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Places to Visit in Dubai: Complete Guide

Team AckoDec 16, 2024

If you want to experience the magical and adventurous "Arabian Nights," you don’t have to pull an Aladdin and go in search of a genie. You can snuggle into the warm embrace of Middle Eastern hospitality and everything else the modern Arab world has to offer in Dubai! There are plenty of places to visit in Dubai that can satisfy everyone with varying budgets.

Dubai is a shopper’s paradise, and the luxury malls are some of the best places to visit in Dubai. However, the city is not merely a shopping destination. Dubai definitely offers something for everyone, whether you are travelling as a family or want to experience the glitz and glamour of this beautiful city on your own.

Let’s take a deep dive and look at our picks for Dubai tourist places.

Contents

Famous tourist places to visit in Dubai

Observatin Decks, Burj Khalifa

A trip to Dubai is considered incomplete without visiting the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. It is, without a doubt, one of the best places to visit in Dubai. The views from "At the Top" observation decks are breathtaking. A viewing deck is on the 124th, 125th, and 148th floors. If you want to skip the line, you can buy tickets online. Just before sunset is the best time to see Dubai's skyline. From this spot, you can also see the famous Dubai Fountain all lit up.

Timing: At The Top Sky (Level 148 +125 + 124)
Non-prime hours: 7 pm to 10 pm
Prime hours: 12 pm to 6 pm At The Top (125 + 124)
Non-prime hours: 8 am to 3.30 pm, 7 pm to 12 am
Prime hours: 4 pm to 6.30 pm

Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah is one of the Dubai attractions. To begin with, this beautiful, palm tree-shaped collection of islands is completely man-made! There are several attractions to be enjoyed in this archipelago, including several luxury hotels, high-end restaurants with great views and delicious cuisine, and hard-to-forget shopping experiences, making it one of the most attractive tourist places in Dubai.

Timing: The islands can be accessed anytime, but specific activities/shops/restaurants have their own operational timings.
Pro tip: If you want to make your trip a little more fancy, you can rent a yacht and sail around Palm Jumeirah. For the more daring, speedboat tours and skydiving are available.

Burj Al Arab

What sets this hotel apart from any other luxury hotel? One thing that makes it stand out is that the inside is decorated with 24-carat gold. It also has a lot of high-end dining options, such as the Ristorante L'Olivo at Al Mahara, which is an underwater restaurant and aquarium. It also offers high-class experiences with its fleet of luxury cars and helipads that are always ready to go. A stay at the hotel can begin at AED 4500 during the off-season and go up to AED 8000 during the peak tourist season. If you can not afford to stay at the Burj Al Arab, you can take the "Inside Burj Al Arab" tour instead. This tour shows you everything that makes this hotel so special, making it one of the best place to visit in Dubai.

Activity duration: The Inside Al Arab tour lasts for 90 minutes

Dubai Frame

The Dubai Frame is an iconic structure located in Zabeel Park. It offers stunning views of Old Dubai and its modern counterpart. It is considered to be the world’s largest frame with a height of 150 metres and a width of 95 metres. The frame also serves as a museum and takes you through Dubai’s past, present, and future. The SkyDeck offers a 360-degree view of Dubai. Here you can see the elegance and charm of Old Dubai to the north and the modern marvels of the city, such as its skyscrapers and malls, to the south. This coming together of magnificent views and the history of the city makes Dubai Frame one of the top places to visit in Dubai.

Timing: 9 am to 9 pm, all days of the week
Pro tip: Visit the Dubai Frame during the day when you can get truly unforgettable views of both Old and New Dubai. Sunset is another great option if you can’t make it during the day.

Jumeirah Mosque

The Jumeirah Mosque is one of the top places to visit in Dubai for tourists who love to take a deep dive into the religious and cultural ethos of the Emirates. The mosque was opened for worship in 1979 and can accommodate 1500 worshippers. The "Open Doors, Open Minds" programme conducted here by the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding allows visitors to get a glimpse of the customs and traditions practised at the mosque. You can also interact with a guide, who will be able to answer any questions you may have. You can also opt for a private visit to the mosque, which will be tailored to your needs. You must remember to dress modestly when visiting the mosque. Women are requested to bring their own head coverings/scarves.

Timing: 10 am to 2 pm, except Fridays. No prior booking is required for a public visit.

