Best Tours in Dubai
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appTop sights in Dubai
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Make a Burj Khalifa-sized splash at Aquaventure Waterpark in Dubai, and enjoy 17 sun-kissed hectares of the world's most extreme waterslides and adrenaline-pumping river rides. Additionally, relax on a pristine stretch of white sandy beach where you can kick up your feet, sip on a cold drink, and chill out in the cool sea breeze. Cannonballs away!
Dubai loves nothing more than doing everything bigger and better than before! This mesmerizing medley of light and creative installations is a must-see in the city and your camera will get a real work out too. Your tickets to Dubai Garden Glow in Zabeel Park get you access to four amazing themed worlds, some stunning artistic light installations, including a walk-through Dinosaur Park, educational activities and a live music show. This one-of-a-kind expansive garden of more than a million energy-saving LED lights is one efficient work of art!
With Topgolf Dubai tickets in your pocket, you'll be fully equipped to prove your skills in one of the city's swankiest venues. This new, sprawling entertainment venue features a high-tech driving range, great music, a chef-driven menu, hand-crafted drinks and best of all, seriously unbeatable views of the Dubai Marina skyline. Choose from a range of games to suit every skill level. Beginners will enjoy seeing the Angry Birds characters as golf balls to smash down structures, defeat pigs, and earn as many points and stars as possible. Intermediate and advanced players can meet challenges to hit targets at consecutive distances. When you've smashed your goals, sit back for a drink with one of Dubai's best views!
Witness the magnificent Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque in UAE. The tour is tailored for even the busiest schedules without consuming an entire day. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is not just a wonder of architecture, it's a record-smasher. The largest mosque in UAE, it contains the world's biggest carpet and the third largest chandelier twinkling with Swarovski crystals. Its walls are adorned with beautiful floral mosaics, each narrating a unique tale. The expedition starts with a hotel pickup in a cozy SUV from any Dubai city's location. On the way, an engaging guide will share intriguing facts about the UAE. Arriving at the mosque, you can join a complimentary, 30-minute guided tour that starts every hour, offering exclusive insights into this iconic monument.
Treat yourself – and those you're with – to something truly special with Burj Khalifa tickets. From the dizzying heights of the 124th and 125 floors, you'll enjoy spectacular views of Dubai as you literally live the high life. With panoramic views from the world's highest building, this is a true bucket-list experience.
If you're fluttering around Dubai with no plan, get yourself some tickets to Dubai Butterfly Garden. Conveniently located right next to Dubai Miracle Garden, you can head to the world’s largest covered butterfly garden right after. You'll see more butterflies than empty airspace as you wander around ten huge custom-built domes, each filled with thousands of beautifully winged creatures. There are over 45 species to try and spot here, all in different sizes and colors. Learn what they eat, how the butterflies evolve through each stage of their life, and what one feels like when it lands on your shoulder! Little kids and big kids alike will remember this experience forever.
Located more than 200 meters above Dubai, Sky Views Observatory features a 25-meter-long glass floor, giving you clear views of the Burj Khalifa and the city below. Walk on the clear walkway and take in the views. A glass elevator takes you up, with three sides offering panoramic city views that are unforgettable. Take an exciting trip on the Glass Slide, a see-through tube wrapping around the tower's exterior and connecting level 53 with level 52. Made in Germany, the slide is crafted from 12m-long sheets of quadruple-laminated glass, supported only at the top and bottom for an uninterrupted ride. You can see the city below if you dare to open your eyes. After, when you need a break, the Panorama restaurant is available for a refreshing drink.
Visit OliOli® for a family-friendly indoor space filled with hands-on activities. Kids can explore areas designed to spark creativity and curiosity. Each visit offers new opportunities for all ages to play and learn together. Enjoy nutritious food anytime at La Petite Treehouse Cafe, known for its welcoming environment.
As grown-ups, we call this 'the daily grind' or 'life', but kids are fascinated by it. And if you've ever hoped your children could learn the value of working an honest day to make a buck, KidZania Dubai will make your dream come true for you. Brilliantly executed, KidZania Dubai is a kid-sized minicity, complete with buildings, paved streets, vehicles, and even familiar shops and offices. Children can have fun trying the jobs they're curious about. Store clerk, mechanic, doctor, chef... there are more than 80 professions for them to try here. Once they've worked, they can spend the money they've earned and try doing the shopping or booking a flight! Meanwhile, you'll be enjoying food, drinks and free WiFi in the Adults Lounge (or spending real money in the Dubai Mall).
Dubai's gone and done it again - opened another biggest and best attraction! Enter IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world’s largest indoor theme park. It boasts five action-packed zones and a lot of rides, shows, and characters from Cartoon Network and the Marvel Universe!
