Day one in Dubai
1Deira Gold Souk
Browse the shop windows of Deira’s most famous souk, stuffed with vast quantities of gold and precious stones.
Browse the shop windows of Deira’s most famous souk, stuffed with vast quantities of gold and precious stones.
2Heritage House and Al Ahmadiya School
Catch a rare glimpse of life in old Dubai at this pair of neatly restored traditional houses.
Catch a rare glimpse of life in old Dubai at this pair of neatly restored traditional houses.
3Dhow Wharfage
A little slice of living maritime history, with dozens of antique wooden dhows moored up alongside the Creek.
A little slice of living maritime history, with dozens of antique wooden dhows moored up alongside the Creek.
4Cross the Creek by abra
Jump on board one of these old-fashioned wooden ferries for the memorable short crossing to Bur Dubai.
Jump on board one of these old-fashioned wooden ferries for the memorable short crossing to Bur Dubai.
Lunch
Relax over a light lunch in the beautiful garden of the Arabian Tea House Café.
5Bastakiya
Get lost amid the winding alleyways and wind-towered houses of Dubai’s most perfectly preserved old quarter.
Get lost amid the winding alleyways and wind-towered houses of Dubai’s most perfectly preserved old quarter.
6Dubai Museum
Explore the emirate’s history at this enjoyable museum, housed in quaint Al Fahidi Fort – the city’s oldest building.
Explore the emirate’s history at this enjoyable museum, housed in quaint Al Fahidi Fort – the city’s oldest building.
7A walk along the Creek
Walk past the Grand Mosque and through the Textile Souk and out along the breezy creekside to Shindagha.
Walk past the Grand Mosque and through the Textile Souk and out along the breezy creekside to Shindagha.
8Sheikh Saeed al Maktoum House
A fascinating collection of historical photographs showcases the rapidly changing face of Dubai.
A fascinating collection of historical photographs showcases the rapidly changing face of Dubai.
Dinner
Settle down for a supper of excellent, inexpensive mezze and grills at Kan Zaman.
Day two in Dubai
1Walk down Sheikh Zayed Road
Start at the stunning Emirates Towers and wander south along Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s most flamboyantly futuristic architectural parade.
Start at the stunning Emirates Towers and wander south along Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s most flamboyantly futuristic architectural parade.
2Dubai Mall
Dive into the city’s mall to end all malls, offering endless hours of retail therapy and a host of other entertainments.
Dive into the city’s mall to end all malls, offering endless hours of retail therapy and a host of other entertainments.
3At the Top, Burj Khalifa
Ride the world’s fastest elevators to the spectacular observation deck on the 124th floor of the world’s tallest building.
Ride the world’s fastest elevators to the spectacular observation deck on the 124th floor of the world’s tallest building.
Lunch
Grab an outside table at the very civilized More café, with sweeping views of the Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa.
4Wild Wadi
Swim, splash and slide your way around the pools, rivers and rapids of the entertaining Wild Wadi water park.
Swim, splash and slide your way around the pools, rivers and rapids of the entertaining Wild Wadi water park.
Afternoon tea, Burj al Arab
Indulge in an opulent afternoon tea in the iconic, “seven-star” Burj al Arab’s Skyview Bar or Sahn Eddar Lounge.
5Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Walk over to the stunning Madinat Jumeirah complex, with its picture-perfect waterways and old-fashioned souk.
Walk over to the stunning Madinat Jumeirah complex, with its picture-perfect waterways and old-fashioned souk.
Souks and shopping
For a taste of retail therapy, Dubai style, you’ll need to explore both the city’s traditional souks and its shiny modern malls.
3Covered Souk
Wander through the covered market’s endless maze of alleyways – getting lost is half the fun.
Wander through the covered market’s endless maze of alleyways – getting lost is half the fun.
4Wafi
One of the city’s smoothest shopping experiences with one of its coolest collections of independent fashion labels.
One of the city’s smoothest shopping experiences with one of its coolest collections of independent fashion labels.
5Khan Murjan Souk
Explore the myriad shops of the pretty Khan Murjan, bursting with Arabian scents, jewellery, textiles, furniture and much more.
Explore the myriad shops of the pretty Khan Murjan, bursting with Arabian scents, jewellery, textiles, furniture and much more.
Lunch
The enjoyable Khan Murjan Restaurant (see picture above right) serves up Middle Eastern cuisine in a good-looking outdoor courtyard.
6Ibn Battuta Mall
Catch the metro down to Dubai’s most eye-catching mall, extravagantly themed after Ibn Battuta’s travels.
Catch the metro down to Dubai’s most eye-catching mall, extravagantly themed after Ibn Battuta’s travels.
7Mall of the Emirates
Perhaps the city’s most satisfying all-in-one retail destination, with 500-odd shops to explore.
Perhaps the city’s most satisfying all-in-one retail destination, with 500-odd shops to explore.
Dinner
Have dinner at Après, with tasty international cuisine, crisp cocktails and fine views over surreal Ski Dubai next door.
Hidden Dubai
To escape the crowds, head for some of Dubai’s less well-known attractions – although you’ll need a car or taxi for the latter part of the day.
1Naif Museum
This little-visited museum showcases the engaging history of the Dubai police force since colonial times.
This little-visited museum showcases the engaging history of the Dubai police force since colonial times.
2Al Wasl and Covered souks
Walk down Al Musallah Street then dive west into the tangle of little streets and alleyways of the disorienting Al Wasl Souk.
Walk down Al Musallah Street then dive west into the tangle of little streets and alleyways of the disorienting Al Wasl Souk.
3Hindi Lane
Take an abra across the Creek to Bur Dubai’s Textile Souk, just a few steps from this entertaining little Indian enclave of Hindi Lane.
Take an abra across the Creek to Bur Dubai’s Textile Souk, just a few steps from this entertaining little Indian enclave of Hindi Lane.
Lunch
The lovely little XVA Café (see picture above right) is close to Hindi Lane, tucked away at the back of Bastakiya.
4Iranian mosques
It’s a short walk through the Textile Souk to Bur Dubai’s fine pair of Iranian Shia’a mosques.
It’s a short walk through the Textile Souk to Bur Dubai’s fine pair of Iranian Shia’a mosques.
5Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
Take a taxi out to the Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, with flocks of vivid pink flamingoes incongruously framed against distant skyscrapers.
Take a taxi out to the Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, with flocks of vivid pink flamingoes incongruously framed against distant skyscrapers.
6Majlis Ghorfat um al Sheif
This picturesque old mud-brick house is incongruously marooned amid the villas of Jumeirah.
This picturesque old mud-brick house is incongruously marooned amid the villas of Jumeirah.
Dinner
Grab a pavement table at the always bustling Al Mallah Lebanese café in the personable suburb of Satwa, a part of the city usually overlooked by tourists.