Dubai Itinerary in 3 days

Dubai has become one of the most desirable tourist destinations, thanks to its records, luxury, but also the contrast between ultra-modernity, historical markets and the charm of the desert. A week would not be enough to visit it all, not least because the distances are long, and each attraction and place of interest requires a lot of time. However, with a few tips and tricks to optimise time, in a weekend it is possible not to miss the most iconic sights, such as the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Marina and one of the great amusement parks!
Here are our tips and suggested itinerary for visiting Dubai in 3 days!

Consider buying a card: to save on the cost of individual attractions and transport, we recommend purchasing the Dubai Explorer Pass. Prices from €153.71.

Day 1

• Distance travelled: 12 km

• Places visited: Gold Souk and Spice Market(guided souk tour from €40.00), Al Fahidi district(walking tour and abra tour from €28.00), Dubai Mall (free of charge / Dubai Aquarium from €29.00), Burj Khalifa(entrance from €40.00), Dubai Fountain

• Where to eat: Lunch at Bur Dubai Souk Market(Get directions), Dinner at Dubai Mall Food Court(Get directions)

First time in Dubai? Let us guide you: for a first approach to the city, we recommend a walking tour to identify landmarks, visit the souks of the old city and learn stories and anecdotes

1 - Gold Souk and Spice Market

Start this first day in ancient Dubai. The first unmissable stop is the Gold Souk. Here you will find numerous goldsmiths and jewellers, where you can also do some shopping (the cost of gold here is about 20-30% cheaper). The market is located in the northern part of the city, from your hotel we recommend a taxi ride - fast and cheap!

After strolling around the stalls of the Gold Market, it is a short walk to the Spice Souk. Here you can discover the aromas and flavours of Dubai and buy some spices to take home, such as the famous saffron. Be careful though: the golden rule for your purchases in the markets is to haggle: it is common practice, so don't be afraid of it.

Try the multicoloured camel milk chocolates: these are chocolates made with a special low-fat chocolate made from camel milk. Colourful and beautiful to look at, they are also delicious. You certainly can't miss them!

2 - Al Fahidi Quarter

Around mid-morning, after visiting the spice market, head to the Al Fahidi district, on the opposite bank of the Dubai Creek. To do this, cross the Khor Dubai (the Dubai River) in an Abra, or typical Dubai boat, which is a truly unique experience (cost of crossing AED 1.00/€0.23).

Once you set foot on the opposite bank, you will find yourself in Al Fahidi, one of the oldest places in all of Dubai. Enjoy a stroll through its streets and reach Al Fahidi Fort, then walk down Al Fahidi St, the most famous street in the inner district.
For lunch, we recommend stopping at the market: the Bur Dubai Souk Market is the best place to stop for lunch to sample local street food for very little money(Get directions). If you prefer a sit-down lunch al fresco, we recommend the Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe (Getdirections).

3 - Dubai Mall and Aquarium

Photo by Frank Seiplax. In the afternoon, head to the Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping malls. From the Al Fahidi district walk to Burjuman Station, take the MRed metro line and get off at Burj Khalifa/ Dubai Mall Metro Station (11 min). Alternatively, a taxi is always good.

The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world, with a total of over 1,200 shops, and is home to many attractions, such as the Dubai Mall Waterfalls or the Dubai Ice Rink. We recommend a visit to the Dubai Aquarium, one of the world's largest aquariums housing over 3,000 marine species (Mon-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-00pm; admission from AED 79.00/€42.60). The main attraction is definitely theAquarium Tunnel, a 48 m long underwater tunnel!
SEE ALSO: Visit the Dubai Aquarium in the Dubai Mall: opening hours, prices and tips

4 - Burj Khalifa

After visiting the Dubai Mall and Dubai Aquarium, it will be late afternoon. Then head to one of the symbols of Dubai: the Burj Khalifa (daily 8am-11.30pm; full admission from AED 145.00 / €32.50). You can reach it easily on foot, as the Dubai Mall spreads out right at its base.

