Only have a few days in Dubai and not sure how to make the most of your time? After visiting many of the city’s most popular attractions, we’ve put together a list of the must-see highlights and a compact three-day Dubai itinerary to help you experience the best of the city.
More Dubai Travel Guides:
Best Things to Do in Dubai in Three Days For First-Timers
I’ve been to Dubai several times and visited almost all the main attractions. In this guide, I’ll share which ones I think are really worth it if you only have three days in the city.
With good planning, you can probably fit in all the places I mention. If you prefer a slower trip, you’ll need to skip a few. I’ll point out which ones are optional and which ones are must-sees.
Map of Best Things to Do In Dubai (3-Day Itinerary)
The following map shows all the places that we’ll refer in this guide. Click on the map to open it in Google Maps.
1) At the Top of Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa is Dubai’s most famous attraction and the tallest building in the world at 828 meters. It is impressive, especially when you see it in person.
Tickets should be bought in advance since you need to pick a date and time. Sunset is usually more expensive. You can choose tickets for floors 124 and 125, or upgrade to include floor 148. The premium ticket costs more but gives you a quieter experience with fewer people.
Tickets are available through the Get Your Guide app, and you can use a 10% discount code on your first booking.
The elevator to the top is very fast (you’ll probably feel the pressure in your ears). On level 124, the views are amazing but it gets crowded. Don’t miss level 125, which is less busy and better for photos. We stayed about an hour, which felt enough.
If you don’t want to pay for the observation decks, you can still enjoy the view of Burj Khalifa from the ground outside Dubai Mall. It is still pretty impressive.
2) Dubai Fountain Show
Right outside Dubai Mall, you can watch the famous Dubai Fountain Show. It runs every 30 minutes from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM on weekdays and until 11:00 PM on weekends. The fountain can reach up to 140 meters and each show lasts about three minutes, with different songs each time.
The show is free and, although it gets crowded, we always found a good spot. For a closer experience, you can book a traditional abra boat ride during the show.
There are also many restaurants around the fountain, from fine dining to fast food, most with good views of the show.
3) Dubai Downtown
The area around the Dubai Fountain is great to explore, especially at night. We took some nice photos near Downtown Palace and Burj Park and watched the fountain show from different angles.
We also stopped by the famous Wings of Mexico sculpture. There was a long line of people waiting to take photos. I didn’t find it very interesting, but it’s a popular spot for many visitors.
4) Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is massive, unlike anything I’ve seen before (they even have golf carts to get around). Plan some time to explore its attractions, like an artificial waterfall and the Aquarium.
If your time is quite limited, you can skip it, but you’ll need to go through it to get to the Top of Burj Khalifa or if you want to see the Fountain Show and you’re are arriving by public transportation.
The Dubai mall is home to one of the world’s largest aquariums, which you can partly see for free from the outside. To visit the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, buy tickets in advance. There’s also a combo ticket that includes both the aquarium and the Top of Burj Khalifa.
5) Old Dubai
This part of Dubai is really interesting and very different from the other attractions. We highly recommend visiting it. To get there by public transport, take the metro to BurJuman Station. From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk to Al Seef. The area is best explored on foot.
From Al Seef, you can visit Al Fahidi and Al Bastakia Historic Neighbourhood, or take a traditional abra boat to the other side of the creek to explore the souks.
Here’s what we recommend doing at old Dubai:
Al Fahidi and Al Bastakia Historic Neighborhood
These areas are beautiful and show traditional Arabic houses and wind towers made of sandstone. There are plenty of spots for great pictures and souks to buy affordable souvenirs.
Wall of Old Dubai and visiting Dubai Museum
The Dubai Museum is housed on the Al Fahidi Fort and it showcases Dubai’s history and its original heritage. Basically, you can see how people used to live before the discovery of oil in the UAE.
Combining this museum with the Ethiad museum will give you a better idea of Dubai’s history (both old and most recent events).
