Your ultimate travel guide to the most trending location of the year - DUBAI

Sanjna Bhatia
Jan 15, 2019
7 min read

So you have five days in Dubai and you want to make sure you squeeze every last moment of luxury, sunshine and wow factor out of them? There’s so much to see and do here in Dubai, from record-breaking heights to world famous restaurants and buzzing nightlife, so you’ll want to pack everything in to your stay. This travel guide will definitely help get to the most popular tourist destinations and also some of my favourites which you really cannot miss out on.

Day 1

Begin your Dubai experience with a dose of the glitz and the glamour. This is a city dripping with glamour so your first day should be dedicated to seeing its record breakers. I wouldn’t normally recommend shopping (okay wait I definitely would) as a valid tourist activity but The Dubai Mall is an attraction in itself – it’s bigger than 50 football pitches! Aside from the 1,200 shops, ranging from designer stores to souk-style villages, there’s also an Aquarium, an ice skating rink and a cinema. Grab lunch at a fountain-side restaurant (Social House , Serafina and Wafi Gourmet are a few good options) and don’t miss the Waterfall. In the afternoon you can head to ‘At the Top’ within Dubai Mall. This is the entrance to the Burj Khalifa, tallest building in the world (at the moment anyway), spiking Dubai’s skyline at 555 metres. Take in the view from either the 125th or 148th floor and you’ll gain a new perspective on Dubai.

Back on the ground, make your way outside as the sun sets to take in the world-renowned Dubai Fountain Show. The show runs every 30 minutes and I promise you’ll be in awe of the dazzling display.

After the show you can cross the bridge and enter Souk Al Bahar, an Arabian style resorthousing more shops and most importantly, bars and restaurants. You won’t get a pint or glass of wine with dinner at the mall eateries, but you will here. Try Karma Kafe for Asian food or The Meat Company if you’re really hungry. Depending on the weather (your first day will introduce you to Dubai’s breathtaking temperatures if you’re visiting during summer), you can enjoy drinks on one of Souk Al Bahar’s restaurants’ balconies.

I would recommend going to Madinat Jumeriah after if you’re on a short trip and enjoy the scenic views with sheesha. Souk Madinat Jumeirah is an Arabian architecture masterpiece that is a modern take on a traditional Arabic Market. The earth-toned buildings, intricate wooden structured ceilings and the Arabic ornament shops – all spells traditional. The modern comes in form of branded shops, a theater and numerous café’s and dining outlets with a bonus of waterway views. Getting lost around its maze-like pathways is a must; you can also pay to ride the Abra or the wooden boats to navigate the waterways of the Souk if you must.

If you wanna grab drinks and sheesha, Shimmers and Al Makan are great options.

Day 2

Fridays mean one thing for Dubai’s residents: BRUNCH!

Join the expat crowd at one of Dubai’s elaborate feasts. These social occasions take place at every decent eatery in the Emirate and you can expect delectable food (lots of it), bottomless booze and a party vibe. That being said, there’s a brunch to suit all tastes, whether you’re looking for a family-friendly atmosphere, a high-brow affair focused on the food or you’re just in it for the free-flowing bubbly. Whichever you choose, you should dress to impress. Brunches usually begin at 12pm and end around 4pm – trust me, you’ll be in bed early!

Some of my favourite Dubai brunches are Hakkasan for Michelin starred Asian cuisine,Candypants and Saffron in the Atlantis for partying and Q43 for quality food with a view over the Palm Jumeirah. Dusty’s also does a fun airline themed brunch if you’re after something different.

If you're still in the mood to explore at night, you could visit the Dubai Marina. The marina area is surrounded by tall buildings and contains a beautiful boardwalk. You can see the fancy boats and get some stunning photographs of the harbor and skyline. Be sure to checkout Pier 7, which is seven floors of restaurants and bars on the water. I liked Asia Asia, with its gaudy Asian theme (it has 2-for-1 specials in The Entertainer too!).

JBR, the public beach around Jumeirah Beach Residence is near the Marina. JBR is popular because it’s bordered by The Walk, a promenade filled with restaurants and shops that will keep you entertained after sundown.

Day 3

Today is the day to discover the ‘other side of Dubai’. This is Dubai as it used to be. You must delve in to Dubai’s past with a visit to Bastakiya, also known as Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. You can do a walking tour or simply wander the labyrinth of charming streets. You can pay just 1 dirham for a ride across Dubai creek on a traditional abra.Even if you don’t buy anything, the creek is the place to go to immerse yourself in the Dubai of not so long ago. One of the few remaining areas that retains its character as more and more skyscrapers are erected, Old Dubai is the antithesis to the rest of the Emirate and will show you that there is culture to be found here. On the other side, explore the atmospheric Spice Souk. Inhale the heady aromas of exotic spices then walk through the Gold Souk. Markets pepper the area, small merchant shops line the streets, and you can get lost in a maze of alleyways! Again these Souks are small compared to those you see in Istanbul or Egypt, but none the less, you should go. Identify spices as you stroll the alleyways and be stunned by just how much gold it’s possible to wear. Just be very, very wary of buying. Some of the biggest rip offs we’ve ever seen are here. ALWAYS ask the price first, even for camel milk ice cream.

You can eat some of the traditional restaurants (there’s also a lot of good Indian food here), explore the art district, and see Dubai as it is away from the glitz of the malls and high-rise. It’s a completely different side of Dubai and you should see how Dubai has developed from its old side to its currently modern side.

Day 4

Desert Safari - This is one of the most exciting and traditional touristry things to do in Dubai. Take a day trip or spend a night out in the desert. It’s supposed to be beautiful. f you want to get a taste of the desert, head out on a day-long safari with Arabian Adventure. You’ll be able to ride a camel, hold a falcon, explore the desert, and eat some traditional food. No visit to Dubai would be complete without seeing the desert. While you can hire a vehicle and explore unaided, there are a number of tour companies who can guide you. They offer various desert experiences ranging from private 4×4 dune-bashing sessions to dinner after dark at a traditional Boudioun camp, complete with belly dancing show and the chance to see how the desert people used falcons to hunt for food.

If you’d prefer to end your day back in civilisation, you could head dinner in Jumeriah Beach Residence or Downtown.

Day 5

Beach time - Spend the day at La Mer before leaving for your flight. If you have a penchant for top-quality grub by the beach, a bit of beachside shopping, waterparks or lazing the day away on the sand, read on. If you don’t, read on anyway and you’ll probably end up having a love for all of the above. It has handful of restaurants and shops open to visit. La Mer Dubai brings on a platter the best of sun, sea, entertainment and adventure. Located between Pearl Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bay, La Mer Dubai spans for a sprawling 1.24 million square meters of space and comprises of 4 zones: The Beach, The Entertainment Hub, The North Island and The South Island. The two islands constitutes upscale residential neighborhoods including beachfront villas. The Entertainment hub houses the waterpark, surf park, trampoline park, cinema, gymnasium and 130 establishments in the form of café’s, shops, restaurants. Flaunting wide open walkways lined with palm tree boulevards, graffiti art and cabanas, La Mer Dubai is a seamless blend of minimalist and contemporary design. While La Mer translates to 'the sea', the architecture is themed around the sea marine and the elements used around are said to be inspired from the rusted metal and tinted barrels that are the result of sea washing up on timber. The design circles around the use of sustainable elements ensuring a judicious use of natural elements and an attempt to replenish the depleting ones.