Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Dubai?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Dubai?
Many travelers spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Dubai during their visit. After all, the opulent city has plenty to explore such as the big city activities, the nightlife scene, and the live music.
Dubai is a cosmopolitan and modern city in the UAE with luxury resorts and high-reaching skyscrapers. It's an ultramodern city with a vibrant nightlife scene and many manmade wonders. It's a desert city with luxury shopping malls and unique adventures that tourists can experience.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Dubai? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Dubai?
Dubai, renowned for its numerous sights and attractions, is a major draw for tourists. So with three days, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the opulent city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have at least 3 or as many as 7 days to fully enjoy the city. If you have three days or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend 3 days in Dubai
When visiting Dubai, you can't miss Burj Khalifa as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. Frequented by the wealthy and opulent, the city has world class night clubs and DJs that travel from around to world to perform.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Pub Crawl Dubai: Nightlife Tours ($66)
- Yacht Party Elevate Your Nightlife Experience in Dubai ($109)
Public transit in Dubai is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The city's public transportation system includes buses, water buses, a monorail system, and a metro.
Given that Dubai is a large and popular city, give yourself a full day to uncover the diverse neighborhoods, captivating attractions, and engaging activities scattered throughout the area. Be sure to include visits to some of the city's premier landmarks and quintessential neighborhoods, too. It has glamorous shopping areas, the world's tallest building, and an international, cosmopolitan population.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Car with Driver at Disposal from Dubai ($80)
- Abra Tours - Dubai Sightseeing Cruises ($154)
- Abu Dhabi City Tour in a 4x4 Shared Vehicle ($79)
Live music is very popular in Dubai, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. The city attracts world famous international DJs and musicians giving it one of the world's best music scenes.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Superyacht Experience in Dubai with Dinner and Live Music ($99)
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Drinks & Live Music ($43)
- Dhow Cruise Dinner with Live Music - Marina ($43)
Shopping in Dubai is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. With its many malls, souks, and shopping areas, this is the place to go for luxury shopping. Popular items to purchase include gold and diamond jewelry, shawls, and Persian rugs.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Dubai Miracle Garden and Global Village Shopping Tour ($115)
- Old Dubai Shopping Tour (Textile, Spice and Gold Souq) ($60)
- Dubai Shopping tour ($120)
You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The national dish in the area is khuzi, or ghuzi, which is a meal of roasted lamb or mutton, prepared with rice vegetables and nuts.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Old Dubai Walking Tour, Abra Ride and Tastings ($28)
- Dubai Aladdin Tour: Souks, Creek, Old Dubai and Tastings ($0)
- Dubai Souks, Museums, Street Food Tour with Entry to Dubai Frame ($68)
Is 4 days enough time in Dubai?
Four days is generally not enough time to experience everything in Dubai. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the city's energy, enjoy an evening out, listen to some live music, and browse the shops. To genuinely appreciate the highlights, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for at least 3 or as many as 7 days to immerse themselves fully in the charms of the area. After all, Dubai, a large city brimming with sights and attractions, holds immense popularity among tourists. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend 4 days in Dubai
With 4 days in Dubai, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Dubai a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. The city's most famous landmark is the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. Head to the observation deck for stunning views.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai: Mosque, Palace & Etihad Towers ($115)
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque & Qasr Al Watan Palace ($98)
- Abu Dhabi Sheikh zayed Mosque with Lunch, Louvre & Qasr Al Watan Palace ($200)
Dubai is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. With its many skyscrapers and high end resorts, this is a beautiful city to visit.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Dubai Premium Sunset Safari Camel Ride and Dinner ($59)
- Dubai: Unique SUNSET 4WD Red Dunes Safari ($59)
- Dubai Sunset Safari, Dune Bashing, Live Guitar & Folk Dances ($73)
Is 5 days enough time in Dubai?
With its wealth of sights and attractions, Dubai is a top choice for tourists. Five days is just the right amount of time to see pretty much everything in Dubai. Most visitors prefer to spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days here, and we have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting. Also, Dubai is popular with families and students which enjoy visiting because the city offers activities specifically for them.
Dubai
How to spend 5 days in Dubai
If you have more than 5 days in Dubai, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
The surrounding waters are great for scuba diving and snorkeing, so spend some time in the water to see nature up close. One of the best scuba diving spots is Jumeirah Beach.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Snorkeling with turtles in Fujairah with Transfer & BBQ lunch ($139)
- Two Dives for certified divers and Snorkeling in Fujairah ($141)
- Discovery Scuba Diving in Dubai ($79)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Dubai, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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