Best places to visit in Dubai: top attractions you don't want to miss

Dubai is a fascinating blend of old and new, mostly new, with hundreds of fascinating places to explore. The city hums with energy and ambition while still honoring its roots with its many traditional and historic neighborhoods. Its rich mix of cultures and styles means there's a diverse range of fun things to do for every taste. Visit the region's traditional markets or gaze down over the city from the tallest skyscraper in the world — the choice is yours.

Culture vultures will be delighted by its wealth of museums and foodies will have plenty to discover in Dubai’s cuisine. There's no shortage of experiences for adrenaline junkies, impressive landmarks for would-be architects, and plenty of beauty spots for nature lovers. In short, whatever type of vacation you're looking for, you're sure to find it in Dubai. Here are 20 of its best places to visit to get you started.

Best places to visit in Dubai for history

1. Al Fahidi Fort and Historical Neighborhood

The Al Fahidi Fort has been standing since 1787 and was formerly a residence, prison, and weapons arsenal. Today it houses The Dubai Museum, one of the best museums in Dubai, where you can learn about the city’s history and development. Entry to the museum is include with the Old Town walking tour and you can learn more about the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood’s rich history.

Highlights:

The museum uses colorful dioramas to depict life before Dubai's boom and development.

Address and opening hours:

Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai. Saturday-Thursday 8:30 AM-8:30 PM, Fridays 2:30 PM-8:30 PM.

2. Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

A must-see visitor attraction for anyone with interest in Arabic culture and customs, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was founded to encourage open intercultural discourse. Visit and have a traditional lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre and savor a delicious Emirati meal while engaging in conversation and deepening your understand of Dubai's culture.

Highlights:

There are stunning art displays to explore at the center.

Address and opening hours:

Al Mussallah Rd, Al Fahidi. Open daily 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.

3. Dubai Creek

Dubai Creek has importance as an important historic landmark in Dubai, and essential place to visit to understand the city’s roots as pearl diving village. It’s also where you’ll find the city’s vibrant souks and the traditional abra boats that have been carrying passengers across the Creek for decades. Take a walking tour around Dubai Creek and learn about its history, visit the souks, Coffee Museum, and try tasty local street food.

Highlights:

Get a guided tour of an Emirati house, taste delicious Arabic coffee at the Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant, walk along the Al Seef walkway, and cruise across Dubai Creek on an abra.

Address and opening hours:

Dubai Creek is a public space and open 24 hours. For the tour, there are various start times available. Meeting points can vary, but are mostly at the Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant.

Best places to visit in Dubai for architecture and views

4. Burj Khalifa

The tallest building in the world and an icon of Dubai needs little introduction, and is an absolute must-visit place on any trip to Dubai. At an astonishing 2,723 feet, it is more than twice the height of the Empire State Building. Head to the Burj Khalifa Level 124 and 125 to gain access to the observation deck for telescopes and panoramic views of Dubai and the Arabian Gulf.

Highlights:

125 floors up is a long way — luckily, the building is equipped with some of the world's fastest elevators, one of the many fun facts about the Burj Khalifa. It’s busiest at sunset, but the most spectacular.

Address and opening hours:

Burj Khalifa, 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. Entry times daily are 8:00 AM-11:00 PM.

5. Dubai Frame

A completely unique architectural marvel, the enormous Dubai Frame was conceived as a window between old and new Dubai. From the right angle, it perfectly frames the Dubai skyline and he Burj Khalifa. Grab a Dubai Frame entry ticket to ascend its tall towers an walk across the frame’s highest level for amazing views.

Highlights:

A glass walkway with views across the city and all the way down beneath your feet connects the Dubai Frame’s two pillars and is both hair-raising and stunning.

Address and opening hours:

Zabeel Park, Al Kifaf. Open daily, 9:00 AM-9:00 PM.

6. Burj Al Arab

Step inside the city’s famous sail-shaped seven-star hotel that dominates the shoreline of Dubai. Sign up for a guided tour of the Burj Al Arab and learn all about its history and futuristic architecture, and explore the opulent interiors which are only open to guests.

Highlights:

Admire the lavish gold interiors of this record-breaking luxury hotel and look out across the Arabian Gulf and the cityscape.

Address and opening hours:

Umm Suqeim 3 - Dubai. Guided tours with transfers are available at 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM.

7. Sky Views

These dual skyscrapers joined by a metal and glass sky bridge in Downtown Dubai offers one thing the massive Burj Khalifa can’t: A perfect view of the tallest building in the world. With a Sky Views Dubai ticket, you'll gain entry to three thrilling attractions inside. Stand on a glass floor 53 floors up and gaze at the city below, experience the thrill of going down a transparent slide high in the sky, or walk hands-free along the Sky Edge Walk with a harness.

