The Best Areas to Stay in Dubai for Tourists (By a Local)

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When it comes to your big trip, it’s important to do a little research about the best areas to stay in Dubai for tourists that fit all your needs. Dubai’s main attractions are fairly spread out, so if you are wondering where to stay in Dubai for an epic beach getaway, you might want to choose a hotel in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) or Palm Jumeirah or if you want to be near the Burj Khalifa and Dub a i Mall, a hotel in Downtown Dubai is your best bet!

If you’re having trouble figuring out where exactly to stay on your big trip, fear not. As someone who has called Dubai home since 2022, I’ve got you covered with my expat’s guide to the very best places to stay in Dubai for tourists, broken down by nearby attractions, public transport options, hotel recommendations, and more, so you can make the most out of your Dubai getaway!

Dubai’s Layout, Explained

Once again, Dubai’s main attractions are fairly spread out. You’ll find the Dubai International Airport, Old Dubai (Deira and Bur Dubai), and Downtown Dubai all clustered around the northern part of the city. If you’re wondering where to stay in Dubai for a beach vacation, these aren’t the most convenient locations.

Drive roughly 30-60 minutes to the south, and that’s where you’ll find Dubai’s iconic beach-oriented areas like Palm Jumeirah (the “palm tree island”), Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), and Dubai Marina.

In this guide, I’ll break down each of these neighborhoods based on the distance from Dubai International Airport and give you some details of all of the nearby attractions and best hotels so you can figure out which is the best area to stay in Dubai for you!

The Best Areas to Stay in Dubai for Tourists

Downtown Dubai
Distance from the Airport: 20 Minutes

Downtown Dubai is one of the best places to stay in Dubai if you’re in town for a quick trip and want to treat yourself to a luxurious getaway. You’ll be just a stone’s throw from the airport (just 14 km) and iconic attractions like the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) and the Dubai Mall (the world’s second-largest mall) are literally right on your doorstep.

One of the best parts of staying in Downtown Dubai is that everything is super walkable (unless you’re visiting in the scorchingly hot summer). Stay here and you can easily catch a show at the Dubai Opera House, see the spectacular Dubai Fountain Show, eat your way through the Time Out Market, and shop and eat till you drop at the endless stores and restaurants in Dubai Mall.

The top attractions in “Old Dubai” are also roughly 15 minutes away from Downtown Dubai, including the Spice and Gold souks, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Seef Heritage Souk, and more.

Downtown Dubai is also home to the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station, which is handy if you want to head down to areas like the Dubai Marina (45 minutes on the metro). Plus, taxis are readily available and affordable, perfect for whisking you wherever you’d like to go!

Where to Stay in Downtown Dubai

Budget-Friendly: Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown is a wallet-friendly boutique hotel that puts you within walking distance of attractions like the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and the Design District. The rooms here offer cool wall art, colorful decor, flatscreen TVs, and city or creek views. There’s also a spectacular rooftop pool and bar, a fully outfitted fitness center, a spa, and two on-site restaurants.
Mid-Range: I’m a huge fan of VIDA hotels and VIDA Dubai Mall is no exception. The rooms here are crisp and clean and outfitted with minibars, smart TVs, workstations, rain showers, and gorgeous city views. There’s also a massive outdoor pool with Burj Khalifa views, a fitness center with more views, and direct access to Dubai Mall.
High-End: If you’re looking for a 5-star stay, Address Downtown is tough to beat. Book the Premier Fountain View Room, and you can enjoy views of the Dubai Fountain Show and Burj Khalifa from your private balcony. You’ll also get seven drinking and dining venues, an infinity pool with unreal Burj Khalifa views, a world-class spa, a state-of-the-art gym, and more luxe amenities!

Old Dubai
Distance from the Airport: 15-20 Minutes

If you’d rather swap out luxury high-rise buildings for something more cultural and historical, then you’ll love being based in Old Dubai. Hotels in Old Dubai are generally more affordable than those found in Downtown Dubai, but you’ll still be close to the airport and near a metro station, so you can easily get around the city.

Old Dubai is actually quite large and made up a few different neighborhoods. For the sake of this post, I’ll go over the most popular places in Old Dubai that tourists stay in.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood & Al Seef

If you’re wondering where to stay in Dubai to really immerse yourself in the old-world vibe, you’ll want to choose a hotel near the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood or the adjacent Al Seef Heritage Souk.

