7 Days in Dubai: The Best One Week Itinerary + Where to Stay

You’re planning to spend one week in Dubai and you’re looking for the best itinerary?

You’re at the right place!

In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared for you this 7 days itinerary in Dubai.

During your trip, you will discover all must-see attractions of the city as well as (if you wish to!) Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arabs Emirates.

In addition to the best places to visit and activities for each stage of your itinerary, I will also give you all my best tips and accommodation suggestions depending on your budget.

So, how to spend 1 week in Dubai? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

How to avoid waiting in line (and save a lot of time!) at Dubai’s tourist attractions

You know it: Dubai is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

The city of luxury and opulence welcomes more than 15 million tourists every year!

Everyone wants to discover its skyscrapers that have emerged from the desert in just a few years as well as all the amazing attractions and activities Dubai has to offer.

Unfortunately, this means huge waiting lines (and a lot of time wasted!) at all must-see attractions.

At the Burj Khalifa for example, if you don’t have your ticket, you often need to wait 1 or 2 hours to get it from the ticket office!

It’s as crowded as the Colosseum in Rome or the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

But don’t worry: I have 2 solutions that will allow you to save a lot of time during your one week trip to Dubai.

1. The Dubai Explorer Pass

First option: In order to save time and money, you should buy the Dubai Explorer Pass.

With this pass, you will have access to 3, 4, 5 or 7 attractions.

If you have already visited other cities with this kind of City Pass, you should note that the Dubai Pass works according to the number of activities, and not in terms of duration (no 24h/48h/72h limit, like most other City Pass).

And this is very convenient!

You can do the selected activities whenever you want during your 7 days itinerary in Dubai. The Dubai Explorer Pass is valid for 30 days after the first activation, so that gives you plenty of time 😉.

There are about 50 activities offered. Of course, all the most famous attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, the desert excursion and the Aquaventure park are included!

To book it, it’s very simple: you just need to click on the green button located a bit below and choose the number of activities (3/4/5/7), depending on your interests.

So it’s very important to think about how many activities you want to do in advance!

Quick tip: you only need to specify the number of activities you want, and not which activities you choose.

Once you have ordered your Dubai Explorer Pass, you will receive a confirmation email with a voucher. This voucher is actually the Dubai Explorer Pass.

You will need to print it or download it on your smartphone and present it at the entrance of the attractions.

The email also contains a lot of useful information to organize your visits to the attractions: Opening hours, directions… as well as if you need to book a time slot (for example, for the Burj Khalifa) or if you can go there when you want (Aquaventure Park, Dubai Aquarium…).

Here is a summary of the most popular attractions included in the Dubai Explorer Pass :

• Access to the 124th and 125th floor observation deck of the Burj Khalifa – time slot must be booked in advance
• Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
• Ticket for the Hop On Hop Off Bus
• Cruise in the Marina or in Dubai Creek
• Aquaventure Waterpark at the Atlantis Hotel
• Desert Excursion with Barbecue Dinner – Date must be booked in advance
• Motiongate Dubai
• Legoland Dubai
• IMG Worlds of Adventure.

The full list of activities offered is available here: Dubai Explorer Pass Activities.

To purchase your Dubai Explorer Pass, simply click on the following green button:

2. Skip-the-line tickets for Dubai’s tourist attractions

If you don’t want to buy the Dubai Explorer Pass to visit Dubai in 1 week, you can also buy skip-the-line tickets for each attraction separately.

For Dubai, it’s very simple: you can purchase skip the line tickets for all the best places to visit and activities.

Burj Khalifa, Xline Dubai (the largest urban zip line in the world) and the best excursions around Dubai can be booked online.

You can also book all your guided visits in advance.

If you book your tickets and activities through the links I give you in this guide, you will avoid a lot of unnecessary waiting and save money.

In Dubai, it’s cheaper to buy your tickets online than to buy them at the ticket office!

