Dubai Bucket List
It's Dubai you're talking about, one of the world's most extreme cities, a super-sized, high-octane town where reasonable people don't do things by halves. Dubai office workers agree to drinks with their friends by first checking what continent they’re going out on that night. Why go for sensible when you can have spectacular?
Why Dubai belongs on your bucket list
The people are cool, too. Everyone seems to be from everywhere, so nobody is really from anywhere, and most people are upfront that they're here to build a career or a fortune. There are days in June when it hits 45 degrees and days in January when a light jacket in the evening actually feels necessary. Some people can't handle the heat, the pace, or the lack of old-world culture, and that's fair enough, Dubai isn't for everyone. But if you want proof this city never stops reinventing itself, just look up: the world's first autonomous flying taxi trials are already happening here.
When to go
The best time to visit Dubai is between November and March. It's clear, crisp weather, around 25C with blue skies and very little rain. All of Dubai comes alive in the winter: outdoor dining, beach days, and desert trips are all in full swing. Even the roads get busier, since this is peak tourist season and everyone wants to make the most of the mild temperatures before summer's heat returns.
Must-visit places in Dubai
Burj Khalifa
Standing at a height of 828 meters, it is the tallest structure ever made by humans. However, this fact feels entirely different when you find yourself on a floor that's the 124th and you look out to see nothing but desert on one side and mostly ocean on the other. (The desert is definitely prettier.) The At the Top deck (floors 124-125) is the regular ticket. The SKY lounge on floor 148 is more expensive but there are fewer than a tenth the number of people and you're a bit higher and you get free drinks and eats. Either way, get a ticket at sunset. The whole city turning from golden to an electric grid of lights is a different experience from this height.
Dubai Mall & Aquarium
Containing 1,200 stores, an ice rink, one of the largest aquariums in the world housing 33,000 marine animals which you can view for free simply by walking into the mall as they are visible behind a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, and the Dubai Fountain show outside which shoots water 150 meters in the air and occurs every 30 minutes after sunset, synced to music. There is really no need to buy anything in the mall. Just go watch the fountain. It's enough to draw you here. This is just Dubai being Dubai.
Palm Jumeirah
When you are on the ground, you only see an island, a beautiful one, but you will never be able to see that iconic palm shape. It's just an island in the ocean. However, from a helicopter or the monorail, you really realize how insane the engineering is. The Pointe has some great waterfront restaurants with Atlantis as a view. The boardwalk that goes around the crescent of the palm is nice in the evenings. No hotel room? No worries, several beach clubs will sell you a day pass and let you crash on their beach without paying five star prices.
Burj Al Arab
You can't just walk in. You need a reservation for something, afternoon tea at the Skyview Bar, lunch at Al Mahara (their underwater restaurant), to get past the lobby and have a look around. The inside is so not what you would expect of Dubai, it may even be a letdown. But it's true that the outside turns heads a thousand times more than the inside ever will. Just make sure you get your photo op in front of the building, from either Jumeirah Beach or the neighboring Madinat Jumeirah souk. The sail against the water silhouette is what you're after.
Dubai Creek & Abra Ride
For only one dirham we can fly over history and sense the city it once was, a congregation of sailors and merchants and fishermen. Squirm your toes through that cooling water, sense the old mangrove roots under your feet: we're going to create a civilization. Glance through the windows of the spice and gold souks, breathe in the cinnamon and pepper blast of wind. Kit yourself in silks or treasure, or just peruse. All is available and nothing is free if you want it to be.
Gold Souk & Spice Souk
You will be blown away by the amount of gold in the market. Literally from floor to ceiling in every window. They base the price upon the daily gold rate, in addition to a charge for the making of the jewelry. You must haggle. Starting at 50% is recommended and going from there. The Spice Souk is right next door and you will be hit by the smell of saffron, frankincense, and dried herbs which are so strong you can smell them from a block away. Both souks are best in the late afternoon. Try not to go at noon. The half the stores will be closed.
Ski Dubai
Have fun skiing inside a mall in the desert in Dubai. Pick from five slopes, one a 400-meter black run. There's a snow park, and in all seriousness actual penguins. Rentals, including snow gear and even helmets, are included, so just go with it. The Snow Cinema shows movies at -4C and gives you a blanket and a hot chocolate, a genuinely surreal way to spend an afternoon in the desert.
Atlantis Aquaventure
There are over 30 rides crammed together along the Arabian Gulf, while not enough have been jammed in to ensure that Atlantis doesn’t have among the top amusements in the region. The Leap of Faith is your best bet, as it’s a waterslide that’s about 31-metres high, followed by a near-vertical drop, and it’s also inside a clear tube that loops through a shark-filled lagoon. Double yikes. Entry to the full-day water park is costly, but it’s all-you-can-ride. If you can, go on a weekday -- the weekend lines are murderous.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
After immersing yourself in cutting-edge designs, it’s fun to take a time-out in the Al Fahidi Historic District. Hidden within the surrounding hotels and upscale cafe's, these diminutive mud-brick and wind-tower houses date from the mid-19th century and provided “air conditioning”, as their name implies. Thankfully, they’ve been saved from the wrecker’s ball and occupy a square that’s cooled naturally just as cleverly as any modern mall by the maestros of the old world. Today, they’re home to a bundle of bijou museums, galleries, and cafes, with bougainvillea cascading in full bloom over the central courtyard. The Arabian Tea House offers a good-value, no-fuss breakfast of age-old local dishes you can savor without rushing.
Dubai Marina
A man-made waterway city where the sun casts the tallest residential buildings in the world in a perfect half circle. The promenade is heaving with joggers, families, and dog walkers year round. You're spoiled for choice with over 50 restaurants lining the water. Want another perspective? Hop on a dhow dinner cruise past the illuminated towers. JBR Beach is nearby, also one of the best in Dubai, and it's free.
Dubai insider tips
- Dress code: It's more relaxed than you might think, but it's a good idea to dress modestly when in shopping malls, souks, or in the general vicinity of the city. Beach attire should be confined to the beach or pool, and when visiting mosques, remember that both your shoulders and your knees should be covered.
- Metro: The metro is very clean and well maintained. It is also very safe and secure. The best part is that you can reach most of the tourist spots through the metro. The train frequency is every 10 minutes.
- Brunch culture: The Friday brunch culture is quite popular in this city. Almost every other hotel or eatery puts out a lavish spread with unlimited eat-all-you-want drink deals and the entire city shows up for it. So reserve in advance. Come extremely hungry. The costs range from affordable to exorbitant but it is always a good experience.
- Desert safari: This is an essential half-day excursion that includes dune bashing, a camel ride, and a BBQ dinner while you enjoy the evening entertainment under the starry desert sky. It’s recommended to book with a reputable company, the price difference is negligible.
- Taxis & Careem: Taxis have meters and are very inexpensive. Careem is even more affordable and convenient than regular taxis. Unfortunately, walking is not a feasible means of getting around, as the distances are vast and it can get extremely hot, even in winter.
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