Dubai walking tour & city guide

Downtown and the Marina

The Burj Khalifa, at 828 meters, is the tallest building in the world, with observation decks on the 124th, 125th and 148th floors. At its foot, the Dubai Fountain dances to music every evening, and the Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping centers on Earth.

Dubai Marina is a canal lined with skyscrapers and a waterfront promenade, next to the beaches of JBR. Palm Jumeirah, the palm-shaped artificial island, is home to luxury hotels and beach clubs.

Old Dubai

Along Dubai Creek, the Al Fahidi Historical District has restored wind-tower houses, museums and art galleries. Traditional abra water taxis cross the creek for one dirham to Deira, home to the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk.

A day on foot in Dubai

Dubai is built for cars, but its best moments happen on foot. Start early in Al Fahidi, when the wind-tower lanes are quiet and still cool, then take an abra across the Creek for one dirham and lose yourself in the spice and gold souks of Deira. The ride lasts five minutes and is the most authentic thing you can do in the city.

In the afternoon, hop on the Metro to Downtown. The walk from Dubai Mall around the Burj Lake is short, and if you time it for sunset you get the tower glowing orange, then the fountain show every half hour after dark. Finish at Dubai Marina or JBR, where the promenade stays lively until late.

Good to know

From June to September, daytime walking is genuinely hard: temperatures pass 40°C and the humidity is heavy. Walk in the early morning or after sunset, and use the air-conditioned Metro and covered walkways in between. From November to March the weather is perfect and the city is at its busiest.

Dress modestly in the souks and mosques, and remember that the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. A Nol card works on the Metro, tram, buses and abras, and taxis are cheap compared with most global cities.