Dubai Marina

The Dubai Marina itself is a luxury haunt for the rich and is one of the best places to go in Dubai. It offers a wide range of luxury shopping and cafe experiences for travellers. It also offers great views of the city. You can hit the popular beaches here, such as Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina Beach, or JBR Beach, and soak up the sun.

You can also indulge in some shopping at the Dubai Marina Mall. It is also one of the best food places in Dubai due to the presence of many waterfront restaurants and cafes. For the adventurous, a zipline from the marina to the Dubai Marina Mall is something you may want to check out. If yachts aren’t your thing, speedboat rides and boat tours are also available from the marina. Water taxis are also available if you need another way to get around the marina and see what it has to offer. You can also choose to stay at the Dubai Marina, as there are plenty of hotels to choose from in this locality.

Activity duration: 3 to 5 hours
Pro tip: The sunset is one of the best times to visit the Dubai Marina for a truly spectacular view of the Persian Gulf.

Ain Dubai

There are many places in Dubai that offer gorgeous views of the city’s magnificent landscape and skyline. But what Ain Dubai offers is a bit more special. Let us explain why. Considered to be the "World’s Largest and Tallest Observation Wheel", it offers an unmatched vantage point from a height of 250m. Located on Bluewater Island, it is considered to be double the size of the famous London Eye, and offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the city. A single revolution of the wheel takes about 40 minutes to complete, and leaves you with ample time to take in the beauty of the views laid out before you. There are 48 air-conditioned cabins which can accommodate about 40 people per cabin. You get stunning views of iconic structures and places across Dubai, including the Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, the Arabian Gulf and Burj Khalifa, making Ain Dubai one of the best tourist places in Dubai for a visit. This observation wheel remains open day and night, so you can choose the best time to visit depending on what view you want to see the most.

Ain Dubai offers three different cabin options for visitors: observatory cabins, social cabins and private cabins. The observatory cabins offer a 38-minute ride, and family-friendly options are also available. You will be able to access the Ain Dubai Seaview Lounge and its tasty dining options if you opt for the social cabin. If you want a more luxurious private affair, you can book private cabins and take in the views with your friends and family in a more intimate manner, along with a delicious dining experience. Ain Dubai is also a great destination for birthday parties, proposals, and other events you want to celebrate with your loved ones while in Dubai. This attraction is open to guests of all ages, but those who are below 16 should be accompanied by an adult who is over 21 years old.

Timing:
- 10 am to 9 pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- 12 pm to 9 pm, Thursday to Saturday
Pro tip: It is advised that you get to Ain Dubai 30 to 60 minutes before you are scheduled to board the pods to complete the entry process, etc. You may have to use the toilet beforehand, as the cabins themselves aren’t equipped with restrooms.

Places to visit in Dubai with family

Global Village

The Global Village is one of the best places to visit in Dubai with family. As the name suggests, this grand tourist attraction consists of pavilions from 80+ countries under one huge roof, as it is set up over a 17,200,000 sq ft area. This versatile attraction can keep you and your family entertained with a multitude of cultural shows and stunt performances that showcase the authentic traditions of the countries represented here. You can also pick up genuine knick-knacks from across the world as souvenirs for yourself and your friends back home. It is one of the best food places in Dubai, as it is home to over 300+ eateries, which can satisfy even the most hard-to-please palate. The Global Village usually starts operations in the month of October and comes to a close in April.

Timing:
- 4 pm to 12 am, Saturday to Wednesday
- 4 pm to 1 am, Thursday to Friday
Mondays - Only ladies and families are allowed entry

Desert Safari

If you really want to take your family on an adventure of a lifetime, a desert safari will be the perfect thing to do in Dubai. Camel riding, quad biking, and sandboarding are some fun activities you can take your family on when you go on a desert safari. You can also choose to go on an early morning, evening, or overnight safari. You will also be offered hospitality in terms of delicious Arabic cuisine, beverages, fire shows, and performances by traditional performers and belly dancers, depending on the safari you choose, making it one of the most visited Dubai attractions.

Activity duration: 4 to 9 hours
Pro tip: You may have to set aside a large chunk of your day for this activity, so keep this in mind when making your itinerary.

