Dubai, a city of superlatives in the Orient. A city that has emerged from nothing in a very short time. Here in Dubai, everything is bigger, higher, and more modern. We found Hong Kong and Singapore crazy enough, but even more records are broken in Dubai. For example, there’s the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa) and the world’s largest shopping center (Dubai Mall). Often, we couldn’t even comprehend what we were seeing with our own eyes. Dubai is one of the most fascinating metropolises in the world, one you absolutely must see. Today we’ll reveal the hottest Dubai sights and highlights to you.
- Dubai Sights
- Burj Khalifa
- Dubai Fountain at Burj Khalifa
- Dubai Mall
- Burj Al Arab
- The Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Desert Safari
- Souks in Deira
- Beaches in Dubai
- Dubai Marina
- Visit to the Jumeirah Mosque
- Dubai Frame
- Hotels in Dubai
- Local Transportation
- Travel Reading for Dubai
Dubai Sights
We’ve marked the most important Dubai sights for you on the map below. Of course, there’s much more to see in the city of superlatives, but these stops are a good starting point for an initial overview. Be sure to allow at least two to three full days to explore the many different corners of the city.
Dubai is a fascinating city, especially considering that it was once a small fishing village. It wasn’t until 1969 that Dubai began oil production and exports, which brought enormous wealth to the city. A small fishing village quickly became a gigantic megalopolis. By the way: Right next door is Abu Dhabi.
By loading the map, you accept Google’s privacy policy.
Learn more
Load map
Burj Khalifa
Let’s start with one of Dubai’s highlights – the Burj Khalifa. It is currently the tallest building in the world, standing at 828 meters. Construction began in 2004, and it was inaugurated in January 2010. The highest inhabited floor is the 163rd, at a height of 584 meters. By comparison, the TV tower in Berlin only reaches a height of 250 meters. If you’re in Dubai, you can’t miss the Burj Khalifa. You can see the skyscraper from afar, from all directions.
The “At the Top, Burj Khalifa” observation deck is located on the 125th floor at a height of 456 meters. And believe us, the view is simply insane and spectacular. The elevator will “catapult” you upwards in just 55 seconds. Since fall 2014, there’s also been another observation deck—”At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY.” This platform is located on the 148th floor at a height of 555 meters.
Book tickets for Burj Khalifa here
Dubai Fountain at Burj Khalifa
The famous water shows take place in front of the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa every evening at 6 p.m. The show only lasts a few minutes, but then continues every half hour until 11 p.m. The water show, with its many colorful lights, is a real highlight in Dubai, especially in the evenings. The Dubai Fountain is the largest fountain in the world.
Of course! How could it be any different in Dubai? As you can imagine, it gets very crowded here in the evenings. Alternatively, you can also admire the show from the water. Book your boat trip* for just €18 and enjoy the spectacle in peace and without the crowds.
Dubai Mall
We’re not big shopping fans, but you should definitely check out Dubai Mall. It’s located right next to Burj Khalifa and is the largest shopping center in the world. It’s home to over 1,200 shops, an aquarium, an underwater zoo with more than 33,000 marine animals, an ice skating rink, a huge cinema complex, and much, much more. The mall is the size of over 200 football fields (1.1 million square meters), which is hard to imagine. The Dubai Mall is also the entrance to the Burj Khalifa’s observation decks. You simply can’t miss this mall. Book your ticket for the aquarium and underwater zoo here*.
Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab is one of the top sights in Dubai and is also a landmark of the city. It is one of the most expensive, luxurious, and famous hotels in the world. The 7-star hotel is located on a man-made island and is visible from afar from many directions. It also adorns countless Dubai postcards. However, you can’t just enter the Burj Al Arab, as privacy is a top priority here. If you have the cash, you can book a night in this luxury hotel. These start at just €1,600 per night.
The Palm Jumeirah
And the crazy structures in Dubai continue. This time, it’s less of a building and more of an artificial island off the coast of Dubai. The Palm Jumeirah is shaped like palm leaves, which is especially noticeable on a helicopter flight*. Maybe you’ll be lucky and see it from the plane as you arrive.
Luxury hotels (e.g., Atlantis The Palm) are lined up one after the other on the artificial island. Getting to the island is easy with the Dubai Monorail and the Palm Monorail. This single-track train runs every 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. A ticket for the Palm Jumeirah Monorail costs approximately €6.90 (round trip).
Dubai Desert Safari
When you’re in Dubai, you should definitely take a desert safari. It gives you the feeling of 1001 Nights, combined with action and adrenaline. Not far from the city are the endless expanses of sand, where you can quickly forget the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Jeep rides take you up and down the sand dunes.