At 828 m, the Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world. It has three vantage points: floors 124, 125 and 148. If you love extreme experiences, you can't miss the glass platform that simulates the floor breaking, while if you are looking for the perfect shot, look for Colette Miller's famous Angel Wings! Prepare to have the world at your feet.
SEE ALSO: Visit the Burj Khalifa: times, prices and tips

Consider a visit to Levels 152, 153 and 154: in addition to the floors 124, 125 and 148, these floors, called'The Lounge', are also open. Here you will find the highest lounge bar in the world, located 585 m above sea level. It is a very elegant environment with large windows, chairs and sofas, an outdoor terrace and a unique atmosphere.

5 - Dubai Fountain

Finally, there is only one way to end your first day in Dubai: admire the Dubai Fountains, the largest dancing fountains in the world. Again, the fountain is located right at the base of the Burj Khalifa.

Every day, the fountains put on a unique spectacle of water and lights. During the day the shows are at 13:00 and 13:30, Friday 13:30 and 14:00. But the magic happens in the evening: between 18:00 and 23:00 there is a show every 30 min. After dining at one of the restaurants in or around the Dubai Mall, don't miss this marvel.

Day 2

• Distance travelled: 33.6 km

• Places visited: Mall of the Emirates (free) or Dubai Miracle Garden(priority entrance from €23.00), Dubai Marina and speedboat excursion (from €29.00), Ain Dubai(ticket from €30.00)

• Where to eat: Lunch at Mall of the Emirates(Get directions), Dinner at Zafran Indian Bistro(Get directions)

Best way to get around? The tour bus! On this day, the commute is quite long. We recommend theHop-on Hop-off bus, in addition to the sightseeing tour you'll be able to get comfortably from one part of the city to another without having to haggle with taxis or switch between them.

1 - Mall of the Emirates or Miracle Garden

Photo by Peter Gronemann. The two alternatives practically require at least a whole morning. Actually, you could even spend a whole day inside the Mall of the Emirates! So choose where you want to spend the morning, as you can hardly manage to visit both options adequately.

Option A - Mall of the Emirates: this is one of the most famous shopping malls in Dubai. It has four floors and 235,000 square metres of floor space. But it is famous mainly for one reason: it houses an entire ski resort, Ski Dubai! Here you can ski, play in the Snow Park with the kids and even meet the penguins. Given the myriad of activities, it is essential to plan your visit well. In the meantime, know that you don't need to bring snow gear, this is included in your ticket! If you want to meet the penguins, book as early as possible online. If you want to have fun at the Snow Park, buy the Snow Classic Ski Dubai, with unlimited access to all attractions.

Option B - Miracle Garden: this is the world's largest natural garden, a veritable oasis in the desert. Over 150 million flowers can be found here, from which various sculptures have also been created. Don't miss, for example, the life-size EmiratesAirbus or the wonderful Dubai Butterfly Garden, a tunnel in the shape of a butterfly, super Instagrammable!
Again, it is recommended that you buy your ticket online with priority entry.

3 - Dubai Marina and Burj Al Arab

After lunch, head to one of Dubai's most famous spots, Dubai Marina, one of Dubai's most modern districts.
Before you lose yourself among its skyscrapers, enjoy a 1 h 30 min speedboat ride. During this ride you can admire the skyline, pass by the famous Atlantis hotel, and take a photo of the iconic Burj al-Arab, the famous sailboat hotel! Seeing it from the water is a unique sight. Once back, enjoy a stroll through the streets of Dubai Marina.

Alternative to theboat tour: If you don't want to join the boat tour, you can find plenty of alternative activities here. You can enjoy the warm Dubai sun on the beach, play water sports, go shopping, or have fun at the TEPfactor Dubai adventure park.

