Traveler’s Guide To Planning A Memorable Dubai Vacation

When you pull into Port Rashed in the north of the emirate, grab a taxi to the Dubai Museum. A visit to the city's main historical museum is an excellent start to your Dubai vacation. It's housed in the Al Fahidi Fort, which dates back to 1800 and is Dubai's oldest remaining structure. The museum gives you an idea of the days before the discovery of oil and the metamorphosis from a sleepy fishing and pearling village to the current global center of commerce and tourism. Before you head into the city, you'll get the big picture of how special this city is.

It's often too hot to walk in Dubai, and many districts aren't built for pedestrians — exceptions being the Al Fahidi Historical District, Deira, Dubai Marina and City Walk. Cycling is great fun here, too, as Dubai was the first city in the Middle East to implement a bicycle-sharing system. Dubai has that big-city feel, and you'll soon notice just how cosmopolitan this place is. It's a true melting pot of cultures.

If you're lucky to be there on a not-too-hot day, I highly recommend exploring the Al Fahidi Historical District around the museum. Also known as the Bastakiya Quarter, this area was built at the beginning of the 20^th century by merchants from the Persian town of Bastak. Spend the afternoon strolling around the labyrinthine lanes admiring the nicely restored sand-colored houses topped with the ingenious wind towers, which helped against the scorching heat before the invention of central air conditioning. Enter one of the pleasant cafes, craft shops or art galleries if you need to cool down or are craving a snack.

Shopping is kind of synonymous with Dubai, and your visit just wouldn't be complete without a shopping spree in one of the many, many malls. Even if you're not into shopping or don't need anything new, you'll probably end up in one of the malls sooner or later to explore as you escape the heat. Opposite the Burj Khalifa is the Dubai Mall. With around 1,300 shops, it's like an entire town, and until the Iran Mall near Tehran opened in 2018, it was the world's largest shopping mall. You'll find lots of clothes, household items, and electronics but also a giant ice rink, indoor theme parks, cinemas and several food courts. Why not have a Pakistani, Palestinian, Somali or Filipino lunch all in one afternoon?

The mall's most interesting feature is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, the largest aquarium in the world (yes, they love breaking records here). You can watch thousands of aquatic animals up close in the 10-million-liter tank, comprising over 140 species, including no less than 400 sharks and rays. Favorite inhabitants are the 5.1 meter-long Australian saltwater crocodile named King Croc and his wife Queen Croc. Come during the feedings for a fun show: The rays are usually fed at 10:30 a.m., sharks at 2 p.m., and the crocodiles at 4 p.m.

If you're looking for something special to do but don't want to spend a fortune shopping, take a taxi or bus to the Dubai Outlet Mall in the eastern outskirts. Here, you'll find bargains from both designer and international clothing brands. You can also visit the Outlet Village, a mall at an entirely different location, in the direction of Abu Dhabi and built in the style of an Italian village. After finding some discounted fashion deals, enjoy a tasty Italian coffee or some ice cream or pasta while you sit on the pretty square.

Nearby, a little more south along the coast, you'll reach Madinat Jumeirah, also known as "Dubai's Venice." You won't regret visiting this luxurious resort village during your Dubai vacation. It has many exquisite international restaurants and four lavish hotels amidst colorful and lush bougainvillea, palm and banana trees. You can stroll around the winding waterways of this attractive contemporary interpretation of a traditional Arab village or take a traditional wooden boat water taxi (a trip by abra takes around 20 minutes).

In the heart of it is Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a maze-like bazaar with quality souvenirs, such as carpets, clothes and art. At night, the gardens are enchantingly lit, as is the Burj Al Arab hotel in the background. The complex is also one of the many popular nightlife locations, so come ready to mingle and enjoy the bass-thumping beats.

There are many more unique things to do in Dubai. It may surprise you, but you can even find lush nature in this big city. When you're ready to relax, wander around the Dubai Miracle Garden, a 20-minute taxi drive inland from Madinat Jumeirah and a true miracle in this arid desert climate. Covering 2,000 square meters and home to no less than 100 million flowers, this surrealistic park is said to be the largest natural flower garden in the world. The huge Dubai Butterfly Garden next door is also extremely popular and offers fun for kids to explore.

For an entirely different type of nature, head further east to the desert, where you reach the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The reserve was established in 1999 to reintroduce mountain gazelles, sand gazelles and Arabian oryx. A tour out of urbanized Dubai to this or another part of the Arabian desert is an impressive experience and definitely recommended if you have the time. Climb a few photogenic dunes and weathered mountains, join a traditional meal, and watch the countless stars as you reflect on your unforgettable trip to Dubai.