One Day in Dubai: An Expat’s Carefully Curated Itinerary
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from this site, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win. Thanks for supporting me here at Travel Lush!
As someone who now calls Dubai home, trust me when I say there are a great many things that should be on every first-timer’s Dubai bucket list. So it makes sense that if you’ve only got one day in Dubai, you want to pack in as many iconic Dubai activities as possible!
For the sake of this one-day Dubai itinerary, you’re going to be busy. But it’s going to be well worth it for the chance to marvel at the world’s tallest building, cruise around the Dubai Marina, shop at souks in Old Dubai, see the famous Dubai Fountain Show, and so much more!
This itinerary assumes that you have a full day in Dubai, starting early in the morning and going until well into the evening. Depending on your flight times, feel free to switch things up so you can tick off as many of these attractions and activities as possible during your layover.
This itinerary also assumes that you’re not visiting in the hot and humid summer months (July and August). If that’s the case, some of the outdoor activities in this itinerary will be fairly unbearable, if not off-limits.
Finally, these are all recommendations that I give to my friends and family who have limited time in Dubai. But if one of these activities doesn’t appeal to you, I’m also going to give a list of alternatives at the end of this article, so you can pick and choose which activities you’d like to do to make the most of your quick visit to Dubai!
Where to stay in Dubai
When it comes to where to base yourself in Dubai, it’s important to know that Dubai is a spread-out city. So, for the sake of this itinerary, I suggest staying in either Downtown Dubai or Bur Dubai (Old Dubai).
Both of these locations will put you roughly 15-20 minutes from the airport. Plus, both are situated near most of the activities and attractions you’re going to tick off during your epic 24 hours in Dubai!
How to get from the airport to your hotel
Getting around Dubai is actually fairly easy and affordable. Assuming you’re staying in either Downtown Dubai or Old Dubai, the easiest and fastest way to get to your hotel is by taking a taxi.
All three terminals at the Dubai International Airport have an official taxi rank outside (follow the signs). There is usually a short line, but it’s reassuring to know that these taxis always use a meter. These taxis are cream colored with red, yellow, or green roofs. (Ignore the men who might offer you a ride in one of the black vehicles.) From the airport, there’s an AED25 base fee and a charge of AED2.22 for each kilometer after that.
If you don’t want to deal with finding the official taxi rank, you can always book a private airport transfer. This service is super convenient because the driver will be waiting for you with a sign at the arrivals hall.
One Day in Dubai: The Ultimate Itinerary
Go Back in Time in Old Dubai
Walk from Al Seef to Al Fahidi Historical District
Start your morning by going back in time in Old Dubai. I suggest getting dropped off at Al Seef, which is part of Old Dubai’s heritage district, and walking along the Dubai Creek to the Al Fahidi Historical District where you can grab breakfast.
As you meander around this waterfront area, you’ll see old-world-style buildings, souk-inspired shops, and charming courtyard restaurants. You’ll walk for roughly 20 minutes until you reach Al Fahidi Historical District, where you should check out hidden gems like the Dubai Museum at Al Fahidi Fort, the Coffee Museum, and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
Grab an Emirati Brunch at Arabian tea house
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time for breakfast at the Arabian Tea House. This place is an institution in Dubai and it’s a great place to dine to get an authentic taste of Emirati cuisine. This place was even featured on “Somebody Feed Phil” (Season 7), so you know they’re doing something right!
There’s just something about soaking up the old-world vibes of Old Dubai in the lush courtyard while noshing on local Emirati breakfast favorites – from Balaleet with Omelet and Chebab Bread to Hummus with Foul and Grilled Halloumi.
But if you’d like to try a few different dishes, I highly suggest ordering the Special Emirati Breakfast Tray which comes with traditional favorites like Balaleet with Omelet, Dango, Bajella, home-made jams, local cheeses, and fresh flatbreads.
ride an abra to deira
After you’ve had your fill, take an abra (a traditional wooden boat) across Dubai Creek to Deira. You’ll want to hop on at the Al Fahidi abra station and go to the Deira Old Souq abra station. This is a public boat that will depart when full, and the journey only costs AED 1. Riding an abra is a must on any one-day Dubai itinerary!
Over in Deira (which is still Old Dubai) is where you’ll find some of Dubai’s most famous souks, including the glitzy Gold Souk and the fragrant Spice Souk. It’s well worth taking your time to do some shopping and just soak in all of the organized chaos of Deira’s historic souks.