Here is the list of the best skip-the-line tickets for your one-week stay in Dubai:

To check prices and to book, simply click on the links below (you will also find them throughout the article):

7 Days in Dubai: Must-See Attractions:

• Guided tour of Old Dubai (Deira + Bur Dubai)
• Traditional Boat Cruise
• Luxury Cruise with Gourmet Dinner
• Dubai Frame
• Aquarium + Underwater Zoo
• Burj Khalifa
• Dubai Zipline
• Cruise in the Marina
• Mall of the Emirates
• “La Perle”, a spectacular show
• Aquaventure Waterpark
• Aquaventure + The Lost Chambers Aquarium
• Excursion to the desert
• Excursion to Abu Dhabi

One Last Tip for a Perfect 7-Day Stay in Dubai

If you already know your travel dates (or as soon as you will have them!), you should really book your accommodation.

As Dubai is one of the most touristic cities in the world, the hotels offering the best value for money are often fully booked months in advance.

As a seasoned traveler, I can assure you that it’s always by planning as far in advance as possible that I’ve found the best hotels or apartments deals.

You agree that it would be a shame to somewhat ruin your stay in Dubai by ending up in a not-so-great hotel that costed you a fortune, right? 😅

So your best bet is to take 5 minutes now to have a look at traveler’s favorite hotels in Dubai.

And if you like one of the hotels you find, book it!

It’s fast, it’s easy and most accommodation offer free cancellation. That’s the best way to protect yourself from the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the best hotels deals in Dubai, simply click on the green button below:

After securing your dream stay, it’s time to continue reading this guide!

Dubai in 1 week: the best itinerary

Let’s now start your 7-day Dubai itinerary.

For each day, I will tell you everything you need to know about the places you will visit + give you a map that will help you visualize the itinerary a bit better.

I’m assuming you will be staying in Dubai for a full week, and that you have bought the Dubai Explorer Pass or Skip-the-Line Tickets.

It’s the best way to save time and see as many tourist attractions as possible during your one week stay!

If you still have questions after reading this guide (or need help organizing your holiday), don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section located at the very end of this article.

So, what are the best places to visit in Dubai in 7 days?

Day 1 – Old Dubai

Day 1 visits:

A. Deira district
B. Bur Dubai
C. Dubai Museum
D. Dubai Frame
E. Dubai Garden Glow

A. Deira district

Your one-week itinerary in Dubai starts in Old Dubai, the oldest part of the city.

Here, far from the skyscrapers of the city center, you will discover the typical atmosphere of the Middle East.

First you should take a walk through Deira district to discover several souks :

• The gold souk with its dazzling shops filled with imposing jewels
• The perfume souk and its oriental fragrances
• The spice souk, where you can find curry, chili, saffron…

The best way to discover Deira is for sure to opt for a guided tour. Your (awesome) tour guide will tell you everything about old Dubai and the local way of life.

And if you want to purchase souvenirs during this 3 hours tour, he can also help you to negotiate prices when shopping in the souks.

Book your guided tour of Old Dubai by clicking on the green button below:

*This guided tour of Deira and Bur Dubai includes everything from section A to C of this first day itinerary.

B. Bur Dubai

Bur Dubai is the second district you should visit in Old Dubai.

To get there from Deira, it’s very easy: you just need to cross the river! Simply take an abra (a small traditional boat) for 1 AED per person and you will reach Bur Dubai in a few minutes.

Here are the best places to visit in Bur Dubai:

• Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s house: documents about the city’s history are kept here. Not really a must see, but it’s a very pleasant place for a short walk.
• The Old Souk, where you will find souvenirs of all kinds: magnets, plushies, bags. You will need to negotiate if you don’t want to pay the tourist price!
• Hindi Lane and Meena Bazaar: An Indian area with beautiful fabrics and traditional Indian restaurants. A great place to eat real Indian food for cheap!
• Sheikh Mohamed Cultural Center: Every day, lunches are organized in a traditional house with an inhabitant of Dubai. Reservations are mandatory. Click here.
• Al-Seef Market: nice place to stroll and see traditional houses replicas, with restaurants and shops.

C. Dubai Museum

Visiting Dubai Museum is the best way to learn more about the history of the city!

The museum traces the entire history of Dubai, from the first tribes who lived there through the economic boom in the 1960s, to the future plans for the coming years.

The museum is very interesting and allows you do get a good grasp of how the city looked like before its impressive development.