Cities in United Arab Emirates
About Dubai
The must-see attractions in Dubai for a first visit are:
The best tours to do in Dubai with kids are:
Insider tips for visiting Dubai
Ольга Сафронова is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2022 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Dubai on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Dubai.
When I’m in Dubai on my own, I always head to Al Fahidi at golden hour and then take the old abra across Dubai Creek for 1 dirham. For solo travelers, this is one of the most rewarding things to do in Dubai because you get history, people-watching, and a real sense of the city without feeling awkward alone. I usually wander the lanes, stop for karak, then cross to the spice and textile souks before dinner by the water in Al Seef. If you’re deciding what to see in Dubai, these are the attractions in Dubai that feel most personal. Even among flashy tours in Dubai, this old-core route is my favorite.
When friends ask me what to eat when they visit Dubai, I tell them to skip the hotel buffets and go for Emirati and long-loved local staples. I always look for machboos, a fragrant rice dish with dried lime, and luqaimat, warm dumplings drizzled with date syrup. In Dubai, I also crave regag bread with egg and cheese at a neighborhood café, plus a strong cup of karak. If you visit Dubai, eating in Al Khawaneej or around Satwa gives you a more honest taste of the city. In my travel guide Dubai notes, this is one of the best things to do in Dubai because food tells you how Dubai really lives.
When I want to feel the real texture of Dubai, I split my time between Al Fahidi, Jumeirah, and Satwa. Al Fahidi is one of my favorite attractions in Dubai for quiet courtyards, wind towers, and the short abra ride across the creek. In Jumeirah, I like the older villa streets near Jumeirah Beach Road, where independent cafés and mosques give you a softer side of Dubai. Satwa is where I go for late-night shawarma, tailoring shops, and everyday city life. If you’re choosing what to see in Dubai, these areas show more character than polished towers. Even with so many tours in Dubai, I find neighborhoods tell the story best.
In my travel guide Dubai notes, I usually suggest four to five days. That gives you time to see both sides of Dubai without rushing: one day around the creek and Al Fahidi, one for Jumeirah and the beach, one for modern Dubai, and one slower evening for desert light or a long dinner. If you only visit Dubai for two days, you’ll catch the highlights but miss the rhythm of the city, especially after sunset when Dubai feels more local. For me, the best things to do in Dubai are spread out, so a few extra days make the experience smoother and far more memorable.
When I want a romantic side of Dubai, I recommend a slow evening that starts with an abra ride on Dubai Creek just before sunset, then a walk through Al Seef when the lanterns come on. For couples, this is one of my favorite things to do in Dubai because it feels intimate without trying too hard. I usually pair it with dinner in a courtyard restaurant in Al Fahidi, where the wind towers and low light make Dubai feel surprisingly gentle. If you’re deciding what to see in Dubai, these older waterfront corners are some of the most memorable attractions in Dubai, far more personal than flashy tours in Dubai.
When I want shopping with character in Dubai, I usually choose three areas: Deira, Satwa, and Jumeirah. Deira is where I go for gold, spices, perfume oils, and small fabric shops tucked behind the main souks. Satwa is excellent for tailoring, abayas, shoe repairs, and the kind of practical stores locals actually use. In Jumeirah, I browse independent concept shops and homegrown fashion brands along Jumeirah Beach Road. If you visit Dubai, these neighborhoods show a more layered side of retail than the big malls. In my travel guide Dubai notes, exploring them is one of the most revealing things to do in Dubai, especially if you want to understand how Dubai shops day to day.
When I want to show the quieter side of Dubai, I take people to the Creek at sunrise, when the abras are full of workers and the city feels honest and unpolished. Another favorite is Alserkal Avenue on a weekday afternoon, when you can drift through galleries and coffee roasters without the weekend crowd. In Dubai, I also love the fishing harbor near Jumeirah 1 for a seafood lunch and a view of everyday coastal life. These are the attractions in Dubai that locals return to. If you’re deciding what to see in Dubai, I’d choose places like these over packaged tours in Dubai, because they reveal how Dubai really breathes.
In my travel guide Dubai notes, I always suggest late November through March. That’s when I can actually enjoy Dubai outdoors: morning walks along Jumeirah, dinners by the creek, and desert sunsets without the heavy summer heat. January is especially good if you like clear evenings, but I personally love late February, when Dubai feels lively yet a little less hectic. If you visit Dubai in summer, plan your days around early mornings and after dark, because the heat changes how you experience the city. For me, the best things to do in Dubai are the ones that let you be outside, and winter makes that easy.