Ski Dubai

If you happen to be travelling to Dubai, Ski Dubai is a destination you should not miss. Located in the Dubai Mall, this snow-filled wonderland in the middle of the desert offers both skiing and snowboarding lessons. The lessons are offered to groups and individuals, including children between the ages of 3 and 13 for skiing and 8 and 13 for snowboarding, by qualified instructors. The snow-clad slope can be accessed by experienced skiers and snowboarders. If you don't want to ski but just want to play in the snow, the Snow Park offers rides and cool activities such as Zorb Ball, bobsled, bumper cars, and a sliding hill, to name a few, which will leave you feeling refreshed.

A great attraction for kids is the Penguin Encounters, an experience which allows them to get up close and personal with Gentoo and King Penguins, making Ski Dubai one of the best places to visit in Dubai for kids. What if you just want to escape the Dubai heat? You can be a couch potato and watch a movie all cosy and huddled up in the freezing temperatures with a tub of popcorn, piping hot chocolate and a heater. Sounds cool, right? Ski Dubai offers the Snow Cinema experience, which can check all these boxes for you! Children over the age of 2 are allowed entry. The gear required for activities will be provided by Ski Dubai. You would have to arrive 40 minutes prior to most of the activities.

Timing:
- 10 am to 11 pm, Monday to Thursday
- 10 am to 12 am, Friday
- 9 am to 12 am, Saturday and Sunday

The Green Planet

Is it possible for a rainforest and its inhabitants to thrive and flourish in the middle of a desert? If you thought that was an absolutely impossible and even outlandish notion, The Green Planet Dubai is here to prove you wrong. Nestled inside a biodome, the tropical rainforest is home to more than 3,000 animals and plants. This unique destination offers experiences that the animal and nature lovers in you cannot resist. You can choose to snorkel with a thousand piranhas while they devour their food. If you aren’t brave enough for that experience yet, you can just chill with birds or meet tame cuties, the sloths, and learn more about them and their natural habitats.

The Green Planet is also home to reptiles like snakes, including the anaconda, geckos, and lizards, and you meet these critters through the Reptile Encounters experience. The Green Planet allows you to experience the nocturnal happenings of a rainforest first-hand through their Creature of the Night attraction. All the experiences this indoor rainforest offers are enough to catapult it into one of the best places to go in Dubai.

Timing:
- 11 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday
- 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday

Dubai Butterfly Garden

One of the unique places to visit in Dubai is home to over 15,000 butterflies. The Dubai Butterfly Garden, located close to the Miracle Garden, is home to more than 50 beautiful butterfly species of every size and colour. The indoor and outdoor gardens, with their abundant lush greenery, are temperature-controlled and make for a pleasant visit, especially given Dubai’s soaring temperatures. This also allows the Dubai Butterfly Garden to be operational throughout the year, unlike the Miracle Garden, which we will get to later in this article. So, even if you miss the opportunity to visit the Miracle Garden, you can still have a pretty pleasant experience at the Dubai Butterfly Garden.

The garden has an educational area where one gets to see the entire life cycle of these pretty creatures and learn more about their natural habits too. The garden is divided into 4 zones and is known as the "World’s Largest Covered Butterfly Garden." Besides the butterfly viewing experience, the garden is also home to birds, a tranquil koi pond, a mini pond, a photo booth, a butterfly museum, and a movie theatre for kids, which showcases educational movies about butterflies as well as family-friendly movies from Disney. Their souvenir shop is also filled with lovely butterfly-themed goodies, which are hard to resist. This is truly one of the great family-friendly places to visit in Dubai.

Timing: 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday to Friday

Best places to visit for shopping in Dubai

The Dubai Mall

"Shop till you drop" is a phrase that the Dubai Mall takes rather seriously. Considering the 1200 retail shops (in addition to the many restaurants serving delectable foods) located in the mall, it is genuinely one of the best shopping places in Dubai, if not the world.

You can happily spend an entire day at the Dubai Mall as it not only offers luxury shopping experiences but is also home to entertaining activities that will keep you busy. You can visit the VR Park, a mind-boggling augmented reality experience, or get in some play time at the Zabeel Sports District, which offers a huge variety of sports activities to choose from. There are plenty of things for kids to do here as well to stop them from becoming fussy while you are busy filling up your shopping bags. You can take the kids to see the Dubai Dino or the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, which is one of Dubai's best places for kids.

Timing: 10 am to 12 am, all days of the week
Pro tip: There’s a lot of walking to be done here if you want to cover the entire mall, so remember to wear comfortable shoes!