With an entry fee of ony 3 AED, this museum is one of the cheapest visits you can do during your 7 days itinerary in Dubai.

*Please note that the museum is closed on Friday mornings.

D. Dubai Frame

During your one week trip to Dubai, you will also want to discover the modern part of the city.

And there is no better way to start than going to a brand new attraction: the already famous Dubai Frame!

You are now immersed in a whole different world, far away from the atmosphere of Old Dubai.

You can climb to the top of this 150-meter high structure in the shape of a giant photo frame and enjoy a magnificent panoramic view over the 2 completely different parts of Dubai: Old Dubai on one side and Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa) on the other.

Up there, a part of the floor is made of glass: it’s very impressive!

The Dubai Frame quickly became a very popular tourist attraction and the waiting line at the ticket office is often very long.

As it’s not included in the Dubai Explorer Pass, you should really buy your ticket online in advance.

You need to book your ticket by clicking on the green button below:

E. Dubai Garden Glow

At the end of this first day, you should visit the Dubai Garden Glow, a park featuring hundreds of sculptures coming to life every evening during light shows with musical backgrounds.

If you’re spending these 7 days in Dubai with your family, you can be sure that everyone will love that visit!

The entrance ticket for Dubai Garden Glow costs 65 AED and also includes entrance to the dinosaur park located in the same area.

Some of the dinosaurs move and growl when you walk close to them, kids really love it!

You should start your visit to the Dinosaur Park a bit before sunset and visit the Dubai Garden Glow at nightfall.

Dubai Garden glow is open from 4pm to 11pm.

Day 2: Tourist attractions and activities in Dubai

Day 2 visits:

A. Etihad Museum
B. Jumeirah Mosque
C. La Mer
D. Dubai Mall
E. Dubai Fountain Show
F. Burj Khalifa

A. Etihad Museum

Let’s start the 2nd day of your one week trip to Dubai with a visit to the Etihad Museum.

This museum is dedicated to the creation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, during the Declaration of the union.

Testimonies, films and interactive terminals explain the creation of the Declaration of the Union and allow you to learn more about the 7 Sheikhs who signed the treaty.

The Etihad Museum perfectly complements Dubai Museum: by visiting both, you will get a global vision of the country.

Plan about 1 hour for your visit. The entrance ticket costs 25 AED.

 

B. Jumeirah Mosque

Another great way to discover a bit more of the Emirates culture is to visit Jumeirah Mosque.

It’s the only Mosque in Dubai that is open to non-Muslims.

To get inside, you will need to take a guided tour. Your guide will tell you more about the 5 pillars of Islam and the prayer ritual.

These tours take place, every day except Fridays (holy day in Dubai) around 10am and 2pm. They last about 1h15.

To enter the mosque, ladies will need to cover their hair and everyone has to cover their legs and shoulders. Shorts and sleeveless T-shirts aren’t allowed.

Jumeirah Mosque is located 10 minutes on foot from the Etihad Museum and on the way to the next stop of this itinerary. So even if you don’t want to take the tour, you can at least admire its architecture as you walk by.

C. La Mer

After the mosque, head towards the sea and take the waterfront promenade called “La Mer”, a place with plenty of restaurants and cafes.

It’s a great place to have a drink or lunch!

You can also go to one of the beaches or to a Water park (click here to book discounted entrance tickets) with a swimming pool and slides. It’s perfect for families!

From La Mer, you will have a great view over the entire skyline of Dubai and its landmark, the Burj Khalifa.

D. Dubai Mall

Now it’s time to take a taxi again and head to Dubai Mall (5km).

This is one of the major attractions in the city, so you really need to go there during your week in Dubai!

With almost 1200 stores, this huge mall is actually the most visited in the world! No doubt that you will find something that suits your taste and budget.

If you want to know if your favorite shop is there, you can have a look at the shops map on the official website.

In addition to the shops and restaurants, you will also find a go-kart track, an ice skating rink, and the very popular aquarium and underwater zoo.

Here you can see sharks, rays, fish from all over the world and one of the largest living crocodiles in the world, “King Croc”

As always in Dubai, in order to avoid waiting at the ticket office and to save money, you should buy your tickets online in advance.

