Dubai amazes with its contrasts: the world’s tallest building sits next to old trading quarters, a man-made palm-shaped island next to a flamingo reserve, and futuristic museums next to oriental souks. In this guide we have gathered the city’s main attractions by category and suggested how to combine them into a convenient itinerary.
Modern Dubai
The city’s grand showcase is records and futuristic architecture:
- Burj Khalifa — the world’s tallest building, with observation decks;
- The Dubai Mall and the singing fountains at its foot;
- the Museum of the Future — a ring-shaped building with Arabic calligraphy;
- the Ain Dubai wheel on Bluewaters Island;
- the Dubai Frame — a bridge between the old and new city.
Most of these sites are concentrated in Downtown and along the coast, so they are convenient to see in groups.
The Palm and the Coast
Palm Jumeirah is one of Dubai’s symbols, a man-made island shaped like a palm tree. Here you’ll find resorts, beach clubs and Atlantis with its water park and aquarium. Nearby is Burj Al Arab, the famous sail-shaped hotel, which is best seen from the beaches of Umm Suqeim. The coast of Jumeirah and the Marina is all about promenades, beaches and evening walks.
Old Dubai
To feel where the city began, head to Deira and Bur Dubai. Here you’ll find the gold and spice souks, the historic Al Fahidi quarter with its wind towers, and Dubai Creek with its abra crossing. The contrast with the glass skyscrapers is more impressive than any single site.
Nature and Seasonal Parks
Dubai is not only concrete and glass. In the cooler season, seasonal parks operate: Miracle Garden with its millions of flowers and Global Village with pavilions from countries around the world. And right within the city, in the Ras Al Khor reserve, thousands of pink flamingos spend the winter — and entry is free.
Top Attractions at a Glance
So you don’t miss anything, keep this reference handy:
| Attraction | Famous For | District |
|---|---|---|
| Burj Khalifa | The world’s tallest building | Downtown |
| Palm Jumeirah | The palm-shaped island | Palm Jumeirah |
| Museum of the Future | The ring-shaped building | DIFC |
| Dubai Frame | A bridge between old and new | Zabeel |
| Old town | Souks and the creek | Deira |
After the table, planning is easy: group the sites by district so you don’t lose time travelling across the whole city.
What to See for Free
Many experiences in Dubai cost nothing: the singing fountain show, the Marina and JBR promenades, the city beaches, the abra crossing over the creek, the views from open observation points and the flamingos at Ras Al Khor. For the full selection, see the free activities in Dubai guide.
How to Combine into an Itinerary
The main piece of advice is not to chase quantity. Break the attractions down by district and see them in blocks:
- day 1 — the modern centre: Downtown, Burj Khalifa, the fountains, the Museum of the Future;
- day 2 — the old town: the Deira souks, the Al Fahidi quarter, the creek;
- day 3 — the coast and the Palm: the beaches, Atlantis, views of Burj Al Arab.
There is a ready-made three-day itinerary in the article what to see in Dubai in 3 days; a detailed plan for the first day is in the guide a route from old Dubai to new, and the overview of the best observation decks will help you choose a deck.
When to See What
Outdoor locations and parks are more comfortable to see in the cooler season and in the morning/evening hours, while in the daytime heat it is best to retreat to indoor sites — malls, museums and aquariums. For more on the seasons, see the article when to go to Dubai. All the sites, with coordinates and a map, are gathered in the locations section.