Mall of the Emirates

The Mall of the Emirates occupies a spot among the top-ranking places to visit in Dubai for shopping. There is plenty to see and do here. There are over 600+ stores within the mall. It is home to Ski Dubai, one of the more unique places to visit in Dubai. It is an indoor skiing facility that offers a range of skiing-related activities for kids and adults. The mall itself is a splendid sight to behold, with its domed interiors allowing sunlight to filter in, which elevates the shopping experience.

Timing: 10 am to 11 pm, all days of the week

Dragon Mart

Dubai, without a single shred of doubt, is a shopper’s paradise. Where else can you find a huge mall that is shaped like a dragon and is home to the largest trading centres for Chinese goods outside of mainland China? Dragon Mart is a treasure trove of all kinds of fascinating and useful goods originating from China. You can find close to 4,000 shops selling wares such as electronics, household appliances, clothing, beauty products, and furniture.

Dragon Mart offers a very affordable yet satisfying shopping experience for the thrifty shopaholic in you. You can strike up a bargain with the vendors and score great deals on any items that have caught your fancy. It just goes to show that Dubai really does offer plenty for travellers in every budget range, in every department. That being said, if you want a slightly more upscale experience, Dragon Mart 2, the extension of the original mall, will have offerings that will please you. It consists of 1,100 shops, 2 hotels, and a multiplex. Dragon Mart 2 also offers indoor and outdoor dining experiences. Both the marts are located inside the International City.

Timing:
- 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday To Thursday
- 10 am to 11 pm, Friday
- 12 pm to 12 am, Saturday

Spice Souk

Located in Deira, the Dubai Spice Souk perfectly displays all the charms of the Arab world. It is one of the Dubai travel places you must not miss. If you want to pick up affordable yet elegant souvenirs, aromatic perfumes, and a variety of spices and herbs synonymous with Arab and Asian cuisine, this souk is the place for you. Also known as the Old Souk, it is littered with endless stalls that are filled with spices that will challenge the chef in you to whip up a culinary feast fit for royalty when you head back home with your purchases!

Activity duration: 1 to 3 hours
Pro tip: Prices can be cheaper if you buy products in bulk and always bargain with the vendors to get a good deal, even if you are making smaller purchases.

Gold Souk

Once you are done with the Spice Souk, you can head on over to one of Dubai’s famous places to visit, the Gold Souk. It is located just a stone’s throw away from the Spice Souk. You really don’t need to be a jewellery addict to give this place a try. But if you do love sparkling accessories made with precious metals like silver, platinum, and gold, there is really no way you can come away empty-handed from here. You can get anything from delicate rings to massive pieces of chunky jewellery encrusted with precious gems here. It is absolutely okay to put your bargaining skills to the test with merchants and get a decent discount on the items you have been eyeing. And you don’t have to worry about the quality of the jewellery, as the government authorities regulate the items sold here.

Activity duration: 1 to 3 hours
Pro tip: It is very easy to get carried away here, so ensure you have a budget in mind before you start purchasing and stick to it!

Romantic places to visit in Dubai

The Dubai Fountain

The Dubai Fountain

The Dubai Fountain is a spectacular destination if you are travelling as a couple to Dubai. This gem is located in Downtown Dubai and can be listed as one of the most romantic places for couples in Dubai, as lovely performances take place here that utilise the water from the fountain and lights and are set to a fantastic selection of music from around the world. There are many ways to enjoy the show, as the fountain is located conveniently between the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa. You can book a table at restaurants within the mall that offer a great view of the fountain, or you can pick experiences such as the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride or the Dubai Fountain Broadwalk to get a closer, more intimate look at the performances with your significant other. The observation decks at Burj Khalifa also offer a great view of shows.

Timing: Every half hour from 6 pm to 11 pm, all days of the week

Hot Air Balloon

Aladdin had the magic carpet for Jasmine to cruise over the desert. While there are no real-life magic carpets available at the moment to impress your loved one with, Dubai can offer a one-of-a-kind solution to fulfil this fantasy! Hot air balloon rides are a breathtaking way to capture the beauty of the desert. Take in the sunrise and get a great view of the wildlife below. You can also add to the experience with activities such as in-flight falcon shows, Land Rover rides, camel rides, and a Bedouin breakfast buffet. This experience may be on the expensive side, but it is certainly worth every penny as you will make great memories with your partner.