Arabian Tea House Restaurant and Cafe
This highly-rated cafe has great decoration for photos. We didn’t stop for food, but it was almost full when we passed by. There’s an outdoor setup where you can take pictures for free. It looks like a nice spot for lunch or a snack.
Traditional Abra Boat to Bur Dubai
We recommend taking a traditional abra boat ride across Dubai Creek. From Deira, you can board at the Old Souk Abra Station, and from Bur Dubai, at the Bur Dubai Abra Station.
The ride is affordable, costing just 1 AED per person for a one-way trip. If you’re interested in a more private experience, you can hire an abra for a longer cruise along the creek.
Explore the Souks
Once in Deira, you can explore the traditional souks: perfume, textile, spice, and the famous gold souk. Sellers can be pushy, but it’s easy to just say “no, thanks” and keep walking. If you plan to buy something, haggle to get a fair price.
For example, I probably paid too much for a bracelet in a gemstone store, even after reducing the price by half. For simple souvenirs like magnets, little purses, and bookmarks, there are plenty of affordable options.
One thing I regret not doing is making my own perfume. Many stores offer this experience, letting you choose fragrances, fixators, and bottles to create a scent just for you.
A great option to explore the souks is to go with a guide on a walking tour. You’ll get insider tips, hear the history behind each market, and discover hidden stalls and unique souvenirs that you might miss on your own. They may also help you get a more reasonable fair price for things you wish to buy.
Coffee Museum
We visited the Coffee Museum, which is very affordable. You can try two types of coffee served with dates. The museum has a lot of coffee memorabilia from around the world, but we wished there was more information about the exhibits.
6) Visiting The View At the Palm
Palm Jumeirah is an impressive island shaped like a palm, connected to the mainland. It is an extraordinary work of engineering. I was impressed by the size of the place. The island is much bigger than it seems, with shopping malls, luxury condos, a waterpark, and more.
The best way to see Palm Jumeirah is from The View at the Palm. Entrance is through Nakheel Mall, and it’s best to buy tickets in advance to avoid lines. Your ticket will be valid for the date and time you choose.
The visit begins with a short presentation and a room full of facts about the Palm’s construction. I found it very interesting, though many visitors rushed through it. Take your time before heading up to the observation deck.
From the top, you can clearly see the shape of the island and the famous Atlantis Hotel on the opposite side. You can also spot Burj Al Arab, the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel on Bluewaters Island, and if the weather is clear, even Burj Khalifa.
We spent about an hour at the top taking pictures and enjoying the views, which felt like more than enough time.
7) Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is one of the city’s most famous areas, with modern skyscrapers, luxury cars, and a long promenade lined with restaurants. We recommend visiting in the late afternoon when it’s cooler and staying for dinner, as there are plenty of options.
A popular activity here is taking a yacht tour along the marina, or renting a private yacht for you and your friends.
8) Museum of the Future
The Museum of the Future is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen, especially at night with all its lights.
Inside, it features interactive exhibits imagining what life on Earth could look like in the future. Tickets are quite expensive, so we decided to skip the full experience and focus on other attractions.
Even without going in, it’s worth visiting to see the building from the inside lobby, check the souvenirs, spot some robots, and admire the ultra-modern elevators. The architecture alone is impressive.
9) Dubai Desert Adventure
A desert adventure is one of the most popular experiences in Dubai. We recommend doing it, especially if you’ve never been to a desert before. It’s touristy, yes, but in my opinion, it’s worth doing as part of your Dubai trip.
If you’ve already visited more impressive deserts like the Sahara or Wadi Rum, it’s okay to skip it and spend your time elsewhere. We suggest the Global Village or the Miracle Garden.
There are different ways to experience the desert. We chose a cheaper, more crowded option, which was still worth it considering the price. You can also opt for more exclusive experiences, like private tours, hot air balloon rides, or star-gazing. We have a complete guide comparing Dubai Desert Safari Tours and documenting our experience.
