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Solely acquired 48 hours in Dubai? Right here’s the best way to squeeze in the perfect Dubai has to supply with an in depth 2-day Dubai itinerary
Dubai, a metropolis of beautiful contrasts, the place historical traditions mix seamlessly with futuristic marvels, gives an unforgettable expertise for each traveller. However what in the event you solely have 48 hours to discover this vibrant metropolis?
Concern not! Our rigorously curated 2-day Dubai itinerary ensures you’ll benefit from each second, capturing the essence of this dazzling metropolis. Whether or not you’re a tradition fanatic, a thrill-seeker, or a luxurious lover, this information will show you how to navigate by means of Dubai’s prime sights, hidden gems, and culinary delights.
Get able to embark on an exhilarating journey by means of a metropolis that guarantees to enchant and encourage, all inside simply two days!
Your flight occasions could imply following a precise two days as we’ve set out is troublesome, so in fact, combine and match recommended mornings and evenings to greatest fit your timings and pursuits
It is a tremendous detailed information, so do bookmark this web page for later in your browser or reserve it to Pinterest
Acquired Longer? You additionally need to try these itineraries
Issues to Know Earlier than Visiting Dubai
Earlier than diving into the juicy particulars of WHAT TO DO, make sure you’ve checked out our important planning data. We cowl in a lot larger element:
- Dubai eating guides – all our favorite locations to eat, eating specialities, bars and particular events.
- Finest occasions to go to Dubai – don’t be caught out by the climate or non secular occasions; listed here are the perfect occasions to go to Dubai.
- Take out journey insurance coverage! We’re in an ever-changing world at current, while Dubai stays open for enterprise, don’t get caught quick; be sure your journey is comprehensively insured.
Transport in Dubai for two days
Over the course of utilizing our 2-day itinerary, you’ll need to take a mix of taxies, the Metro and personal excursions.
We’ve given primary instructions on the best way to get to every place by public transport if doable, or the place you might want a taxi to get door-to-door with ease. You’ll find our full information to Dubai Transport choices right here.
Metro Price: In case you keep in Dubai for less than 2 days, it’s endorsed to get a Crimson Nol and prime it up solely as you want it (The cardboard prices simply 2AED + add your fare) We clarify all of the fares and various kinds of Nol in additional element right here.
A notice on taxies: Within the hottest a part of the 12 months (i.e. about Could to October!), be cautious of how far you possibly can stroll in the course of the day. Locations could look comparatively shut and inside strolling distance on a map, however underneath the warmth of the solar, a brief taxi/Uber could very a lot be price it (noting a minimal fare applies of 12 AED).
Hiring a automotive: Except you’re a super-confident driver or plan on taking a number of journeys out of the town, you might be greatest counting on taxis and excursions throughout a brief keep in Dubai.
What can I match into two days in Dubai?
With solely 48 hours in Dubai, there are undoubtedly some highlights you’ll must miss out on. We’ve set out a combined itinerary right here that may enchantment to a broad viewers; these with children to think about could need to prioritise the theme parks extra, or culturally curious could need to add on some further day journeys and skip the seashore and fashionable elements of Dubai.
We’d suggest when you’ve determined in your itinerary, guide prematurely the sights and excursions you need in an effort to assure your spot, as numbers could be restricted (and utilizing a reserving app equivalent to Get Your Information, you get a money-back assure in case your journey must be cancelled).
When planning out your days, notice that Dubai’s weekend has now modified to align with a lot of the Western world and runs for two.5 days from Friday afternoon till Sunday; today are MUCH busier with residents additionally out and about, particularly Friday afternoons after prayer time. Some sights could open in a while a Friday and Saturday evening.
For a complete checklist of every thing there may be to see and do in Dubai, pop over right here – we now have 150+ concepts!.
Day 1 – 2 Day Dubai Itinerary: Previous Meets New
Journey from Dubai’s bustling buying and selling port previous to the futuristic fashionable metropolis
On your first day of sightseeing in Dubai, it actually helps to return to the grassroots of what Dubai metropolis is about; a busy buying and selling port metropolis primarily based round Dubai Creek.
Get your bearings at Dubai Body
Let’s begin your exploration of Dubai, taking within the views from the Dubai Body. Just about what it says – it’s an enormous image body! One of many first vacationer highlights you’ll seize coming from the airport into the town.
You ascend one aspect of the 150m excessive body (48 flooring) after which stroll throughout the highest. The see-through floored sky deck provides you fabulous views of Previous Dubai, Dubai Creek to Sharjah and past in a single path, and the fashionable skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the opposite.
