Aerial view of Dubai with the Burj Khalifa rising above the Sheikh Zayed Road skyscrapers
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Dubai in 2 days

  • 2 days
  • 5 km on foot
  • 16 stops
  • Audio guide

In two days Dubai starts to make sense: one for the records and the legends, one for the old quarter and the coast. You will see the skyline, cross the Creek by abra and still have time to sit down, eat lunch without rushing and let the heat set the tempo. The most balanced plan if you are not a rusher.

Day 1Records and legends

In the morning, “Record-breaking Dubai”: Dubai Mall, the fountain, Souk Al Bahar and the Burj Khalifa, with the Opera to finish. Have luqaimat at the Arabian Tea House in Al Fahidi, then give the free afternoon to two extras: go up the Dubai Frame and stroll along Al Seef on the Creek. At sunset, take an abra to Deira and follow “Djinn, sea spirits and golden mirages”, from the Spice Souk to the Gold Souk. Have an Iranian kebab for dinner in Al Fahidi.

  1. Morning

    Record-breaking Dubai: from the Burj Khalifa to the Opera

    Mixed · 1.7 km · 1 h 30 min

    1. The Dubai MallMore than a mall: a ten-million-litre aquarium, an indoor gold souk and the gateway to the Burj Khalifa lake.
    2. The Dubai FountainJets of up to 150 metres dancing to Arabic and classical music, created by the designers of the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas.
    3. Souk Al BaharA souk of arches, lanterns and wind towers built in the 21st century: Gulf tradition turned into stage design.
    4. Burj Khalifa828 metres inspired by a desert flower: the world’s tallest building changed its name on the very day it opened.
    5. Dubai OperaA glass theatre shaped like a dhow, the Gulf’s sailing ship, opened by Plácido Domingo in 2016 and able to turn into an open hall.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Luqaimat and Emirati breakfast at Arabian Tea House. Al Fahidi Street, barrio histórico de Al Fahidi, Bur Dubái

  3. Afternoon

    Dubai Frame

    A huge golden frame about 150 metres tall in Zabeel Park, opened in 2018. From the top you see old Dubai on one side and the skyscrapers on the other, a simple way to take in the whole city. Book ahead and go up in soft light.

    Directions

    Al Seef

    A waterfront promenade on the Creek in Bur Dubai, with traditional-style façades, cafés and shops. It is a modern recreation, not a historic quarter, but it is a pleasant place to stop as the day cools and watch the dhows and abras go by.

    Directions

  4. Early evening

    Djinn, sea spirits and golden mirages: the legends of Deira

    Mysteries & legends · 1.4 km · 1 h 30 min

    1. Deira Old Souk Abra StationOn this Creek jetty begins the legend of Baba Darya, the «father of the sea» who, sailors said, climbed aboard at night.
    2. Spice SoukAmong sacks of frankincense, dried limes and harmal seeds, the souk’s scent holds the Gulf’s old relationship with djinn and the evil eye.
    3. Al Ahmadiya SchoolDubai’s first formal school, founded by a pearl merchant in 1912, and the midday creature used to frighten children.
    4. Perfume SoukOud, musk and rose: on this street of perfumers people still remember Umm Al Duwais, the woman whose scent heralded death.
    5. Gold SoukHundreds of golden shop windows and an old warning from the sea: Khattaf Rafai, the mirage that showed gold to lead fishermen astray.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  5. Dinner

    Try Iranian kebab at Al Ustad Special Kabab. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street, Al Fahidi, Bur Dubái

Day 2Old quarter and sea

Spend the morning on “Before oil”: the Al Fahidi neighbourhood, the fort, the Grand Mosque, the Bur Dubai Souk and Sheikh Saeed’s house in Al Shindagha. It is the shortest and coolest walk if you set off early. Then take a taxi to Umm Suqeim for fish at Bu Qtair, a simple spot with decades of history. The afternoon belongs to the coast: Umm Suqeim Beach and Madinat Jumeirah, very close to each other.

  1. Morning

    Before oil: wind towers, pearls and the Creek of Bur Dubai

    History · 1.9 km · 1 h 40 min

    1. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Al Bastakiya)A maze of alleys and wind towers built by Persian merchants, which came close to disappearing under the bulldozers.
    2. Al Fahidi FortDubai’s oldest standing building: a coral tower from around 1787 that has been a fortress, a residence, an arsenal, a prison and a museum.
    3. Grand Mosque, Bur DubaiIt began as a Quranic school around 1900 and now boasts the city’s tallest minaret, some 70 metres of pale stone.
    4. Bur Dubai Souk and the CreekIndian fabrics under a wooden roof and the coming and going of the abras: for over a century the Creek was Dubai’s main street.
    5. Al Shindagha, the tip of the CreekOn this spit of land between the Creek and the sea the Al Maktoum settled in 1833, and Dubai’s political history begins here.
    6. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum HouseThe coral house where Dubai’s ruler lived from 1912 to 1958, witness to the fall of the pearl trade and the arrival of oil.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Gulf fish, fishermen’s style at Bu Qtair. Al Soon Street, puerto pesquero de Umm Suqeim, Dubái

  3. Afternoon

    Umm Suqeim Beach

    A public beach with the Burj Al Arab in the background, the classic postcard of Dubai’s coast. Come in soft light, bring a hat and sunscreen, and take a dip or a stroll along the water. The fishing harbour for lunch is close by.

    Directions

    Madinat Jumeirah

    A resort built in traditional Arabian style, with wind towers, canals and a souk of shops and terraces. From its terraces you can see the Burj Al Arab. An easy, shaded stroll, ideal after lunch in nearby Umm Suqeim.

    Directions

The map

Dubai in 2 days, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed Mysteries & legends History Extra sight

Loading the map…

Before you go

Tips for Dubai in 2 days

  • Group things by area: day 1 is Downtown, Bur Dubai and Deira; day 2 is Bur Dubai and the Umm Suqeim coast. To get between them, take a taxi or ride-hailing app, which are fairly priced in Dubai.
  • Best time: November to March. In summer, afternoons on the beach or on foot get tough; do the routes early and retreat to malls and museums.
  • Book the Dubai Frame ahead and check each place’s hours: some change on Fridays and during Ramadan.

Questions

Dubai in 2 days: your questions

Is two days enough for Dubai?

For a first visit, yes. You cover Downtown, the old town, the souks and a slice of coast. The desert, the Palm and the theme parks are left out and need another day. Two days lets you go without rushing.

How much walking is there in total?

The three routes add up to about 5 km: 3.1 km on day one and 1.9 km on day two, plus whatever you walk at the extras. It is all flat, but the heat and waiting in the sun tire you more than the distance.

Where should you stay for this plan?

Near the metro, which links Downtown, Bur Dubai and Deira. Bur Dubai or Deira put you within walking distance of the Creek and the souks; Downtown is beside the Burj Khalifa. The Umm Suqeim coast is farther and easier by taxi.

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