticulously crafted. The price is around $50 per person (depending on what you order, of course), and yes, reservations are required.

Neos: Located on the 63rd floor of a skyscraper, you can enjoy a drink or snack while watching the fountains from a unique spot you can find on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. The price is around $69, and the place has a strict dress code: no shorts or sandals. A wonderful experience.

Before we begin

You're already looking forward to the trip, aren't you? Wait a minute! I have to tell you something else: you have two options: go on your own or book an organized tour.

Would you prefer to book an organized tour or travel on your own?

First, you can choose to rent an organized tour. Some take the entire day (lasting about 9 hours) and offer a guided tour of Dubai's most famous attractions.

The cost of the tour is around $90 per person per day. I recommend reviewing the suggestions in this post and choosing a tour that includes the points of interest to you most.

If you're interested in this option, check out the Dubai sightseeing buses that travel around the city.

You can also visit these places on your own. Since this is a one-day visit, I recommend using a taxi or Uber. Public transportation is safe and inexpensive, but it's much slower, so you don't waste your time in the city! If you choose this option, you can also find guided tours to specific points along the way. For example, there are several tours that pass through the Al Fahidi neighborhood with a guide who will answer all your questions. This tour takes about an hour and a half and costs around $28.

This concludes our tour. What a wonderful day! I hope you enjoyed the itinerary.