Here are top Dubai travel tips about how to spend great 48 hours in Dubai may seem to be too less. After all, Dubai is a huge city with so many attractive places to see and interesting things to do.
However, if you are in Dubai for a stopover or visiting the city for a weekend, we offer you tips to make the most of it. Of course, you cannot see the entire city and its various attractions in two days but you can surely cover things that you should not miss. Here are a few Dubai travel tips that would help you to see the city in 48 hours.
Tips to Spend 48 Hours in Dubai
48 hours in Dubai includes two days and two nights. Considering that you need to sleep at night, the sightseeing for both the days would last till late night. Of course, there is no compulsion.
You are free to skip sleep and explore the amazing nightlife of the city. However, if you love your sleep and also if you are travelling with kids, your Dubai sightseeing would be restricted till it is time for bed. With this in mind, here is a short Dubai guide, while you are in the city for 48 hours.
Day One
Old Dubai
Modern, huge sky scrapers are what come to mind when one thinks of Dubai. However, before Dubai became the shining metropolis, it was a quaint town that survived on fishing and pearl diving. Luckily, this side of Dubai still exists in the old part of the city. Bur Dubai and Deira, divided by the Dubai Creek, are the places you must visit if you want to know about Dubai’s past. And this is the perfect place to begin your Dubai tour.
Among Dubai travel tips is to begin your tour in Deira which is home to Dubai’s gold souk and spice souk. Strolling along the narrow streets of the gold souk would give you a glimpse of hundreds of gold shops. This is probably the only place where you would find so much gold in just one place. Even if you do not want to buy anything, a visit to this place is a unique experience that you should not miss.
Also, check out the spice souk, which is located nearby, where you can enjoy seeing and smelling different types of spices including rose buds, saffron, cinnamon, etc.
After you have explored the gold and spice souk, hop into an abra for a ride on the Dubai Creek to reach Bur Dubai where you can continue the trip. The Al Fahidi Fort, which is the oldest building in Dubai, is the Dubai Museum and the perfect place to know about the history and culture of the city. An audio visual presentation would show how Dubai has transformed from a quaint fishing village to the ultra-luxurious city it is today.
To complete your tour of Old Dubai, head to the Bastakiya Quarter which is a historical district dotted by traditional houses and wind towers. Walking through the sandstone buildings is definitely a treat and something you should not miss. You can also take a break and have a cup of coffee or a bite to eat at one of the quaint little cafes at the Bastakiya Quarter.
Dubai Frame
After your visit to the old area of Dubai, take a cab and head to the latest icon of the city, the Dubai Frame. Located at Zabeel Park, the structure is 150 meters high frames the city of Dubai. The best part about the structure is that it is located right in the middle of the city, thus providing unparalleled views of both old and new Dubai.
When you enter the building, you would get to see the Dubai Frame Exhibition which tells you the story of how the building came into being. This is followed by a visit to the museum which is called the Past Dubai Gallery which gives you a glimpse of the Dubai of the past through multimedia projections and displays. This is followed by an elevator ride to the viewing gallery at the top.
On the North side, you would be able to see Dubai Creek and Deira while the view of the South would show you the amazing skyscrapers. When you come back to the ground floor, you would also be able to see the Future Dubai Gallery which is a 3D presentation on the future of Dubai 50 years from now. Do not forget to check out the souvenir shop before you exit the building.
Desert Safari
The perfect way to end your first day in Dubai is with a desert safari experience. Filled with adventure, entertainment and good food, you would get to unwind after a hectic day of sightseeing. Most Dubai Desert Safari tours offer pick up and drop off service, so you do not have to bother about transportation.
The desert safari experience begins with dune bashing where you get to run along the high and mighty sand dunes while sitting in a 4×4 vehicle. Once you reach the desert camp, you can choose to go on a camel ride, ride a quad bike or try your hand at sandboarding. Moreover, you also get to see sunset in the desert which is a truly amazing phenomenon.
After the sunset, you head into the desert camp which is set for your entertainment. While there are several stalls and activities for your entertainment at the camp, the best is definitely the performances by the belly dancer and Tanura dancer. While enjoying the performances, you can smoke a shisha and feast on a scrumptious BBQ dinner. With your heart filled with joy and beautiful memories, you can head back to your hotel for a restful sleep after the tour.
Day Two
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Although Dubai is a modern city, it has deeply rooted in Islamic religion and culture. So, if you want to really understand the essence of the city, you need to know about their culture. And for this, there is no better place than the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. This centre offers various tours and activities that would familiarize you to the culture and religion of UAE.
Right from heritage tours to visit to mosques, there are several things that you can look forward to. One interesting tour would be the Jumeirah Mosque visit. It is the only mosque in Dubai which is open to non-Muslims. You get to learn about Islamic religion as well as the Emirati culture during this tour. Apart from this, there are cultural meals, creek side tours and several other events and activities to choose from. A visit to this centre would definitely be time well spent.
Dubai travel tips
The next stop of the day should be Dubai Mall. With so little time in hand, visiting the mall would be the last thing on your mind. However, Dubai Mall is not your regular mall. Apart from being home to around 1200 retail stores, the mall is home to several attractions that can keep you inside the mall for an entire day. If shopping is not something you want to do, you should definitely check out the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater World where you would find 300 species of marine animals.
Apart from this, the mall has an indoor ice rink, a multiplex (with 22 screens), entertainment places and zones for kids, a virtual reality park and many more attractions. Moreover, the food court at the Dubai Mall is huge and offers wide variety of cuisines. Be it Middle Eastern, Indian, Chinese or American, you would be spoilt for choice here. Around 6 in the evening step out of the mall to see the Dubai Fountain. While the fountain itself is fascinating, the sound and light show is even more mesmerizing. This show where the fountains dance on the tunes of some soulful music happens from 6 in the evening, every half an hour. This is definitely a must watch show!
Dhow Cruise Dinner
The evening of the second day marks the end of your 48 hours Dubai tour. To end your tour in a memorable way, head to Dubai Marina for Dhow Cruise Dubai Dinner experience. This is also available on the Dubai Creek.
However, as you have already spent a lot of time on the Dubai Creek, dhow cruise in Dubai Marina is a much better option. The Dubai Marina is one of the modern and luxurious areas in the city. Complete with skyscrapers, luxurious hotels, upscale boutiques and restaurants, the Dubai Marina is a gem in Dubai’s crown.
The dhow cruise starts around 8 in the evening and takes you around the Dubai Marina for two hours. You can sit in the air-conditioned lower deck or the open-air upper deck while enjoying the magnificent skyline of Dubai Marina. You also get to have a delicious international spread during the cruise. Belly dancing or Tanura dancing performances are also arranged for your entertainment. In short, it is the perfect way to relax after a hectic day of sightseeing, shopping and fun.
Although you cannot see entire Dubai in 48 hours, you can definitely see some of the things that make an important part of Dubai. However, with these travel tips and itinerary, you would definitely have an amazing 48 hours in Dubai. So, apply for your Dubai visa online and get ready for a short but memorable holiday in this Emirate city.
Hope you enjoyed these Dubai travel tips! 😉
