Dubai is often known as a stop-over city for us Australians. We use it to break up the long journey to Europe, sometimes only fleetingly stepping foot in the airport before boarding another plane. Dubai is so much more than just a stop over city, though. It blends beach and desert, old and new and boasts some amazing architecture. I’ve assembled a bunch of amazing travel bloggers who share my love for the capital of the United Arab Emirates to help compile an ultimate list of things to do in Dubai.
Spice Souk
Full of heaped herbs and spices that can be smelled before they are seen, the Dubai Spice Souk really gives a glimpse into the traditional marketplaces of the gulf region. Also known as the Old Souk, the aromas of frankinscense, tea and spices are inviting and exotic to my Australian nose, as is watching the vendors haggle with buyers. The colours here, too, are vibrant and eye catching as silver bowls full of open herbs and spices are on display throughout the market. The Spice Souk is one of my favourite things to do in Dubai as it really feels connected to another era, to the more traditional Dubai of old.
Gold Souk
Near the Spice Souk in the centre of Dubai is another local market with a unique history. The Gold Souk is something to be seen, even if you are not in the market for a gold souvenir. Although the market includes typical souvenir shops, the focus for travellers is in seeing the large, glittering shop windows filled with gold. Row upon row of gold. The Gold Souk is larger than the Spice Souk as well, with alleyways traversing from the main walkway into a labyrinth of glittering shops. People travel from all over the Middle East and from around the world to purchase jewellery from the Gold Souk. Some of the pieces were so large it’s hard to believe women wear them around their necks or wrists. Apparently, much of this jewellery is purchased for weddings, and sometimes never worn again. The souk is an interesting look into the shopping culture of the Middle East.
– Amber from Food & Drink Destinations
Dune Bashing
One of the best things to do in Dubai, is to go out in the desert for Dune Bashing. If you’re looking for an exhilarating experience in Dubai, this is the thing to do! Book your tour, and you’ll be picked up in a jeep or a truck, and you’ll head out to the desert sand dunes for the ride of your life. The driver will stop a little ways before you get there, and let some air out of the tires. When you get to the dunes, be sure to have your seatbelt fastened, because you’ll be in for a crazy ride. These drivers are awesome and will drive like madmen up and down the dunes. We had times where our jeep was on the very edge of a hill, and I was positive we were going to flip. It is such an excited experience to have in Dubai…we just recommend waiting to eat your lunch until after your ride!
– Sarah from Our Kind of Crazy Blog
Visiting the Burj Khalifa at Sunrise
Camel Riding
One of the best things to check out in Dubai is camel riding. Such a cool experience! Take this ancient form of transport over the Dubai desert terrain and be amazed by the awesome scenery. You can get to witness the amazing sunset on the back of a camel. Not many more epic experiences than that, is there? You will probably have seen the typical Instagram photo, the selfie with a camel. You will have plenty of opportunities to get an epic photo like this for your travel pics. However, the best part of the day is the amazing view and the experience you will receive. Riding into the sunrise on a camel’s back is something not many people will get to experience in their lives. The camel trip to the desert should come with transport from your hotel in Dubai. Also food should be included, like breakfast and drinks. Don’t forget to take your camera along!
– Louis from Northern Boy
Yellow Boat Tour
We had 3 days in Dubai and knew we wanted to see as many of the landmark architectures as we could. That is why we opted for a Yellow Boat Tour. Head down to the Marina and you can catch a jet boat which whizzes you around the coastline, stopping to show you the best areas of Dubai such as the Burj Al Arab, Palm Islands, Atlantis Hotel and the beautiful villas home to the rich and famous.
There are different tours available depending on how long you want to explore for. We took the 99 minute trip costing us 294 per adult but a 75 and 60 minute option is also available.
Al Bastakiya
In summing up, there’s obviously so much of this wonderful city to discover. Thanks to all the amazing bloggers who shared their love for the city and contributed to this list of things to do in Dubai.
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