Atlantis the Pal, stunning resort hotel on Palm Jumeirah Dubai

150+ Amazing Places to Visit in Dubai in 2023

by Dubai Travel Planner

When we started this list we were aiming for 50 incredible places to see in Dubai, but it didn’t take us long before we reached 100… and the list kept going! 

Here it is… your ultimate list of places to visit in Dubai – over 150 ideas!!!

We’ve tried to make it as readable as possible by breaking it into categories, and keeping as much as we can to places and activities we think are of interest to tourists. Where we have more details we’ve linked to these so we can keep this list as concise as possible and get you ready to plan your Dubai adventure.

So get your pen and paper ready…. or you can save this to Pinterest or bookmark it in your browser for later.

150 Amazing places to visit when you are in Dubai

Worried how you’ll fit it all in?

We have a dedicated section of our website for itineraries so you can fit in everything you want to see in the length of time you have in Dubai.

We also recommend in a number of places on this page booking your tour tickets with Get Your Guide – online ticketing agents. We have chosen GYG as our partner due to their outstanding customer-first approach and a great range of experiences on offer, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before to maximise flexibility.

Before you dive into your Dubai trip planning you may also want to check out:

So without further ado, let’s jump into the ultimate list of Dubai activities and places to visit in Dubai!


Major tourist attractions in Dubai

We’re going to start with those Dubai attractions that almost certainly feature on everyone’s Dubai itinerary. You can click on these links to go to our more detailed guides on how to visit these top attractions in Dubai:

Visiting Dubai’s major attractions with kids?

We suggest you head over to our tailor-made Dubai attractions list especially for families – though nearly everything on this list will work for families too!

TOP TIP If you will be in Dubai for several days and want to visit multiple popular attractions, check out the Dubai Pass of Go City Dubai to save on multi-attraction tickets.


Theme parks & water parks in Dubai

Read More Don’t miss our guide to Dubai’s best water parks


Historic and cultural sites in Dubai

The best place to start is in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Don’t miss the highlights including:

Once you have crossed the river to the Deira (Al Ras) area of Dubai, it’s time to enjoy the traditional souks, including:

  • Gold Souk
  • Spice Souk
  • Perfume Souk
  • Textile Souk
  • Naif Souk – general market

For more cultural emerging, take a guided tour of a Dubai mosque:

Why not try a Heritage Express tour which will take you to many of these famous cultural sites with guided commentary.

(NB – Non-Muslims should not otherwise enter inside a mosque in Dubai, only as part of a cultural tour is this permitted)

Read more: A complete guide to the beautiful mosques of Dubai (and which ones tourists CAN enter)

Further museum exploration in Dubai:

And a few others we definitely would not leave off your list:

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You can find a complete guide to Dubai’s best FREE activities here


Dubai’s best indoor attractions

In a city where temperatures regularly sit above 40°C for months on end, it’s no surprise how many of Dubai’s attractions are indoors, largely attached to the mega shopping malls.

Whether you want action-packed activities or just to cool off, there are plenty of fun things to do in Dubai for an unforgettable vacation. 

Get your adrenaline pumping with a high-octane go-kart race or bounce and back-flip in a mega trampoline park — all indoors. Worth adding to your list:

The captivating giant tanks of Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Dubai Mall

Dubai’s best beach and outdoor experiences

Beaches in Dubai

Dubai is famed for its glorious beaches (though truth be told, a lot of its man-made) it does, however, have an amazing wide, here are 8 to try open to the public.

  • Sunset Beach – also known as Umm Suqeim Beach or Burj al Arab Beach
  • La Mer – a trendy new beachfront area of the city for foodies and beachfront, modern, fun and funky day and night
  • The Beach & The Walk – a beautiful and trendy waterfront area of the city, it includes a splash pad area for smaller children and offshore, the giant Aqua Fun inflatable water park
  • Mamzar Park Beach – in “Old Dubai” this is a popular park and beach
  • Jumeirah Beach – Park and beach are all newly renovated perfect for picnicking
  • Mercato Beach – a small and lesser-known community beach opposite Mercato Mall
  • Kite Beach – a popular community beach including water sports and lots of kids’ adventure activities including a freshwater pool with an obstacle course, Aqua Adventure
  • Black Palace Beach – a more rustic beach with nothing but glorious sand

Read More: Our complete guide to the best public beaches in Dubai

You can also enjoy many of Dubai’s more luxurious beaches and resorts – even if you are not staying at a hotel – on a day pass. You can check out our favourite Dubai Beach Clubs here.

