A Complete 7 Days Itinerary for Adventure and Discovery in Dubai
Welcome to Dubai, Your Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary Through a City of Marvels!
Dubai is a bright and exciting city on the Arabian Peninsula, right by the beautiful waters of the Persian Gulf. This amazing city has everything, from its hot summers and impressive skyline to wide, rolling desert dunes. It’s a place where ancient desert culture meets modern luxury, creating a truly unique destination.
If you’re planning a trip here, you might be wondering how to make your 7-day visit unforgettable. This Dubai 7-day itinerary will guide you through Dubai’s highlights, including its skyscrapers, stunning architecture, traditional neighborhoods, shopping spots, desert tours, and plenty of chances to relax in the sunshine.
Still, deciding how to plan your Dubai adventure? Here’s how we recommend you spend your 7-day itinerary for the best experience possible.
Day 1
Jumeirah Beach: Relax, unwind, and get to know one of Dubai’s modern beachfront districts. There’s no need to rush into sightseeing on your first day if you’re staying in one of Dubai’s luxury beachfront hotels. Many hotels have their own amazing resort facilities, or you can walk to one of many beachfront areas. Many first-time visitors consider JBR an excellent starting point. Take a walk over to the ultra-modern Bluewaters Island to dine and marvel at the Dubai skyline along Jumeirah Beach, and perhaps add in a flight on Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel, for spectacular city views. The JBR area offers many different activities along the beach, ranging from inflatable water parks, splash pads, jet ski and flyboarding, and Flying Cup sky-high dining. You could easily spend an entire day here, before moving on to dinner in the Dubai Marina area or a dinner cruise. Is this not how you expected to spend your first day in Dubai? There is always an alternative. Lar Mer La Mer is another ultra-modern beachfront area of the city to consider for your first day in Dubai.
Lar Mer: An eclectic mix of palm-tree-lined walkways, retail, dining, and entertainment options. There’s even a small water park on the premises. La Mer, which is as beautiful at night as it is during the day, is a trendy new addition for families and singles alike to enjoy Dubai’s modern vibes. If you don’t want to spend your entire day at the beach, La Mer puts you close to the Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai’s largest mosque, which offers daily tours to the public, and the Etihad Museum, which tells the past of the country’s unification in 1971. The place offers many retail stores, stylish restaurants, and cafes. Now, when you are done with your first day, have some rest before some pretty busy action-packed days ahead!
Day 2
Downtown Dubai: After a slow first day in Dubai, it is finally time to dive into the craziest part of Dubai–Downtown Dubai. This will probably be one of the busiest places during your one week in Dubai. There are several main attractions in this area, so plan a full day in this area.
Dubai Mall: Dubai Mall Start your day in the Dubai Mall, the biggest mall in the world with more than 1200 fashion, food, and entertainment options.
Burj Khalifa: It would be difficult to plan a trip to Dubai without including the city’s most recognizable structure — the world’s tallest building! You may visit the building’s observation deck on the 124th and 125th floors with additional packages take you to the 148th floor, as well as dine at a restaurant and lounge on Level 122. The Burj Khalifa is one aspect of your Dubai trip that you must reserve ahead of time. The price of tickets at the door is expensive, and they frequently sell out. Allow at least 2 hours for queuing and exploring the area. It’s worth noting that sunset and sunrise slots which are available exclusively on weekends, are more expensive.
Dubai Fountain: When you are done being at the top of the world’s tallest building, and spent a lot of time indoors, it is now time to get outside and spend some time in the fresh air. The Dubai Fountain spot is one of the most popular free things to do in Dubai and also a perfect place to end your day. Watch the magnificently coordinated light and sound spectacle on Burj Lake, sitting at the foot of Burj Khalifa, starting at 6:00 PM nightly and every half hour thereafter. The Burj Khalifa also lights up for half-hourly displays later in the evening.
Day 3
Old Dubai: The third day is all about the traditional Dubai together with some more amazing attractions. Your third day of real sightseeing needs to go back to the grassroots of what Dubai City is about; a busy trading port city based around Dubai Creek. Start your day by admiring the sights from the Dubai Frame.
