Dubai is one of the best known cities for its futuristic skyscrapers, avant-garde shopping malls and wonderful attractions. It is located in the United Arab Emirates and is a popular worldwide destination, especially for its innovative architecture. Of course, to discover everything about this city that blends past and future, history and technology, one day is not enough. However, by building the right itinerary, you can breathe in the atmosphere of Dubai and understand what it has to offer its visitors.
If you have booked a cruise that includes a stop in this city, then this is the right article for you! Here's how to visit Dubai on a cruise: DIY itineraries, tips and tours!
DIY cruise itinerary: 10 things to see
A few hours are not enough time to fully understand and experience a great city like Dubai, but here we recommend the must-see attractions!
Choose the ones that most appeal to you for your itinerary and in which you are most interested, also depending on the time available, reserving the others for a future visit:
Burj Al Arab: the famous skyscraper, called the 'sail of Dubai', symbol of the city
Distance from the port: 20 km, 30 min by taxi - Get directions. Free entrance upon booking, consumption compulsoryBurj Khalifa: the tallest skyscraper in the world, exceeding 800 m, with panoramic terrace
Distance to port: 13 km, 20 min by taxi - Get directions. From 218.00 AED (€55.00) - one way ticket and transferDubai Mall: the largest shopping centre in the world, with more than 1,200 shops inside, an aquarium and an ice-skating rink
Distance from the port: 14 km, 20 min by taxi - Get directions. Free entrance - Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo day ticketMall of Emirates: exclusive shopping centre, with a ski slope inside even with outside temperatures of over 40°.
Distance to port: 25 km, 28 min by taxi - Get directions. Free entrance - 2-hour ski session at Ski DubaiSouk Madinat Jumeirah: a small shopping centre whose terrace overlooks the Burj Al Arab. It has the appearance of a typical bazaar
Distance from the port: 25 km, 25 min by taxi - Get directions. Free entranceKhor Dubai: Dubai's ancient harbour, reflecting the ancient spirit of the city. From here, one can admire the abra, a typical boat
Distance from the harbour: 17 km, 21 min by taxi - Get directions. Free entrance - Old Dubai: tour of the Dubai Museum, Khor Dubai and souksGold Market: the most characteristic place in Dubai, a street populated exclusively by jewellers displaying precious gold jewellery
Distance from the port: 11 km, 16 min by taxi - Get directions. Free entrance - golden city discovery tourAtlantis The Palm: accommodation located on the artificial palm, built in the Gulf of Dubai. Huge water amusement park inside
Distance from the port: 35 km, 35 min by taxi - Get directions. Admission 250.00 AED (€61.00) - Dubai: meet the dolphins at AtlantisJumeirah Beach: beach at the foot of the Burj Al Arab, allowing one to take a dip in the shadow of the iconic skyscraper
Distance from the port: 15 km, 25 min by taxi - Get directions. Free entry - Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah: private cruise and tourAl' Mazmar Beach Park: one of the city's largest and most famous beaches, rich in palm trees and bordering the emirate of Sharjah
Distance from the port: 17 km, 25 min by taxi - Get directions. Free entry
SEE ALSO: What to see in Dubai
Recommended itinerary: what to see in half a day
First stop: Gold Market
Once you disembark at the Port Rashid Cruise Terminal, the only docking point for cruise ships in Dubai, hail a taxi and head to your first stop of the day, one of the city's most characteristic sights.
In just 15 minutes, the taxi will take you to the Gold Market, also called Gold Souk, literally Souk of Gold: it is a long, straight street, with jewellery shops left and right and shop windows full of precious objects in yellow gold. Take advantage of this to buy some souvenirs of the day!
Second stop: Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall
Take a 6-minute taxi ride to the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, which is located inside the park. Get ready to admire the view of Dubai from the top of its 124th floor, the most-visited terrace for this type of excursion (online purchase of tickets for the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa is recommended to avoid queuing at the ticket offices).
Then head to the Dubai Mall. First take a stroll through its shops, which are suitable for all targets, and then have a quick lunch in one of the many small restaurants and takeaways. Unfortunately there is not enough time to also admire the wonderful aquarium inside.
Third stop: Burj Al Arab and Souk Madinat Jumeirah
In 15 min, take a taxi to Dubai's other iconic attraction, the Burj Al Arab, known as the 'Sail'. If you have booked entry, you can enjoy afternoon tea at the Sahn Eddar restaurant, taking in the beautiful view. Alternatively, enjoy the view of the spectacular skyscraper from the public beach in front and take a stroll along the waterfront or to Souk Madinat Jumeirah, the wonderful souk in this area.
Once you have finished your tour, time will be running out, so take a taxi and return to your cruise at the Port Rashid Cruise Terminal (25 min).
In summary:
Distance travelled: 69.2 km / 1 h 42 min including travel to/from Port Rashid Cruise Terminal
Places visited: Gold Market (free of charge), Dubai Mall (free of charge), Burj Khalifa (from 218.00 AED/€55.00), Burj Al Arab (free entrance, consumption obligatory), Souk Madinat Jumeirah (free of charge)
Card, tickets and recommended tours: Dubai by speedboat: Marina, Atlantis, Palm and Burj Al Arab tour to discover the city of gold
Where to eat: Todd English Food Hall, with various types of cuisine, including fast food; average price AED 100.00 (€25.00) - Get directions; Angelina, French-style restaurant that also prepares exquisite brunches, as well as full lunches; average price AED 140 (€30.00) - Get directions
Cruise tours and excursions
Dubai sightseeing bus: Cost, itinerary and stops
In about 44 stops, the citysightseeing allows you to discover the whole of Dubai, from the ancient to the more modern part. It departs from the Cruise Terminal and has five itineraries, all at the same price. Service generally runs from 9am to 5.30pm, with variations possible for individual routes. Audio guides available in 11 languages.
There is the possibility of upgrading to a Premium ticket, which also includes admission to some attractions.
Stages: five routes available, Historical Route (140 min), Modern Route (105 min), Marina Route (105 min), Palm Crescent Route (60 min), Cruise Terminal Route (25 min). For more info: official page
Cost: 24 h at €51.33 - 48 h at €64.16 - 72 h at €76.99
Buy online: 24, 48 or 72 hour hop-on hop-off bus tours
Useful tips
Plan your itinerary: decide your route in advance and present it to your taxi driver. Choose a single shopping centre to optimise time
Watch out for traffic: Dubai is a very busy city, so taxi journeys may take longer than they should
Book in advance: buy skyscraper tickets online, preferably with a skip-the-line system to avoid long queues at ticket counters
Consider taking the tour bus: it allows you to see Dubai in its entirety in a short time, choose which stops to get off at and visit nearby attractions. Great solution for a half-day visit - tourist bus pass
Choose comfortable, light clothes: temperatures are often high. Choose light, natural-fibre clothes, comfortable shoes for lots of walking; plan a sweatshirt for indoors, with very high air conditioning - find out more about the weather
Have aquick meal- you only have half a day, so use this time to sightsee
Where Dubai cruises dock
How to get from the port of Dubai to the centre
Distance from the centre: 10 km
How to get there onfoot: journey time 2 hours - Get directions
How to get thereby Taxi: journey time 15 min, average cost 60.00 AED (€15.00) - Get directions
How to get around
Although Dubai has two metro networks and a very efficient bus service, in this case, with little time to spare, the ideal is to get around by taxi, to see more sights and not be constrained by public transport timetables that do not connect all points of interest. Dubai is also very extensive, so walking is not recommended. The alternative is the tourist bus.
Read more about getting around Dubai here.