There are so many charming things to do in this part of Old Dubai. Stay here and you can spend your days checking out the heritage-style buildings, shopping in the mazelike souks, cruising across the Dubai Creek in an abra (a traditional wooden boat), enjoying authentic Emirati meals in heritage-style courtyards, and just soaking in the culture and history of this heritage-rich part of Old Dubai.

Deira

Also located in part of what is considered Old Dubai, you’ll find the Deira neighborhood just across the Dubai Creek from Al Seef and Al Fahidi. Deira is one of the oldest parts of Dubai, and it’s perhaps best known for being home to the Gold Souk and Spice Souk.

This is arguably the best part of Dubai to stay in if you’re on a budget, as you’ll find lots of affordable accommodation options in this part of town. It’s also a great pick if you’re visiting for a quick 24-hour trip to Dubai, since the airport is just 15 minutes away. Stay here and you can easily tick off Old Dubai, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and the Dubai Fountain Show off your bucket list within a day.

What I personally love about Deira is that it’s bursting with character and chaos and is unlike any other neighborhood in Dubai. This is where you’ll find street food stalls galore, as well as some of the most affordable restaurants in the city. The Indian food options in this part of town are seemingly endless!

Deira also has a couple of metro stations, so you can easily get to and from the airport or be transported to more far-flung parts of Dubai, like the Dubai Marina.

Where to Stay in Old Dubai

Budget-Friendly: The sleek and modern guest rooms at Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef have cool Dubai skyline wall art, smart TVs, Nespresso coffee machines, yoga mats, and retro minifridges. There’s also a great rooftop pool, bar, and Mediterranean restaurant with amazing creek views, as well as a gym.
Mid-Range: Located in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, XVA Art Hotel has 15 boutique rooms adorned with local art, handwoven rugs, whitewashed walls, and wood beamed ceilings. Set in a lush courtyard, XVA Café is one of the most popular restaurants in town.
Mid-Range: Arabian Boutique Hotel is the first Emirati boutique hotel in Old Dubai and has just 20 bespoke rooms and suites in what was formerly the residence of a first-generation dignitary. With their vintage decor, exposed wood ceilings, and handwoven rugs, the rooms tap into the charms of Old Dubai while still offering luxurious amenities like designer toiletries and plush bathrobes.
Mid-Range: Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai is seamlessly incorporated into the souks of the Al Seef heritage district. The rooms to have cool vintage decor and plenty of Old Dubai charm, as well as modern touches, including flatscreen TVs, Nespresso machines, and bathrobe. and slipper sets.

Palm Jumeirah
Distance from the Airport: 20-30 Minutes

OK, so now we’re moving on to the best places to stay in Dubai if you want to be near the beach! If you’re planning the ultimate beach holiday, you really can’t go wrong with a stay on the famous Palm Jumeirah (Dubai’s manmade palm tree-shaped island).

The island’s “trunk” and “palm fronds” are lined with sprawling resorts, luxury hotels, and romantic retreats, so there’s really something to suit all tastes. Plus, you’ll get beaches galore if you base yourself in Palm Jumeirah.

If you want to go all out on your Dubai vacation, it’s well worth booking a stay at one of the many ritzy resorts, which offer everything from multiple pools, swanky on-site bars and nightclubs, 10+ dining establishments, private beaches, world-class spas, and so much more.

Palm Jumeirah is also where you’ll find some of Dubai’s top attractions like the massive Aquaventure Waterpark, the iconic Atlantis, The Palm hotel, and the city’s newest architectural marvel, Atlantis The Royal hotel.

The only downside of basing yourself in Palm Jumeirah is that you’re kind of disconnected from the rest of the city. That being said, you can easily hail a taxi to take you downtown (20 minutes) or to the Dubai Marina (10 minutes). You can also get around Palm Jumeirah using the monorail, which runs the length of the island.

Where to Stay in Palm Jumeirah

Mid-Range: Located on the coveted Palm West Beach, voco Dubai The Palm gets rave reviews for its 4-star amenities including the huge rooftop pool and bar with surreal Dubai Marina and Arabian Gulf views, buzzing rooftop bar and lounge, exclusive lounger-lined beach area, state-of-the-art gym, and sophisticated rooms and suites.
High-End: If you’re in Dubai for a honeymoon or a romantic retreat, One&Only The Palm Dubai has it all. Take a dip in the palm-tree-lined pool, enjoy the private beach in your personal cabana, get pampered at the spa, wine and dine at the four bars and restaurants — the list goes on!
Ultra-High-End: If you really want to go big, book a stay at the iconic Atlantis The Royal. This is one of the “World’s 50 Best Hotels” so expect world-class amenities from a private beach to VIP service, 17 bars and restaurants (including Nobu by the Beach), the luxurious AWAKEN Spa, the exclusive Cloud 22 infinity pool, and so much more! Oh, and the rooms, suites, and Signature Penthouses are as luxe as they come.

Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
Distance from the Airport: 40 Minutes

JBR has a huge beach, complete with views of the Ain Dubai.

For a beach vacation that’s a little bit more lowkey than what you’ll find in Palm Jumeirah, JBR is easily one of the best places to stay in Dubai. From 5-star high-rises to more budget-friendly hotels, there are tons of hotels to choose from in JBR.

Plus, no matter where you stay, you’ll be a short walk from the white sand beach and the calm, tepid waters of the Arabian Gulf. This is one of the most popular beaches in Dubai, so it does attract tons of tourists and visitors alike, but it’s a lovely place to while away the days because there are so many things to do in JBR!

Plus, you can embark on all sorts of excursions from here, from jet skiing around Palm Jumeirah to getting thrills on banana boat rides to going on fun fishing trips.

You can also take a short walk over the pedestrian bridge to Bluewaters Island, which is the site of Ain Dubai, the world’s largest Ferris wheel. Bluewaters also has quite a few cool cafes and restaurants that offer gorgeous water views.

Another perk of staying in JBR is that the beach is lined by a range of international chain restaurants, so whether you want to wine and dine at Eataly, grab some American fast food to bring to the beach, or nosh on Turkish and Lebanese fare at ZouZou, you can pretty much eat around the world in JBR.

JBR has several tram stops, which will take you directly to the metro stations in the adjacent Dubai Marina. So getting to the airport, Old Dubai, and Downtown Dubai using public transport is simple.

Where to Stay in JBR

Budget-Friendly: Rove JBR is a new hotel that gives you exclusive access to the COVEBEACH luxury beach club. In addition to their budget-friendly hotel rooms, you can opt for a studio or one-bedroom apartment which give you amenities like a washing machine and kitchenette. So this is a great option for families or those looking for a longer stay.
Mid-Range: Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach is a luxury 5-star hotel situated right on JBR The Walk. Perks of staying here are the spectacular infinity pool with ocean and Ain Dubai views, wellness center and spa, on-site bars and restaurants, and luxurious rooms and suites (many with amazing ocean views).
High-End: The sky-high Address Beach Resort is as luxurious as they come. The luxury rooms are outfitted with high-tech amenities like in-room iPads and interactive 55-inch flatscreen TVs, as well as deep soaking tubs, plush robes, and views galore. In addition to the nine on-site restaurants and lounges, you’ll have exclusive access to the world’s tallest outdoor infinity pool on the 77th Floor, which is open to guests only!

Dubai Marina
Distance from the Airport: 30-40 Minutes

The Dubai Marina is where I live and I can’t recommend staying here enough. I’ve lived here for years, and I never get sick of walking along the Marina Walk while taking in the views of the towering buildings and watching the massive yachts glide by in the marina. Trust me, there are tons of fun things to do in Dubai Marina!

Stay in this part of town and you can get a hotel room with marina views, walk to the beach in JBR in 10 minutes, shop till you drop at the Marina Mall, stroll along the 7-kilometer Marina Walk, and go wining and dining at all of the restaurants in Pier 7!

With multiple metro and tram stops, you’ll be well connected to JBR, Downtown Dubai, Old Dubai, and the airport. And if you want to explore Palm Jumeirah, you’re just a 10-minute taxi ride away!

Where to Stay in Dubai MArina

Budget-Friendly: If you’re looking for a trendy boutique hotel that won’t break the bank, Rove Dubai Marina is your best bet. You’ll be steps from the Marina Walk and a 10-minute walk to the beach. The rooms feature 48-inch smart TVs, ultra-fast Wi-Fi, minifridges, and rainfall showers. Plus, there’s an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.
Mid-Range: The sophisticated rooms at Millennium Place Marina all boast floor-to-ceiling windows with city or marina views, workstations, minifridges, marble bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi. There is also an outdoor pool with stellar views, a state-of-the-art gym, 24-hour room service, and easy access to the metro.
High-End: If you’re looking for an adults-only getaway just steps from the Dubai Marina and JBR, W Dubai Mina Seyahi is the coolest option. The rooms here are super stylish and have private balconies with ocean views and marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. There’s also an awesome infinity pool with ocean views, a private beach, a rooftop lounge, and much more!

Dubai’s Layout, Explained

The Best Areas to Stay in Dubai for Tourists