Dubai Frame: It’s pretty much what it says — it’s a huge picture frame! Coming into the city from the airport, one of the first tourist attractions you’ll see. You can buy your tickets right at the ticket counter, or book a guided tour in advance. You can get to the top of the 150-meter-high structure with 48 stories and walk across the top. In one direction, the see-through floored sky deck offers spectacular views of Old Dubai, Dubai Creek, Sharjah, and beyond, while in the other, the futuristic towers of Downtown Dubai. If you need a rest, after a tiring day you can take some time and relax at Zabeel Park.
Zabeel Park: The park is very neat, clean, and lush. If you are visiting with kids, this will be a perfect place as there are some playgrounds.
Al Fahidi: It is Dubai’s oldest neighborhood, a maze of narrow laneways dating back to the 19th century. The neighborhood has been preserved so that the city’s history is not lost forever beneath the vast towers. The majority of the classic sandy-colored low-rise structures have been converted into galleries, museums, tiny eateries, and cafes. The Dubai Museum is located in this neighborhood and is housed within the Al Faihi Fort, which was built in 1787. For only 3 AED, you should definitely pay a visit to learn more about the country’s Bedouin past and Dubai’s pre-oil era. There are other Dubai museums to be found within the laneways, including the Coffee Museum, if you are a coffee lover. You’ve probably worked up an appetite by now, so if you haven’t stopped for lunch at Al Faihidi’s historical neighborhood, it’s time to try one of the many eateries in this waterfront development of Al Seef. It’s located across the street, next to the Al Faihidi Marine Transport Station, and seamlessly blends old and new. You’ll be able to shop in Al Seef because it’s built up like a traditional souk. Children could like visiting the Museum of Illusions or taking photos in the instagrammable laneways.
Day 4
The Palm: Whether you’re in Dubai for a week or just a day, make sure to include the sites in and surrounding Palm Jumeirah in your itinerary. After all, this man-made island, shaped like a big palm tree with a crescent on top, is one of the world’s most impressive engineering achievements. You can go on a heart-pounding skydiving adventure or a helicopter flight to see the island in all of its glory. If this is out of your price range, take a monorail trip from Gateway Station or drive around the area’s breathtaking scenery; all are equally excellent. Our preference is the monorail ride because it will give you a better understanding of how the palm functions and give you a better picture of the city. One of the must-see attractions is Atlantis Aquaventure, which is located within the imperial-style resort of Atlantis, The Palm. Aquaventure Water Park, Dolphin Bay, Sea Lion Point, and the Lost Chambers Aquarium, which is styled after the famous lost city of Atlantis, are just a few of the exciting and interesting aspects. Also, don’t miss the beautiful Boardwalk seaside promenade.
Burj Al Arab: A short drive from Atlantis will take you to Burj Al Arab, one of Dubai’s most famous monuments and the world’s only seven-star hotel. You may make an entrance to this luxury hotel by reserving a seat at one of its dining locations while taking some stunning photographs against its backdrop. Dhow Dinner Cruise Finally, head to Dubai Marina to cap off your day with a memorable supper cruise aboard a traditional dhow. Dubai Marina is one of Dubai’s highlights, with ultra-modern architecture adorning the area. And this dhow trip will provide you with an unrivaled vantage position from which to see it all in. On board, there’s also terrific food and live entertainment. As these attractions for the day are not within walking distance it’s best to take the metro or hire a cab.
Day 5
Dubai Safari: Sand is one thing Dubai does exceptionally well and in large amounts. So why not spend your fifth day in Dubai going on a desert safari? There are a number of tour operators with campers established up in the dunes close outside of town, as well as a few in the protected Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. A typical desert safari trip will begin with city pickups, followed by a drive into the dunes on a 4×4 vehicle, with some dune bashing along the way, before an array of sand sports such as quad bikes, fat bikes, sandboarding, camel rides, henna painting, and shisha, followed by a communal BBQ dinner. If you’re more interested in seeing desert wildlife than sand sports, go for Platinum Heritage’s premium alternatives, which are a little more expensive but offer smaller groups and a more authentic desert experience.
Day 6
The second last day in Dubai provides three options. Are you traveling to Dubai during the winter months without kids? Then the first option is for you. This option includes visiting Dubai Miracle Garden and Global Village.
