5 Day Dubai Itinerary.

There is a range of things to do from fine dining to dune bashing, skydiving to skiing, and kayaking to clubbing. It has something for everyone.

Let’s start at the beginning.

Day 1: The Burj Khalifa

Morning: It would be best to arrive at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the evening to get the most out of your Dubai vacation. Hotels are one of Dubai’s great talents. A stay in any one of the hotels would be not only comfortable but also luxurious. Any of the hotels owned by the Jumeirah Group would be excellent options. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before you head off for your first Dubai adventure!!

Afternoon: Start off with the most obvious sights in the city. One of Dubai’s shining attractions is its stunning and seemingly inconceivable architecture. And one of the first things tourists need to do when they head to this impressive city is to check out its two iconic structures that stand like beacons in the desert: the Burj Khalifa and Burj al Arab. Lucky for tourists, one of the main Dubai tourist attractions are these two buildings, and there are plenty of guided tours that help give the tourists what they want. One Day 1, take the At the top tour on Burj Khalifa Observation Deck in order to get a jaw-dropping view from the tallest building in the world which is a hotel, a residence, a mall, a spa, and a restaurant/bar. There are also combination tickets that include a tour of the aquarium in the Dubai Mall (more on that later). It’s good to get a daytime view of the city dwarfed by its king tower.

Evening: Head to the Burj al Arab, a dhow boat-shaped building alongside the coastline. It will be about a 20 minute drive from downtown and Burj Khalifa. Not only is it an amazing structure, but the Burj al Arab is also a 7 star hotel. Go for dinner in this amazing hotel with a selection of Arab and international food of the highest quality and enjoy great views of the sea. Book a dinner and perhaps, since you’re on holiday, even an overnight stay or a spa day!!

Day 2: Dubai Mall Day

Morning: Eat breakfast in any of the Dubai Mall restaurants, choosing from a range of cuisine from American to Japanese to Arabian. It would be a good idea to enjoy a meal by the Dubai Mall Fountain, which is a great Dubai tourism spot. The fountain does a light and music show every hour.

Afternoon: In the center of the mall, the Dubai Aquarium is slightly visible from the outside, but one gets access to all levels if they get a ticket. Depending on what kind of tour you want, a ticket will be about $30 US dollars. Ski Dubai is an incredible place for ski lovers. They can still experience the slopes even in the middle of a desert. Buy a pass to get full access to the park as well as winter clothes! If you up your package, it will also include a visit with the Ski Dubai penguins! Penguins and the Middle East? Seems like an oxymoron.

Evening: Grab dinner and drinks in the Souk attached to the Dubai Mall. It’s a swanky version of an Arabian style souk (market) with shops, restaurants, and classy bars.

Day 3:Dubai Top Attractions:The Palm and The Marina

Morning: If you’ve been lucky enough to arrive at the right time, you would be wise to book an alcohol brunch at Saffron Restaurant on the Palm in the Atlantis Hotel. Tickets are about $150 dollars, and it includes a variety of unlimited cuisines and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. It’s a great way to enjoy the hotel, the sea views, and have a great time. So, grab some breakfast, put on your best outfit and take a taxi to Atlantis.

Afternoon: The brunch takes place in Saffron restaurant in the afternoons at 12:30. It’s definitely one of the top 10 things to do in Dubai for 21-40 somethings, and also one of the classiest brunches in the city.

Evening: It’s been a busy day, so head back to your hotel and enjoy the spa facilities to simply relax and prepare for the next two days!!

Day 4: Do the Desert Safari

Morning: A desert safari includes “dune-bashing” with a 4×4, camel-riding, henna tattoos, a belly-dancing show, and a dinner (It should preferably be booked before the vacation). A dune-bashing driver will pick you and your group up from any hotel that you wish in the late morning.

Afternoon: It will be about a 45 minute to an hour drive to the desert destination. Dune-bashing is in a protected vehicle with an experienced driver. Once he arrives in the desert, he deflates his wheels, and away you go flying from dune to dune, sliding around, going down hills, and sliding over the sandy surface. It’s a bumpy ride but it’s super exciting and still safe! And, the driver stops in the middle of the desert in order to take group pictures.

Evening: Then, as the sun is setting, he returns you the encampment, where there is camel riding, henna tattoo artists, and then dinner and a show! Enjoy a belly-dancing show among other acrobatic feats along with an Arabian style meal. It’s a great way to enjoy the desert life. Tickets are about 50 dollars.

Day 5: Dubai Beach + Nightlife

Morning: Don’t forget that Dubai is a beach city. You can feel it in the salty breeze and the bright sun. The beaches of this Arabian city are absolutely pristine and tourists can gain quality beach access through their hotel or another if they pay a small fee.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon soaking up the sun and even enjoying the inflatable “water park” out on the water.

Evening: Movida in Downtown Dubai is an amazing club with a VIP feel and great music. For Movida and for most clubs and bars in Dubai, there is a bit of a dress code, so don’t forget those heels!

The nightlife is so incredibly varied in Dubai that places to go range from hookah bars to swanky nightclubs to Irish pubs. You will not be lost for ideas of places to go in this happenin’ city.

So, there’s Dubai, done and dusted in a total of 5 days using this Dubai itinerary.

Forget about Paris and London and Amsterdam–it’s Dubai time.