Other parks and outdoor attractions to try in Dubai

Beyond the beaches, check out these amazing green spaces in Dubai, most are free or have a very minimal municipality charge:

  • Al Seef – the waterfront area that extends beyond Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and along the Creek
  • IMAGINE – light, fire & water show nightly at Dubai Festival City
  • RISE Dubai Creek Harbour – seasonal festivities
  • Dubai Creek Park – a large green area along the creek front, close to DXB
  • Mushrif Park including outdoor ziplining park Aventura Parks
  • Zabeel Park – home to Dubai Garden Glow and the Dubai Frame but includes other extensive parklands in the city centre
  • Burj Park – in the heart of town – ideal photo shot for the Burj, and see if you can find the hidden super slide!
  • Umm Suqeim Park – close to Sunset Beach in Jumeirah
  • Al Barari Playground – a splash play and playground delight hidden in the suburbs
  • Quranic Park dedicated to the Holy Quran
  • Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary – an urban wetland home to migratory birds
  • Al Marooom Desert Conservation Reserve – exciting up and coming eco-project incapsulating about 10% of the Emirate of Dubai
  • Al Qudra Lakes – a man-made lake system for wildlife, including the famous Love Lake (now part of Al Marmoom)
  • Golf in Dubai – more than a dozen lush green courses wait to be played

Find our complete collection of Dubai’s best parks and gardens here


Dubai’s best foodie experiences

Oh wow, where do we start?!  There are literally thousands of restaurants across the city from street food to fine dining, so rather than listing individual restaurants here, we will share top dining experiences.

You can see our complete guide to Dubai’s Foodie and nightlife scene here

  • Classic Weekend Brunch  – an all afternoon dining affair. Things have certainly diversified over the years though and if you are looking to mix things up, it’s possible to Brunch on a Sunday, or even in the evening – check out these other Brunch options.
  • Afternoon Tea – Proving High Tea is not just a British speciality, there are plenty of amazing afternoon tea experiences across Dubai that mix classical plates with a modern twist.
  • Boutique breakfast – so many amazing small cafes around the city, skip the hotel buffet and try these unique breakfast spots.
  • Try traditional Emirati Cuisine – so many visit Dubai without ever experiencing real Emirati.
  • Walking tours of Dubai – there’s no better way for foodies to get in touch with the place they are visiting than to take to the streets. Frying Pan Adventures is widely acclaimed as one of the best or try this tour offered by Dubai By Foot.
  • Soak in a rooftop sunset – all the most beautiful rooftop venues across the city for dinner and drinks.
  • Nightclubbing scene – a very active and vibrant nightclubbing scene exists across the city. Some roll from evening brunch into dancing, whilst others are strictly dance clubs catering to all sorts of musical tastes.
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Shopping in Dubai

As well as the traditional souks we mentioned above, there are DOZENS of large shopping Malls in Dubai. Some of the largest you are likely to come across are:

On the hunt for more souqs? As well as the traditional souqs, check out these modern souqs with a traditional twist:

Souk Madinat Jumeirah
The stunning canals adjacent to the modern market Souq Madinat Jumeirah

Or traditional bargain hunters who want to explore further than just the old Souks may be interested in the likes of:


Seasonal events in Dubai

Depending on when you time your trip, you may be able to join In the fun and festivities of many of these amazing events (subject to current COVID regulations some of these events may not run as normal in 2022):


Only in Dubai – some extreme experiences to try

There are plenty of extreme experiences to enjoy in Dubai including:

Take an aerial view of the city on a Sky Dive or light aircraft experience

More sedate but uniquely interesting:


Dubai Emirate – beyond the city

Still within the Emirate of Dubai, there are plenty of fabulous places to visit.

The Dubai Desert

Most visitors will be curious about visiting the desert during their trip to Dubai.  There are so many different ways to experience the desert, from short “desert safaris” in organised tour groups to camping and glamping.