Explore the Dubai Marina and JBR
From Deira, you can either take the metro (around 1 hour) or a taxi (around 35 minutes) to either the Dubai Marina or JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residences). These areas are located within walking distance of one another, so it’s entirely possible to tick them both off in one afternoon.
What to do in the Dubai Marina
For the sake of this itinerary, we’ll start off in the Dubai Marina. There’s tons to keep you busy for the afternoon in this part of town alone, but one of my top recommendations is to stroll around part of the Dubai Marina Walk, a 7-kilometer pedestrian promenade. The views from all around the Marina Walk are gorgeous. Though for epic selfies, snap a few photos from Al Sayorah Bridge.
Another recommendation would be to grab lunch or drinks at Pier 7. You’ll find a different F&B concept on each of the 7 floors of Pier 7, but Cargo is always a good option for its Pan-Asian food and cocktails and glorious marina views.
And if you’re looking for a thrill, you can always sign up to go ziplining over the Dubai Marina!
What to Do in JBR
You can walk from the Dubai Marina to JBR in 10-15 minutes. JBR is where you’ll find one of the most popular beaches in Dubai, as well as tons of bars and restaurants lining The Walk at JBR, which runs parallel to the beach. If you’re dreaming of beach vacation vibes, you’ll find them in spades in JBR.
My personal suggestions for things to do in JBR are to go over to Bluewaters Island, where you can ride the Ain Dubai, the world’s tallest Ferris wheel (you can get tickets here). If you prefer to chill at a beach club for a bit, you can’t go wrong with Bla Bla.
Or if you want to make the most of your afternoon, I suggest looking into doing this 2-hour luxury yacht tour. This tour will allow you to get epic views of the Dubai skyline, including landmarks like the Dubai Marina, Ain Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, both Atlantis hotels, Burj Al Arab, and more. Plus, you get to lounge on a yacht for 2 hours – it doesn’t get much more Dubai than this!
Spend the Evening in Downtown Dubai
As your day in Dubai comes to an end, it’s time to explore Downtown Dubai. Downtown is roughly 30 minutes by taxi or 45 minutes by metro from the Dubai Marina.
It might sound like too much to fit into one evening, but thankfully all of Downtown Dubai’s main attractions are within walking distance of one another.
We’re going to focus on seeing the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, and the famous Dubai Fountain Show. But the order you do these in is completely up to you!
go to the top of the burj khalifa
If you can time your visit with sunset, I highly recommend going to the top of the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) during sunset. That being said, the experience is incredible any time, day or night.
Either way, you’ll want to get the “At the Top Sky” tickets. The extra cost is more than worth it to skip the long line and get exclusive access to the observation deck on the 148th floor (it’s way less crowded), as well as the general observation decks on the 124th and 125th floors.
But if you don’t feel like paying to go to the top, you can always admire the Burj Khalifa for absolutely free from down below!
see the Dubai Fountain Show
Another must on any Dubai itinerary, the Dubai Fountain Show takes place at the base of the Burj Khalifa every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 11 pm every evening. It gets crowded, so you’ll want to arrive a bit early to get a spot.
If you’d like to enjoy the show over dinner and drinks, you can try to snag a coveted seat on the balcony of the nearby Time Out Market food hall or make reservations for the “floating deck” of the Tap House (Souk Al Bahar). The fountain views from both are awesome!
For a totally unique experience, you can also book tickets to watch the show from a traditional abra (wooden boat) or get the closest “seats” to the show with tickets to the new floating boardwalk (you may even get a little wet!).
explore dubai mall
The Dubai Fountain Show takes place right outside of the Dubai Mall, so you’ll want to pop inside to explore what is one of the largest malls in the world. This place is massive so it’s impossible to see everything if you’re only in Dubai for one day.
But you’ll for sure want to check out the sharks and rays (for free!) outside of the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, grab some sweet treats for the plane from the massive Candylicious store (right across from the aquarium), and take selfies in front of the Dubai Waterfall (pictured above)!
24 Hours in Dubai: 4 Alternate Attractions
- Take a food tour in Old Dubai with Frying Pan Adventures
- Gawk at bird’s-eye Palm views from The View at The Palm
- Spend the day in style at SĀN Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah
- See all the sights on a hop-on hop-off Big Bus Dubai sightseeing tour