Activity duration: 4 to 6 hours

Miracle Garden

The Miracle Garden is the “World’s Largest Natural Flower Garden'' and one of the most visited Dubai tourist places, especially if you love nature and art. The flowers are used creatively to display a whole range of attractions that will leave you awestruck. Some of the most well-known attractions that are decked out with pretty blooms here are the Floral Clock, Teddy Bear, Sunflower Field, Emirates A380, Smurfs Village, and Lake Park. And the fun doesn’t stop there. The Flower Parade, Zumba, and yoga sessions held at the garden offer incredible scenic opportunities to enjoy everything that the Miracle Garden has to offer. Food stalls are also available (you aren’t allowed to get your food inside) if you need to replenish your energy levels to explore the wondrous 7,80,000 sq ft area.

The Miracle Garden opens its doors to the public, usually from October to April when the weather allows for a more pleasant experience. So if you want to set a lovey-dovey tone for your vacation in Dubai, a trip to the Miracle Garden, one of the most romantic places to visit in Dubai, is an absolute must, according to us!

Timing:
- 9 am to 9 pm on weekdays (Monday to Friday)
- 9 am to 11 pm on weekends
Pro tip: What makes the Miracle Garden one of the top attractions in Dubai is the sunset views. Post 4 pm is a great time to visit the Miracle Garden.

Places to visit in Dubai at night

Dubai Creek

The scenic waters of Dubai Creek come alive in the evening, making it one of the best places to visit in Dubai at night. The best way to explore this beautiful location in Old Dubai is via a traditional Abra ride or a Dhow cruise. You can have dinner on the dhow cruise, which takes you on a leisurely trip around the creek while you soak in the magnificence of Dubai at night.

Activity duration: 4 hours
Pro tip: Dhow cruises are also available at the Dubai Marina.

Also Read: Dubai Creek Tower

Dubai Garden Glow

A mesmerising glow-in-the-dark experience awaits you at the Dubai Garden Glow. This theme park is divided into five parks, with the Glow Park being the most popular at night. A wide variety of imaginative and creative artworks come alive in the evening hours after they are lit up using millions of energy-saving lights. The Dinosaur Park, with its 120 animatronic dinosaurs, can be a delight to both kids and adults. The other 3 parks are Ice Park, Magic Park, and Art Park.

Timing:
- 5 pm to 11 pm, Sunday to Friday
- 5 pm to 12 pm, Saturday & National Holidays

Also Read: Best time to visit Duabi

Best places to visit in Dubai with friends

Skydive Dubai

If you and your friends are thrill-seekers, skydiving, offered by Skydive Dubai, is gaining popularity and is one of the Dubai attractions. It doesn’t matter if you and your buddies have never taken the plunge. Your skydiving instructor at Skydive Dubai will take you through everything you need to know and get you set for the dive. There are separate programmes for experienced skydivers as well. You can choose to float over either the Palm Jumeirah or the desert at 13,000 feet with your friends. Trust us, this is something you guys will be talking about for many years after you visit Dubai.

Activity duration: 4 hours

Dubai Opera

If you want to enrich your trip to Dubai with more experiences centred around arts and culture, the Dubai Opera is just the thing for you. This opera house has been operational since 2016 and has played host to opera, ballet, plays, and a whole host of other performances over the years. If you just want to take in the opera house and its history, guided tours are also offered. It also has a rooftop restaurant that offers a view of the Burj Khalifa.

If you want to attend one of the performances, please remember to dress appropriately for the occasion, even though the Dubai Opera does not enforce a dress code. You can purchase tickets for shows via the opera house’s ticketing website or in person at its box office. The opera house can cancel your ticket if purchased from an unauthorised entity.

Timing: Depends on the show you want to watch at the Dubai Opera.

Must-visit places in Dubai for kids

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Located inside the Dubai Mall, this tourist treasure is Dubai’s must visit place for your kids. The Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world, with over 33,000 aquatic creatures available for your young ones to "ooh and aah" at! You can get up close and personal with marine creatures when you take a leisurely walk through the 48-metre-long tunnel. It delivers a spectacular view of the marine marvels, including the sand tiger sharks, cruising above and around you. The zoo is home to penguins, otters, and loads of other animals that your children will get a kick out of, making the Dubai Aquarium one of the best places to visit in Dubai for kids.

