Deira
ValueThe old trading district by the creek: gold and spice souks, cheap food and some of the city's lowest room prices, on the metro.
Dubai city guide
Things To Do In Dubai
The tallest building on earth, an old creek crossed by wooden boats for a dirham, gold and spice souks, a beach strip and the food of two hundred nationalities.
95
Hostels in the city
7.2
Average, from 4,342 reviews
828 m
The Burj Khalifa
1 dirham
An abra crossing
200+
Nationalities
From creek to skyline
Dubai was a small pearling and trading town on a creek until oil, trade and ambition turned it, in a few decades, into one of the world's great cities. The Burj Khalifa, at 828 metres, is the tallest building on earth, and new landmarks keep appearing around it.
The old Dubai survives along the creek, where abras, wooden water taxis, cross between the spice and gold souks of Deira and the wind-tower houses of Al Fahidi. Most of the people who live here come from somewhere else, so the city's food, from Indian thalis to Iranian kebabs, is some of the most varied anywhere.
Dubai is expensive, but plenty of the best things, from the fountain shows to the souks, the old town and the public beaches, are cheap or free. Three or four days is right.
Where to stay
Stay in Deira or Bur Dubai for value and the old town, or the Marina for the beach.
Bur Dubai
Old townAcross the creek from Deira: the Al Fahidi old quarter, the textile souk and the abra stations, with the metro close by.
Dubai Marina
BeachTowers, the Marina walk and the beach at JBR, with bars and restaurants. Further from the old town but on the metro and tram.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Dubai
Go up the Burj Khalifa. At the Top, on levels 124 and 125, costs from about AED 179 online and more at the door or at sunset; book ahead for a sunset slot. Below it, the Dubai Fountain show plays free every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm, with a couple of shows at lunchtime too.
Cross the creek by traditional abra for AED 1, and wander the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira. On the other side, get lost in Al Fahidi, the old quarter of wind towers and courtyard houses, then walk along the creek to the Al Shindagha Museum.
See the Museum of the Future (from about AED 130 online) and the Dubai Frame (about AED 60), which frames old Dubai on one side and the new city on the other.
Swim at Kite Beach or JBR, take an evening desert safari with dune driving and a camp dinner (from about AED 250), and spend a day in Sharjah, next door, for the country's best museums.
More on things to do in Dubai
Free things
Free things to do in Dubai
The Dubai Fountain show is free, every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm by the Dubai Mall. Watch from the promenade or the bridge.
The Gold and Spice Souks, the Al Fahidi quarter and the creek-side walk are free to wander, and the abra across the creek costs just AED 1.
Kite Beach, JBR and Al Mamzar are free public beaches, and the Dubai Marina walk is at its best in the evening. Malls are free too, and in summer they're the best place to escape the heat.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Dubai
Dubai has food from everywhere. Eat shawarma and falafel from street counters, cheap Indian and Pakistani curries in Karama and Bur Dubai, and Iranian and Arab grills in Deira.
Try Emirati dishes too: machboos, spiced rice with meat or fish, and luqaimat, fried dough balls with date syrup. In the evening, the cafés of Al Fahidi and the Arabian Tea House serve Emirati breakfasts and karak, sweet spiced tea.
A cheap meal costs €4 to €8 (AED 15 to 35). Restaurants in Downtown and the Marina cost far more, so eat in the old districts to save money.
Nightlife
Going out in Dubai
Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels, bars, clubs and restaurants, and it's expensive: a beer costs €10 to €15. Look out for happy hours and ladies' nights to cut the cost, and for Dubai's famous weekend brunches.
Downtown and Dubai Marina have the rooftop bars and big clubs. Drinking in public, or being drunk in public, is illegal, so take a taxi home.
Getting around
Getting around Dubai
The Red Line metro runs from Terminals 1 and 3 of Dubai International Airport into the city. Pay with a Nol card: single fares start at AED 3, and there are women-and-children carriages and a more expensive Gold Class. Taxis and Careem cover everything else, and the tram runs along the Marina.
Etihad Rail's passenger trains have served Dubai since 30 September 2026. The station is out at Jumeirah Golf Estates, linked to the metro by a footbridge. Trains reach Abu Dhabi in under an hour and Fujairah on the east coast, with fares from AED 39; book on the Etihad Rail app or website.
Buses reach Abu Dhabi in about two hours and Ras Al Khaimah, from Union station, in about an hour and a half.
