Planning a family holiday is an arduous task. Congratulations to you if you have progressed to deciding the holiday destination! If the goal is Dubai, you are in the right place.
All that you know is you are going to Dubai. You have a whole passel of questions on affordable accommodation, food & the must-do activities in Dubai. Let us clear all your doubts and fears about traveling abroad, especially to a destination like Dubai, which can be confusing and overwhelming. Here is a five-day itinerary to visit Dubai with your family, the ultimate holiday destination.
Dubai is known for its hospitality. And the plethora of convenient options for accommodation and travel are available here for tourists. Whatever your choice of transportation is, Dubai has it all, with which traveling is less of a burden and more about fun for families like you. World-class metro, luxurious yet affordable taxicabs, Monorails, boats and cruises, and cycles (I know, right?!) are available for tourists to ease the burden of travel. Dubai has inexpensive places for accommodation that do not compromise quality and luxury.
Most of the metro routes come with fantastic views of Dubai. You can also board air-conditioned buses and travel like a local or hop-in-hop off tourist buses and enjoy sightseeing in Dubai. Boats here are called Abras, which is also one of the regional transportation services, and it also serves as an attraction for tourists. More on Monorails later; now, let’s look at the itinerary for the trip!
Day 1-Exploring Downtown:
You can get to the hotel by cab on reaching the Dubai airport. You need not worry about the fare as rates are fixed and affordable in Dubai. Take your own time to relax before you start exploring because downtown is going to take a lot out of you but will give you unforgettable memories with your family in return.
The first stop is Dubai Mall. The World’s largest mall is ever-ready to astonish you with its grandeur and preparedness to give you whatever you did and did not ask. Connected to the metro station, Dubai mall is easily accessible from all parts of Dubai. Top brands in fashion, home decor (it has Pottery Barn!!!!), a food court with all possible brands, and unique food outlets for Emirati cuisine are all available in Dubai Mall. The list does not end right there. Other attractions within Dubai Mall include,
- Aquarium Dubai Mall – rising to the third floor of Dubai Mall, the aquarium tank is filled with 10,000 million liters of water which contains more than 33,000 aquatic animals and the most extensive collection of sand tiger sharks anywhere. You can stroll around the 48-meter-long tunnel to get a fish-eye view of the aquarium.
- Ice rink- Experience ice-skating in the Olympic-sized ice rink on the ground floor of Dubai mall. You can also take beginners’ lessons in ice skating.
- Dubai Dino Display- You know what it is!
- VR Park – The virtual reality indoor theme park is also one of the exciting attractions in Dubai Mall.
- Dubai Fountain- This could be the highlight of your day if you are a fan of light and sound shows. Similar to the concept of a light and sound show, it is that and much more than that. The Dubai fountain show starts after sunset and happens every half an hour. The beautiful coordination of light and music to the gorgeous patterns of water fountains, rising and falling in the exact time together, form a design that makes the show interesting. You can view The light and sound show from the top of Burj Khalifa, the World’s tallest building and our next destination.
Burj Khalifa is the World’s tallest building (163 stories), located right next to Dubai Mall. When you come out of the Dubai mall, you can see Burj Khalifa standing elegantly, unmindful of its eyes. You can enter the tall building and reach its rooftop for a fee, but it is worth the experience. Also, you get to travel in one of the fastest elevators ever made, which can take you through the 823m building in a minute. On reaching the observation deck of Burj Khalifa, you get to see the unparalleled panorama of Dubai.
Trivia: The temperature in the observational deck of Burj Khalifa is 3-5 degrees lesser than the temperature at ground level.
You would plan to cover more tourist spots along with Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa on the first day. But once you enter the never-ending shopping void, you cannot easily escape it. And it is understandable. So, give yourself a break and wrap up the first day.
“Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of the experience.”
- – Francis Bacon
Day 2- Sun, Sand, Sea:
Sun, Sand, and Sea is Dubai’s story in a nutshell. You cannot visit Dubai without allocating a day for some beach fun. Dubai has public and private beaches; public beaches are free of cost, and secluded beaches require a small entrance fee. Here are the best beaches in Dubai:
- Sunset Beach
- Kite Beach
- La Mer
- The beach, JBR
- Black Palace Beach
- Al Mamzar beach park
Beaches in Dubai are known for their pristine sand and crystal-clear waters. Make sure you stay hydrated while spending your time on the beach. There are a lot of cafes and eateries where you can recharge yourself. But, do not try to drink alcoholic beverages while outside, as it is against the law to drink outside the licensed bars in Dubai. You might end up paying excessive fines, or you might even get jailed.
