Dubai Layover Itinerary | What to do in 1 or 2 days
Dubai is a wonderful stopover destination that can be included as part of your flight across Eurasia, with luxurious hotels, huge shopping malls and vibrant culture just waiting to be explored. To make the most of your time in Dubai, the itinerary below splits Dubai into two areas to minimise travel time as the city is very spread out.
What’s in this guide:
Two day layover itinerary in Dubai, with option to add a day trip to Abu Dhabi
Where to stay in Dubai for convenience and best value
Dubai Layover Itinerary
When I got to Dubai, I was looking forward to some travel at a slower pace – and it ended up being the best place for it.
We had amazing hospitality at our hotel, and the weather in October is still very hot during the day - so consider spending some time in aircon or by the water if this is the case for you as well!
Day 1: Dubai (North side)
Discover Arabian culture and visit some traditional souks
Head on a sunset desert safari tour
Visit The Dubai Mall
Watch the evening fountain and light show at the Burj Khalifa
For your first day, head out to Old Dubai and wander the bustling alleyways in the various souks (markets) for a truly immersive experience. See if you can find some of the TikTok famous Dubai chocolate!
At sunset, experience the rolling sand dunes on a sunset desert safari tour for activities such as quad biking, camel rides or riding a hot air balloon, before heading to The Dubai Mall in the evening to explore and watch the evening fountain and light show at the Burj Khalifa.
If you only have 24 hours in Dubai, I would recommend these activities to make the most of your time here.
Day 2: Dubai (South side)
Visit The Palm Jumeirah
Make a splash at the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark or at one of Dubai’s many beach clubs
Walk along the Dubai Marina Walk in the evening
For your second day in Dubai, take public transport or a taxi to The Palm Jumeirah, which looks like a palm tree from space!
While it’s more convenient to take a taxi, I would recommend getting a public transport day pass and taking the metro and light rail to the Palm Gateway Station, where you can buy tickets to take the Monorail for unobstructed views as you cruise towards Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark Station.
After spending the day at Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, head to the Dubai Marina Walk area to walk around and explore in the evening.
Instead of going to the Waterpark, you can also visit Nakheel Mall and The View at the Palm, or opt to visit The Palm in the evening after spending the day relaxing at one of Dubai’s many beach clubs.
Day 3: Day trip to Abu Dhabi
If you have more time, you can also consider adding a day trip to Abu Dhabi where you can visit the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, or enjoy one of the many theme parks on Yas Island like Ferrari World or Movie World!
Which area should I stay in Dubai?
Dubai is very spread out. The city is spread out lengthways and connected via metro and a super highway (counting at least 10 lanes across!) so it’s important to consider your location if you only have limited time in Dubai.
For very short layovers (overnight) where you just want to experience the hospitality and visit the Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall at night, stay near the airport or the downtown area (near Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall), and take the metro/taxi to travel in between.
For longer layovers, you can stay a bit further from the airport - downtown area (near Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall), Dubai Marina or even on The Palm!
If you’re more budget conscious, Barsha Heights is also a great option - a few stops away from Dubai Marina and much cheaper. My partner & I stayed in the Citadines Metro Central Dubai and loved our stay there, we were even lucky enough to get upgraded!
All of these areas are connected by metro, and taxis are easy to find.
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