10) Cultural Tour at Jumeirah Mosque
Jumeirah Mosque is the only mosque in Dubai open to non-Muslims. Cultural tours are offered daily (except Fridays) at 10:00 and 14:00. No prior booking is needed, but it’s best to arrive about 30 minutes early to register and enjoy the included breakfast buffet.
Dress appropriately: men and women must cover legs and shoulders, and women must cover their hair. If you don’t have a scarf, one can be purchased there. They also provide an abaya for women or a kandora for men if needed.
During the tour, guides explain the basics of Islam, including the purification ritual, and you can ask questions about the culture and religion. I found it very interesting and highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more.
If this is your first experience with Muslim culture, the tour is definitely worth it. If you’re already familiar with Muslim traditions, you might prefer visiting the Etihad Museum instead, located next to the mosque. This museum covers the founding of the UAE, the seven Emirates, and includes a visit to the Union House and Guest Palace.
11) Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame is an impressive piece of architecture, designed so you can see old Dubai when facing north and modern Dubai when facing south. It’s a unique way to take in both sides of the city. At the top, there’s also a glass floor you can walk on (not for the faint of heart—I’m not afraid of heights, and even so, it felt a bit uncomfortable to walk on).
Dubai Three-Day Itinerary for First-Timers
Here’s a summary of how you can arrange your time during your three days in Dubai. We cover the most popular things to do in Dubai and other nearby attractions. You may need to adjust this itinerary depending on the time of visit for attractions that required timed tickets.
Day 1 in Dubai
Here’s what we suggest for day 1:
- Dubai Frame or Museum of the Future
- At the Top of Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall
- Dubai Fountain Show
- Dubai Downtown
Dubai Frame or Museum of the Future
We suggest starting your first day in Dubai by visiting the Dubai frame or Museum of the future. You choose which one you want to visit. Or visit both. These attractions are located up north closed to the older part of Dubai.
If you’re using public transportation, there’s a metro stop for the Museum of the Future. You exist directly into the museum. You can visit the shows and exibitions and come back later in the day to see the Museum of the Future all lit up at night.
For the Dubai Frame, you can exit at the Max Metro Station. But then, I recommend getting a taxi, or Careem to get there.
Note: these attractions are super interesting, and I really recommend visiting. However, if your schedule is super tight, I recommend skipping them to visit some other more impressive places.
At the Top of Burk Khalifa and Dubai Mall
I’m including these two activities together because you need to go through Dubai mall to access the Top of Burj Khalifa. Getting to the top of Burj Khalifa is one of the activities I really recommend if you can afford it. It is not cheap and there are time slots cheaper than others, so you can try to play with that.
If you can’t afford to go to the Top of Burj Khalifa, explore the area around the Dubai Fountain and watch the building from the ground, it’s equality impressive and you can snap some great pictures.
Note: checking out this area of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain Show is a must for first-timers in Dubai. If you’re not much into shopping, you can skip exploring Dubai Mall.
Dubai Fountain Show
After visiting Burj Khalifa and exploring the Dubai Mall, don’t miss the Dubai Fountain Show when it starts to get dark. You can even have dinner at some of the nearby restaurants with views to the show. There are restaurants for almost all price ranges.
Dubai Downtown
The whole area around the Dubai Fountain is worth exploring if you have the time and energy. We recommend checking out the grounds of the Palace Downtown Hotel, which are great for pictures, Souk Al Bahar for shouvenir shopping, the Burj Park, and the famous Wings of Mexico sculpture.
If you’re short on time, the stars of the show in this area are really the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain show.
Day 2 in Dubai
Here’s the itinerary we suggest for your second day in Dubai:
- Cultural Tour at Jumeirah Mosque
- Palm Jumeirah
- Visiting The View At the Palm
- Ride at the Palm Monorail
- The Pointe – Best Place for Pictures of the Atlantis
- Dinner and Stroll at Dubai Marina
Cultural Tour at Jumeirah Mosque
Start your day with a cultural tour at the Jumeirah Mosque to learn more about Muslim culture. If you’re already familiar and have been to other muslim countries, you can skip it.