Trek into the desert to see the other side of Dubai away from the concrete and skyscrapers

We definitely recommend first-time visitors should take on at least one desert experience in Dubai. You can whet your appetite with:

Read More: Our detailed guide to undertaking a Dubai desert safari

For those who might not be so keen on desert camping or seek a more unique way to enjoy the Dubai desert we can suggest:

Read More: Our complete guide to Dubai’s desert glamping experiences

Head to the Mountains!

Yes the UAE has mountains! The Hajar Mountain range runs from the tiny Omani exclave of Musandam, pointing into the Strait of Hormuz, all the way down the tip of the Arabian Peninsular to Muscat. Most of the mountains pass through other Emirates in the UAE, but a small Dubai enclave exists called Hatta.

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Sitting 90 minutes by car south of the city, in Hatta you can experience:

Trailer cabins in the Hatta Mountains
Hatta Mountains luxury glamping

Day trips from Dubai

Let’s look beyond the actual Emirate of Dubai and into the other 6 Emirates of the UAE (You can see our complete guide to all the 7 Emirates of the UAE here). 

This list is not exhaustive – there are so many incredible things to do beyond Dubai, so we have tried to narrow it down to those activities we know are achievable within 1 day and have tours/drivers that can take you.

Read More: You can find our complete guide to Dubai Day trips here.

Abu Dhabi Cultural Tour: a personalised day trip can see you to The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr al Watan (the country’s new Presidential Palace) in just a day. You can even catch a free bus that takes you to the Louvre and Qasr al Watan.

(We have a complete guide on our Abu Dhabi Travel Planner Site here).

We would add to this list if possible:

  • The Falcon Hospital – a fabulous insight into the ancient and modern tradition of falconry including up-close encounters
  • Qasr al Hosn – a heritage experience, built on the site of the original Hosn Fort
  • A drive-by of the beautiful Founders Memorial
  • High tea at Observation 300, Etihad Towers or at the stunning Emirates Palace
  • Take kayaks or an eco-boat into the Eastern Mangroves
  • Strolling the famous Corniche beach

Abu Dhabi theme parks – there are now 3 amazing theme parks on Yas Island, each could demand your full attention or the best part of a day, though you could arguably fit in two if you are savvy – Ferrari World (home to the World’s Fastest Roller Coaster), Warner Bros World – the world’s largest theme park and Yas Waterworld, the Middle East’s best waterpark.

Al Ain – Abu Dhabi the second largest city in Abu Dhabi, also known as the Oasis city is among the country’s most historic and fascinating places to visit – home to the country’s jointly listed UNESCO sites.

Al Ain Al Jahili Fort
Visit the historic city of Al Ain on a Dubai day trip

Sharjah – the cultural capital of the UAE has no distinct border with Dubai.  It seamlessly blends with the outskirts of the Deira and the city’s eastern areas. In fact, Dubai buses spread into Sharjah, even a public ferry making it the easiest place to visit from Dubai on a day trip.

Most focus from tourists goes into the Heart of Sharjah, the arts and culture district.  But increasingly, there is a focus outside of the main city too with the utterly stunning new Sharjah Mosque and Mleiha archaeological site in the desert.

Ras al Khaimah – often thought of as the country’s adventure playground, it is home to the world’s longest zipline and the country’s tallest peak in the rugged Hajar Mountains, Jebel Jais.

Fujairah – for even more spectacular mountain views, historic forts, and arguably the region’s oldest mosque still in use today. Also popular for its wide sandy beaches and diving opportunities.

Musandam Peninsula – we’re totally cheating calling this one in the Emirates – because it’s actually an exclave of Oman! BUT!!! it is one of the most stunning landscapes within easy reach of Dubai, and whilst yes, it does cross an international border, it can be done on a day trip from Dubai.

See our guide to transport around the UAE for more information on how to get to these incredible destinations.


We are sure to have missed some favourites as there’s simply so much going on in Dubai. We are constantly updating this list as new things open up. Let us know in the comments below if there’s more you think we should add.


Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai

  • Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!!!


Take me back to the Dubai Travel Blog

Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

Dubai Travel Planner

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1 comment

Pia smith December 31, 2021 - 11:47 am

I was never aware that there can be more than 150 places to visit in Dubai; I just thought that Dubai is famous for 10 to 15 important things. This blog has changed my perspective towards Dubai, I am glad that I read this blog before I made my trip to Dubai. Otherwise I would have regretted a lot for missing these things to visit in Dubai.

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