10 Best Activities in Dubai

If you are planning a trip to the United Arab Emirates, it is very likely that you will be interested in knowing what activities and things to see and do in Dubai. Which is logical, as it is the most visited tourist destination in the whole region.

So I invite you to keep reading this post, as I have compiled the 10 best things to do in this city. Without a doubt they form a group of entertaining situations that will keep you busy throughout your trip.

Dubai is a city with so many tourist attractions that it is worth visiting with the accompaniment of a specialised guide. Keep in mind that this type of tour is usually for a group of about 15 people and you will visit places such as the Burj Al Arab or the Blue Mosque.

It is usual that in this type of tour there is also a ride in one of the famous water taxis of the Dubai Creek and you can also include the tasting of some traditional delicacy of the Arab gastronomy in a restaurant that is located within the route to follow.

In addition, the great attraction of such a tour is that it includes entrance to the Dubai Frame. This is a 360-degree panoramic viewpoint that offers the best views of the city's skyline. Actually an ideal place to enjoy the sunset as well as to see how the lights of the buildings in Dubai look like at night.

Details of interest:

• Price: the approximate rate for a tour with this feature is usually around €72 per adult while children between the ages of 4 and 11 usually pay around €60.
• Duration: on average a tour like this usually lasts around five to six hours in total.

Luxury and exclusivity are clearly among the best things to do in Dubai. A yacht ride in the Dubai Marina is one of the best things to do in the city's lifestyle and the price per person is really not that high.

It is almost always a shared activity with 30 people. Keep in mind that at all times you will be guided by a voiceover narrating the history of some of the most important sites along the Dubai coastline. For example, you will hear details about the construction of the Blue Water Island as well as the Jumeirah Palm.

Also, it is worth noting that this type of tour is one of the best things to do in Dubai Marina, as it optimises your tour time and offers you a relatively luxurious experience at a low cost. Keep in mind that depending on the time you choose, you will have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, lunch, a barbecue or dinner. All included in the price of your purchase.

Details of interest:

• Price: the price per person for a yacht trip with these characteristics usually ranges from €55 to €95. This depends on whether you choose the morning, afternoon or evening alternative.
• Duration: They usually last approximately two to three hours, which is more than enough time to tour the area and enjoy the food on offer.

Sightseeing buses are a staple of most visited cities in the world and clearly Dubai being the most important destination in the United Arab Emirates has its own versions. Make the most of them by enjoying this activity as one of the best ways to tour the city.

In this case, as you can imagine, they are air-conditioned buses and most of them are covered on the first floor, as in the case of the Big Bus, to offer protection from the high temperatures of the city. This tour company maintains the scheme of being able to buy one-day, two-day or even five-day passes in which you can enjoy the tourist bus as a convenient means of transport.

Keep in mind that thanks to this route that resembles the rest of the best tourist buses in Dubai you can reach most of the sights of the city such as the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Museum or the famous Burj Al Arab hotel. At the same time with the purchase of a ticket you might be entitled to a free night tour or you could even enjoy some Arabian dance show.

Details of interest:

• Price: a single day pass costs around €70, a two-day pass costs around €88 and a five-day deluxe pass costs around €100. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 pay these prices with a 20% discount.
• Duration: If you wish, you can spend the whole day touring the city on this bus. However, the average tour usually lasts two and a half hours in total.

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and since its inauguration it has become one of the most important tourist destinations in the Middle East and a major icon of Dubai. Undoubtedly a visit to some of its observation decks is one of the best things to do in this city and the ones located on the 124th and 125th floor have one of the best views of downtown Dubai.

When visiting the Burj Khalifa you will also have the opportunity to visit the shopping mall that is located at the base of this gigantic building and you have to keep in mind that this tower has a structure of 828 m high.

I also advise you to do some research on the things you can do and see at the Burj Khalifa inside, as you should make the most of your visit to see as many of the attractions of the tallest building on the face of the earth as possible.

Details of interest:

• Price: a ticket to this observation deck is usually priced at €60 per adult and €50 for a child between the ages of 4 and 12 if you decide to visit during the night. The price rises to €90 per adult and €60 per child if you decide to visit during the afternoon.
• Duration: There is no time limit on how long you can stay at the viewpoint. However, most people usually last approximately 30-40 minutes.

A hot air balloon ride is a life-changing experience for most participants all over the world and Dubai is a perfect place to enjoy such an activity. It's all about admiring the scenery of the place you're in.

In this case you'll enjoy a ride over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, which means you'll see both the miles of sand dunes as well as the modern skyline of the famous skyscrapers. The tour also includes a full breakfast with items such as smoked salmon, caviar, eggs Benedict, drinks and a couple of gastronomic items typical of the Arab culinary world.