There are 2 types of tickets for the aquarium (click on the links to book):

• The classic Aquarium + Underwater Zoo ticket
• A combined ticket Aquarium + Underwater + Burj Khalifa – Certainly the most interesting for you, as you will go to the Burj Khalifa at the end of the day. A great way to save money!

The aquarium and underwater zoo is included in the Dubai Explorer Pass.

E. Dubai Fountain Show

At the end of the day, head to the man-made lake outside the mall to watch the Dubai Fountain Show.

There is a show every 30 minutes, from 6pm to 11pm. As it’s super touristy, try to get there early, else with all the crowd, you won’t see much!

You can also watch the show directly from the lake, from an abra (a traditional boat). This is a good solution to avoid the crowds and get a great view of the fountains.

You need to book it by clicking on the button below:

F. Burj Khalifa

To end this second day in style, let’s go to the Burj Khalifa!

It’s indeed the most famous thing to do in the city, you can’t miss it if you spend a week in Dubai.

You’ve surely photographed the Burj Khalifa from all angles during the day. So now take the elevator and reach the 124th floor and the 125th floor of the world’s tallest skyscraper.

In the evening, when all the skyscrapers are lit up, the view is simply breathtaking.

It really makes you feel the height of the buildings and the craziness of this city.

And that’s not all, you can go even higher! The highest observation deck in the world, 555 meters above the ground, is located on the 148th floor.

As going to the Burj Khalifa is clearly the number 1 thing to do for anyone going to Dubai, there is always a long waiting line there.

It’s therefore imperative to buy your ticket in advance on the internet. You’ll avoid the queue at the ticket office and it’s cheaper!

Various ticket combinations are available (click on the orange links for information and to book):

• Ticket At The Top Burj Khalifa – Access to the 124th and 125th floors.
• VIP At The Top Sky ticket – Access to the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa + 124th and 125th floor + Fast track for the security check and elevator
• Ascent to the 124th floor + dinner at the Burj Club restaurant.

If you want to visit the Aquarium and Burj Khalifa, you should rather buy this combined ticket:

Access to Burj Khalifa is included in the Dubai Explorer Pass.

Day 3 – what to do in Dubai?

For the third day of your one week itinerary in Dubai, you can choose between 2 options:

Option 1: Dubai Marina

Day 3 visits:

A. The Walk and The Beach
B. Dubai Marina
C. Mall of the Emirates
D. Global Village or “La Perle” Show

A. The Walk and The Beach

Start your day with a stroll at The Walk, a seafront promenade with many chic boutiques and restaurants.

From there, you also have access to The Beach, a public beach. You can thus go for a swim or try one of the water sports!

From the beach, you can get a glimpse of one of Dubai’s future attractions: Ain Dubai, the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.

To reach The Walk and The Beach, take the metro to DAMAC station and then the tram to Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).

B. Dubai Marina

After the Walk, you can head to Dubai Marina, a few minutes away on foot.

Here you can admire the yachts in the harbor or, even better, take a luxury cruise!

This 2-3h cruise allows you to discover Dubai from a new perspective and even pass by the famous Atlantis Hotel, known for its distinctive architecture. Lunch (barbecue) is included.

This luxury boat tour departs several times a day during high season.

To book your luxury yacht cruise in Dubai, you need to click on the button below:

This luxury cruise is also included in the Dubai Explorer Pass.

In Dubai Marina district, you can also do a bit of shopping at Dubai Marina Mall.

C. Mall of the Emirates

Now that you are back on solid ground (after the cruise or after the zipline 😋), you should now take the metro to the Mall of the Emirates.

If you didn’t had the time to do all the shopping you wanted yesterday at Dubai Mall, you can do it today at this other big shopping center.

And if you’re in the mood for something a bit more unusual, you’ve come to the right place too:

Here, you can ski!

Yes, you’ve read that right: You can race down a ski slope in Dubai.

At the Mall of the Emirates, there is Ski Dubai, an indoor artificial snow slope featuring chairlift and small wooden chalets to recreate a mountain atmosphere.