If you have interest and time, you can visit the Etihad Museum to learn more about the founding of the UAE.
Note: Even though both places are super interesting in terms of learning a new culture, if you’re short on time, skip them in favor of other attractions.
The View at the Palm
- Visiting The View At the Palm
- Ride at the Palm Monorail
- The Pointe – Best Place for Pictures of the Atlantis
You can’t visit Dubai and not see the impressive Palm Jumeirah Island. We recommend starting with a visit to The View at the Palm where you can have panoramic views of the whole island.
Still at Palm Jumeirah, if you have time, we recommend riding the Palm Monorail to The Pointe, a beach with the best views of the Atlantis Hotel.
Note: From all the things we suggest doing at the Palm Jumeirah, we really recommend going to The View at the Palm, and skip the other suggested activities if you’re short on time.
Dinner and Stroll at Dubai Marina
To end your day you can go for a stroll and dinner at Dubai Marina. There are plenty of dinning options. Alternatively, you can also go on a boat tour with dinner included along the Marina.
I was impressed by the super modern skyscrapers, each one competing with the other trying to compete in terms of architecture, modernism, height and lights.
Note: Even though I enjoyed my time strolling at Dubai Marina, if your schedule is tight, we recommend prioritizing your evening time next to the Dubai Fountain Show.
Day 3 in Dubai
We have several suggestions on how to spend your third day in Dubai:
- Explore Old Dubai and Visit the Souks
- Dubai Desert Adventure (Alternative 1)
- Global Village (Alternative 2)
- Miracle Garden (Alternative 3)
Explore Old Dubai and Visit the Souks
On this day, we recommend exploring Old Dubai and visiting the souks in the morning so that you have time for your desert adventure in the afternoon.
If you prefer to have the morning of this day to relax before going to the desert adventure, you can explore Old Dubai and Visit the Souks on your second day instead of the cultural tour at the Jumeirah Mosque.
Desert Adventure
Most Dubai desert tours start in the afternoon with pick-up from your hotel around 3PM. You’ll only arrive at your hotel later at 11PM. So, you need to reserve half day for this. You can use the morning to do other of the activities suggested, or relax at your hotel.
Tip: For all the information about Dubai Desert Adventures you can check our guide with all the details to help you choose your type of adventure.
Global Village (Alternative)
If you’ve been to a desert before, and want to spend your time doing something different, the Global Village may be a good alternative. This place is great, specially for families with kids.
The Global Village is a themed park that features several pavilions representing different countries or continents of the world. You’ll find typical products, food, and dance shows from different countries. The park also features different amusement rides, that are not included in the ticket price.
The best way to get there is to use a taxi, or get an entry ticket with transfers already included.
Miracle Garden (Alternative)
Instead of Global Village, you may opt to visit the Miracle Garden. It’s only open during the winter and spring months.
It is one of the world’s largest flower gardens and it features numerous flowers arranged in different shapes and patterns, one of the most famous is the A380 airbus, beautiful penguins, horses and teddy bear, and the path with the heart-shaped decorations.
There is also a floral castle, and several different themed areas. This is a great place specially for families with children. The only things we didn’t like much about this place were the limited and expensive food options available.
Like the Global Village, the best way to get there is by taxi. You can also get packages with tickets and transportation included.
Where to Stay in Dubai for a 3-Day Itinerary
If you just have three days in Dubai, we recommend staying somewhere as close as possible to most attractions.
Distances may seem short on the map, but it can take an hour or more to go from Palm Jumeirah to Dubai Mall, depending on the traffic.
If you plan on using public transportation, we recommend staying as close as possible to a metro station. A 15-minute walk to the station might not sound like a big deal, but in the scorching Dubai heat, it won’t be a pleasant stroll.
With that said, here are the areas we recommend staying in:
Dubai Marina
We stayed here on our first visit to Dubai. Our accommodation was a 10-minute walk to the metro station. It was convenient at night because it was close to many dining options.
