The 22 Best Places to Visit in Dubai: All Must-See Attractions

The Best Places to Visit in Dubai

Dubai is a city of endless attractions. Since you won’t have time to see them all, we’ve put together a list of the absolute must-sees for your trip.

Must-see attractions for a two-day stopover

If you’re only in town for a quick stopover and want to hit the main highlights, you can easily fit these things to do in Dubai into a two-day itinerary:

• Burj Khalifa
• Dubai Mall
• Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo (book tickets)
• Dubai Fountain Show (book lake ride)
• Madinat Jumeirah

At Madinat Jumeirah, you can take a traditional boat ride through idyllic canals, stroll along the beach, and enjoy one of the best views of the iconic Burj Al Arab.

Top Dubai highlights if you have more time

If you’re staying a bit longer, we highly recommend adding these attractions to your list:

• Aquaventure Waterpark (book tickets)
• Dubai Garden Glow
• Desert Safari (book tour)
• Exploring the Deira district
• Relaxing at Al Mamzar Beach Park

Our tip: If you plan on visiting several major attractions, the Dubai Turbopass or Dubai Explorer Pass can be a great deal. Both passes cover the city’s top highlights and help you save both time and money. We recommend comparing the pass price with individual ticket costs to see how much you’ll save.

Dubai attractions you should book in advance

Many of Dubai’s top places to visit are incredibly popular. To avoid disappointment or standing in long queues, we recommend booking your tickets online ahead of time.

If you wait until you arrive, you might find that tickets for your preferred time slot—or even for the entire day—are already sold out.

The table below lists the main Dubai highlights where we strongly suggest booking in advance:

Dubai Sightseeing Map: All Attractions at a Glance

To help you find your way around, we’ve marked all the top things to do in Dubai on this map. You can also download the map as a PDF to keep it handy while you explore the city.

Download our Dubai attractions map as a PDF

Dubai's Most Iconic Buildings

Dubai is famous for its record-breaking architecture. Here are the most spectacular buildings you shouldn’t miss.

Burj Khalifa

The ultimate place to visit in Dubai is, without a doubt, the Burj Khalifa. It is currently the tallest building in the world and one of the most iconic sights on the planet.

The Burj Khalifa stands at a staggering 828 meters. To put that in perspective: the Berlin TV Tower, Germany’s tallest structure, isn’t even half that height at 368 meters. It’s truly mind-blowing!

No trip to Dubai is complete without a visit to the top. To avoid massive queues at the ticket counter, it is essential to buy your Burj Khalifa tickets online in advance.

You can find a summary of the best ticket options in the table below. For a more in-depth look at the different levels and entry times, check out our detailed guide here: How to buy Burj Khalifa tickets.

The Burj Khalifa is a masterpiece of engineering. It features a total of 54 elevators, with the fastest one reaching a height of 500 meters in just 55 seconds. It’s fast enough to make your stomach drop!

If you’re looking for a truly unique souvenir from the Burj Khalifa, you can even “withdraw” real gold bars from a gold-dispensing ATM inside the tower. Only in Dubai!

Dubai Mall

A shopping mall as a tourist attraction? It might sound unusual, but the Dubai Mall is an exception. Located at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, it’s not just a place to shop—it’s an entire world of its own.

In fact, the place is so massive that we actually got lost and still haven’t seen everything. To give you an idea of the scale, the Dubai Mall covers over 1.1 million square meters and features:

• Over 1,200 retail stores
• The world’s largest Gold Souk with 220 individual shops
• A giant aquarium home to 33,000 marine animals, including sharks and rays
• An Olympic-sized ice rink
• 120 restaurants and cafés
• A multiplex cinema with 22 screens
• A stunning 24-meter-high indoor waterfall

Even if you aren’t a fan of shopping, it’s worth stopping by just to experience the scale of it all. Plus, you’ll likely walk through it anyway, as the entrance to the Burj Khalifa observation decks is located inside the mall.

Burj Al Arab

In a city of superlatives, it makes sense that a hotel is one of the top sights. The Burj Al Arab is one of the most famous and luxurious hotels in the world and remains the ultimate symbol of modern Dubai.