Dubai Miracle Garden: Dubai Miracle Garden This 72,000-square-meter botanical wonderland is located in the heart of Dubai and is packed with millions of flowers and plants organized in a dizzying assortment of shapes, patterns, and themes. In truth, this garden is a veritable wonder in the middle of the desert, and it lives up to its name.
Global Village:Global Village Global Village is unlike any other Dubai tourist
destination! Thanks to its approximately 30 pavilions representing different parts of the world, it’s likely the only site where you’ll get to experience the cultures, cuisines, and other delicacies of about 80 countries under one roof. It’s at its peak during the Dubai Shopping Festival, which runs from December to January. If you are visiting in the hotter season, then consider visiting Ski Dubai and XLine Dubai for some cool experiences.
Ski Dubai: Ski Dubai, with its very cool ambiance that is maintained at a constant -4 degree Celsius throughout the year, this is one of Dubai’s most popular summer attractions. You will be able to participate in all kinds of winter and snow activities here, from skiing and snowboarding to tobogganing and a snow bullet ride.
Xline Dubai: Xline Dubai is ideal for adrenaline enthusiasts looking for something new to do on their Dubai vacation. The benefit is that this zipline journey which begins at JBR’s Amwaj Tower and ends at Dubai Marina Mall, gives you the opportunity to ride the world’s longest and fastest urban zipline. If you are travelling with kids, then you have got no other choice than the third option. If you’re visiting Dubai for the theme parks, don’t miss Riverland Dubai, the region’s first integrated resort with two hotel options, three parks, a water park, and an elite eating and retail destination. Here is our list of the main points of interest to visit.
Motiongate Dubai: Motiongate Dubai is a Hollywood-themed park and the largest of its kind in the region, with attractions based on Columbia Pictures, Dreamworks Animation, and Lionsgate, the world’s three most famous film studios. Over 40 exhilarating movie-themed rides, games, and entertainment are spread over five zones.
Bollywood Parks: Bollywood Parks Dubai Bollywood Parks is a wonderful delight for
Hindi film fans, as the title suggests. It is divided into five distinct zones, each of which features rides and attractions inspired by some of Bollywood’s most beloved films, including Sholay, Lagaan, Don, Krrish, Rock On, and Dabangg.
Legoland Dubai: Legoland Dubai includes over 60 fun-filled rides and engaging games placed in its six fantastic zones, which are specifically created for families with children aged 2 to 12.
Legoland Waterpark: Legoland Waterpark is a one-of-a-kind water park in the UAE is located just adjacent to LEGOLAND Dubai. The park’s main attraction is its 20+ rides and slides, which include the Joker Soaker, Splash Out, LEGO Slide Racers, and Build-A-Boat, to name a few.
Day 7
Abu Dhabi: Make your last day in Dubai the most memorable with a trip to the UAE, because no trip to Dubai is complete without seeing the Capital, Abu Dhabi. You can easily take a full-day trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai to see all of the city’s highlights. You can get to Abu Dhabi on your own time by taking public transportation, but if that is too much for you, you can choose an arranged day excursion to the neighboring emirate. A luxury bus transports you from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, where you may see all of the city’s highlights. In Abu Dhabi, you may visit the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi
Museum, the Ferrari World amusement park, or stroll along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, admiring the many high skyscrapers, fancy sports vehicles passing by, and the white beach. Now, when you are done visiting the most popular places in Dubai, prepare for your journey
back to the hotel for your last night in the beautiful Emirates and catch your flight back home.
In the end of the article, This 7 Days Itinerary offers an incredible way to explore Dubai, showcasing its unique blend of adventure, culture, and relaxation. Each day brings new experiences, from the iconic sights in Downtown Dubai to the stunning views of Palm Jumeirah and the historical charm of Old Dubai.
Whether you’re enjoying a day at Jumeirah Beach, taking a thrilling desert safari, or dining at world-class restaurants, this 7 day itinerary ensures you won’t miss any of the city’s highlights. As you wrap up your trip, remember that this itinerary is just the beginning of your Dubai adventure, with many more wonders to discover on future visits.