- Regency Luxury Suites ($): we stayed here during our first stay in Dubai and we absolutely recommend. They upgraded us to a one-bedroom apartment and we had a nice view of Dubai Marina.
- Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina by IHG ($$): an upscale, modern hotel located in the heart of Dubai Marina, right next to Dubai Marina Mall and only a 6-minute walk to the DMCC Metro Station.
Dubai Downtown
Close to Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa. This is probably one of the best and most central locations, but a bit more expensive.
- Leva Hotel and Suites ($): luxury affordable suites and apartments close to Dubai Downtown and only a seven-minute walk to the metro station.
- Sofitel Dubai Downtown ($$): beautiful mid-range 5-star hotel with a pool only a three-minute walk to the metro station and right next to Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountain.
- Palace Downtown ($$$): one of the most beautiful hotels close to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain. It features rooms with balconies with direct obstructed views to Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain show. Also, it has a super direct and easy access on foot to this whole beautiful area, it’s only a 5-minute walk to Dubai Mall.
Near the Museum of the Future
The area close to the Museum of the Future has some great and more affordable hotels. Make sure to choose one right next to the metro line. We stayed here one time and was a great option.
- Ibis World Trade Centre ($): this is a great affordable option. The rooms are simple, but modern, comfortable and clean, and the building is super modern and beautiful, and everything feels super luxury. We stayed here during one of our stays in Dubai, and we just loved it. Specially the included buffet breakfast, with so many delicious and high-quality options. One of the best breakfast we had in an hotel. Additionally, it is right close to the Metro station and with a nice view to the Museum of the Future.
- Jumeirah Emirates Towers Dubai ($$): an award-winning hotel with direct access to the Emirates Towers Metro and to the Museum of the Future.
- Jumeirah Living World Trade Centre Dubai ($$$): a 5-star luxury hotel with all the amenities you might need: rooftop pool, well-equipped gym, private spa baths, and kitchen.
Business Bay
It’s cose to Downtown but usually more affordable, and well-connected by metro. Make sure you choose a place close to the metro. This area has super luxury hotels for a very reasonable price, but often a bit far from the metro.
- City Premiere Hotel Apartments ($): the Business Bay metro station is only 2-minute walk away and Burj Khalifa while Dubai Mall is a 5-minute drive from the hotel. It also features an outdoor swimming pool.
- Taj Dubai ($$): luxurious 5-star hotel with outdoor pool, spa and wellness center and panoramic views to Burj Khalifa. It provides a free shuttle bus to Dubai Downtown area and Dubai Mall.
Bur Dubai and Deira
If you’re on a budget, you’ll find that accommodation further north, especially in Deira and Bur Dubai, is cheaper. However, this will also add extra time to your journeys. If you choose to stay there, opt for a place close to the Red Metro Line because it connects directly to most major attractions and makes getting around much easier.
- Grayton Hotel by Blazon Hotels ($$): a nice 4-star hotel close to the Burjurman Metro Station in Bur Dubai.
- Majestic Premier Hotel Burdubai ($): this 4-star hotel is only a 8-minute walk to Burjuman Metro Station.
What about Palm Jumeirah?
Finally, for a short stay in Dubai, we recommend avoiding Palm Jumeirah — not because it’s not a good area, but because it will always take extra time to get out of the Palm to reach other attractions. If you plan on using public transportation, this is also not the most convenient option.
Wrapping Up
These were our recommendations for how to spend three days in Dubai based on our personal experiences. We hope this helps you better plan your stay in Dubai. The suggested itinerary may also be adapted if you only have two days, which is perfect for some layover programs.
If you’re looking for more different activities or plan on spending more time in Dubai, we recommend checking out our 7-day itinerary:
Finally, if going on a Desert Tour is on your bucket list, we recommend reading our guide with all the details you need:
Finally, you can use our links to book accommodation and activities and find cheap flights. You won’t pay more and you’ll be supporting our work.
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