Top destination - Why go there in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ?

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Radisson Blu Downtown, skyline room view
Radisson Blu Downtown, skyline room view

An International hub in the Middle East, by the Persian Gulf, Dubai is a great destination for luxury shopping, nightlife, or simply to relax. As temperatures average 44°C in summer, and 30°C in winter, it might be better to visit it in winter season, although most places are climatized, and there are close to no sidewalk to enjoy a warm stroll . With beach clubs, night clubs, shopping malls, aquaparks, indoor ski slopes, and more, there are plenty of activities to do, for all ages and expectations.

  • Is tap water safe to drink in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ?
  • Yes - but locals rather use it boiled and drink bottled water
  • Average prices in Dubai (USD - 1€ = USD$1.050486 )
  • Public transport ticket : 1.09 |
  • Taxi (5km) : 6.26 |
  • Train (200km) : n.a. |
  • Restaurant (2 persons) : 90 |
  • 5* hotel : 430 |
  • 3* hotel : 130 |
  • Appartment rent : 1380 |
  • Women haircut : 43.11 |
  • Men haircut : 16.79 |
  • Weekend city break (2 persons, 1 hotel night, without flights) : 790
Great Great 5/6 (1)  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai, UAE

 Best hotels - Where to stay in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ?

Jumeirah Beach hotel

Jumeirah Beach hotel - Hotel view at night
Hotel view at night

Luxurious and perfectly located hotel, with access to everything you need for single / couple / family / business trip, would it be weekend or holiday... This is a perfect choice for any stay in Dubai.

Amazing Amazing 6/6 (1)  |No problem experienced with free wifi during the stay Perfect wifi  |Extravagant-Extravagant Extravagant  |900 EUR  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Jumeira St - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Ramada Plaza Jumeirah Beach

Ramada Plaza Jumeirah Beach - Outdoor pool
Outdoor pool

Great 5* hotel on Jumeirah Beach, hotel features access to the beach, an outdoor pool, a business lounge, and a magnificent view on the Dubai marina on one side. Perfect place to spend some holiday time.

Great Great 5/6 (1)  |No problem experienced with free wifi during the stay Perfect wifi  |Expensive-Expensive Expensive  |250 EUR  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Bahar 7, Gate No 4, JBR - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

The H Dubai

The H Dubai - Lobby view
Lobby view

With a stunning lobby, a restaurant with an awesome view on upper floor, and a great rooftop bar, this hotel is a good choice for entertainment.

Great Great 5/6 (1)  |Free wifi is fine but could be better Good wifi  |Expensive-Expensive Expensive  |900 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates One Sheikh Zayed Road - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Fairmont The Palm Jumeirah

Fairmont The Palm Jumeirah - Main outdoor pools next to the beach
Main outdoor pools next to the beach

Amazing hotel choice to stay on the famous artificial Palm island, this hotel also offers a great Beach club.

Great Great 5/6 (1)  |Extravagant-Extravagant Extravagant  |600 EUR  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Radisson Blu Dubai Downtown

Radisson Blu Dubai Downtown - Pool view
Pool view

Close (5min taxi) to the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa tower and dancing fountains, the Radisson Blu Downtown features everything needed from a hotel. Hotel is recent, rooms are comfortable, according to the Radisson Blu standard, and you will hardly want to leave the bed. The building includes an outdoor swimming pool, on the 4th floor, a gym, a restaurant with terrace. Staff is friendly and helpful, room service choice is acceptable, and pool is open late at night. Suitable either for a business trip or for a relaxing holiday, this hotel is affordable, well located, and definitely a good choice.

Good Good 4/6 (1)  |No problem experienced with free wifi during the stay Perfect wifi  |Affordable-Affordable Affordable  |65 EUR  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Al Asayal Street, Business Bay - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Mercure Gold Hotel Al Mina Road

Mercure Gold Hotel Al Mina Road - Rooftop pool at night
Rooftop pool at night

Affordable hotel located on an important road. It has an asian restaurant, a smoking lounge with pool table (billiard), a rooftop swimming pool, which becomes at night a comfortable rooftop restaurant. Not so much entertainment around - interesting places will most likely have to be reached via taxi.

Good Good 4/6 (1)  |No problem experienced with free wifi during the stay Perfect wifi  |Affordable-Affordable Affordable  |120 EUR  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Al Mina Road,Al Mina - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Park Inn apartments by Radisson

Park Inn apartments by Radisson - Rooftop pool
Rooftop pool

Very good alternative to standard hotels, the Park Inn apartments has a rooftop pool, a good gym, and a 24h restaurant. The rooms are spacious, and offer the comfort you would expect from an apartment, with all kitchen commodities.

 Finest restaurants - Where to eat in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ?

