Dubai has too many lists, and most do not help you choose. Some show fake “from” prices you never really pay. Some still sell tickets for sights that are closed.
This list is different. Prices were checked in October 2026, and we tell you what is open, what is closed and what is worth your money.
Quick Answer: Top 10 Things to Do in Dubai
Short on time? These are the best things to do in Dubai for a first trip. Our honest top 10 things to do in Dubai:
- Burj Khalifa: Tallest building in the world. From AED 189.
- Dubai Fountain: Water and music shows below the Burj. Free.
- Desert Safari: Dunes, dinner and shows. AED 150 to 250.
- Global Village: Food and shows from around 90 countries. AED 25 or 30.
- Dubai Safari Park: Animals from around the world. Pass AED 50.
- Dubai Miracle Garden: Millions of flowers in fun shapes. Adult AED 100.
- Dubai Frame: Old Dubai one side, new Dubai the other. Adult AED 50.
- Marina dinner cruise: Dinner on a boat among Marina lights. AED 140 to 180.
- Al Fahidi and an abra ride: Old houses and a Creek boat ride. Free, abra AED 1.
- Aquaventure: Big slides at Atlantis. Prices change by date.
Checked: 12 October 2026
What’s Open Right Now
Read this before you book. Some sites still show tickets for a closed sight.
Museum of the Future is CLOSED. It is closed for a major update and is expected to reopen in 2027. No tickets are on sale. If a site tries to sell you one, do not buy it.
Global Village Season 31 opened on 14 October 2026 and is open now. Dubai Safari Park Season 8 opened on 12 October 2026. Miracle Garden Season 15 is open now.
Best Time to Visit and How Many Days You Need
The best months are November to March. Days are warm, nights are cool, and all outdoor sights are open. Summer is very hot, so plan more indoor time then. See our Dubai Weather guide.
You need 3 to 4 days for the main sights without rushing. One day is possible with the plan below.
Iconic Dubai: The Famous Sights
These are the famous places to visit in dubai.
Burj Khalifa
The Burj is 828 metres tall, and the main decks are on Levels 124 and 125. Sunset is best, but those slots sell out.
Silver (Levels 124 and 125) from AED 189. Gold (Level 148) from AED 399. Platinum from AED 769. Under 3 free. Metro: Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall station, Red Line. See our Burj Khalifa guide.
Dubai Fountain
The Fountain sits on the lake below the Burj, outside Dubai Mall. Water shoots up in time with music. The mall is also home to Primark Dubai Mall, the UAE’s first Primark, for budget shopping.
Free from the promenade. Evening shows daily 6 PM to 11 PM, every 30 minutes. Afternoon shows 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM Saturday to Thursday, 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM Friday. Metro: Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall station, Red Line.
Dubai Frame
This giant gold frame is 150 metres tall. From the top you see old Dubai on one side and the new skyline on the other.
Adult AED 50. Child (3 to 12) AED 20. Under 3 free. People of Determination plus 2 companions free. Open 8 AM to 9 PM daily. Metro: Max station, Red Line. See our Dubai Frame guide.
Museum of the Future
You cannot go inside, because the museum is closed. The building is still worth a photo stop, with its round shape and Arabic writing.
Do this instead: take your photos, then use the time for the Burj or the Frame. Our Museum of the Future guide explains the closure.
Family and Kids
Looking for things to do in dubai with kids? Start with these three.
Dubai Safari Park
A large park with animals from Africa, Asia and more, plus shows and a safari drive. Go in the morning.
Pass AED 50 per person. Bundle AED 117, online only. Open daily 9 AM to 6 PM, last entry 5 PM. Season 8 opened 12 October 2026. Full guide: Dubai Safari Park tickets.
Dubai Miracle Garden
Flowers grown into hearts, castles, animals and even a full size plane. Kids love the colours. Go early or late, as it is all open air.
Adult AED 100, child AED 80, under 3 free. UAE residents with Emirates ID: adult AED 70, child AED 50. Garden plus Butterfly Garden combo AED 140. Season 15 is open now. Metro: Mall of the Emirates, Red Line, then taxi or bus, about 15 minutes. Full guide: Dubai Miracle Garden.
Dubai Parks and Resorts
More than one theme park in one place, plus Riverland, a dining area by a river. Plan a full day. Pick one park for young kids, two for older kids.
1 Park from AED 295. 2 Park from AED 355. Riverland entry from AED 25. Full guide: Dubai Parks and Resorts tickets.
Adventure and the Desert
For fun things to do in dubai with some action, try these two.
Desert Safari
Most evening tours include dune bashing in a 4×4, a camel ride, sandboarding, dinner and shows at a camp. Hotel pick up is included in most tours.
Evening standard AED 150 to 250. Morning basic AED 100 to 150. Premium or private AED 300 to 500 or more. Read our Desert Safari Dubai guide first, because cheap tours differ a lot.
Ski Dubai
Real snow, inside Mall of the Emirates, with snow rides, a chairlift and penguins. It is also our top pick for indoor activities in dubai on a hot day.
Snow Park Pass AED 245, with snow park rides and fleece gloves included. Children under 2 are not allowed inside. Metro: Mall of the Emirates, Red Line.