No need to bring your ski equipment or winter clothes, everything is provided with the entrance ticket.

Click here to book your ticket for Ski Dubai.

D. Global Village or “La Perle Show”

To end your day, you will have 2 options:

1) Global Village

From the Mall of the Emirates, take bus 106 to get to Global Village. The 30 minutes bus ride costs 20 AED for the round trip.

Located outside the city, the Global Village features dozens of different pavilions, each representing a nation.

You will thus find many countries of the world including Japan, Thailand, China, but also Europe and of course the Middle East.

The decorations are impressive, but that’s not all: in each pavilion, there are dozens of stalls where you can buy local products, clothes and other items of all kinds.

You need at least 3 hours to visit the Global Village. And maybe even longer if you want to try a bit of everything: there are many food stalls there!

Everything is super well done and well thought out, you will really like it.

Practical information for your visit:

• The Global Village is open daily, but only from 4pm, from early November to early April (Closed the rest of the year)
• The entrance ticket costs 15 AED
  
• As suggested in this itinerary, you should visit Global Village in the evening, the buildings are lit and it’s a lot more beautiful!
• Important: On Mondays, the entrance is reserved for women and families with children.

2) “La Perle” show in Dubai

The 2nd option for your evening is to stay in the city and attend “La Perle” show.

The most famous live show of Dubai welcomes many artists and acrobats: you will enjoy outstanding performances in a beautiful decor!

There are only 2 performances per night, so be sure to book your tickets in advance by clicking the button below:

The closest subway station to the venue is Business Bay. For the 4 remaining kilometers to the venue, you should take a taxi.

Option 2: Palm Jumeirah + Aquaventure Park

For this 3rd day, instead of going to Dubai Marina and doing the activities I suggested, you have another option: spend the day on Palm Jumeirah island.

There, you can find the famous Atlantis Hotel and the Aquaventure Park, Dubai’s largest water park.

With its spectacular slides, I can assure you that you will have fun all day long!

Spending the day at Aquaventure Park during your one week trip to Dubai is also a great way to take a break from visits and do something different with your partner, friends or kids.

At the hotel, you can also do 2 other activities:

• Swim with the dolphins in a lagoon at Dolphin Bay. If you book this activity, you will also have access to Aquaventure Park for free on the same day.
• Visit The Lost Chambers Aquarium to see rays, sharks and other fishes. The aquarium is located on the ground floor of the Atlantis Hotel.

Tickets for these attractions must be booked by clicking on the links below:

• Aquaventure Waterpark 1 day ticket
• Visit to The Lost Chambers Aquarium
• Dolphin Bay – Meet the dolphins + Aquaventure Park

If you want to do both attractions, there is also a combined ticket Aquaventure + The Lost Chambers. You can buy it right here and save money:

* The Aquaventure Waterpark is included in the Dubai Explorer Pass.

In the evening, after a quick stop at the hotel to change your clothes, you should attend “La Perle”show.

You will have the choice between the 19h30 or 22h00 performance, so you can take your time to enjoy the waterpark and still be able to go to La Perle.

You need to book the show here:

Day 4 – Excursion to Dubai desert

On the 4th day of your 7-day stay in Dubai, you will get out of the city and explore the desert.

The only way to get there is to book a day trip.

You will be picked up at your hotel and will start the day with a jeep tour in the dunes. The drivers will of course make sure to spice up the experience a bit, so hold on tight!

After the jeep tour, you will arrive at a Bedouin camp and enjoy other activities such as:

• Sandboarding in the sand dunes.
• Camel Riding
• falconry experience

At the end of the excursion you will have lunch or dinner (depending on the time) at the Bedouin camp in the middle of the desert. You can, during the meal, enjoy dance performances or get tattooed with henna.

To be sure that you are booking with a serious and reliable agency, you should book your desert tour in advance by clicking on the button below.

It’s clearly the best excursion into the desert: It’s so great that they will give you a full refund if you don’t enjoy your time!

And if you prefer a bit more action, you can opt for one of the 2 following tours:

• Excursion in the desert + Quad bike tour in the dunes
• Excursion in the desert + Buggy tour in the dunes

Both of them are really awesome, so choose the one that you prefer!

