Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Dubai?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Dubai?
Many travelers spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Dubai during their visit. After all, the glamorous 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 one or two weeks 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 one week enough time in Dubai?
One week is more than enough time to see everything that Dubai has to offer. Many visitors prefer to spend three to seven days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the big city activities, the nightlife scene, the live music, and the quaint shops at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.
How to spend a week 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)
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)
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.
The beautiful beaches await you in Dubai, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. There are a number of both private and public beaches in the city. They are almost all man-made, so they are large, flat, and have soft sand. It's also generally safe to swim at most beaches.
A few tour suggestions include:
- 90 Minutes Dubai Palm Jumeirah Jetski Tour ($210)
- 30mins Burj Al Arab Jetski Tour ($86)
- 2 Hours Jet Ski Tour Dubai - Atlantis -JBR -Burj al Arab - Burj Khalifa views ($239)
As the live music scene is so popular in Dubai, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
After you've explored most of Dubai, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- From Dubai: Abu Dhabi Full-Day Trip with Louvre & Grand Mosque ($98)
- Khasab Musandam Cruise Lunch Day Trip from Dubai ($220)
- Private Tour - Abu Dhabi Full Day Trip from Dubai ($156)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Dubai.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Dubai?
Two weeks is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Dubai. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. You could also use Dubai as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.
Dubai
How to spend 2 weeks in Dubai
With 2 weeks in Dubai, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Dubai. Plenty of amazing options are available.
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.
Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.
As the live music scene is so popular in Dubai, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Dubai is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Dubai.
Because this is a world-class shopping destination, you'll need yet another day to find the best deals. Each area of Dubai offers a different vibe and atmosphere, and along with it, different styles of shops.
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.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Dubai. Plenty of amazing options are available.
As the live music scene is so popular in Dubai, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Dubai.
Dubai is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.
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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