5 Days in Dubai: The Itinerary I’d Do Again in a Heartbeat
Dubai is one of those places you think you know before you arrive. Burj Khalifa? Obviously. Huge malls? Of course. Gold everywhere? Naturally. But five days in the city showed me there’s a lot more to a Dubai itinerary than the obvious highlights. I went from standing 148 floors above the city to wandering through the Gold Souk, skiing indoors and eating dinner on a yacht. Dubai really doesn’t believe in doing just one thing in a day.
Join Meganne on a journey to explore one of the greatest cities in the world – Dubai!
Starting at the top: Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa
Our first proper day began at Dubai Mall, where we visited the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo before heading over to House of Hype for a completely different kind of immersive experience.
Then it was time to go up. Very, very far up.
We headed to Level 148 of the Burj Khalifa, and no matter how many times you’ve seen that view online, it’s different when you’re actually standing there. Dubai just keeps going in every direction.
Afterwards, we explored more of Dubai Mall before jumping on a traditional abra ride across Burj Lake. Seeing the Burj Khalifa from the water was probably one of my favourite ways to take it all in.
All that glitters: Dubai’s Gold Souk
The next day took us away from Downtown Dubai and eventually to the Gold Souk. And yes, there really is that much gold.
The best way to experience the souk is simply to wander. There’s jewellery everywhere you look, busy little streets and plenty happening around you. It feels worlds away from the glass towers and enormous malls Dubai is known for, which is exactly what makes it worth visiting.
Skiing in the desert, because why not?
One of the strangest sentences I can now say is: “I went skiing in Dubai.”
We spent an afternoon at Ski Dubai inside Mall of the Emirates. Going from Dubai’s heat to an indoor winter wonderland is every bit as bizarre as it sounds.
The day got even better from there. That evening, we headed to Dubai Marina for a yacht cruise and dinner. Snow in the afternoon, dinner on the water at night. Somehow, in Dubai, that itinerary makes perfect sense. That’s why you should book a flight!
Getting to know Dubai properly
Our last full day slowed things down and gave us a little more context about where we actually were.
We visited the Etihad Museum to learn about the formation of the UAE, followed by a traditional lunch and cultural experience at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. Later, we headed to the Museum of the Future before finishing the trip with dinner at Atlantis The Royal. Five days in Dubai went quickly, but that might be what I liked most about it: every day felt completely different.
If you’re planning a trip and looking for things to do in Dubai, mix the big-name attractions with experiences that show you another side of the city. Go up the Burj Khalifa, but wander the souks too. Spend time in the malls, then get out onto the water. And apparently, pack for both the desert and the ski slopes.
