By Oscar Davis

Five days may seem quite adequate for a holiday. But when it comes to Dubai, it may not be so. The City of Gold is a tourist paradise with a plethora of places to see and things to do. From thrilling adventures to luxurious experiences, Dubai has something for everyone. But if you are struggling to plan your itinerary, debating about what to see and what to skip, we are here to help. Here is how you can spend 5 days in Dubai.

Day 1: Explore Old Dubai

Make sure to arrive early in the morning in Dubai, so that you can begin your exploration on the same day itself. If you want to dig deeper into the culture of Dubai, it is best to begin your vacation with a visit to Old Dubai. You can also pick one of the Dubai tour packages, which would make it easy to prepare your itinerary.

Dubai Museum: Nestled inside the city’s oldest building, the Al Fahidi Fort, in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Dubai Museum is a treasure trove of Dubai’s history, culture, and heritage. Traditional life exhibits, archeological discoveries, and audio-visual presentations are what you can expect in this museum.

Al Fahidi Neighborhood: As you walk through the narrow lanes of the oldest neighborhood in Dubai, you will get to see traditional houses with wind towers and courtyards, many of them being transformed into museums, cafes, and art galleries. You can also visit numerous free museums here. Do visit the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding to get a deeper insight into the culture and heritage of the UAE.

Dubai Creek: The Al Fahidi Neighborhood is located on the banks of the Dubai Creek, which is an important part of the city. It is here that the Emiratis settled after moving from the desert. A saltwater inlet, Dubai Creek, is where the Emiratis developed their traditional occupations of fishing and pearl diving. An abra ride over the Dubai Creek is a must to enjoy the sights along the Dubai Creek.

Dubai Souks: On the banks of the Dubai Creek, on the Deira side are three of the most popular souks or traditional markets of the city: Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Perfume Souk. Here, you can buy everything from spices and herbs to gold jewelry. There is also a Textile Souk on the Bur Dubai side of the creek, where you get to buy all kinds of fabrics and clothes.

Day 2: Downtown Dubai

After a day spent getting to know the historical part of the city, it is time to explore the modern side, and there is no place better than Downtown Dubai for the same.

Dubai Mall: The Dubai Mall is not just for shopping, although with 1200+ stores, this place is a paradise for shoppers. You can buy everything from high-end fashion to electronics and souvenirs here. Alternatively, you can also easily spend a whole day here, checking out its numerous attractions. At Dubai Mall, you can visit Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink, Play DXB, KidZania Dubai, and more.

Burj Khalifa: After spending the whole day in Dubai Mall, head over to Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, located right next to the mall. Here, you can go up to the observation decks (either on the 124th and 125th floors or the 148th floor) to check out the splendid panoramic view of the city. Choose the evening to witness the most beautiful sunset.

Dubai Fountain Show: Outside both Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall is the largest manmade lake in the world, the Burj Lake. Every evening, the lake performs a beautiful fountain show complete with tall jets of water, LED lights, and soulful music. The show happens multiple times throughout the evening, which you can watch for free. You can also go on a boat ride on the lake to watch the show closely.

Day 3: Theme Park and Dhow Cruise

Dubai is home to some amazing, world-class theme parks, each offering fun and adventurous times. You can easily spend an entire day in one theme park, and hence we are providing you with a few options.

IMG Worlds of Adventure: The largest indoor theme park in the world, the IMG Worlds of Adventure has six amazing zones. Enjoy thrilling rides at the Marvel Zone, play with your favorite characters at Cartoon Network, ride dinosaur-inspired rollercoasters at Lost Valley, and let your kids go wild at IMG Kids Zone. The IMG Boulevard is a zone where you can hang out and indulge in dining and shopping.

Dubai Parks & Resorts: Dubai Parks & Resorts is home to three theme parks and a water park under one large umbrella. Hollywood lovers should visit Motiongate Dubai, while football lovers should make a beeline for Real Madrid World. Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park are perfect for families with kids between 2 and 12 years old. Neon Galaxy and Riverland Dubai are a few other attractions here. 