Highlights:

Admire spectacular views of Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai from a height of 720 feet. It’s incredible day or night.

Address and opening hours:

The Address Sky View Tower 1, Sheikh Zayed Rd. Open daily 10:00 AM-9:00 PM.

8. The Palm

The man-made, tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah that stretches out into the Arabian Gulf is another of Dubai’s most famous places, and it’s home to some of the city’s most impressive places to visit, as well as being one in itself. Get unrivaled views of this scenic landmark with a View At The Palm observatory entry ticket — it has to be seen from above to really be believed.

Highlights:

Learn more about the city's growth and development at The View Exhibition, included in the ticket.

Address and opening hours:

Palm Jumeirah Road, The Palm Tower. Open Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-10:00 PM, Friday-Sunday 9:00 AM-12:00 AM.

Best places to visit in Dubai for families

9. Dubai Fountain

One of Dubai’s most mesmerizing spectacles, the Dubai Fountain is the largest choreographed fountain in the world. The show is free to watch from the edges of Burj Lake, just outside Dubai Mall, and every show is unique. Bursting into life every 30 minutes between 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM, with two shows around lunchtime too, you should try to catch as many shows as you can to experience the different music and choreography. It can get busy, so watching it from a traditional abra boat is the best way to do it — book the Fountain Show and Burj Lake ride for a front-row seat.

Highlights:

The fountain features 6,000 lights and shoots 22,000 gallons of water into the air during each show, which have different themes and sountracks from James Bond themes to classical and Arabic music.

Address and opening hours:

Meet at the Top Burj Khalifa ticket counter, Dubai Mall. The tour operates between 5:45 PM and 10:45 PM.

10. Dubai Mall

Right by the fountains, Dubai Mall is a megamall sprawling over a million square meters – the size of 200 football pitches – and is one of the largest shopping and entertainment complexes in the world. Families can spend days here, with everything from toy shops to book stores to cinemas and hundreds of delicious restaurants. There’s even an ice rink.

Highlights:

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo can also be found in Dubai Mall. You need a ticket to enter, but there is an amazing, huge aquarium window that will mesmerize you and the little ones for ages — and it’s free.

Address and opening hours:

Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai. Retailers are open Monday-Thursday 10:00 AM-11:00 PM, Friday-Sunday 10:00 AM-12:00 PM.

11. The Green Planet

For an family day out where you’ll feel like you’re in a whole other place, visit The Green Planet, Dubai’s unique indoor rainforest. At this big biodome where the rainforest has been recreated indoors, watch colorful birds fly overhead, see lizards basking in the heat, and walk through the lush and realistic rainforest environment.

Highlights:

Keep an eye out — you may see a slow-moving sloth or a family of nimble spider monkeys.

Address and opening hours:

City Walk, Al Wasl. Open daily, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

12. Aquaventure

With more water slides than any other waterpark in the world, Aquaventure on the Palm is without a doubt one of the most fun places to go in Dubai for all ages. Get your Aquaventure Waterpark entry tickets and get straight to making a splash on the thrilling rides and flumes.

Highlights:

Take on the Tower of Poseidon or brave the dark and winding Aquaconda water tunnel. Experience the excitement of the Ziggurat, offering a variety of exhilarating slides. Little kids who are too small for the big rides will have a blast at Splashers Water Playground within the park.

Address and opening hours:

Atlantis The Palm, Crescent Road. Open daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM.

13. Dubai Marina

Dubai Marina is one of the city’s most popular places to visit, with a reason for just about anyone to go there. There are gorgeous views, the stunning JBR beach, restaurants, shops, and loads of fun activities like sky diving and yacht cruises. But the most exciting and uniquely Dubai thing to do here is to zipline across the marina on the longest urban zipline in the world.

Highlights:

Begin at the 170-meter-high Anwaj Towers and reach speeds of up to 80 kph on this kilometer-long zipline. You’ll have amazing views, can go in tandem with someone else, and it’ll all be captured on photos and videos you can take home.

Address and opening hours:

Meet at the XLine booth on level P of the Dubai Marina Mall. The experience operates between 9:20 AM-5:40 PM.

14. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Visit the Dubai Aquarium to discover one of the world's largest indoor aquariums and 33,000 fascinating fish and other marine animals from all of the world's oceans. The aquarium tunnel is fascinating, and kids won’t believe their eyes as rays, sharks, and thousands of other species swim all around.

Highlights:

The Underwater Zoo is an interactive experience where kids can learn about different marine creatures. There’s also the chance to see penguins, otters, and one of the largest crocodiles on the planet.