Study extra about visiting the Dubai Body right here
Getting there: Nearest Metro is Al Jafiliya for Zabeel Park, but it surely’s a good stroll, you might want a taxi/Careem drop off
Wander Al Fahidi Historic Neighborhood
That is the oldest a part of Dubai metropolis, a labyrinth of slender laneways that date again to the nineteenth century. The realm is protected in order that the town’s heritage doesn’t turn out to be misplaced endlessly underneath the sprawling skyscrapers. Many of the conventional sandy-coloured low rise buildings are actually galleries, museums and small cafes.
Inside this space, you will discover the Dubai Museum, housed inside the Al Faihi Fort, which dates again to 1787. At solely 3 AED it’s best to positively pop your head in for extra perception into the nation’s Bedouin previous and the pre-oil period of Dubai. {STILL CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS}
There are a lot of different Dubai museums to be found inside the laneways, the Espresso Museum (entry price 10 AED) is considered one of our favourites price looking for out.
Getting there: Al Fahidi Bus Station or Al Fahidi Metro station
Lunch at Al Seef Waterfront
By now, you’ve most definitely labored up an urge for food, so in the event you’ve not stopped for lunch in XVA Cafe or Arabian Tea Home located inside Al Faihidi Historic Neighbourhood, now could be time to go to considered one of many eating places on this waterfront growth. Seamlessly mixing previous with new, it’s straight throughout the road, subsequent to the Al Faihidi Marine Transport Station.
Al Seef is about up like a conventional souk so that you’ll be capable of do your buying right here too. Youngsters could take pleasure in popping into Museum of Illusions or have some enjoyable with photographs within the instagrammable laneways.
Cross Dubai Creek on an Abra
An absolute should for an genuine previous Dubai expertise! While there are much more fashionable strategies today of crossing Dubai Creek, a conventional abra at 1 AED per particular person continues to be a steal!
Discover the Conventional Deira Souks
Relying on the warmth, you would spend a number of hours misplaced within the laneways of Deira, the most well-liked stops being the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk. It’s all open-air, so it may be heavy going and a little bit of strolling mid-afternoon within the hotter months.
On a brief Dubai itinerary with simply two days, we propose you determine whether or not to spend your night in Previous Dubai or skip to fashionable Dubai to complete your day 1—within the hotter summer season months, we propose the latter.
Alternative 1: An Night in Previous Dubai
Prolong your journey to the Dubai Souks by becoming a member of in with a night meals tour. Being the multicultural metropolis that Dubai is, you could be positive many dishes are vying for consideration as “native” delicacies, along with conventional Emirati or Bedouin-style dishes.
One of the vital extremely advisable meals excursions in Dubai is Frying Pan Adventures, who supply varied choices for small teams to have genuine experiences in Dubai’s streets. Most group excursions begin and finish in Deira.
Alternatively, hop on to one of many dinner cruises that function alongside Dubai Creek for a style of Previous Dubai from the water.
Alternative 2: A night in fashionable Dubai
Now after we say fashionable Dubai, we may very well be speaking about a variety of the town! We’re referring particularly on this itinerary to exploring Dubai Mall and the Downtown space of Dubai, residence to most of the metropolis’s fashionable skyscrapers together with Burj Khalifa.
If buying’s not your factor to not worry, Dubai Mall is solely a stopping level to begin exploring Downtown. There’s loads of enjoyable household sights, sports activities and adrenaline actions to take pleasure in inside the Mall, or step out and discover round Burj Lake, even absorb a present at Dubai Opera.
Souk Al Bahar
Simply throughout a pedestrian bridge from Dubai Mall, you’ll discover Souk Al Bahar. This contemporary market is made within the design of a conventional souk providing handicrafts by means of to tremendous eating and spectacular views over Burj Lake. Don’t anticipate to pay the identical costs as on the conventional souks in Deira, however a enjoyable Dubai expertise on the coronary heart of the motion.
You’ll find a wide selection of locations to seize a drink and chunk round downtown Dubai right here.
Dubai Fountains
This brings us properly to considered one of Dubai’s hottest free issues to do at evening! Beginning at 6:00 PM nightly, then each half hour, watch the fabulously choreographed mild and sound present on Burj Lake, sitting on the foot of Burj Khalifa. Later within the night the Burj Khalifa additionally lights up for half-hourly exhibits (timings are seasonal).
For a close-up view of the fountain present, you possibly can take an abra experience on the lake. Alternatively, our favorite is to select one of many eating places with uninterrupted views in both Dubai Mall or Souk Al Bahar and dine while attending to see the present a number of occasions over with out the crowds.
Burj Khalifa
End your first day by scaling the heights of Burj Khalifa, the World’s tallest tower. There’s an commentary deck on the 124th and a hundred and twenty fifth flooring (further packages even take you to the 148th ground!) and even dine at At.mosphere restaurant and lounge on Degree 122.
We’ve an in depth information right here that units out all of your Burj Khalifa visiting choices.