Built on its own artificial island, its sail-shaped silhouette is a spectacular sight. Since the hotel values the privacy of its guests, you can’t simply walk into the lobby for a look around.

If you want to experience the Burj Al Arab, you have three main options:

1. Admire the architecture for free from the nearby public beach.
2. Splash out and book a room at the Burj Al Arab (prices usually start around 2,000 euros).
3. Book a guided Inside Burj Al Arab tour to see the incredible gold-leaf interiors without staying overnight.

For more details on how to visit, we’ve put together a full guide here:

Every way to visit the Burj Al Arab

Dubai Frame

The Dubai Frame is the world’s largest picture frame and a fascinating piece of architecture. Opened in 2018, this massive golden structure has quickly become one of the city’s top attractions.

Standing 150 meters tall, the Frame is positioned to perfectly “frame” the modern skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai on one side and the historic Al Fahidi district on the other—symbolizing the link between the city’s past and its future.

A bridge connects the two towers at the top, offering 360-degree views. The real highlight, however, is the glass walkway: sensors make the floor panels transparent as you walk across, giving you a heart-pumping view of the 150-meter drop below!

Since queues can be long, we recommend booking your ticket online with a fixed time slot.

Buy tickets for the Dubai Frame

Ain Dubai

One of Dubai’s newest thing to do is Ain Dubai, the world’s tallest observation wheel. It stands at a massive 260 meters high and 250 meters wide.

You’ll find it on Bluewaters Island, located right across from the Dubai Marina.

The 38-minute rotation offers incredible panoramic views of Dubai’s skyline. The cabins are fully air-conditioned and glazed, providing a 360-degree vantage point.

The cabins are quite spacious at 30 square meters, so you can easily walk around during the ride. As with the Burj Khalifa, tickets for sunset slots are usually about 10 euros more expensive, but the view is well worth it.

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Cool Neighborhoods in Dubai

Beyond the skyscrapers of Downtown, Dubai has several unique neighborhoods that are well worth exploring.

The Palm Jumeirah

The Palm Islands are a series of man-made islands off the coast of Dubai, famously shaped like palm leaves. It’s one of those ambitious, over-the-top projects that has become a hallmark of the city.

Currently, Palm Jumeirah is the only completed island, with two others still in the works. For the best views of the palm shape, keep an eye out your window if you’re flying into or out of Dubai!

The island is home to some of Dubai’s most legendary luxury resorts, most notably Atlantis The Palm, which houses the Aquaventure Waterpark and the Lost Chambers Aquarium.

Exploring the island is easy on your own. The Dubai Monorail runs the length of the “trunk,” stopping at four different stations. Trains run every 15 minutes from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.

A one-way ticket costs 20 AED (approx. 5 euros), while a return trip is 30 AED (approx. 7.50 euros). You can buy tickets at the stations using cash or a credit card.

Our tip: For an unforgettable experience, try seeing the Palm Jumeirah from the water on a boat tour or take to the skies for a bird’s-eye view!

Book a Dubai speedboat tour online Book a helicopter flight from Palm Jumeirah

Gold & Spice Souks in Deira

Deira is one of Dubai’s oldest districts, located east of the Creek near the airport. It offers a wonderful contrast to the modern glitz of Downtown.

The main draw here are the traditional markets, or souks. Our absolute favorites are the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk. In the Gold Souk, you’ll see an incredible amount of jewelry on display, while the Spice Souk is a sensory overload of colors and fragrances.

The markets are best visited in the evening when the temperatures drop and the area truly comes to life.

Be prepared: a stroll through the souks can be a bit intense, as the vendors are very persistent! They have an uncanny ability to guess where you’re from and will often shout out funny catchphrases in your language to get your attention.

Madinat Jumeirah

Often described as a “city within a city,” Madinat Jumeirah is a massive lifestyle and cultural hub on the coast. It’s designed to look like a traditional Arabian citadel and features its own souk, luxury hotels, and a huge selection of cafés and restaurants.