Aquaventure Water Park: If you are someone who loves water-based activities, spend your third day in Aquaventure Water Park. It is a part of Hotel Atlantis the Palm on Palm Jumeirah and the largest water park in the world. Spread around 42 acres of land, this water park has record-breaking slides as well as family-friendly pools and attractions. There is also a private beach here to enjoy water sports or adventures.

Dhow Cruise on Dubai Marina: After spending an entire day in any one of the amusement parks, you will crave a quiet and relaxing evening. We suggest the dhow cruise on Dubai Marina, where you sail on a traditional dhow-turned-modern restaurant along the glittering Dubai Marina. The cruise involves delicious dinner, amazing entertainment programs, and a great view of the Marina. 

Day 4: Modern Icons and Attractions

Dubai is a land of architectural genius, digital innovation, and futuristic designs. Dedicate the fourth day of your Dubai holiday to exploring the modern icons and attractions, which are included in most Dubai holiday packages.

Museum of the Future: Shaped like a toroid, the building of the Museum of the Future is truly unique. A futuristic experience center, this iconic museum has immersive exhibits and research centers that work on space exploration, climate, ecology, wellness and health, robotics, and artificial intelligence. 

Dubai Frame: Known to be the tallest photo frame in the world, the Dubai Frame represents the past, present, and future of the city. The frame is positioned in such a way that one side of the observation deck faces the older part of the city and the other side faces the modern side. 

AYA Universe: Located in WAFI Mall, AYA Universe Dubai is an entertainment park where technology collaborates with art to create 12 immersive zones. In each of the zones, you will get to enjoy a multi-sensory journey that blends senses with art, technology, and design. 

Ski Dubai: The largest indoor ski resort, Ski Dubai, is a part of the Mall of the Emirates. Spanning an area of 22,500 square meters, Ski Dubai is made of real snow and has a huge skiing mountain with varied levels of difficulty. Here, you can try skiing, snowboarding, zorbing, and more. There is also a Snow Park here, where you can enjoy playing in the snow and try snow rides as well.

The View at Palm Jumeirah: The View at Palm Jumeirah is an observation deck perched on the 52nd level of The Palm Tower. Standing at the height of 240 meters, The View gives you a bird’s eye view of Palm Jumeirah, the palm-shaped island, which is also the biggest manmade island in the world. Do check out the Exhibition Gallery, which will let you learn about the construction of Palm Island.

Day 5: Dubai for Nature and Adventure

Devote the last day of your holiday to nature and adventure. From the pristine beaches of the city to its vast deserts, the place would surprise you with its raw beauty.

Dubai Beach: Begin your morning with a visit to one of the beaches in Dubai. If you get up early, you will get to see a glorious sunrise on the beach. The most popular beaches in Dubai are Jumeirah Beach, Kite Beach, JBR Beach, Marina Beach, etc. Apart from the beauty of the beach, these are the perfect places to try water sports like jet skiing, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking, and more.

Dubai Miracle Garden: If you are visiting the city between October and April, you must visit the Dubai Miracle Garden. The largest natural flower garden in the world, the Dubai Miracle Garden, with its elaborate and majestic flower installations and sculptures, would not fail to impress. In this garden, you will get to see more than 150 million flowers and plants.

Desert Safari: The best Dubai itinerary must include a desert safari. The desert safari lets you indulge in adventurous activities like dune bashing, quad biking, sandboarding, and more. Then there are entertaining programs like belly dancing, Tanoura show, etc. A mouthwatering, 3-course BBQ dinner is also served at the desert safari.

This itinerary 5 days will ensure that you have a good time in the City of Gold. While 5 days may not be enough to cover everything that Dubai has on offer, it does give you a gist of the city and also the urge to return to the city for yet another amazing holiday.

Oscar Davis is a freelance writer from Leeds, UK.