Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and an increasingly popular destination. It is breaking new records in all aspects of life, including the number of visitors.
Our own opinion is that Dubai can never get boring and we could spend any amount of time there. However, as tourists, time and budget are often limited.
When browsing social networking sites, we often see the question that although the person has only a short time in Dubai, they want to see as much of the city as possible.
This is where we got the idea to create a two-day itinerary to visit Dubai.
First, let’s look at some of the issues that might come up when planning a two-day trip to Dubai.
Is two days enough to visit Dubai?
To be honest, two days is not enough to see all parts of Dubai, but there are tourists who have no other option. This article is for them, to help them make the best possible travel plan for a short trip to Dubai.
How many days is the recommended time to spend in Dubai?
You can see most of the attractions in Dubai in about 4-5 days. If you are also visiting the countryside, want to see the highlights of Abu Dhabi or want to relax, we recommend a minimum of a week or more.
But don’t let that put you off, if you have less time available in Dubai, you can still see the main sights.
Benefits of a 2-day trip to Dubai
Spending two days in Dubai has its advantages. One of them is the price. Since you don’t have to pay for a hotel for many days, you can travel to Dubai on a low budget. If you only have a few days, maybe you are in Dubai on a business trip, this might be just enough time to see the most important places in Dubai. And all this quickly and cheaply.
What aspects to consider when planning a two-day trip to Dubai
Budget
Besides the short time available, the other most important factor is the budget you have.
You can choose between cheap and luxury hotels in Dubai, depending on your budget. Personally, we think the 5-star places in Dubai are well worth the money, as they offer excellent service. So if you can afford it, don’t miss out on the luxury Dubai experience.
Where to stay in Dubai
Dubai is full of great hotels in almost every price range, with a wide choice to suit everyone.
We can recommend several hotels in Dubai, from 3 star cheap hotels to 5 star luxury hotels, which we have selected ourselves.
So here is a selection of the hotels we recommend in Dubai.
3 star hotels in Dubai
- Rove Dubai Marina: a very well-priced three-star hotel on Dubai Marina, close to more other attractions like Ain Dubai or Palm Jumeirah
- Rove Expo 2020: we can also recommend other hotels in the Rove chain, such as the Rove Expo 2020 in Expo City, which is a very affordable and well rated hotel. It’s a bit far from the other attractions, but for the price it’s on our list
4 star hotels in Dubai
- Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah: a four-star hotel opened in 2022, located on the Palm Jumeirah, offering an almost five-star experience with breathtaking views, beautiful interiors and its own private beach
- Vida Creek Harbour: a good value hotel near Creek Harbour with fantastic views from its terrace and pool, two restaurants and free private garage
- Courtyard by Marriott Dubai, Al Barsha: a well-priced four-star hotel in the Barsha district, close to the Mall of the Emirates. If you want to stay in a central location at a good price, this hotel is a good choice
- The First Collection Business Bay: a four-star hotel relatively close to Downtown. It’s very budget-friendly, has an award-winning restaurant and a pool with fantastic views
Cheaper 5 star hotels in Dubai
- Al Bandar Rotana: a five-star hotel close to the DXB airport and the Creek, very good value for money, has a private parking garage, great views of Downtown and excellent breakfast
- Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, an IHG Hotel: a five-star hotel in Downtown, relatively close to the Burj Khalifa. A very good value hotel in its category and with excellent reviews
Top luxury hotels in Dubai
- One&Only Royal Mirage Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach: a top luxury hotel close to Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina, with a private beach, breathtaking outdoor facilities and stylish interiors
- Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai: a real luxury hotel on Pearl Jumeirah, with excellent restaurants, a huge private beach and wonderful interiors
- Palace Downtown: The Palace Downtown is one of Dubai’s most famous luxury hotels. It has breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa, is built in a magnificent Arabian style and its palm-fringed pools are a big favorite among tourists
- Five Palm Jumeirah Dubai: a popular five-star luxury hotel on the Palm Jumeirah. It has extremely good restaurants, with by far the best breakfasts we have tried. The nightlife is quite active at this hotel, so we recommend it especially for young people. There are also frequent star DJ nights. It has a private beach and a fabulous pool
These are just a few of the many Dubai hotels we can recommend. If you are looking for something different, Booking.com has all the other best hotels in Dubai.
Or if you want to find accommodation in Dubai using a map, you will find the right place below.
Transport
On the other hand, since you only have two days, avoid traveling long distances. It is not a good idea to spend a lot of time stuck in traffic on a short trip. So for a short trip to Dubai, try to travel short distances. Dubai is much bigger than it looks on the map and transport can take up a lot of time.
As for transport, we always prefer to rent a car, but for a short trip a taxi is a very practical option. We are sure that a taxi is the most time-saving way to get around Dubai.
For a longer trip, we recommend our one week UAE itinerary, where we have included the countryside, Abu Dhabi, the desert and the mountains.
Desert safari
A very popular activity in Dubai is the desert safari, with plenty of options. However, as desert safaris take quite a long time, we recommend you plan a full day. Therefore, it is not included in our itinerary.
If you want to go on a desert safari in Dubai, GetYourGuide offers a wide range of desert safari packages.
Beaches
There are fantastic beaches in Dubai, so if you definitely want to go to the beach during the two days, you can spend a few hours there.
We also offer free beach options for the second day.
Family activities
Dubai is a very family-friendly place with many facilities for families. However, two days is not enough, so we did not plan any special family activities. If you are visiting with young children, you will probably need more than two days to explore Dubai. Then you can plan family activities such as Aquaventure Waterpark, Global Village or IMG Worlds of Adventure.
