One Day in Dubai: Your Ultimate Bucket List Itinerary
As someone who now calls Dubai home, trust me when I say there are a great many things that should be on every Dubai bucket list. So if you’ve only got one day in Dubai, chances are you want to pack in as many iconic Dubai activities as possible!
For the sake of this one-day Dubai itinerary, you’re going to be busy. But it’s going to be well worth it for the chance to cruise through the Dubai desert, wander around maze-like souks in Old Dubai, marvel at the world’s tallest building, see the famous Dubai Fountain Show, and so much more!
This itinerary assumes that you have a full 24 hours in Dubai, starting early in the morning and going until well into the evening. Depending on your flight times, feel free to switch things up so you can still tick off all these attractions during your layover.
This itinerary also assumes that you’re not visiting in the hot and humid summer months. If that’s the case, check out my article about how to make the most of your summer visit to Dubai!
Finally, these are all recommendations that I give to my friends and family who have limited time in Dubai. But if one of these activities doesn’t appeal to you, I’m also going to give a little list of alternatives at the end of this article, so you can be sure to make the most of your one day in Dubai!
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.
Where to stay in Dubai
When it comes to where to stay in Dubai, it’s important to know that Dubai is a spread-out city. So, for the sake of this one-day Dubai itinerary, I suggest staying in either Downtown Dubai or Old Dubai.
Both of these locations will put you roughly 15 minutes from the airport. Plus, both are situated near most of the activities and attractions you’re going to tick off during your epic 24 hours in Dubai!
How to get from the airport to your hotel
Getting around Dubai is actually fairly easy and affordable (read my full guide to using Dubai’s public transport). Assuming you’re staying in either Downtown Dubai or Old Dubai, the easiest and fastest way to get to your hotel is by taking a taxi.
All three terminals at the Dubai International Airport have an official taxi rank outside (follow the signs). There is usually a short line, but it’s reassuring to know that these taxis always use a meter. From the airport, there’s an AED25 base fee and a charge of AED2.22 for each kilometer after that.
If you’re looking to save a few dirhams, you can always choose a hotel near a metro stop in either Old Dubai or Downtown Dubai.
One Day in Dubai: The Perfect Itinerary
Embark on an Early Morning Desert Safari
First up on your one-day Dubai itinerary is a journey out into the desert. You’ll have tons of early-morning tours to choose from, but for an ethical and cultural desert safari experience, I recommend booking the Bedouin Culture Safari Morning Tour with Platinum Heritage.
You’ll be picked up from your hotel between 5:30 am and 6:30 am, and you’ll start off by riding a camel to an authentic Bedouin village, where you’ll learn about Bedouin culture and lifestyle while enjoying a traditional Emirati breakfast and a falconry performance.
After that, you’ll hop in a vintage Land Rover and cruise around the spectacular Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where you’ll get plenty of photo ops with the dunes along the way. Depending on the season, you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel between 10:30 am and noon, so you’ll still have plenty of time to tick off a few more bucket list activities!
Go Back in Time in Old Dubai
lunch at Arabian tea house
After a quick shower at your hotel, it’s time to explore Old Dubai for the afternoon. For an authentic taste of Emirati cuisine, you can’t go wrong with lunch at the Arabian Tea House. This place is an institution in Dubai, and it was even recently featured on “Somebody Feed Phil” (Season 7)!
There’s just something about soaking up the old-world vibes in the lush courtyard while noshing on local Emirati favorites. Think Arabic Chicken Shawarma, Emirati Kebab Laham (Lamb Barbeque), and Machboos Deyay (Chicken with Rice), among other delicious dishes.
Or if you’d like to try a few different dishes and share, you can always order up a variety of popular appetizers, from a fattoush salad and mutabal (roasted eggplant dip) to hummus, falafel, and labneh (a creamy dip).
explore Al Fahidi Historical District
After you’ve had your fill, you should check out all of the hidden gems in the surrounding Al Fahidi Historical District, including the Dubai Museum at Al Fahidi Fort, the Coffee Museum, and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
ride an abra to deira
After that, take an abra (a traditional wooden boat) across Dubai Creek to Deira. This is a public boat that will depart when full, and the journey only costs AED1. Riding an abra is a must on any one-day Dubai itinerary! Over in Deira (which is still Old Dubai) is where you’ll find some of Dubai’s most famous souks, including the glitzy Gold Souk and the fragrant Spice Souk.
Spend the Evening in Downtown Dubai
As your one day in Dubai comes to an end, it’s time to explore Downtown Dubai. It might sound like too much to fit into one evening, but thankfully all of Downtown Dubai’s main attractions are within walking distance of one another.
We’re going to focus on seeing the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, and the famous Dubai Fountain Show. But the order you do these in is completely up to you!
go to the top of the burj khalifa
If you can time your visit with sunset, I highly recommend going to the top of the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) during sunset. With the “At the Top” tickets, you’ll get exclusive views from the observation decks on the 124th, 125th, and 148th floors. Plus, you’ll get to skip the line to save on time!
That being said, the experience is incredible any time, day or night. And if you don’t feel like paying to go to the top, you can always admire the Burj Khalifa for absolutely free from down below!
see the Dubai Fountain Show
Another must on any one-day Dubai itinerary, The Dubai Fountain Show takes place at the base of the Burj Khalifa every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 11 pm every evening. It gets crowded, so you’ll want to arrive a bit early to get a spot.
If you’d like to enjoy the show over dinner and drinks, you can try to snag a coveted seat on the balcony of the nearby Time Out Market food hall or make reservations for the “floating deck” of the Tap House (Souk Al Bahar). The fountain views from both are awesome!
For a totally unique experience, you can also book tickets to watch the show from a traditional abra (wooden boat) or get the closest “seats” to the show with tickets to the new floating boardwalk.
explore dubai mall
While you’re in Downtown Dubai, you’ll also want to allot a bit of time to exploring the Dubai Mall, one of the largest malls in the world. This place is massive so it’s impossible to see everything if you’re only in Dubai for one day.
But you’ll for sure want to check out the sharks and rays (for free!) outside of the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, grab some sweet treats for the plane from the massive Candylicious store (right across from the aquarium), and take selfies in front of the Dubai Waterfall (pictured above)!
24 Hours in Dubai: 5 Alternate Attractions
- Take a food tour with Frying Pan Adventures
- Gawk at bird’s-eye Palm views from The View at The Palm
- Spend the day in style at SĀN Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah
- Soak up the sun from the free beach in JBR
- See the sites on a hop-on hop-off Big Bus Dubai sightseeing tour
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