The 7 Best Areas to Stay in Dubai for Tourists (2024)
When it comes to your trip, it’s important to do a little research about the best places to stay in Dubai that fit all your needs. Dubai’s main attractions are fairly spread out, so if you are wondering where to stay in Dubai for an epic beach getaway, you might want to choose a hotel in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) or Palm Jumeirah or if you want to be near the Burj Khalifah and Dubai Mall, a hotel in Downtown Dubai or Business Bay is your best bet!
If you’re having trouble figuring out where exactly to stay on your big trip, fear not. I’ve got you covered with the 7 best areas to stay in Dubai for tourists, broken down by nearby attractions, public transport options, and more, so you can make the most out of your Dubai getaway!
*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of these links I may earn a small commission (which I’m so thankful for!) at no extra cost to you.
Dubai’s Layout, Explained
Once again, Dubai’s main attractions are fairly spread out. You’ll find the Dubai International Airport, Dubai Old City, Downtown Dubai, and Business Bay all clustered around the northern part of the city. If you’re wondering where to stay in Dubai for a beach vacation, these aren’t the most convenient locations.
Drive roughly 30-60 minutes (depending on traffic) to the south, and that’s where you’ll find Dubai’s iconic beach-oriented areas like Palm Jumeirah (the “palm tree island”), Jumeirah Beach Residence, and Dubai Marina.
In this guide, I’ll break down each of these neighborhoods based on the distance from Dubai International Airport and give you some details of all of the nearby attractions so you can figure out which area is best for you!
You might also want to check out: Using Public Transport in Dubai: A Complete Guide for Tourists
The 7 Best Areas to Stay in Dubai for Tourists
1. Downtown Dubai
Distance from the Airport: 15 Minutes
Downtown Dubai is one of the best places to stay in Dubai if you’re in town for a quick trip and want to treat yourself to a luxurious getaway. You’ll be just a stone’s throw from the airport (just 14 km) and iconic attractions like the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) and the Dubai Mall (the world’s second-largest mall) are literally right on your doorstep.
One of the best parts of staying in Downtown Dubai is that everything is super walkable (unless you’re visiting in the scorchingly hot summer). Stay here and you can easily catch a show at the Dubai Opera House, see the spectacular Dubai Fountain Show, eat your way through the Time Out Market, and so much more.
The top attractions in Dubai’s “Old Town” are also roughly 15 minutes away from Downtown Dubai, including the Spice and Gold souks, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Seef Heritage Souk, and more.
Downtown Dubai is also home to the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station, which is handy if you want to head down to areas like the Dubai Marina (1 hour on the metro). Plus, taxis are readily available and affordable, perfect for whisking you wherever you’d like to go!
2. Business Bay
Distance from the Airport: 20 Minutes
Located just across the Dubai Canal from Downtown Dubai, Business Bay is also home to some of the best luxury high-rise hotels in Dubai, many of which offer gorgeous city and water views!
This is one of the best places to stay in Dubai if you’d prefer to be near the airport while having a wide range of restaurants, shops, and nightlife venues at your fingertips. Plus, you’ll have easy access to the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, and the Dubai Design District.
Business Bay also has its own metro station, which will take you everywhere from the airport to the north to the Dubai Marina in the south.
3. Al Seef/Al Fahadi (Old Dubai)
Distance from the Airport: 15 Minutes
If you’d rather swap out luxury high-rise buildings for something more cultural and historical, then you’ll love being based in Old Dubai. And if you’re wondering where to stay in Dubai to really immerse yourself in the vibe, you’ll want to choose a hotel near the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood or the nearby Al Seef Heritage Souk.
Stay here and you can spend your days shopping in the mazelike souks, cruising across the Dubai Creek in an abra (traditional wooden boat), enjoying traditional Emirate breakfasts at the Arabian Tea House, and just soaking in the culture and history of Old Dubai.
Hotels in Old Dubai are generally more affordable than those found in Downtown Dubai and Business Bay, but you’ll still be close to the airport and near a metro station so you can easily get around the city.
4. Deira (Old Dubai)
Distance from the Airport: 20 Minutes
Also located in part of what is considered Old Dubai, you’ll find the Deira neighborhood just across the Dubai Creek from Al Seef and Al Fahidi. Deira is one of the oldest parts of Dubai, and it’s perhaps best known for being home to the Gold Souk and Spice Souk.
