Places to go in Dubai
The 30 places in Dubai SquadAbroad travelers want to go, most wanted first. Filter them by category and tag.
Category
Tag
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- Adventure
- Architecture tours
- Art museums
- Artisan markets
- Beach
- Beach relaxation
- Bird watching
- Boat tours
- Cafe hopping
- Camping
- Cocktail bars
- Coffee culture
- Cultural
- Cycling
- Fine dining
- Foodie
- Haunted tours
- Historic sites
- History museums
- Landmark
- Local crafts
- Local cuisine
- Local traditions
- Luxury shopping
- Michelin restaurants
- Mosques
- Nature
- Night markets
- Nightclubs
- Nightlife
- Photography tours
- Pool days
- Relaxation
- Religious sites
- Romantic
- Rooftop bars
- Safari
- Science museums
- Scuba diving
- Skiing
- Skydiving
- Snorkeling
- Snowboarding
- Sports spectating
- Stargazing
- Street food
- Swimming
- Theme parks
- Urban
- Wildlife watching
- Yachting
- Zip lining
20 places
Activity
The Palm, Dubai
Experience an unforgettable skydive over The Palm, Dubai, offering unparalleled aerial views of its iconic man-made islands. Thrill-seekers come here for the unique opportunity to freefall above the elaborate palm-shaped archipelago and the Arabian Gulf. It's an extraordinary vantage point to witness Dubai's architectural grandeur from above.
Photo: ___C___ Activity
Al Shindagha Museum
Set along the historic Dubai Creek, Al Shindagha Museum chronicles the emirate’s transformation from a pearl-diving and trading settlement into a global metropolis. Across a network of restored coral-stone pavilions, visitors can explore immersive exhibits on Emirati maritime traditions, heritage craft, and traditional perfumery. It is an essential stop for travelers looking to understand the cultural roots and daily life of Dubai before the arrival of modern skyscrapers.
Photo: Al Ustad Special Kebab Restaurant
Al Ustad Special Kabab
Operating since 1978, this Bur Dubai institution is famous for its yogurt-marinated Persian kababs served with fragrant saffron rice and warm flatbread. The dining room is an attraction in its own right, lined from floor to ceiling with vintage photographs, banknotes, and memorabilia accumulated over decades. It is an essential stop for travelers wanting to experience authentic old-world Dubai hospitality and hearty culinary heritage.
Photo by Ziad Al Halabi on Unsplash Activity
AquaFun Water Park
Anchored just off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence, AquaFun is the world’s largest inflatable water park, floating directly in the open sea. Visitors tackle an expansive obstacle course filled with climbing walls, slides, and balance beams set against the backdrop of the Dubai Marina skyline. It is a popular spot for both families and thrill-seekers looking to test their agility and enjoy a high-energy day on the water.
Photo by Dubai Prod on Unsplash Activity
Aquaventure Waterpark
Located at Atlantis, The Palm, Aquaventure is the world’s largest waterpark, home to over 100 slides and river attractions. Visitors come to brave iconic thrill rides like the Leap of Faith—a near-vertical plunge through a shark-filled lagoon—or drift along turbulent rapids. A kilometer-long private beach and up-close marine encounters make it an essential stop for high-energy aquatic adventure in Dubai.
Photo: Bait Maryam - Dubai Restaurant
Bait Maryam
Tucked away in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Bait Maryam offers comforting Levantine home cooking inspired by the family recipes of Chef Salam Dakkak. The Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded bistro captures the warmth of an Arab grandmother's living room, serving deeply flavorful clay-pot stews, fragrant fattehs, and fresh-baked flatbreads. It is a beloved destination for travelers seeking soulful hospitality and authentic regional flavors in Dubai.
Photo by Ahmed Aldaie on Unsplash Activity
Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa stands as the world's tallest building, an architectural marvel dominating the Dubai skyline. Visitors ascend to its observation decks for unparalleled panoramic views across the city, desert, and Arabian Gulf.
Photo by Darcey Beau on Unsplash Restaurant
CÉ LA VI Dubai
Perched high above Downtown Dubai at the Address Sky View, CÉ LA VI is renowned for its open-air terrace overlooking the Burj Khalifa. The venue blends contemporary Southeast Asian dining with a high-energy lounge and poolside bar scene. Guests visit for elevated cocktails and sunset dinners framed by striking, panoramic views of the city skyline.
Photo by Dovlet Hojayev on Unsplash Activity
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
Located within The Dubai Mall, this massive attraction centers around a 10-million-liter tank home to thousands of marine creatures, including one of the world's largest collections of sand tiger sharks. Visitors can walk through a 48-meter acrylic tunnel for immersive views of stingrays and sharks gliding overhead, or explore the upper-level Underwater Zoo to see penguins, otters, and a massive saltwater crocodile.