An excursion in the desert is included in the Dubai Explorer Pass.

Day 5: Amusement parks and more places to visit in Dubai

For the 5th day of your 1 week itinerary in Dubai, you will have several choices: you can spend the day at one of the amusement parks or discover new areas of the city.

Option 1: Amusement parks

If you want to spend this day at an amusement park, you will have the choice between the 2 most famous of Dubai:

• The IMG Worlds of Adventure, the second biggest indoor amusement park in the world, with attractions dedicated to Marvel universe and cartoons. You can find information about rates and opening hours on the official website.
• Dubai Parks and Resorts: An leisure complex featuring several theme parks (Cinema, Lego, Bollywood) and a water park.

Option 2 of Day 5: Discovering more places to visit in Dubai

If you’re not a fan of amusement parks, you can rather visit the following attractions in Dubai:

Here are the places you should visit today:

• Dubai Miracle Garden, a big garden with several gigantic structures covered with no less than 150 million flowers! There is even a replica of an A380. The Miracle Garden is in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest natural flower garden in the world .
• Souk Madinat Jumeirah, offering a great view over the Burj Al Arab, one of the only 7* hotels in the world. You can go shopping there and enjoy one of the restaurants located on the waterfront.
• The Burj Al Arab: You can enter the hotel without staying there by booking a lunch, snack or dinner.

Here are the different formulas you can book:

• Snack and tea at the SkyView Bar on the 27th floor – Enjoy the view with pastries and cakes.
• Lunch or dinner at the Bab Al Yam, Restaurant on the ground floor of the Burj Al Arab with breathtaking views of the Persian Gulf.
• Access to the SkyView Bar + 2 complimentary drinks
• Lunch or dinner at Al Mahara aquarium restaurant – Enjoy the dishes of an award-winning chef in the middle of an aquarium: a unique experience!

Day 6: Abu Dhabi

During your one week trip to Dubai, you should also explore Abu Dhabi.

The capital of the United Arab Emirates is just an hour and a half away by car.

It’s thus perfect to go to Abu Dhabi for a day trip and return to your hotel in Dubai in the evening. To get there, you can rent a car (click here to compare car rental prices), take the bus or opt for an organized excursion.

The latter is for sure the most convenient!

Depending on your interests, there are several possible sightseeing combinations. Feel free to click on the orange links for full details on the suggested visits:

• Great Mosque + La Corniche + Emirates Palace + Ethihad Towers + Marina Mall + Qasr Al Watan – My favorite to get a good overview of the city!
• Visit the Great Mosque and the Louvre Museum – This tour allows you to explore 2 of Abu Dhabi’s must-see attractions in one day.
• Abu Dhabi Mosque visit only (1/2 day)
• Morning excursion to the Mosque + afternoon at Ferrari World or Warner Bros.

If you don’t opt for the organized tour, you should read my detailed article about Abu Dhabi.

There, you will find all the information you need about the Abu Dhabi’s best places to visit such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Museum or Qasr Al Watan (the Presidential Palace).

You can read this guide here: The 17 best things to do in Abu Dhabi.

Day 7: the best things to do around Dubai

Sadly, your 7-day stay in Dubai is already coming to an end. But the good news is that there’s still enough to explore to enjoy your last day to the fullest!

Near Dubai, you can for example visit Al Ain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city is only 2 hours away from Dubai.

The easiest way to get there is for sure to book a guided organized tour by clicking on the button below:

If you don’t want to go to Al Ain, you can stay in Dubai and discover more places or enjoy amazing activities such as:

• Do the Canal Walk to admire the view over the skyscrapers and the Burj Khalifa. Canal cruises are also available, click here!
• Discover the skyscrapers of the financial district: the Jumeirah Emirates Tower, the Gate Building, the World Trade Center.
• Spend some relaxing time at the huge Creekside Park, located right on the waterfront.
• Experience a Helicopter Flight over Dubai (click here) or seaplane tour (click there).
• 5* Cruise with dinner in the bay of Deira
• Shopping, until you spend your last Dirham!