Address and opening hours:

The entrance is located within Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai.

Best places to visit in Dubai for culture

15. Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque

Inspired by Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque takes cues from Ottoman and Andalusian design. Admire its ornate interiors, elaborate chandeliers, and library comprising 40,000 books when you visit, which can be done as part of a half-day city tour that also takes in Dubai Creek and the nearby souks.

Highlights:

The stunning building in the Al Safa neighborhood is as beautiful outside as it is inside, with elaborate Koranic calligraphy.

Address and opening hours:

119 6 D Street, Al Safa. The Mosque is open to visitors outside prayer times.

16. Museum of the Future

One of Dubai's most striking architectural wonders, an gleaming metal oval decorated with intricate calligraphy, the Museum of the Future is arguably the most recognizable building now on the Dubai skyline. The museum attracts visitors year-round for its stunning design and fascinating exhibitionsm, which thrust you 50 years into the future to see how we will, or could, be living in the 2070s. Get a Museum of the Future ticket in advance, as this is one of the most popular places to visit in Dubai.

Highlights:

Go inside the museum to engage with ideas about AI, technology, robotics, and see Dubai’s vision of the future.

Address and opening hours:

Sheikh Zayed Rd, Trade Center, Dubai. Open daily, 10:00 AM-7:30 PM.

17. La Perle

La Perle is a performing arts center and stage show in Dubai that ranks top of the city’s must-see performances. Book your tickets for the La Perle by Dragone show and prepare for a breathtaking spectacle based on the tales of Dubai's roots as a pearl-diver’s town.

Highlights:

Featuring acrobats, aerialists, divers, stunt artists, and an amazing aqua-stage design, set inside an amazing custom-built venue, it’s simply breathtaking.

Address and opening hours:

Al Habtoor City - 260 Sheikh Zayed Rd - Dubai. Shows are at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM, Tuesday–Saturday.

Best places to visit in Dubai for nature and scenery

18. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

The last thing you expect to find in a megacity in the desert is a lush nature reserve with lagoons, but this is exactly what you'll find at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. The reserve is home to thousands of birds year-round and a winter home for many migratory species.

Highlights:

The sanctuary is home to thousands of colorful flamingos, who flock to mate there every year.

Address and opening hours:

Ras Al Khor Road. Open Sunday-Thursday 7:30 AM-5:30 PM. Closed Friday-Saturday.

19. Miracle Garden

Featuring spectacular floral sculptures on a vast scale, Dubai's Miracle Garden is the world's largest flower garden and a must-visit place for keen gardeners. The impressive space is designed to be in bloom throughout its opening season, November to May.

Highlights:

The garden boasts 50 million species of flowers and 250 million species of plants.

Address and opening hours:

Street 3, Al Barsha South. Open Sunday-Thursday 9:00 AM-9:00 PM, Fridays 9:00 AM-11:00 PM, Saturdays 9:00 AM-10:00 PM. Open November-May.

20. Al Khayma Desert Camp

Bedouin culture has been a central part of life in Dubai since its origins. Discover more about this culture's enchanting traditions with this fun-packed Desert Safari and Al Khayma Camp overnight experience. As well as exploring the dunes by 4x4Take and sandboarding, taking a camel ride, enjoying a BBQ dinner, watching mesmerizing Khaliji dances, and stargazing at the desert sky, you’ll spend the night in a stunning bedouin tent and wake up to a traditional Emirati breakfast before returning to Dubai.

Highlights:

Learn to make Arabic coffee over the campfire and enjoy a cup with sweet dates.

Opening hours:

Pickups are available from your hotel or other convenient locations in Dubai. The experience starts at 3:30 PM.

FAQs

How many days should I spend in Dubai?

Plan for 4-5 days to see all the major sights of Dubai. If you have longer, you'll enjoy exploring the rich culture of the rest of the UAE and the areas of natural beauty outside of the city.

What is the best time of year to visit Dubai?

The months between late autumn to early spring are by far the most popular time of year to visit Dubai because of the intense heat of the summer. Plan to visit between November and February.

How do I get around Dubai?

The Dubai Metro is a cheap and efficient way to get around the city. Private taxis are also a handy way to get around, and there are plenty available.

What are the best neighborhoods to visit in Dubai?

Downtown Dubai, with its promenades, world-class shopping, and tourist attractions, is a must-visit. The Al Seef waterfront is a buzzing area where old and new Dubai overlap.

What are the best places to go shopping in Dubai?

Shopaholics could spend days in the Dubai Mall alone – at 1 million square meters, it's the size of 200 football fields and is famous for its luxury brands and high-end boutiques. For great bargains, head to the Karama Shopping Complex and the Dubai Outlet Mall.