Keep in mind that the return trip includes a short tour of the desert area that can perfectly be done in a luxury car such as a Land Rover. This is a recommended plan for autumn and winter, as this is the best time to visit Dubai, at least in terms of weather.

Also, if you wish, it would be good to read some tips for visiting the Dubai desert if you have doubts about what kind of clothes you should wear or what you will find in this peculiar environment.

Details of interest:

• Price: The adult rate is usually around €280 while children between the ages of 5 and 11 pay approximately €260.
• Duration: The balloon ride takes approximately two and a half hours, but the total excursion takes around four hours if you take into account the desert tour and the transfer to and from the hotel.

The desert itself is a major tourist attraction in Dubai and so activities that focus on exploring and enjoying the desert will always be among the best things to see and do in Dubai. If this idea interests you then you should opt for an excursion that includes a dune safari, along with a camel ride, a sandboarding session for a bit of adrenaline and a great end to the experience with a nice dinner and a beautiful sunset.

These excursions also include the chance to dress up in traditional costumes and even see a Tenoura show, which is a folk dance that comes directly from the Sufi traditions of the emirate. The tour in the dunes takes place in a four-wheel drive vehicle and you will have limited access to drinks throughout the tour. Keep in mind that Bedouin dining is another hallmark of this Dubai desert tour.

Details of interest:

• Price: The approximate price per person for such a tour is around €90. The rate for children between 3 and 11 years of age is usually around €80. If you prefer a VIP buffet, an additional €10 per person would be added.
• Duration: as it is an excursion with so many activities included, it is logical that it will be quite long. The average duration is about 7 or 8 hours.

Although luxury seems to be synonymous with Dubai in the eyes of the tourist industry, it's true that there is an underground culture throughout the food scene. A street food tour in the older neighbourhoods of this community is one of the most interesting and entertaining activities in this famous city.

Note that on this type of tour you will find some of the best places to eat in Dubai andnot only will you be able to enjoy the flavours of the Arabian culinary world. You will visit the typical markets such as the Spice Souk, the Old Souk or the famous Dubai Gold Souk.

It is also common for this type of tour to include a boat trip on the Dubai Creek and a visit to the Dubai Museum is also frequently offered due to its proximity to the more traditional and historic quarters of the city.

Details of interest:

• Price: a tour like this usually costs around €40 per person.
• Duration: the average duration of this type of tour is around five hours. This is logical considering that it includes several activities in the same itinerary.

Dubai is a place that breaks records when it comes to impressive works of modern engineering and specifically this water park with the largest number of slides on the planet is located within the large artificial island that resembles the shape of a palm tree.

This theme park is called Atlantis Aquaventure Park and is a place you can not miss if you are thinking about the best plans and activities to enjoy with the whole family in this city. Among its attractions I can highlight its artificial wave pool for surfing in conditions worthy of a Hawaiian beach or also the famous slides that go through pools full of sea creatures.

Details of interest:

• Price: Entry per person to this park usually costs around €100, but bear in mind that it also includes access to an impressive aquarium called The Lost Chambers.
• Duration: If you decide to take part in most of the attractions at this water park, it's likely to take around eight hours on average.

Mini golf is a fun activity all over the world and quite modest in all honesty. However, as Dubai is all about taking things to the next level then it's a good idea to check out the Black Light Mini Golf 3D. This is an enclosed mini golf course in which there are different themed stations with walls, floors and ceilings completely illuminated with ultraviolet light. This creates amazing abstract figures and paintings and many are works by artists from all over the world.

This is one of those great things to do in Dubai in August because it's a safe escape from the heat, while at the same time it's a family activity where you'll experience the chance to play typical mini golf in a completely modern and entertaining way.

Details of interest:

• Price: the price per person to take part in this indoor minigolf course is around 35€ approximately.
• Duration: there is really no limit to the amount of time you can spend on the site, but in about an hour you should have completed the 18 holes of the game.

A Dubai marina cruise is definitely an interesting and recommended activity for all types of tourists. At the same time, if it includes an elegant dinner, it becomes an unforgettable event that you can't miss if your budget allows it.

From the dinner you can expect a five-star buffet menu with a variety of exotic dishes that have a lot to do with Arabian gastronomy.

There are also traditional sailing and dinner cruises in Dubai

For your convenience you also have the option of enjoying this type of dinner on a traditional Arabian sailing yacht. The dinner is basically the same and what changes is the structure of the boat. So this kind of traditional sailing boat tours in Dubai Marina can also be a good option if you are looking for an elegant and peculiar dinner to celebrate your visit to the city.

Details of interest:

• Price: both types of dinners range in price from €45 to €65 per person.
• Duration: these types of cruises usually last between one and a half and two hours approximately.