You can also have a look at Day 3 or Day 5 options I mentioned above, and choose an activity or visit you haven’t done yet!

Where to stay in Dubai

Now that you know everything about the best things to do in Dubai in 7 days, there is just one thing left to do: Booking your hotel!

There are hundreds of hotels in Dubai, and choosing the best for your stay can be a bit complicated.

In order to help you out, I have selected for you the best hotels in Dubai for each district, depending on your budget. I have also made a special list of the most beautiful luxury hotels in Dubai.

As always, to get the best prices, you should book your hotel as early as possible!

The best hotels in Downtown Dubai (near the Burj Khalifa)

• DoubleTree of Hilton Dubai – Business Bay: Located 1.5 km from Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall. Very spacious and comfortable room, well decorated and equipped from 110€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: free shuttle to the Dubai Mall, good breakfast, comfort, tranquility. This my favorite hotel in Dubai for its exceptional value for money!
• Rove Downtown: Only 600 meters from the Dubai Mall. Bright and clean double room with view on Burj Khalifa, from 150€, breakfast for 15€. Strong points: Access to the Dubai Mall on foot, helpful staff, free shuttle service to the beach, Dubai Museum or Madinat Souk.
• Taj Dubai: Located 800 meters from Burj Khalifa. Modern and luxurious room with bay window overlooking the city and marble bathroom starting at 220€ per night, breakfast at 32€. Strong points: The magnificent view from the roof, the Indian decoration, the large swimming pool. An excellent hotel in Dubai city center, perfect for a romantic stay!
• Palace Downtown: Located on the lake at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, this 5-star hotel offers magnificent rooms with balcony, with an exceptional view of the Burj Khalifa. From 380€ per night, breakfast at 39€. Strong points: the exceptional location, the beautiful surroundings, the very attentive and helpful staff. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Downtown Dubai!

The best hotels in old Dubai (Deira and Bur Dubai)

• Golden Sands Hotel Apartments: Located in Bur Dubai, 1.5 km from the Dubai Museum. Apartment equipped with kitchenette and washing machine, from 80€ per night, breakfast from 11€. Strong points: Cleanliness, the heated swimming pool, the comfortable apartments
• Swissôtel Al Ghurair Dubai: Located in Deira district. Warm and spacious room from 115€, breakfast at 27€. Strong points: the pleasant staff, the view, the good breakfast. It’s my favourite in Old Dubai for its excellent value for money!
• Hyatt Regency Creek Heights Residences: Located next to Creekside Park. Very spacious, super comfortable and very well equipped rooms starting at 130€ per night, breakfast at 33€. Strong points: 5 minutes walk from the metro, the warm welcome, the quiet location, the spa.
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek: 5* hotel located in Deira bay. Double room with balcony overlooking the bay from 150€, breakfast at 29€. Strong points: The proximity of the metro and the shops, the beautiful swimming pool, the comfortable bed and the amazing view. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Old Dubai!

Dubai’s best beach hotels

• Delta Hotels by Marriott Jumeirah Beach, Dubai: Located 300 meters from the beach. Rooms and apartments with sea view from 125€, breakfast at 27€. Strong points: The view, the comfortable beds, the location near the beach and the harbor.
• Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach – Dubai: Located along “The Walk”. Rooms with balcony overlooking the Gulf and Palm Jumeirah from 175€, breakfast at 24€. Strong points: the exceptional view, the proximity of the tram and metro, restaurants and shops at the foot of the hotel.
• Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach: Located 150 meters from the beach. Contemporary room with balcony and sea view from 230€, breakfast at 22€. Strong points: the infinity pool, the very good breakfast, the spa, the ideal location to enjoy the sea.
• Grosvenor House Hotel and Apartments: Located on the port promenade. Elegant and bright double room from 290€, breakfast at 42€. Strong points: Comfort, access to the private beach, the quality of the food.