4 - Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel

When the sun begins to set, we recommend a ride on the Ain Dubai, Dubai's famous Ferris wheel (Tue-Wed 10am-9pm, Thu-Sat 12pm-9pm; admission from AED 130.00/€31.15. You can reach it comfortably on foot from any point in the neighbourhood; it is now a real landmark in the city skyline.

Get ready for a truly unique view: the famous Ferris wheel reaches 250 m at its highest point and completes a full circle in about 38 min. It consists of 48 hi-tech cabins and offers a 365° view of the city. Definitely an attraction that even the little ones will love.

Spend the evening at Dubai Marina: this is one of Dubai's social hotspots. The Walk, the famous 1.6 km-long promenade, is packed with lively clubs and fine restaurants, ideal for spending the evening.

Day 3

• Distance travelled: 29.8 km

Places visited: Palm Jumeirah with Lost Chambers Aquarium (ticket €26.00) or Atlantis Aquaventure (ticket €65.00), Desert Excursion(€70.00 with pick-up and Bedouin BBQ) or Jumeirah Quarter and Mosque

• Where to eat: Lunch at Barracudas(Get directions), Dinner at SALT - La Mer(Get directions)

1 - Palm Jumeirah and Lost Chambers Aquarium or Atlantis Aquaventure

Last day in Dubai. Of the many options, we recommend spending the entire morning on the palm-shaped artificial island of Palm Jumeirah! To get there, you first have to get to the Palm Gateway funicular station in Dubai Marina, which can be reached by tram line T1 (reference stop Palm Jumeirah1). Then hop on the monorail and ride all the way around The Palm, until you get to the opposite end, where the world-famous and iconic Atlantis Hotel is located (monorail ride 10 min).
Here you have 2 options to choose from: The Lost Chambers Aquarium or the Atlantis Aquaventure. You could visit both attractions, but if you don't want to miss the desert excursion in the afternoon (and we recommend you don't), then you have to make a choice.

Option A - Lost Chambers Aquarium: one of the most beautiful aquariums in the world (daily from 10am; aquarium ticket €26.46), it is inspired by the lost world of Atlantis and is home to 65,000 marine species. Beautiful, but if you have already seen the Dubai Aquarium on the first day, opt for option B.

Option B - Atlantis Aquaventure: This is the largest water park in the world (daily from 10am to sunset; ticket from €65.00), and you can even spend a whole day there. 30 slides, a large private beach over 500 m long, the Aquaventure Beach, a giant children's area (the Splashers Kid's Play Area), but above all the possibility of meeting and swimming with dolphins or sea lions.

It isessential to optimise time and cost: there are so many things to do and see here in Palm Jumeirah, and at 3pm the desert excursion awaits you. If you want to do the dolphin encounter, book it in advance here. Also consider other charges to add such as the locker fee (from AED 50.00/€12.00) and towel hire (from AED 35.00/€8.35). Inside the park, there are also numerous places to stop and eat.

3 - Desert Excursion or Jumeirah Quarter and Mosque

If you choose to do thedesert excursion, you need to optimise your time because your jeep leaves at 3pm!
If you prefer to stay in the city instead, you can manage your time more flexibly.

Option A - Desert Excursion: This is obviously an activity that should only be done with anorganised excursion. Do not venture into the desert alone, you would seriously risk getting lost. The excursion we recommend is to pick you up at your hotel at 15:00 with a 4x4 jeep and a certified guide. You'll be blasting through the desert dunes; these drivers are real experts at sand drifts! When you arrive at the large Bedouin camp of Al Khayma, you can try sandboarding, i.e. riding a board down the high sand dunes! A camel ride is also included, but in all honesty, we don't feel like recommending it because those poor animals didn't seem very happy about it. Finally, you will participate in a Bedouin super buffet with shows and typical dances.

