United Arab Emirates
Everything you need to know before visiting Dubai
irst time in Dubai? You should know by now that tourists love this city as much as bees love honey but I did come across some surprising truths during my trip there.
Take some time to explore its history before enjoying its evolution
The truth is, if you’re not going for shopping and luxury, Dubai is as expensive as the next big city. We did not come across extraordinary prices, and that was the first thing that made me love it.
Here’s everything you must visit and what you must know:
For your transfers use the metro. It’s the most modern and cleanest metro I have ever seen. Alternatively you can use Uber or a taxi, though keep in mind that here, taxi is usually cheaper. We booked plane tickets, accommodation and some activities – like the safari and the city tour – through Pluton Travel and it was the best choice as they handle everything for you so you just enjoy your trip (though we did take some liberties with our activities).
Take pictures at The Pointe. Located in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, The Pointe has something for everyone, from luxurious shops, entertainment and even a beach. All that, with the famous Palm right across the sea. If you don’t want to shop, you can still go for the view. It’s a great, Instagrammable spot with red and yellow umbrellas.
Go up the Burj Khalifa. This one came straight from my bucket list. With a total height of 829.8m, Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, surpassing Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Construction of the skyscraper began in 2004, with the exterior completed five years later in 2009. We visited the 124th floor through the windows and at the balcony. Tickets are around €55 per person during peak hours and the entrance is inside Dubai Mall.
Dubai Fountain Show. Let me start by saying the whole mall is exciting (and huge). Don’t miss the Waterfall – an artistic installation indoors, showing men diving. The falling of the water is designed as such, to create a visual illusion, making it seem that the divers are moving instead of the water. Now, if you walk outside, right in front of the Burj Khalifa you will get to witness the fountain show, daily from 6PM to 11PM, every 30 minutes. You may underestimate it but as soon as it starts it’s captivating.
Eat a slice of heaven at the Cheesecake Factory. Must visit, absolutely must visit. Not only their portions of food are huge and under €20, but the wide variety of cheesecake slices will also have you drooling as soon as you enter the restaurant. The slices are under €10 which is a bit pricey if you consider that it’s just a slice of cheesecake, but you must try at least one.
Walk around the Miracle Garden. It’s a huge garden full of 50 million naturally grown flowers and stunning flower structures. It’s around €14 per person and it’s better if you start your visit early in the morning to avoid being under the sun for too long.
Experience the desert. You can’t go to Dubai and not visit the desert. Actually, I had one more reason to visit: the sunset in the desert was part of my bucket list, and this was what made this experience even greater. On your way there, you will get to live the dune bashing, have fun in the sand, take pictures, enjoy desert to the maximum. We stayed for a BBQ dinner and various dance performances at a Bedouin camp. Prices start at around €30.
Take pictures at La Mer. The beachfront you must visit. It’s not only Instagrammable with colourful, small kiosks here and there, but also a brand-new point of view for the big city. You can spend just half an hour or a whole day, La Mer has ways to keep you entertain – and it’s also a beach, if you’re up for a swim. There’s also no entrance fee.
Observe the fish at Atlantis: The Lost Chambers. Located at The Palm, this aquarium is a unique, bonus experience for around €31. If you have seen the stunning pictures in front of a giant glass wall, then you need to exit the actual aquarium and walk over to the hotel lobby. If you show your ticket, you should be fine.
Go back in time at Al Seef. This neighbourhood is not a common stop for visitors but it’s worth it, just because it gives you a different perspective. Walk between the old houses to get a glimpse of how Dubai used to be before it became the spectacle that it is today, shop at the souks and travel back in time. The creek gave me one of the most peaceful pictures.
Dubai Expo 2020
I was lucky enough to visit Dubai when it was hosting the World Expo. Originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually launching at October 1st 2021 for six months. The slogan of the Expo was “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” and every single country in the world having its own pavillion.
Some were more informative, some were more fun, some were combining both: for example Spain had a big interactive chess set, Brazil had a big, shallow pool with hammocks, Singapore was a huge, green structure, Hungary had a big ball pit and so on.
As you would expect, it was impossible to visit every pavillion in one single day but it was fun, you could even buy a passport to get stamps.
If you find yourself in a city with a World Expo, don’t think twice, it’s a great experience.
We stayed at Jumeirah Emirates Tower which goes way over my ”travelling on a budget” concept, but if you’re going to Dubai, you might as well experience this too. Our room had a great view of the skyline and we were right next to the Museum of the Future (which was not opened yet, at the time).
All in all, Dubai is an experience. Take some time to explore its history before enjoying its evolution.