Timing:
- 10 am to 11 pm, Weekdays
- 10 am to 12 am, Weekends
Pro tip: You can also take your children to the Dubai Safari Park, which is home to 3,000 animals and 250 species. The park is divided into 5 zones and can offer a delightful and adventurous experience for the little ones. A petting zoo is also available to children, where they can interact with cute critters!

Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

If your child is a water baby, the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark at The Palm will be his or her best places in Dubai! The Splasher’s Kids Play Area is specially designed for younger children, with a variety of water adventures that will fill them with glee. The "aquaventures" await them, include Splashers Lagoon and Cove, Splashers Island and Splashers Mountain. There are over 105 slides, adventures, and experiences to select from at this waterpark, making it one of the must-visit theme parks in Dubai. It surely deserves the title of the world’s largest waterpark and is one of the top attractions in Dubai. Besides offering record-breaking slides, the waterpark also gives you the super cool opportunity to interact with the cute and lovely Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and sea lions. It is to be noted that certain rides come with a height restriction of 1.2 m or above. Children have to be 13 years of age or older to enter the waterpark if they are not accompanied by an adult.

Timing: 9.30 am to 6.00 pm, all days of the week

Dolphin Bay

Dolphin Bay, located in Atlantis, The Palm, is one of Dubai's famous places that will provide you and your children with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and interact with the beautiful and intelligent bottlenose dolphins. The Dolphin Bay offers 3 dolphin experiences: Dolphin Dip and Play, Dolphin Swim and Explore, and Dolphin Meet and Greet. You can stand in the shallow waters with these playful mammals and get an educational experience with the Dip and Play experience. Or you can choose to go for a swim with your newly acquired dolphin buddies with the Swim and Explore package. If you have very young children who are unable to swim, then the Meet and Greet experience will be ideal for your young family.

Dolphin Bay comes with access to a private beach, where you can relax after your playdate with the dolphins, along with access to the Aquaventure Waterpark. You will also get a discount at the Lost Chamber Aquarium. So your entire day can be easily planned out if you want to visit Dolphin Bay, making it one of the best places to visit in Dubai with family. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult who is over 18 years of age. Children who are 2 and younger get free access.

Timing:9:30 am to 6:00 pm, all days of the week

Museum Of The Future

What if we told you that you could get a glimpse of what the future looks like RIGHT. NOW. The Museum of the Future is one of the must visit places in Dubai, especially for children! The museum provides immersive attractions that combine a movie theater-like experience with advancements in technology to weave a story of humanity’s future. It’s an experience that will leave you and your children excited for what is to come and understanding that the future is full of possibilities.

The museum is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the mind and the senses. Rest assured that your kids will leave it having fallen in love with science and with their eyes open to all the possibilities that the future has to offer.

Timing: 10 am to 6 pm, all days of the week
Pro tip: The Museum of the Future is an architectural spectacle, besides being one of the best places to visit in Dubai for kids. It consists of the green hill, building and void. The viewing deck on level two provides a special inner view of one of the most talked about features of the museum—the unique torus-shaped exterior, which has Arabic poetry written by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, inscribed all over it.

IMG Worlds Of Adventure

Want to go on a rescue mission with your favourite Marvel characters or help the Powerpuff Girls save the city from an evil robot? All this and more is possible at the IMG Worlds of Adventure. It is without a doubt one of the best theme parks in Dubai. This fully indoor, temperature-controlled amusement park consists of the following adventure zones: Marvel, Lost Valley, Cartoon Network, IMG Boulevard, The Haunted Hotel, Novo Cinemas, and IMG Kids Zone. The theme park has a number of exciting roller coasters, thrilling rides, and attractions based on popular characters from the Cartoon Network, Marvel Super Heroes, and dinosaurs. Some of the more popular rides are the Velociraptor, the Predator, Spider-Man Doc Ock’s Revenge, Thor Thunder Spin, Hulk Epsilon Base 3D and the Adventure Fortress. If you like chills and thrills, The Haunted Hotel serves up some terrific scares and horrifying ghouls, which will be right up your alley.

