Visit Dubai: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Spending 4 Days in Dubai

Dubai is a city of superlatives – the world's tallest building, enormous malls, artificial islands – but it also has a historic creek, traditional souks and a vast desert on its doorstep. Four days is the perfect amount of time to see both sides.

Where to stay

• Downtown – close to the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, and on the metro.
• Dubai Marina and JBR – beach, waterfront restaurants and a lively evening atmosphere.
• Palm Jumeirah – resort hotels with private beaches.
• Deira and Al Fahidi – cheaper, characterful and close to the old souks.

Day 1: Downtown Dubai

Start with the view from At the Top of the Burj Khalifa – book a sunset slot in advance. Spend the afternoon in the Dubai Mall, home to an aquarium and an ice rink, then watch the Dubai Fountain show on the lake in the evening; it runs regularly after dark.

Day 2: Old Dubai

Walk the lanes of the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, with its wind-tower houses, small museums and cafés. Cross Dubai Creek on an abra, a traditional wooden water taxi, for a tiny fare, and explore the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of the Future, one of the city's most striking buildings, or the Dubai Frame for views of old and new Dubai.

Day 3: The desert

Book an afternoon desert safari: dune driving, sandboarding, a camel ride and dinner at a desert camp under the stars. For something calmer, choose a morning nature drive or a hot-air balloon flight at sunrise.

Day 4: Beaches and the Palm

Relax on Kite Beach or the beach at JBR, then head to Palm Jumeirah – take the monorail for views of the island and visit The View at The Palm. End your trip with an evening dhow dinner cruise in Dubai Marina.

Bonus day: Abu Dhabi

If you have an extra day, Abu Dhabi is about an hour and a half away. The white-marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is breathtaking, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi combines world-class art with stunning architecture.

Seasonal highlights

In the cooler months, Global Village brings together pavilions, food and entertainment from dozens of countries, and outdoor markets and events take over the city.

Getting around

The Dubai Metro is clean, efficient and good value; use a Nol card. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to find for places the metro doesn't reach.

Good to know

• The UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday, and Friday is a short working day; malls and attractions open every day.
• During Ramadan, be respectful about eating and drinking in public during daylight.
• Drink plenty of water, especially from May to October.

Heading on to another stopover city? Compare Dubai with our guide to Singapore, or add history to your trip with a whirlwind tour of Jordan.