Option B - Jumeirah and Mosque: drive to one of the city's most beautiful neighbourhoods, Jumeirah. From Atlantis return to Dubai Marina by monorail, then direct bus line 8 from Media City Tram Bus Station 2 to Palm Strip Centre (1 hr without changes). Alternatively, opt for a taxi, which is certainly faster (35 min). As soon as you arrive, admire the majestic Dubai Mosque, also known as Jumeirah Mosque, from the outside. At night it is completely illuminated, offering a unique spectacle. Then enjoy the beauty of the district, overlooking the sea. This is one of Dubai's nightlife districts, with plenty of places to spend the evening, perfect for ending this trip.

Stop at the Boudoir Club This is one of the most famous clubs in Dubai, just a few steps away from the Mosque. Inspiredby Parisian standards of yesteryear, entry is free except when there are themed events and parties. However, numerous clubs and even discos can be found in the surrounding area.

Alternative excursions in and around Dubai

Especially if you are travelling with children, perhaps the crazy jeep rides in the desert might not be the best (besides, the excursion is not allowed for under 3s). So you can consider an alternative excursion.
Here are the ones we recommend:

• excursion to Abu Dhabi: capital of the United Arab Emirates and not far from Dubai, it is known for its wonderful Mosque. The best option is to join aday trip from Dubai, including transport;

• day trip to Legoland: it can also be an alternative to the water park, Legoland Dubai, is located about 45 km from Dubai. If you choose to go, buy the 1-day pass for the park first;

• snorkelling and a visit to Fujairah: if you love the sea and snorkelling, you cannot miss this wonderful place. Again, we recommend anorganised excursion from Dubai, including transport.

How much does a weekend in Dubai cost

Dubai is anexpensive city. It also has some low-cost alternatives, but on average it is still a budget destination. The first expense is definitely the flight, from Italy there are several directflights (compare flights).

Once you have landed, you need to identify the best area to stay in. The best districts are Downtown and Dubai Marina, but they are also the most expensive. To save money opt for Deira or Bur Dubai, in the northern part of the city.
To get around you should use the metro and taxis, the latter being very cheap and convenient (average cost per km AED 1.80/€0.45). Depending on your itinerary, the tourist bus is also recommended. Unfortunately, one of the highest expenses are the attractions, which is why we recommend the purchase of a city card, such as the Dubai Explorer Pass, or tickets with combined entrance fees.

Let's take a detailed look at the costs of a weekend in Dubai:

• Costsfor eating out: about €40.00 per day per person (with lunches in markets and dinners in restaurants)

• Costsfor museums and attractions: average price €85.00 per person per day following our suggested itinerary

• Transport: average price €10.00 per person per day

• Hotels, accommodation and b&b: from €30.00 per bed in a hostel, from €75.00 per room in a hotel - see offers

• Entertainment: from €25.00 per day per person (including snacks, coffee, aperitifs, drinks, ...)

• Total cost of a weekend in Dubai: from €540,00 per person (excluding flights and/or transfers)

Before you leave: useful tips

• Avoid summer: temperatures are really scorching, so much so that even citizens hardly leave their homes during the day. Prefer mid-season or winter, the Christmas and New Year periods are really perfect - find out more here;

• Respect culture: Dubai is a very open city, but there are rules to be respected. Decent dress is required for sacred sites, while at the beach you can safely wear a swimming costume. Alcohol may only be consumed inside the bars;

• Where to sleep: Downtown and Dubai Marina are the best districts. To save money Deira and Bur Dubai. For families Jumeirah and The Palm Jumeirah - map of neighbourhoods here;

• Getting around bytaxi or metro: the best ways to get around. Take advantage of the metro as much as you can (daily AED 20.00/€5.00), where it doesn't arrive move by taxi, fast and convenient - find out more here;

• Have lunch in the markets: ideal for sampling street food and, above all, saving a lot of money! In the markets you can have lunch for an average of €5.00 per person. For restaurants it depends on your choice, ranging from an average of €10.00 up to hundreds of euros for luxury restaurants.