If there’s one a part of your Dubai itinerary you merely should guide prematurely, it’s the Burj Khalifa. Tickets on the door are extortionately dearer and might promote out. Do permit a great 2 hours for queuing and having a great go searching. Notice sundown and dawn slots (weekends) value extra and guide up sooner.
Sincere Choice: On a tight itinerary for time or cash, you might need to skip going up Burj Khalifa. Significantly in the event you already went up the Dubai Body within the morning, you do get views means additional into the gap however the ticket worth and queuing time can eat into your finances and time.
Getting there: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station on the Crimson Line Metro then there’s an air-conditioned travellator connecting you to your complete surrounding space of Downtown
Alternate Day 1: New then Previous Dubai
You may, in fact, plan Day 1 in reverse. You may like to begin your day at Dubai Mall and visiting the Burj Khalifa early on with out lengthy queues, get your bearings over the town and catch lunch round Dubai Mall or Souk Al Bahar earlier than spending the afternoon and night in Al Fahidi Historic Neighbourhood and crossing Dubai Creek within the night to spend time within the markets or catch a dinner cruise.
Simply bear in mind it takes time to get between the 2 areas of the town and you may’t ‘match all of it’ in underneath a day.
Day 2 – 2 Day Dubai Itinerary: Hit the sand! Desert & Seashore
A day put aside for sand and surf – dune browsing that’s!
You may deal with this present day in two methods – hitting the desert very first thing or the very last thing within the day – simply keep away from being out within the desert center of the day regardless of which means round your plan it, particularly as you hit the summer season months.
Dubai Desert Safari
Overlook the concrete; it’s time to go and expertise the true Dubai out within the desert! Tour operators will choose you up out of your metropolis lodging in 4×4 and drive into the dunes on the town outskirts, or a restricted variety of operators can work within the protected Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve for your morning desert safari.
There are broadly two various kinds of desert safari: these centered on the desert habitat itself and people centered on dune bashing and sand sports activities for the next adrenaline thrill.
The night camps are inclined to focus extra on the latter, ending in a BBQ dinner and shisha in a camp. Each morning and night desert excursions are more likely to embody a camel experience of their itinerary, and presumably the choice to take part in some sand sports activities like boarding or dune buggies.
For these after one thing extra sedate, our favorite supplier is Platinum Heritage. A little bit extra dear than some, they provide smaller teams and a extra real desert expertise within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), whether or not you select an early morning, night, and even in a single day safari.
On this information, we offer a complete checklist of all of the desert safari operators which are licenced to work within the DDCR.
Getting there: No want to fret about your 4×4 abilities; tour operators will choose you up out of your lodge or a handy metropolis location and drop you again
Seashores in Dubai
It’s time to discover considered one of Dubai’s thrilling fashionable beachfront districts and get out on the water. A visit to Dubai simply isn’t full with out not less than touching the nice and cozy waters of the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf, relying on who you ask!).
JBR, Bluewaters & Dubai Marina
Many first-timers to Dubai discover the realm of JBR and Dubai Marina an ideal place to begin. Familiarise your self with The Stroll & The Seashore precincts, then in the event you’d wish to stretch your legs additional, take a stroll over to the ultra-modern Bluewaters Island to dine and marvel on the Dubai skyline alongside Jumeirah Seashore.
You may simply spend an entire afternoon and night within the JBR space between actions alongside the seashore – suppose inflatable water parks, splash pads, jet ski and flyboarding, Flying Cup sky-high eating – and plentiful eating choices learn extra on what to do round JBR right here!
If time permits, you may additionally need to head out into the beautiful Gulf waters with a cruise. Plentiful operators could be present in Dubai Marina, from velocity boat excursions round Palm Jumeirah to jet ski adventures, or for a extra sedate expertise at a fraction of the price attempt the RTA Ferry!
Getting there: JBR/Dubai Marina is the right place to remain for two days in Dubai because of the excessive variety of spacious lodge residences and resorts with direct beachfront entry. If coming by Metro from Previous Dubai or Downtown, you need to alight at DAMAC Properties or DMCC Metro Stations.
Dubai additionally has loads of public seashores; some are fully free, and others have a small Dubai municipality cost however wonderful amenities. Native favourites embody Al Mamzar Park and Kite Seashore has barely larger waves than others, or head to Sundown Seashore for iconic views of the Burj Al Arab – naturally round sundown for the perfect views!
Alternatively, even in the event you’re not staying at considered one of Dubai’s fancy beachfront resorts, it’s straightforward to select up a day cross to one of many unbelievable seashore golf equipment to spoil your self for a day and luxuriate in sundowners on the seashore.