Photo by Ahmed Aldaie on Unsplash Activity
Dubai Autodrome
Dubai Autodrome is an FIA-sanctioned motorsport facility known for hosting major international competitions, including the annual 24H Dubai endurance race. Visitors can take to the track themselves, driving high-performance supercars and single-seaters on the Grand Prix circuit or competing at the dedicated indoor and outdoor kartdromes. It provides racing enthusiasts and casual drivers alike an authentic, hands-on motorsport experience.
Photo by Ahmed Aldaie on Unsplash Activity
Dubai Frame
Rising 150 meters above Zabeel Park, the Dubai Frame provides a literal and metaphorical bridge between the city's past and present. Visitors can walk across a glass-floored sky bridge to take in 360-degree views, overlooking historic neighborhoods to the north and futuristic skyscrapers to the south. Inside, immersive exhibits chart Dubai's rapid evolution from a quiet fishing port to a global metropolis.
Photo by Ismail Merad on Unsplash Activity
Dubai Ice Rink
Located on the ground level of The Dubai Mall, this Olympic-sized ice rink brings a cool winter retreat to the desert metropolis. Visitors lace up their skates for casual public sessions, learn-to-skate lessons, or lively evening DJ events under dynamic lighting. It offers a refreshing, active escape from the city heat for both beginners and experienced skaters.
Photo by Timo Volz on Unsplash Activity
Dubai Marina Walk
Dubai Marina Walk is a seven-kilometer waterfront promenade lined with palms, moored yachts, and towering skyscrapers. Visitors come to stroll along the paved path, cycle, and dine on open-air terraces serving cuisines from around the world. The area is particularly vibrant after sunset, when the illuminated city skyline casts bright reflections across the water.
Photo by Darcey Beau on Unsplash Activity
Global Village
Global Village is an expansive open-air cultural and entertainment park featuring dozens of country-themed pavilions from across the globe. Visitors come to sample authentic international street food, shop for regional artisan goods, and watch nightly live performances. It provides a lively evening outing that brings diverse global traditions, dining, and carnival attractions into a single destination.
Photo by Alim on Unsplash Activity
IMG Worlds of Adventure
Spanning over 1.5 million square feet, IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the world's largest indoor theme parks, featuring immersive zones dedicated to Marvel superheroes, Cartoon Network, and animatronic dinosaurs. Visitors come to escape the desert heat and tackle high-speed roller coasters like the Velociraptor alongside family-friendly interactive attractions. It offers a full day of climate-controlled entertainment, complete with themed dining and live character encounters.
Photo by Ondrej Bocek on Unsplash Restaurant
Museum of the Future
Housed in a striking, calligraphy-covered torus structure, Dubai's Museum of the Future is an architectural marvel dedicated to exploring humanity's next chapter. Visitors journey through immersive, multisensory exhibitions that tackle themes from space travel and bioengineering to ecological restoration set decades ahead. It offers an inspiring, thought-provoking encounter with cutting-edge technology inside one of the world's most complex modern buildings.
Photo by Miguel Joya on Unsplash Activity
Ski Dubai
Located inside the Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort that maintains sub-zero temperatures in the heart of the desert. Guests can ski or snowboard across five real-snow slopes of varying difficulty, ride a chairlift, and meet a resident colony of penguins in the expansive snow park. It offers an unexpected alpine escape where travelers can trade desert heat for winter sports and toboggan runs.
Photo by K T on Unsplash Activity
The Dubai Fountain
Set on the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake, The Dubai Fountain is one of the world's largest choreographed fountain systems. Its powerful jets shoot water up to 500 feet into the air, dancing in sync with vibrant light displays and a wide range of musical scores. Visitors gather along the lakeside promenade or board traditional abra boats to catch the dramatic evening performances set against the backdrop of the illuminated Burj Khalifa.
Photo by Tobias Reich on Unsplash Activity
The Green Planet
Housed within a glass biodome, The Green Planet recreates an indoor tropical rainforest in the heart of Dubai. Visitors journey through four distinct canopy layers built around a massive artificial tree, encountering over 3,000 free-roaming animals and exotic plants, including sloths, toucans, and reptiles. It offers an immersive opportunity to experience an authentic jungle ecosystem within a desert metropolis.
Photo: Zuma Dubai Restaurant
Zuma
Located in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Zuma is renowned for its sophisticated, contemporary take on Japanese izakaya-style dining. Guests visit for precision-crafted sushi, robata-grilled specialties, and the iconic miso-marinated black cod served in a sleek, multi-level setting. The buzzing bar and stylish lounge make it a premier destination for both refined dinners and lively late-night cocktails.
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