It’s a lively spot to visit even if you aren’t staying there, thanks to its great nightlife and gourmet dining options. One of the highlights is the 7-kilometer network of canals. You can hop on a traditional wooden boat, called an abra, for a scenic ride through the resort.

Museums and Theme Parks in Dubai

Dubai is a paradise for theme park lovers, but it’s also home to some incredibly creative and futuristic museums. Here are our top recommendations!

Dubai Garden Glow

Dubai Garden Glow is a unique outdoor theme park that features thousands of massive, glowing sculptures. The displays are handcrafted and made from recycled materials, and they truly look magical after the sun goes down.

The park is quite sprawling and divided into different themed zones, including a popular Dinosaur Park and an Ice Park. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore it all—there’s even a small train for younger kids to ride around the grounds.

Motiongate Dubai

Motiongate is a dream come true for movie fans. It brings the worlds of your favorite films to life—from The Smurfs and Shrek to The Hunger Games.

The park is a collaboration between three major film studios: Lionsgate, DreamWorks, and Columbia Pictures. Inside, you’ll find thrilling roller coasters, live stage shows, and interactive attractions like the Kung Fu Panda Academy. You can even get a behind-the-scenes look at how animated films are created.

Get your Motiongate Dubai day ticket

Dubai Miracle Garden

The Dubai Miracle Garden is a massive floral wonderland covering 72,000 square meters. Millions of flowers are arranged into elaborate shapes and structures, creating a truly surreal landscape.

The installations are impressive and often set world records—the most famous being a life-size Airbus A380 covered in blooms, as well as an 18-meter-tall Mickey Mouse. It’s a great place to escape the city’s concrete jungle for a few hours.

Museum of the Future

The Museum of the Future is a masterpiece of modern architecture. Its striking silver ring design, covered in glowing Arabic calligraphy, makes it one of the most photographed buildings in the world.

Inside, you’ll embark on an interactive journey to the year 2071. Instead of looking at the past, the museum showcases high-tech visions of space travel, climate solutions, and AI. Don’t miss the viewing platform in the center of the building for a unique perspective of the city.

Note: This museum is best for older children and adults; most interactive elements are designed for ages 8 and up. The “haunted” experience is restricted to those 15 and older.

Book your Museum of the Future tickets

Beaches in Dubai

Looking to soak up the sun? Here are the beaches in Dubai we think are the most beautiful and worth a visit.

Kite Beach

Dubai has plenty of coastline, but Kite Beach is arguably the most famous spot. It’s a haven for water sports fans, but there’s plenty for everyone else too.

You’ll find several kitesurfing schools and rental shops right on the sand. The water here is relatively shallow, which makes it a great place for beginners to practice.

If kitesurfing isn’t your thing, you can try stand-up paddleboarding or just grab a towel and relax. The beach is lined with food trucks, sun loungers, volleyball courts, and even bouncy castles for the kids. Plus, you get a fantastic unobstructed view of the Burj Al Arab in the distance.

Al Mamzar Beach Park

For a bit of a Caribbean vibe, head to Al Mamzar Beach Park. It’s a massive park featuring five separate beaches, multiple swimming pools, and palm trees as far as the eye can see.

The park is packed with facilities, including beach bars, cafés, a basketball court, and rentals for bicycles and water sports gear.

It’s an excellent choice for families since it’s easy to reach by car and the water stays shallow for quite a way out—perfect for little ones to splash around safely.

Water-Themed Attractions in Dubai

You can’t visit Dubai without experiencing its water-themed wonders. From world-class fountain shows to massive aquariums and water parks, here are the coolest water attractions in the city.

Dubai Fountain

Every night, the world-famous fountain show takes place right outside the Dubai Mall, with the Burj Khalifa providing a stunning backdrop.

The Dubai Fountain is the largest choreographed fountain system in the world, with water “dancing” to a diverse range of music.

Each show lasts for a few minutes and starts at 6:00 p.m., repeating every half hour until 11:00 p.m. There are also two afternoon performances at 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. (or 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Fridays). That said, the evening shows are much more spectacular thanks to the elaborate lighting.

The promenade gets very crowded, so if you want a front-row spot for photos, be sure to arrive early. For a more relaxed experience, you can book a boat ride on the lake during the show for about 20 euros.