There are height restrictions in place for most rides, and this can vary from ride to ride and whether a child is accompanied by an adult, etc. So, do check this beforehand to avoid any disappointment. Besides the rides and attractions, you can also watch movies, shop and eat. You also get to "Meet & Greet" some of your favourite Marvel Super Heroes, like Spiderman and Thor. For families with young kids, the IMG Kids Zone offers plenty of activities which will keep them on their tiny little toes. It's not hard to see why IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the best places to visit in Dubai. It remains open throughout the year and has the capacity to accommodate 20,000 people per day.

Timing:
- 12 pm to 10 pm, Monday to Thursday
- 12 pm to 11 pm, Friday to Sunday

Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park

If you and your children are fascinated by Lego and consider yourselves to be Legophiles, there’s a place in Dubai you should not miss at any cost. In the best possible way, Legoland and Legoland Water Park provide an overdose of everything related to Lego. Suitable for children between 2 and 12, the theme parks offer rides, roller coasters, and water slides. Legoland is made up of six lands: Factory, Miniland, Lego City, Kingdoms, Imagination, and Adventure. Each of the lands offers fun rides and experiences centred around Lego and are geared to be educational and provide maximum entertainment. Children get to build their own Lego race cars, robots, boats, or rafts, besides going on rides such as the Dragon, Dragon’s Apprentice, Lego Technic Twister, and Beetle Bounce.

Legoland Water Park offers water-based rides and attractions such as Lego Wave Pool, Red Rush, and the Duplo Splash Safari. There is no limit to what you can do in Legoland. Both Legoland and Lego Water Park have dining options where you can replenish your energy before going off on another great Lego adventure.

Still can’t get enough of Lego? You can complete the experience by opting to stay at the Legoland Hotel, which offers rooms and experiences that will fully immerse you and your children into the world of Lego. There are fully themed bedrooms and Lego-centred treasure hunts which will fascinate even fully grown adults. Rooms can accommodate up to 5 people, with the family suite able to accommodate up to 8. The rooms come with access to either one or two of the parks depending on the length of your stay, and you always have the option to upgrade access.

Timing:
- 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday
- 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday
Pro tip: Wear comfortable clothing including shoes and bring an extra pair of clothing for the entire family you are going to visit the water park.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

Is Dubai worth visiting?

Our answer is a resounding YES, as the city has plenty to offer for all types of travellers. Dubai is purely a tourist’s paradise at heart and is not a destination you should ever skip if you get the chance to visit or even revisit. It is the perfect coming together of the old and new and never fails to delight travellers.

What does a 5-day trip to Dubai look like?

You can pack a lot of things into 5 days if you plan your itinerary the right way. Put down all the things you want to do and places you want to visit in Dubai. You can then give priority to the places you absolutely want to see and things you must do and finalise your plans. You can pay a visit to just the most famous places in Dubai like the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Palm Jumeirah and pack in some experiences such as the desert safari, hot air balloon rides and skiing and you can have a leisurely 5-day trip.

What are some things to keep in mind when visiting Dubai?

There are certain rules and practices you will have to respect during your time in Dubai. You will have to dress modestly and women should cover their heads if they want to visit a mosque. Drinking in public is strictly prohibited but you may do so in bars and hotels that are authorised and have a liquor licence.

How many days are sufficient for Dubai?

We’d say anywhere between 5 to 10 days will give you enough time to explore most of the places and experiences that this city has to offer. There are 3-day tours also available if you are strapped for time.

What are some of the places to visit in Dubai for free?

There are plenty of places in Dubai which don’t charge an entry fee. You can enter world-class malls such as the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates for free. The traditional souks of Old Dubai also can be visited without an entry fee. Kite Beach which is known for its water sports activities also falls under this category. If you want to take in the traditional beauty of the city mixed in with modern architectural elements, then a visit to Al Seef is a must.

What kind of food can I get in Dubai?

Since Dubai has a large expat community, foods from all over the world are readily available here besides the local Emirati fare. Whether you are a non-vegetarian, vegetarian or vegan your palate can be satisfied through thewide range of best food places this city has been blessed with!

When is the best time to visit Dubai?

Since Dubai's summers are extremely hot, the best time to visit the city would be in winter, when the weather becomes more pleasant and bearable. This period falls from around November to April. Certain tourist favourites also become operational in October every year such as the Miracle Garden and Global Village, so plan your visit to these places accordingly. You can also look forward to the Dubai Shopping Festival which takes place between December and January every year and enjoy the massive discounts it has to offer.

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet, and is subject to changes.