Your stomach should definitely be prepared for such “atrocities.” In addition to jeep safaris, many other tours are offered, which we have compiled for you in the table below. Plan at least half a day for most tours.
Souks in Deira
We booked a hotel in Deira, the second oldest district of Dubai. It is not far from the airport. We particularly enjoyed the traditional markets in Deira, the so-called souks. Here, people trade and haggle like crazy. The Spice Souk offers the full range of smells and spices. Gold is traded in vast quantities at the gold market, and at the fabric souk, you’ll find fabrics in all the colors of the rainbow. Book your souk tour with a local guide here*. Alternatively, there’s also the traditional market in the heart of Dubai, the Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Beaches in Dubai
We were so glad that Dubai also has beaches. With temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius, cooling off was urgently needed. However, our joy didn’t last long, as the water was at least as warm; we had to wait a long time for a cooling-off. Still, it was cool to chill on the beach and get to know this side of the city. There are a total of 170 kilometers of beaches; we visited Jumeirah Beach. We easily reached it by metro. Along the beach promenade, you’ll find showers, restrooms, restaurants, and shops. By the way, many of Dubai’s beaches are private and belong to the many luxury hotels. You can find everything about the best time to travel to Dubai here.
Dubai Marina
During our trip through Dubai, we also visited the beautiful harbor area. Dubai Marina is definitely worth a visit. During our walk, we discovered many of Dubai’s sights. The bustling district offers approximately 7 km of palm-lined promenades, which lead past restaurants, shops, and bars. You’ll also find countless elegant residential buildings and a harbor with multi-million dollar yachts. The easiest way to explore the area is by boat tour* or on foot.
Insider tip: Experience the sunset with a drink on the 35th floor of the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Hotel. The open-air terrace offers the best view of the Gulf and the Palm Jumeirah. Be sure to bring some change for drinks.
Visit the Jumeirah Mosque
The beautiful Jumeirah Mosque is located in Dubai. It is also a landmark of the metropolis and one of Dubai’s most beautiful sights. Visitors of all faiths are welcome to explore the mosque and its surroundings. You can also learn more about Islam and local culture here. The mosque can accommodate up to 1,200 people.
The view is particularly beautiful in the evening, when the white stones, the two towering minarets, and the large central dome are illuminated. A 75-minute guided tour takes place every morning at 10:00 a.m., six days a week. This offers you a great opportunity to learn more about the mosque, its culture, and its faith.
Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame is arguably the largest picture frame in the world and was only opened in 2018. This structure consists of two 150-meter-high towers, connected at the top by a 93-meter-long bridge. If you look through from one side, you’ll see the Burj Khalifa. If you look through the other way, you’ll discover the Dubai Deira district. The base building houses a museum that showcases the development of Dubai. Book your day tour including the Dubai Frame here*.
Hotels in Dubai
In Dubai, you’ll find countless hotels; the selection is almost endless. Most people like to treat themselves to a chic, expensive hotel in the city center for this trip. We booked into the 4-star Majestic Hotel Tower* in Dubai Deira and had a fantastic view of the Dubai skyline from our room. From Dubai Deira, we were also quickly in the city center by taxi. We highly recommend this hotel with its pool and other amenities. We usually book our accommodations through Booking.com* or Airbnb*. In the following section, we’ve listed a few hotels that aren’t too expensive.
- Majestic Hotel Tower in Dubai Deira (our hotel)*
- Holiday Inn Bur Dubai*
- Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Al Jadaf Culture Village*
- Jumeira Rotana*
- Aloft Me’aisam*
- Hyatt Place Dubai / Wasl District Residences*
Local Transportation
The easiest way to get from A to B in Dubai is on foot, by taxi, or by train. The metro only opened in 2009 with the red line. The green line followed in 2011. Tickets are inexpensive and usually cost between 3 and 17 AED (€0.75 and €4). There are different zones in Dubai, and therefore different tickets. We recommend either the Red Card day ticket (worth it after the third trip) or the Nol Card (if you are staying in Dubai for a longer period). By train, you can easily reach the best Dubai sights and highlights.
Taxi is also a popular means of transportation. And the cool thing about it: The prices are practically free. The fees really only depend on the time of day. Between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., rides cost less than at night. However, the price per kilometer remains the same. We also really like the fact that you only pay for the distance traveled, no matter how long it takes. Once you’re in the city center, you can cover many routes on foot.
Travel Reading for Dubai
Want to learn more about Dubai and its people? Then check out the Dumont travel guide*. Here you’ll find all the information you need about Dubai and the surrounding area on 120 pages. We also have a summary of our current best travel novels*.