Book a lake ride and fountain show here

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

The Dubai Aquarium is a massive indoor underwater zoo home to around 140 different marine species.

The highlight is the 48-meter-long glass tunnel, which gives you the feeling of walking along the ocean floor as sharks and rays swim right over your head. You can even book shark diving experiences or glass-bottom boat tours.

It’s a fantastic place for kids, but even if you don’t buy a ticket to go inside, you can still see one of the massive main tanks for free through a giant window in the mall.

Get tickets for the Dubai Aquarium

Our tip: You can save money by booking a combination ticket that includes both the aquarium and access to the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa. Since the entrance is right there in the mall, it’s super convenient and saves you about 10 euros compared to buying them separately.

Book the Aquarium & Burj Khalifa combo ticket here

Aquaventure Waterpark

If you love water parks, Aquaventure is an absolute must. It’s located at the Atlantis Resort on Palm Jumeirah and is one of the most famous water parks in the world.

It features 30 world-record-breaking slides, a 500-meter private beach, and a huge splash area for families with younger kids.

We recommend arriving as soon as it opens to enjoy the most popular slides before the crowds arrive. If you’re visiting on a busy day, you can also purchase a Fast Pass at the ticket counter to skip the longest lines.

Our tip: Don’t forget to bring flip-flops—the ground gets incredibly hot under the Dubai sun!

Book tickets for Aquaventure Waterpark

If you only want to spend half the day at the park, consider the combo ticket that includes the Lost Chambers Aquarium. It’s a great deal as it only costs about 5 euros more than a single park ticket.

Get the Aquaventure & Lost Chambers combo ticket

Lost Chambers Aquarium

The Lost Chambers Aquarium is the largest in the Emirates. Even though it holds that title, the layout is quite manageable, and you can easily walk through the whole thing in about an hour.

This is why the combination ticket with Aquaventure Waterpark makes so much sense—you can easily visit both on the same day.

The aquarium is home to over 65,000 marine animals. You can even use their app to scan the tanks and learn more about the different species on your phone as you go.

If you happen to be staying at the Atlantis Hotel, entry to the aquarium is actually free!

Get tickets for the Lost Chambers Aquarium

Unique Activities in Dubai

Looking for a truly extraordinary experience? These unique Dubai highlights offer something you won’t find anywhere else.

Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates

Compared to the massive Dubai Mall, the Mall of the Emirates feels almost modest with “only” 600 stores—even though it was once the largest in the world.

The real star here is Ski Dubai. This 22,500-square-meter indoor winter wonderland features five different ski slopes for all skill levels. While it might be 40 degrees Celsius outside, the temperature inside stays a crisp -1 to -2 degrees. It’s an incredible contrast!

Beyond skiing, you can go tobogganing, try snowboarding on a halfpipe, or race down an ice track in a bobsled. Of course, full equipment rentals and ski lifts are included in the experience.

Book your Ski Dubai tickets here

Dubai Creek

Dubai Creek is a 14-kilometer-long saltwater inlet that serves as the historic lifeline of Old Dubai. It naturally divides the city into two iconic districts: Deira to the east and Bur Dubai to the west.

Crossing the Creek in a traditional water taxi, known as an abra, is an absolute must-do. These small wooden boats depart as soon as they’re full, which usually only takes a minute. At just 1 AED (about 25 cents), it’s easily the most affordable—and arguably the most authentic—highlight in Dubai.

Dubai Museum

Located inside the 200-year-old Al Fahidi Fort—the oldest standing building in Dubai—you’ll find the Dubai Museum.

It’s a fascinating place to visit to understand the city’s meteoric rise from an 18th-century Bedouin pearl-diving village to the futuristic metropolis it is today. We really enjoyed the immersive displays.

Note: The museum is currently undergoing extensive renovations and can only be viewed from the outside at this time.

La Perle by Dragone

La Perle is Dubai’s premier stage production, created by the legendary theater director Franco Dragone.