Aprons and Hammers

Aprons and Hammers - Outdoor view
Outdoor view

Restaurant on The Walk, it is a great place to enjoy a meal or an ice cream after a long walk along the beach. The inside of the restaurant features a beautiful green wall, and the outside offers a generous terrace.

Good Good 4/6 (1)  |Affordable-Affordable Affordable  |40 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Jumeirah Beach Residence - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Smoky beach

Smoky beach - Beach view from seating area
Beach view from seating area

Restaurant on the Jumeirah Beach, it offers a small but good choice of drinks and foods, Seats are very comfortable, and view on the beach is great.

Good Good 4/6 (1)  |Affordable-Affordable Affordable  |60 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai Marina - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

La Gaufrette

La Gaufrette - Crepe and fresh juice
Crepe and fresh juice

Situated in Barsha Heights, this restaurant - open 24 h - is great for a fresh juice, or, as its name indicates, for a Belgian waffle or a French crepe.

Good Good 4/6 (1)  |Free wifi is fine but could be better Good wifi  |Affordable-Affordable Affordable  |40 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Pier 7

Pier 7 - Rooftop dinner and drink
Rooftop dinner and drink

With 7 different restaurants on as many floors, right in the center of the Marina, this is the best place to have dinner during a walk around the marina. The last floor hosts a rooftop bar, and, every Tuesday, one of the best ladies night in the city.

Good Good 4/6 (1)  |Free wifi is fine but could be better Good wifi  |Expensive-Expensive Expensive  |80 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Marina Promenade, Dubai Marina - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Katana restaurant

Katana restaurant - creative desserts
creative desserts

Right next to the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa tower and dancing fountains, you can even watch the show from the terrace The restaurant offers a reduced yet expensive choice of Japanese food. Sushi choice does not offer Philadelphia options, for example, and they do not have salmon rolls, but a few creative options instead. Restaurant is properly climatized, staff is nice, and terrace view is right on the Burj Khalifa and close enough to the dancing fountains, which makes up for the high price and limited choice.

Average Average 3/6 (1)  |Affordable-Affordable Affordable  |200 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai Fountain St - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Play restaurant lounge

Play restaurant lounge - Drink at the bar
Drink at the bar

In the upper floors of the H Hotel, the lounge part offers a unique point of view on the city, while the restaurant has a limited but tasty choice of cuisine.

Zaatar w Zeit

Zaatar w Zeit - Lebanese salad
Lebanese salad

Lebanese chain of fast food, they offer great salads with local ingredients, served quickly.

 What to see in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ?

Dubai marina

Dubai marina - Marina view by day
Marina view by day

The marina is an amazing place, surrounded by skyscrapper. Walking around it takes up to 2 hours, and is a ravishment, especially at night. Plenty of restaurants are all around, as well as great hotels - most of them on the beach side.

Burj Khalifa dancing fountains light and sound show

Burj Khalifa dancing fountains light and sound show - Burj Khalifa night view
Burj Khalifa night view

Right at the feet of Burj Khalifa tower, on the man made lake, a light and sound show is played ever half hour from 6 to 11 pm on weekends (Thursday, Friday, Saturday), and also sometimes during the day and business days evenings. On top of the show, you can also admire the light show on Burj Khalifa tower, which is a mix of advertisement and entertainment. The lake is situated right next to Dubai Mall, where you can surely spend a few days only doing shopping.

Wafi light and sound show

Wafi light and sound show - Wafi Egyptian show
Wafi Egyptian show

At the entrance of the Wafi mall, on the Egyptian sculptures, a great light and sound show, putting in the lights the Egyptian culture. Everyday at 21:30

Nearby :  Wafi Mall   

 Excellent activities - What to do in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ?

Free walking tours in Dubai

Dubai Old town and Dubai mall free tour

Amazing Amazing 6/6 (1)  |Cheap-Cheap Cheap  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai, UAE

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dubai - Jumeirah Beach

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dubai - Jumeirah Beach - Pool and beach
Pool and beach

Situated at the end of The Walk, this hotel offers one of the nicest beach clubs in Dubai, considering the relaxing ones : large beachfront, large pool, quiet, pool bar.

Great Great 5/6 (1)  |Free wifi is fine but could be better Good wifi  |Affordable-Affordable Affordable  |150 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates The Walk, Dubai Marina - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Nearby :  Zaatar w Zeit    Dubai Marina Walk    JBR The Walk    Dubai marina    Pier 7   

Fairmont The Palm - Beach club

Fairmont The Palm - Beach club - Beach view
Beach view

One of the nicest beach clubs in the city. It offers large outdoor pools, a large beach, and also lot of entertainment : beach volley ball, pool (billiard), ping pong, ...

Great Great 5/6 (1)  |Expensive-Expensive Expensive  |150 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

JBR The Walk

JBR The Walk - Night view
Night view

The Walk on JBR, is the name of the promenade along the Jumeirah Beach. Great by day and night, it is borded on one side by the beach, and on the other side by restaurants, shops, and fun places.