In addition to beaches, the other important attraction that is full of energy and fun is the theme parks of Dubai. Theme parks in Dubai can be delightful and perfect for people in groups like families. The best theme parks are given below:
- Aqua venture Water Park.
- Wild Wadi Water Park.
- IMG World of Adventures.
- LEGOLAND Dubai
- Ski Dubai
- Motiongate Dubai
- Laguna Water Park
- Bollywood Park
Beaches in Dubai are known for their pristine sand and crystal-clear waters. Make sure you stay hydrated while spending your time on the beach. There are a lot of restaurants and eateries where you can recharge yourself. But, do not try to drink alcoholic beverages while outside, as it is against the law to drink outside the licensed bars in Dubai. You might end up paying excessive fines, or you might even get jailed.
Other attractions near the beaches include the Al Fahidi historical neighborhood, which can take you back to the traditional Arab era, where you can see invaluable remnants of the past. You will also witness the traditional minarets of Arab-style architecture.
Day 3- Palm Jumeirah:
Dubai has been globally recognized for its first Palm Jumeirah; an impressive example, a manufactured island, is an icon on the Dubai landscape. Through the bird’s-eye-view, the island looks like a stylized palm tree, hence the name. Palm Jumeirah was built from a reclaimed landmass and a series of artificial archipelagos. The Palm is well-connected to Dubai, so it is not hard to reach the Palm. You can access the Palm through monorail and roads as well. Palm Jumeirah is home to the most luxurious hotels and resorts like Atlantis- the Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, and the One and Only, the Palm.
Sailing around Palm Jumeirah in a yacht or speedboat is popular among tourists. And if you are a family of thrill-seekers, you can try sky-diving above Palm Jumeirah, which is also extremely popular among tourists. Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk is one of the popular free activities. You can take a stroll and laze around until you get bored. Sitting on the Boardwalk and gazing into the vast blue sea is a blissful experience.
Now, we hear your “Why aren’t you talking about the deserts of Dubai?”. You need not worry as we are heading there next.
Day 4- Dubai Desert Adventures:
As we know, for a quintessential Arab experience, Dubai deserts are the ultimate destination. Dunes, Camels, and Safari characterize a lively desert adventure. And as usual, Dubai has that and more. Book a desert safari for yourself and enjoy the adrenaline-pumping ride through the desert. Other activities come as a package in a desert safari.
Ride on camel’s back, say hello to the falcon and befriend her, get photographed with the falcon, dig your toes into the sand in the campsite and enjoy the music, dance, and programs with your family while having the traditional Arab cuisine for dinner. Taking pictures of and with the desert sunset and star gazing while nestled in the soft sand of the desert are popular activities on a desert safari.
It is a ‘being in the middle of nowhere feeling, camping in a desert. The world around you is busy with its chores. You are pausing to experience this serenity in the middle of the desert, shedding all your negative thoughts and worries. Watching the sunset in the desert, you realize, Nature is eternally blissful.
Day 5-Dubai Creek and Souk:
Now that you have seen almost all the faces of Dubai let us introduce you to Arabs, the businessmen. Dubai Creek is the real heart of the city. The city’s ancient trade routes are in the Creek. The Saltwater estuary is the original site where the Bani Yas tribe settled. Its waters were vital for Pearl diving and Fishing, the primary sources of income for the erstwhile economy. Today it stands as evidence of the old Dubai. It is also home to the labyrinthine alleyways of the gold, spices, and textile souks. Hand-woven fabrics, lavish gold jewelry, a variety of herbs, and traditional Oud fragrances, you will find it all in Dubai’s exciting souks.
The good old Creek will take you back in time for sure. While in the Creek, you must try riding in Abra (meaning boat), one of the typical tourist activities in Dubai. All you need to do is pay one dirham. You can ride from Deira old souk to Bur Dubai in Abra, where you can see archaic and modern Dubai standing next to each other. Traveling in Abra like locals will be a strange yet fulfilling experience. Buy the famous Arab Dates and other spices and textiles that interest you. You can also buy gold from the gold souks.
Dubai is a must-see family holiday destination with innumerable options that suit all tastes of tourists. This bustling city offers everything from shopaholics and adventure seekers to foodies and families. World-class dining and entertainment options, ancient Creek and modern skyscrapers, deserts and beaches, culturally-rich heritage sites like souks, the list is endless in Dubai.
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