The most beautiful luxury hotels in Dubai

• Atlantis The Palm, Dubai: One of the emblematic hotels of the city, located in Palm Jumeirah. Room from 300€, breakfast from 42€. Strong points: Includes access to Aquaventure Park and The Lost Chambers aquarium, private beach, swimming pools.
• Rixos The Palm Hotel & Suites – Ultra All Inclusive: Also located in Palm Jumeirah, this luxury hotel offers all inclusive rooms (all meals included) from 452€. Strong points: the quality of the meals, the setting, the amazing rooms.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai: Located directly on the beach of JBR Walk. Elegantly furnished rooms with balcony and sea view from 500€ per night, breakfast at 39€. Strong points: 6 swimming pools, a private beach, the spa, the very helpful staff.
• Armani Hotel Dubai: Located in the Burj Khalifa Tower! Rooms decorated by the fashion designer Giorgio Armani, starting at 550€ per night, breakfast at 41€. Strong points: the privilege of sleeping in the Burj Khalifa, the refinement of the place, the view.
• Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah: Located in Palm Jumeirah. Luxury suite with living room and dining room starting at 750€, breakfast included. Strong points: The private beach, the huge swimming pool and the beautiful gardens.
• Burj Al Arab Jumeirah: THE luxury hotel, one of the rare 7* hotels in the world! The “smallest” suite is 170m² and prices start at 1290€, breakfast at 74€. I can assure you that your stay in Dubai will be truly exceptional and unforgettable!

On week in Dubai with your family

You can easily do this suggested one week itinerary in Dubai with your kids.

You will mainly take the metro to move around and when it’s not possible, the taxis are cheap and very convenient.

You can go everywhere with a stroller and some places even have special visiting days, just for families with children.

Here are the best things to do in Dubai with your family:

• The Souks of Old Dubai, for the colors and the numerous souvenirs you can find for you and your family
• Dubai Garden Glow and its fantastic universe. Your kids will also love the dinosaur park located nearby
• Beaches (The Walk and The Beach / La Mer)
• The Aquarium and underwater zoo at the Dubai Mall.
• Dubai fountains sound and light show
  
• Visit the Burj Khalifa
• Aquaventure Park (1 day) at the Atlantis Hotel
• Global Village, a great overview of traditions from around the world in one place.
• Desert excursion, the teenagers will love it!
• Amusement parks like the IMG Worlds of Adventure or the Dubai Parks and Resorts
• Miracle Garden

More ideas of things to do during your 7-day stay in Dubai

To get even more information about the best places to visit in Dubai, you should also read my other article: The 30 best things to do in Dubai.

Map of your 7-day itinerary in Dubai

To help you visualize your daily itineraries during your 7 days in Dubai, I have created this map with all the places to visit day by day. You can view the legend of the map by clicking on the top left button, the one with a little arrow. You can thus see the suggested itineraries for each day.

Flight prices to Dubai

As always, you should book your plane tickets as early as possible to get the best prices.

To check the rates and schedules for flights to Dubai, you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner:

You need help to plan your one week trip to Dubai? Don’t hesitate to ask me in the comment section located below, I will be glad to help you plan your 7-day itinerary.

You’re traveling to Dubai? These articles will help you !

Discover all my articles about Dubai: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Dubai are listed there.

• Dubai: The 30 best places to visit – All best things to do and activities!

• 2 days in Dubai – The perfect itinerary for 48h!
• 3 Days in Dubai – The best 72h itinerary
• 4 Days in Dubai – The defitinive guide to plan your trip
• 5 Days in Dubai – How to spend 5 days in Dubai
• 1 Week in Dubai – The best itinerary to visit Dubai in 7 days!

• Burj Khalifa: The definitive guide to all tickets + Tips
• Dubai Aquarium: discover one of Dubai’s must see attraction

• Dubai Mall: How to plan your visit of this huge shopping center!
• Dubai Old Town: 10 best things to do
• Dubai Fountain Show: all my tips to enjoy it to the fullest!
• Palm Jumeirah: the 15 best things to do!

• TOP Activities in Dubai – The 30 best activities and excursions to do in Dubai!
• Dubai Zipline – Price, info and reservations for the best experience in town!
• The best desert safaris in Dubai – my 7 favorites! (4WD, quad, buggy and more)

• Where to stay in Dubai? The guide to the best hotels by district, for all budgets

• Dubai Pass: The best way to save time and money in Dubai!

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