Big Bus tour Dubai

Big Bus tour Dubai - Night bus tour departure
Night bus tour departure

With several routes during the day, with possibilities to include Abu Dhabi and Muscat, and one during the night, the Big Bus hop on hop off tours are a great way to see all the main points of interests of the cities, to stop wherever you like to see more of it, and to learn about the history.

Good Good 4/6 (1)  |Affordable-Affordable Affordable  |60 EUR  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai, UAE
Nearby :  Mall Of The Emirates    Ski Dubai   

Dubai Marina Walk

Dubai Marina Walk - Marina skyline view
Marina skyline view

The marina is amazing to admire - but it is even better to walk all (or nearly all) around it ! The whole tour can take up to one hour, and is an enchantment - especially at night with beautiful lights.

Zero Gravity Beach club

Zero Gravity Beach club - crowded pool
crowded pool

During a warm day, as temperatures easily go above 40°C in summer, a good way to cool down is to chill at the 0 Gravity beach club. It features an indoor climatized bar, outdoor seats, outdoor pool, and private beach. As it gets easily packed at lunch time, the best way to get a deck chair or a sunbed is to be there early, meaning around 9 / 10am. The pool is full on these days and it is impossible to swim there, most people having drinks and standing in the pool. The sea is actually so warm it feels like entering a Jacuzzi, and not cooling down from the heat. Food choice is quite good, and do not be mistaken – even sandwiches are full meals. Loud music is played, and it becomes hard to even have a conversation at some point. Approximate price One entry : 150 AED (35€), which can be used as a voucher for the bar / restaurant

Ski Dubai

Ski Dubai - Down the slope view
Down the slope view

The now well know fully indoor ski resort in the middle of the desert, in Dubai mall of the Emirates. This small ski resort is especially good for debutants. Generally crowded, you might have to queue quite a while to get to ride down the unique slope !

Not so good Not so good 2/6 (1)  |Expensive-Expensive Expensive  |60 EUR  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zayed Rd - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Find and book activities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 Best clubs - Where to party in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ?

Boa Night club

Boa Night club - Upper floor and catwalk
Upper floor and catwalk

Situated above the W hotel, this night club probably has one of the best ambiance in the city. With one main floor with shows and a bit of space to dance, and an upper floor mostly for a better view on the show, it has plenty of space.

Good Good 4/6 (1)  |Expensive-Expensive Expensive  |400 AED  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zayed Rd - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

El Chiringuito

El Chiringuito - Party is on
Party is on

At the Rixos The Palm, right at the end of one of the longest island of the Palm, El Chiringuito is a fun place to party. Relatively small compared to other clubs, its particularity is to be a beach club by day, and an outdoor party by night. Great place to start the night before going to a night club.

Mahiki

Mahiki - Party in main room
Party in main room

This Polynesian restaurant situated under the impressive Jumeirah Beach Hotel, transforms at night in one of the best night clubs of the city, with a second room opening to offer a large dancefloor, despite the relative small place.

Cavalli club

Cavalli club - show with DJ and dancer
show with DJ and dancer

Stylish club with a good ambiance behind Fairmont hotel, Cavalli club is a good destination for a full night party. A regular dancing show is performed, and a small dancefloor allows to move. Don’t forget to dress up ! Entry cover can be used as a voucher for inside consumptions. Approximate price Entry without table : 500 dirhams for the group (120€), which can be redeemed for consumption in the club. One long drink : 15 to 25€

Cirque Le Soir

Cirque Le Soir - sword swallower show and fire eater in the back
sword swallower show and fire eater in the back

Situated next door to Cavalli club, Cirque Le Soir is a good place to start the evening. Featuring nice circus shows, including fire-eater, sword swallower, and other entertainment, it does puts it the right mood to start the party. However, the club being small and the dancefloor non existing, once the show is over it feels there is not much more to do there. Approximate price Free entry. One long drink : 15 to 25€

 Where to shop in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ?

Dubai Marina Mall

Dubai Marina Mall - Indoor view
Indoor view

With plenty of shops, this is the ideal place to cool down and relax after a walk along the marina - or simply to do some good shopping when you are staying in the area.

Nearby :  Dubai Marina Walk    Dubai marina   

Mall Of The Emirates

Mall Of The Emirates - Mall view in the main entry
Mall view in the main entry

One of the most well known mall in the world, especially because it has... an indoor ski resort, in the middle of the desert. However, the main reason to visit it, is its central location, and its huge offer of shops.

Average Average 3/6 (1)  |See on map of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Nearby :  Big Bus tour Dubai    Ski Dubai   

Wafi Mall

Wafi Mall - Souk view
Souk view

An Egyptian themed mall and entertainment area. It has an interesting souk, with goods in provenance of the whole Arabian world.

Nearby :  Wafi light and sound show