2-day itinerary in Dubai
So, after the important questions, here is the recommended two-day itinerary of the best places to visit in Dubai.
Of course, programmes and days are freely interchangeable.
Day 1
Here is the itinerary for the first day of the two-day Dubai itinerary:
Museum of the Future
In the morning, visit the Museum of the Future, one of Dubai’s newest iconic buildings.
The Museum of the Future houses interesting displays, exhibitions and collections, so it is well worth a tour inside. Depending on the time available, you may decide to visit inside.
If you want to see inside the Museum of the Future, it is strongly recommended that you book your ticket online.
From the outside, we definitely recommend seeing the Museum of the Future, which in our opinion is one of the most beautiful attractions in Dubai.
Time needed to visit the Museum of the Future: 1 hour outside only, 2-3 hours inside and outside
Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame is another of Dubai’s iconic attractions. There is much argument among tourists about whether it is worth seeing inside. Since it doesn’t take much time to see the inside, we think it is worth it.
Pay particular attention to how the Frame connects old Dubai with modern Dubai. On one side of the Frame, you can see old buildings, and on the other side, you get a great view of Dubai Downtown, including the Burj Khalifa.
Time needed to visit Dubai Frame: 1-1.5 hours
Burj Khalifa
For afternoons and evenings, the Burj Khalifa and its surroundings are the perfect place to visit.
The Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building not only in Dubai but in the world, famous not only for its record-breaking height but also for its magnificent views and its city-shaping appearance.
There are several tickets available for the Burj Khalifa, so it is up to you to decide which one to buy, depending on your budget.
We always recommend visiting the Burj Khalifa by booking online tickets in advance for the sunset hours.
For example, if the sunset is at 6 pm (you can check the sunset time here), buy tickets online in advance for 5 or 5:30 pm.
With an online ticket you don’t have to queue at the ticket office, so you can get to the upper floors faster.
We recommend the sunset period because you can see Dubai from the Burj Khalifa in both its daytime and nighttime beauty with one ticket.
Time needed to visit the Burj Khalifa: 1.5-2 hours
The Dubai Fountain
In the evening, after leaving the Burj Khalifa, you will have a few hours to visit The Dubai Fountain in front of the Burj Khalifa. It is well worth taking a walk around the Fountain, the views and the experience are amazing. In the evenings there are often fountain shows, music shows and laser shows at The Dubai Fountain. Furthermore, you can go boating on the fountain.
In addition, you can go out to dinner in the best restaurants. Just be aware that finding a seat is not always easy, so book a table in advance.
Dubai Mall
If you want to buy something for yourself or a souvenir, the Dubai Mall is the perfect place.
With more than a thousand shops and hundreds of restaurants, you are sure to find something in Dubai Mall.
Pro tip: don’t skip the camel milk chocolate. You can also get plain camel milk chocolate or camel milk chocolate filled with dates and/or pistachios, all delicious! By the way, the best is available in the Burj Khalifa shop.
Dubai Mall also has attractions such as the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and the Dubai Mall Waterfalls. If you have enough time, they are worth a visit.
Day 2
The itinerary for the second day of the two-day Dubai itinerary:
Palm Juimeirah
Spend the morning visiting Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s most famous artificial island, which is shaped like a palm tree.
Palm Jumeirah is a real luxury part of Dubai, the island is full of luxury hotels, restaurants and rich tourists who drive around in luxury cars. On Palm Jumeirah, it is not uncommon to see cars worth several hundred thousand dollars, such as Lamborghinis and Bugattis.
The View at the Palm
The View at the Palm is an observation deck on the Palm Jumeirah island. From the 52nd floor, you can see the Palm Jumeirah, the Atlantis hotels and Dubai Marina in a panoramic view.
Time needed to visit the View at the Palm: 1-1.5 hours
If you want to spend more time here, you can shop in the Nakheel Mall downstairs, and there is also a stylish café on the View at the Palm floor.
Or if you prefer true luxury, choose the Aura Skypool, also in the same building as View at the Palm. The Aura Skypool is a pool with 360° panoramic views, offering true luxury in every aspect.
Time needed to visit the Aura Skypool: at least 3-4 hours
Atlantis, The Palm
Since you can’t fit much more into a two-day itinerary, we suggest you at least visit the older Atlantis Hotel and its surroundings from the outside. The Atlantis, The Palm hotel is one of Dubai’s iconic luxury hotels, and the Aquaventure Waterpark nearby is a great choice for families.
Time needed to visit Atlantis, The Palm from outside: 1 hour
Dubai Marina
In the evening, if you still have time, visit Dubai Marina close to Palm Jumeirah. The Dubai Marina is famous for its fantastic views, with spectacular skyscrapers on the waterfront.
In addition, Dubai Marina is home to some of the most popular public beaches, such as the JBR Beach. During public holidays, drone shows and fireworks displays can often be seen from near JBR Beach. And in the background you can see the world’s largest ferris wheel, the Ain Dubai.
So we suggest you take a stroll along the Marina and enjoy the atmosphere of Dubai. You can also have a nice dinner at the Dubai Marina, where you will find a wide choice of the best restaurants, bars and hotels.
This is about all you can fit into a two-day Dubai itinerary. We tried to make the most of these two days.
If you want to do other things, you can of course substitute any of them. For other places to visit, see our other articles for inspiration for a deeper exploration of Dubai.
Dubai is a wonderful destination and we are sure that a few days will only make you want to return for more.