In case you are visiting within the peak of summer season, you’d seemingly want to switch or scratch this largely out of doors day of play and exchange it with some additional actions from our indoor information to Dubai
Souk Madinat Jumeirah
The right place for just a little retail remedy to complete up your journey to Dubai is Souk Madinat Jumeirah. A contemporary souk (market) inbuilt conventional fashion, with indoor and out of doors (seasonal) stalls and outlets providing vacationer tat to real souvenirs and an outstanding vary of eateries to select from.
You may get some sensible Burj Al Arab views right here and even take an abra out on the waterways across the extravagant Jumeirah resorts (a bit extra dear than the 1 AED on Dubai Creek, however what a tremendous backdrop!). Plentiful bars and eating places may also be discovered right here, catering to all tastes.
Getting there: Souk Madinat Jumeirah will not be on the Metro, however you will get to the Mall of the Emirates and take a brief taxi from there, or cease at Web Metropolis after which hop on Bus 88.
What Does Our 2-day Dubai Itinerary Exclude?
With solely two days, there’s an terrible lot we now have in the reduction of from our basic 7 Day Dubai itinerary to attempt to squeeze every thing in.
Firstly, you’ll seemingly must rule out any day journeys or heading additional than the outskirts of Dubai. While all the different main cities of the UAE are inside a 2-hour drive of Dubai, a 2-day timetable is just too tight to suit something further in (except it’s a subsequent journey and also you’re seeking to construct on earlier Dubai experiences by testing the opposite Emirates).
We embody an inventory of recommended Dubai day journeys under in the event you’d wish to trade Day 2 in Dubai for an out-of-town expertise.
We’ve additionally excluded a giant theme park day. The theme parks in Dubai are large, so you really want a full day for every. Except you’re complete theme park junkies, you’ll must sacrifice this on a good 2-day itinerary. These with children, although, could properly need to exchange one of many extra cultural days with a theme park day if burning off vitality earlier than your subsequent flight is the purpose of the sport! Our full checklist of theme park options under.
Enjoyable time – what we haven’t actually constructed into this action-packed two days is downtime! In case you’re coming to Dubai for the fantastic sunshine quite than the sightseeing, you would rapidly scrap the whole thing above and easily spend two days on the seashore or poolside – however take a look at every thing else you’re lacking out on!!
Various Actions for Your Dubai Itinerary
There was solely a lot we may slot in an preliminary 2-day Dubai itinerary! We’ve included some options under, significantly in the event you’re not a theme park fan you might need to attempt considered one of these as an alternative.
Further cultural actions in Dubai
Day journeys from Dubai
- Take a coach tour to the UAE capital metropolis Abu Dhabi to see the unbelievable Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre and the Presidential Palace
- Head over the mountains to the east coast and spend a while in Fujairah together with snorkelling and scuba diving alternatives
- Scale to the UAE’s tallest peak in Ras Al Khaimah and expertise a contemporary pearl diving farm
- Cross the border into the distant Omani enclave of Musandam for a day of crusing, dolphin recognizing and snorkelling
- Try the superb out of doors adventures, hikes and water sports activities on supply at Wadi Hub, Hatta
See our full information to Dubai day journeys
Continuously requested questions on Dubai itineraries
It’s definitely not sufficient time to get a correct really feel for what the town is all about, but it surely’s simply lengthy sufficient for an introductory expertise with just a little previous and new, desert and metropolis combined collectively. It’s lengthy sufficient to stretch your legs between flights and get some insights, however definitely nowhere close to lengthy sufficient to really expertise what Dubai is all about.
If you wish to “see all of it” and discover extra of the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula, we’d suggest two weeks to totally cowl the United Arab Emirates and not less than one week to cowl Dubai’s highlights.
Sure, in principle, you would squeeze in an thrilling and action-packed journey to each cities in 2 days, however you can be exhausted and solely scratch the floor. You may slot in simply the Grand Mosque for half a day or a few of the highest Abu Dhabi sights on a full-day journey, however there can be issues you’ll want to miss in each cities to squeeze this in.
Ideally, in the event you’d wish to get a great overview of each cities we’d counsel 2 to three days in Abu Dhabi and seven or 8 in Dubai – 14 days in the event you actually need to see the entire of the United Arab Emirates with a number of break days built-in.
It is determined by what kind of finances you might be working at. We discuss extra about cash issues right here.
In case you think about a cheapish lodge room for 2, near the Metro could be obtained for round 200 AED an evening, a day cross on the Metro is 20 AED and meals, in the event you go low-cost and cheerful, may boil all the way down to 50-100 AED a day.
So earlier than your airfares and any fancy extras like waterpark days or desert excursions, let’s say 300 AED per day or c 600 AED for two days in Dubai ($170 USD). It’s not the most affordable metropolis however there are methods it can save you cash and sights you possibly can take pleasure in totally free as we talk about in our finances information to Dubai.
Earlier than you go… Extra necessary issues it’s best to know when planning a visit to Dubai
Take me again to the Dubai Journey Weblog
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