This is arguably the best part of Dubai to stay in if you’re on a budget, as you’ll find lots of affordable accommodation options in this part of town. It’s also a great pick if you’re visiting for a quick 24-hour trip to Dubai, since the airport is just 15 minutes away. Stay here and you can easily tick off Old Dubai, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and the Dubai Fountain Show within a day.
What I personally love about Deira is that it’s bursting with character and is unlike any other neighborhood in Dubai. This is where you’ll find street food stalls galore, as well as some of the most affordable restaurants in the city. The Indian food options in this part of town are seemingly endless!
Deira also has a couple of metro stations, so you can easily get to and from the airport or be transported to more far-flung parts of Dubai, like the Dubai Marina.
5. Palm Jumeirah
Distance from the Airport: 20-30 Minutes
OK, so now we’re moving on to the best places to stay in Dubai if you want to be near the beach! If you’re planning the ultimate beach holiday, you really can’t go wrong with a stay on the famous Palm Jumeirah (also known as “palm tree island”).
The island’s “trunk” and “palm fronds” are lined with sprawling resorts, luxury hotels, and romantic retreats, so there’s really something to suit all tastes. Plus, you’ll get beaches galore if you base yourself in Palm Jumeirah.
If you want to go all out on your Dubai vacation, it’s well worth booking a stay at one of the many ritzy resorts, which offer everything from multiple pools, swanky on-site bars and nightclubs, 10+ dining establishments, private beaches, world-class spas, and so much more.
Palm Jumeirah is also where you’ll find some of Dubai’s top attractions like the massive Aquaventure Waterpark, the iconic Atlantis, The Palm, and the architectural marvel Atlantis The Royal.
The only downside of basing yourself in Palm Jumeirah is that you’re kind of disconnected from the rest of the city. That being said, you can easily hail a taxi to take you downtown (20 minutes) or to the Dubai Marina (10 minutes).
And while you can get around Palm Jumeirah using the monorail, which runs the length of the island, it is disconnected from the metro.
6. Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
Distance from the Airport: 40 Minutes
For a beach vacation that’s a little bit more lowkey than what you’ll find in Palm Jumeirah, JBR is easily one of the best places to stay in Dubai. From 5-star high-rises to more budget-friendly hotels, there are tons of hotels to choose from in JBR.
Plus, no matter where you stay, you’ll be a short walk from the white sand beach and the calm, tepid waters. This is one of the most popular beaches in Dubai, so it does attract tons of tourists and visitors alike, but it’s a lovely place to while away the days. Plus, you can embark on all sorts of excursions from here, from jet skiing around Palm Jumeirah to going on banana boat rides to going on fun fishing trips.
You can also take a short walk over the pedestrian bridge to Bluewaters Island, which is the site of Ain Dubai, the world’s largest Ferris wheel. Bluewaters also has quite a few cool cafes and restaurants that offer gorgeous water views.
Another perk of staying in JBR is that the beach is lined by a range of international chain restaurants, so whether you want to wine and dine at Eataly, grab some fast food to bring to the beach, or nosh on Turkish and Lebanese fare at ZouZou, you can pretty much eat around the world in JBR.
JBR has several tram stops which will take you directly to the metro stations in the adjacent Dubai Marina. So getting to the airport, Old Town, and Downtown Dubai using public transport is a breeze.
7. Dubai Marina
Distance from the Airport: 30-40 Minutes
The Dubai Marina is where I live and I can’t recommend staying here enough. I’ve lived here for years, and I never get sick of walking along the Marina Walk while taking in the views of the sky-high buildings and watching the massive yachts glide by in the marina.
Stay in this part of town and you can get a hotel room with marina views, walk to Marina Beach in JBR in 10 minutes, shop till you drop at the Marina Mall, stroll along the 7-kilometer Marina Walk, and go wining and dining at all of the restaurants in Pier 7!
With multiple metro and tram stops, you’ll be well connected to JBR, Downtown Dubai, Old Town, and the airport. And if you want to explore Palm Jumeirah, you’re just a quick taxi ride away!
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