DUBAI: TOP 10 BEST ACTIVITIES YOU WILL LOVE!

Searching for activities that will make you love Dubai? Look no further!

People have very different opinions on Dubai. Some are obsessed and can’t talk about it enough while others think it’s an atrocious monstrosity with nothing to see but concrete and sand. While I didn’t have huge expectations going there, I came back home absolutely in LOVE with Dubai.

Dubai is located in the United Arab Emirates and it’s grown from nothing into a real megalopolis in less than 60 years. As it’s the most popular destination in the UAE, visiting Dubai is on many people’s wish list.

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DUBAI TRANSPORTATION

Dubai’s main airport is connected to most big cities so finding a flight won’t be that hard. Finding a cheap one on the other hand definitely will be. We’ve flown from Budapest with WizzAir since that’s the most budget friendly version.

Once you’re in Dubai you can take a taxi to your hotel. To get around in Dubai you can either use their metro or taxis. The taxis in Dubai are very affordable and you can pay with card. Dubai isn’t walkable at all and I would recommend using taxis for the easiest and most comfortable way of traveling. If there are more of you it’ll also be cheaper using a taxi than using the metro.

WHERE TO STAY IN DUBAI

We stayed in two hotels during our one week stay and we enjoyed our time in both of them. The First one was Time Onyx Hotel in which we stayed after arriving because it’s close to the airport. Later we transferred to Ramada by Wyndham Barsha Heights which we loved.

Read more >>> 9 Things You Need To Know Before Coming To Dubai

WHAT TO DO IN DUBAI

Here are the top 10 activities we enjoyed doing the most while visiting Dubai!

WALK THROUGH THE DUBAI MARINA

Dubai Marina is one of the most famous districts in Dubai, and it’s absolutely worth checking out. The man-made marina is one of the richest parts of Dubai and its skyline is something you need to see. It’s wonderful during the day – you can enjoy yourself at the beach and stop by some of the beach clubs there. But it’s especially enchanting during the night. The magnificent tall buildings sparkle in the night which makes for a pretty special view. In the evening, you can have dinner or a drink there and bask in the shine of the skyscrapers.

VISIT THE GREEN PLANET

The Green Planet was quite possibly my favorite place I’ve visited on this trip to Dubai. The Green Planet is an incredible bio-dome bearing resemblance to a rainforest. Once you enter the beautiful garden you have 4 floors at your disposal to explore at your pace. As the indoors are completely transformed into a rainforest, most animals inside are free to roam around but you are not allowed to touch them.

The garden even has man-made rain and thunder to make the animals feel more at home. There are various animals you can see there, from different exotic birds to sloths and different types of bats! The tickets for The Green Planet are around 30-40 Euros and I would say it’s a MUST-SEE!

GO ON A DESERT SAFARI

There’s no point in coming to Dubai if you aren’t going to explore the ginormous desert surrounding the city. This was my first time in the desert and it’s a moment I will remember forever! We found our desert safari on GetYourGuide and the value for money was incredible.

The desert safari included 25 minute drive over the sand dunes, a camel ride, and a dinner at the safari camp. You also get a show performance while eating which is very fun! Believe it or not, the whole thing lasted over 6 hours and we paid 25 euros for everything.

GO SKIING AT SKI DUBAI

Skiing probably wasn’t on your Dubai bucket list until now, but maybe this piques your interest.  The Emirates Mall is famous for their indoor skiing platform where you can experience snow and cold in the middle of the heated Dubai desert. You can rent skiing equipment and enjoy a full day in the snow if you’re a skiing enthusiast. This activity isn’t cheap but wouldn’t you want to say you went skiing in Dubai?

VISIT THE LOST CHAMBERS AQUARIUM

Dubai has two famous aquariums. One is at the Dubai Mall and the other one is this one – the Lost Chambers aquarium at the Atlantis hotel. While choosing one is tough, we feel like our choice to see the Lost Chambers was an excellent choice. The Lost Chambers aquarium depicts the lost town of Atlantis – the huge aquarium seems to be built around the ruins of the lost city.

Obviously, it’s not real but it’s beautiful to see the massive aquarium tanks full of interesting species of marine life which just happen to be swimming around what looks like ancient ruins. The tickets for this aquarium are 30 euros.

VISIT THE VIEW

One of the best viewpoints in Dubai is the View which gives you an incredible look at the Palm – Dubai’s most famous man-made island. The View is located at the foot of the island and it’s a really immersive experience. You climb up to the 52^nd floor to get to the museum which showcases how the idea of the island started. They take you through the making of the island in a very interactive way and in the end you climb a few more floors to reach the final viewpoint.

Once you’re there you can walk around, take pictures and sit down for a drink with one of the best views of Dubai you could find. The tickets for the viewpoint are from 18-30 euros, depending on the time of the visit.

TAKE A STROLL THROUGH THE OLD TOWN

The old town is not the first thing that comes to mind when you thing of Dubai but it’s definitely something you need to visit once you’re there. Some of the key locations of Dubai Old Town are their Heritage Village, Spice Souk and Gold Souk. The Heritage Village is a man-made replica of a village that once existed at the premises of Dubai. It’s a beautiful show of Arabian culture.

Once you’re there you must visit the Souks – which are their markets. The Spice Souk is the main market for all kinds of authentic spices and herbs, as well as different scents. You will surely find the best possible souvenirs there. The Gold Souk is something you probably haven’t seen anywhere else. There are rows and rows of stores selling only gold. Even if you aren’t planning on buying anything it’s super fun to just walk through it.

SHOP AT THE DUBAI MALL

Dubai is a very popular shopping destination and it definitely justifies its reputation. It has more than a few very well-equipped shopping malls – whether you want something cheap from the outlets or the most luxurious brands, you will find whatever your heart desires in Dubai.

The one shopping mall you cannot miss is the Dubai Mall. Not only does it offer great shopping opportunities but it’s also a home to an ice rink, an aquarium, a VR play store and of course, the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa is in its backyard.

SEE THE FOUNTAIN SHOW

While at the Dubai Mall, make sure to stop by the fountains and catch a free show. The fountains are exactly in front of Burj Khalifa so you’ll be going there anyway. The shows happen every evening starting at 6 p.m. and they happen every half an hour. They only last for five minutes so make sure you come early enough to find a place with a nice view.

I would recommend coming immediately after one show ends and people leave and then waiting for another one. For example, if you want to catch a show at 7 p.m. come at 6:35 after the previous show ends and wait 25 minutes for another one. These shows are completely free so they are always extremely crowded.

EXPERIENCE THE GLOBAL VILLAGE

One of the best (and also the cheapest) experiences you can get in Dubai is visiting the Global Village. Global Village is an incredible destination which combines over 90 different cultures through food, entertainment and shopping. The entrance fee is super cheap, you can enjoy yourself the whole evening for the price of 5 euros!

At the Village, you walk from country to country (or continent to continent sometimes) and eat their food, buy their authentic products, dance their national dances… you can experience everything that country has to offer. At the end of the night, you feel like you’ve travelled all across the globe but you haven’t moved from Dubai.

I hope these activities are helpful to you and you will incorporate them into your itineraries!