Water is the star of the show: the “aqua-stage” uses a staggering 2.7 million liters of water while world-class acrobats and divers perform death-defying stunts. For 90 minutes, you’re treated to an incredible mix of high-dives, aerial feats, and stunning visual effects. The show runs twice a night, five days a week, in the heart of Al Habtoor City.

Book tickets for La Perle

Best Day Trips from Dubai

If you have a few extra days, there are some fantastic places to explore just outside the city. For a deeper look at your options, check out our full article here:

17 best excursions and activities in Dubai

Desert Safari

A desert safari is a quintessential Dubai experience. You can’t visit the Arabian Gulf without heading out into the vast, rolling dunes!

A typical tour lasts about 7 hours and usually costs between 70 and 80 euros. Most trips include plenty of stops for sandboarding and camel riding, followed by a traditional BBQ dinner under the stars. Hotel pickup and drop-off are almost always included.

Book a desert safari with BBQ here See all desert tour options

Day Trip to Abu Dhabi

If you’re in Dubai for more than a few days, a trip to Abu Dhabi is highly recommended. You can see the capital’s most famous landmarks on a full-day tour. Guided bus tours usually cost between 60 and 70 euros.

However, if your budget allows, we recommend a private tour. It’s a bit more expensive, but having the flexibility to move at your own pace without a large group makes the experience much more enjoyable.

Book a private tour to Abu Dhabi

Practical Travel Tips for Dubai

To help you plan your trip, here are a few practical tips for your stay in Dubai.

Dubai city tours and excursions

Dubai isn’t exactly a city where you can just wander the streets on foot, so booking a guided tour is often the most efficient way to get around and explore the attractions in Dubai.

Depending on your interests, here are a few great options:

Private City Tour: Dubai highlights including Burj Khalifa tickets Dubai by Night: Evening tour including Burj Khalifa Helicopter Flights: A bird’s-eye view of Dubai

Dubai Pass: Saving money on attractions

Since many of Dubai’s top attractions can be quite pricey, a city pass is often a smart investment.

Depending on how long you’re staying and how much you want to see, there are several passes to choose from. The Dubai Turbopass and the Flexi Attractions Pass are two of the most popular options.

If you only plan on visiting a handful of major sights, the Dubai Explorer Pass is a great alternative, allowing you to pick between 3 and 7 attractions. For those staying longer and planning a trip to Abu Dhabi, the Dubai All-Inclusive Pass is usually the best value.

Check out our detailed guide to find out which pass is right for you:

Where to stay in Dubai

Because Dubai is so spread out, we highly recommend staying near a metro station. You should also decide whether you want a beach-focused holiday or a classic sightseeing trip.

We stayed at the Somewhere Hotel Apartment in Deira. It’s perfect for a stopover as it’s right next to a metro station—you can be at the airport or Downtown in just about 10 minutes.

Here are a few other hotels we recommend:

Jumeirah Mina A’Salam (best for the beach) Rove Downtown Dubai (best for Burj Khalifa views) Atlantis The Palm (the ultimate luxury experience)

For more recommendations, check out our full hotel guide:

Where to stay in Dubai: Our top hotel tips

The best Dubai travel guides

If you’re like us and still love having a physical book to flip through, here are our top picks for Dubai:

Marco Polo Travel Guide Dubai We picked this one up at the airport. It’s compact and perfect for a short trip. The “Best of” categories (like tips for kids or how to beat the heat) are particularly helpful.

Insight Guides: Explore Dubai This guide is great for its detailed maps and neighborhood-by-neighborhood layout, making it very easy to plan your days.

Lonely Planet Dubai & Abu Dhabi The go-to for independent travelers. It’s packed with in-depth info on food, culture, and off-the-beaten-path spots. Just keep in mind it’s quite thick as it covers Abu Dhabi too.

Our Final Thoughts on Dubai

Dubai is undoubtedly an impressive place, and we definitely recommend visiting for a few days to experience the city of superlatives for yourself.

However, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for a long-term vacation. While the architecture is mind-blowing, the city can sometimes feel like it lacks that certain “flair” or historic soul you find in other world capitals. Much like a giant shopping mall, it’s grand and exciting, but it doesn’t always have a “heart.”