Old Dubai and Culture
Old Dubai shows the city before the tall towers. It is cheap and calm.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Narrow lanes, old wind tower houses and small cafes. Free to walk in, no booking needed. Small museums inside charge a small entry fee.
Metro: Sharaf DG station, Green Line. This station was formerly called Al Fahidi.
Abra Ride on Dubai Creek
An abra is a small wooden boat that crosses the Creek in about 5 minutes. It is the best AED 1 you can spend in the city.
Classic Creek crossing AED 1 per person, one way. Some named routes cost AED 2.
Gold and Spice Souks
Cross the Creek to Deira. Gold Souk windows shine with gold. The Spice Souk smells of saffron and dried fruit. Both are free to walk through.
Water, Beaches and Cruises
Aquaventure
Aquaventure, now branded Aquaventure World, is the water park at Atlantis on the Palm. It has tall slides, a lazy river and a beach. Plan at least half a day.
Prices change by date, so check the official Atlantis booking page before you go.
Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise
A calm way to see the Marina lit up at night, with dinner on board. A standard wooden dhow costs AED 140 to 180 per adult for 2 hours with dinner.
The Alexandra dhow costs AED 180 per adult and AED 120 per child (5 to 11), under 5 free, and sails Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only. Metro: DMCC or Sobha Realty, Red Line. Full guide: Dubai Marina cruise.
Free and Cheap Things to Do in Dubai
Some of the best free things to do in dubai are already above: the Fountain, the abra and the souks. A full free list is coming in its own guide.
Dubai at Night
Dubai is at its best after dark. This is the top pick for things to do in dubai at night.
Global Village
A world tour in one evening. Walk between pavilions from around 90 countries, eat street food, watch shows and shop. It opens in the late afternoon, so plan it as your evening.
AED 25 Monday to Thursday. AED 30 Friday to Sunday and public holidays. Free for under 3, age 65 and over, and People of Determination plus 1 companion. Season 31 opened 14 October 2026 and runs to May 2027. No Metro, so take a bus or taxi from Mall of the Emirates. Full guide: Global Village tickets and timings.
Two more night ideas: the Fountain after dark, and the Marina cruise above.
Another free evening idea: Dubai Creek Harbour, where The Viewing Point offers free sunset views across the creek.
Sample Plans: 1 Day, 3 Days, 5 Days
Group sights by area to save time and money. Costs are rough, per adult, for paid sights only. Metro rides cost a few dirhams per ride.
1 Day, about AED 240 per adult
- Morning: Dubai Frame (AED 50), then Al Fahidi and an abra (AED 1).
- Afternoon: Dubai Mall free aquarium wall, then Burj Khalifa (from AED 189).
- Night: Dubai Fountain, free.
3 Days
- Day 1: Follow the 1 Day plan above.
- Day 2: Morning at the beach, free, then a Desert Safari (AED 150 to 250).
- Day 3: Dubai Safari Park (AED 50), then Global Village in the evening (AED 25 or 30).
5 Days
- Days 1 to 3: Follow the 3 Day plan above.
- Day 4: Miracle Garden (AED 100), then a Marina dinner cruise (AED 140 to 180).
- Day 5: Dubai Parks and Resorts, one park (from AED 295), or Aquaventure.
Getting Around
The Metro is clean, cheap and easy. Buy a Nol card at any station, tap in and tap out, and top up when needed. The Red Line covers Downtown, the Marina and Mall of the Emirates. The Green Line covers Old Dubai.
Full guide: Dubai Metro Map.
Money-Saving Tips
- Book Burj Khalifa sunset slots early. They sell out first.
- Use free swaps. Watch the Fountain free instead of a second paid deck. Take an abra for AED 1 instead of a Creek cruise.
- Use resident rates with an Emirates ID. At Miracle Garden, residents pay AED 70 per adult and AED 50 per child, not AED 100 and AED 80.
- Check verified combos. Miracle Garden plus Butterfly Garden is AED 140. The Safari Park Bundle is AED 117, online only.
- Mix paid and free. One big paid sight a day, with free picks like the beach or the souks around it.
FAQs
How many days do I need?
Three to four days is the sweet spot. One day works with the plan above, but you must choose.
What is the best month?
November to March has the best weather, and all outdoor sights are open.
Is Dubai expensive?
It can be, but it does not have to be. The Burj costs from AED 189, but many top picks are free, or cost AED 1 to 50.
What is closed right now?
Museum of the Future: It is closed for a major update and is expected to reopen in 2027. No tickets are on sale. Global Village opened on 14 October 2026 and is open now.
What should I skip if I have one day?
Skip the full day trips, Dubai Parks and Resorts and Aquaventure. Do Downtown, Old Dubai and the Fountain instead.
Do kids pay full price?
Often not. Under 3 go free at the Burj, Frame, Miracle Garden and Global Village. Child prices: Frame AED 20, Miracle Garden AED 80, Alexandra cruise AED 120.
Prices checked in October 2026. Always confirm the final price for your date when you book.
The Dubai Tours and Safari editorial team researches and updates our Dubai and UAE travel guides, checking prices, timings and facts against official sources.