Costs
What Dubai costs
Dubai is expensive, but you can do it on a budget. Dorms start around €20 and a careful day costs €50 to €80, if you eat in the old districts and use the metro.
The big costs are attractions and alcohol: the Burj Khalifa from about AED 179, the Museum of the Future from about AED 130, a desert safari from about AED 250, and €10 to €15 for a beer.
The currency is the dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar, at about 4.3 to the euro. Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere. Tipping 10% is appreciated in restaurants.
Safety
Staying safe in Dubai
Dubai is very safe, but UAE law is strict and applies to visitors. Drinking in public is illegal, drugs carry severe penalties (even traces in your blood), and swearing, rude gestures, public displays of affection and photographing people without permission can lead to fines or arrest. Dress modestly away from beaches, pools and resorts.
During Ramadan, don't eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Summer heat passes 40°C, so carry water and plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning and evening.
Emergency: 999 police, 998 ambulance.
Day trips from Dubai
The museums of Sharjah, the dunes and the Hajar Mountains at Hatta.
Sharjah
The UAE's cultural capital, with the Museum of Islamic Civilisation and the restored Heart of Sharjah. Alcohol is banned here entirely.
Desert safari
Dune driving, sandboarding and a camp dinner under the stars, from about AED 250.
Hatta
The Hajar Mountains: kayaking on the turquoise Hatta Dam, mountain biking and a heritage village, a cooler escape from the city.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The New Year fireworks at the Burj Khalifa are among the world's most watched.
Staff pick
12–15 November
DP World Tour Championship
The DP World Tour Championship is a prestigious golf tournament held in Dubai, attracting top players from around the world. With an anticipated attendance…
25–28 November
Dubai International Boat Show
The Dubai International Boat Show is a major maritime event in the region showcasing luxury superyachts and recreational boats from around the world. You…
26–28 November
Emirates Dubai 7s
Emirates Dubai 7s is a major sports and music event in the Middle East, bringing together top rugby teams and other sports competitions. Over…
27 November
Atif Aslam
Atif Aslam returns to Dubai for another highly anticipated live performance at Coca-Cola Arena. His setlist includes chart-topping Bollywood hits and energetic crowd favorites…
17 October
Rafi Bastos
Rafael "Rafi" Bastos is an acclaimed Brazilian comedian known for his intelligent and social critique brand of humor. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Bastos…
3–5 November
ISM Middle East
ISM Middle East is the largest and most influential confectionery and snacks trade event in the region. It connects global brands with buyers, distributors,…
7–14 November
Premier Padel P1
Get ready for a week filled with thrilling sports action at Dubai Premier Padel P1. The tournament brings world-class padel players competing for a…
7 November
Jonas Blue
Guy James Robin, better known by his stage name Jonas Blue, is a DJ, songwriter, and record producer from England. Mostly known for his…
Hostels
Where to stay in Dubai
The top-rated places to stay in Dubai right now, live from Hostelworld.
Grays Hostel
Dorms from €24 a night
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Expo Stay
Dorms from €11 a night
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Luxury RizQ Villa Dorm
Dorms from €14 a night
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The Luxury Downtown Co-Living
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Prestige Hostel JBR
Dorms from €27 a night
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Meet Luxury Japanese Capsule Hostel Villa - Dubai
Dorms from €17 a night
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Emaro Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
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Avari Unit
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Golden Luxe Holiday Homes-(Sleeping Space)
Dorms from €36 a night
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Shared bed space in shared mixed room
Dorms from €23 a night
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Lyo Hostel Dubai Marina
Dorms from €27 a night
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WeStay Hostel
Dorms from €16 a night
See dates and book
When to go
November to March, with warm days and cool evenings. From June to September it passes 40°C and is very humid.
Jan
Peak season
Feb
Excellent
Mar
Good
Apr
Warming
May
Hot
Jun
Extreme heat
Jul
Extreme heat
Aug
Extreme heat
Sep
Hot
Oct
Good
Nov
Excellent
Dec
Peak season
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in dirhams locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Dubai travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Do I need to book the Burj Khalifa?
Yes, especially for sunset. Tickets start at about AED 179 online and cost more at the door.
Is the Dubai Fountain free?
Yes. Shows run every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm by the Dubai Mall.
Where can I drink?
Only in licensed hotels, bars, clubs and restaurants. Drinking in public is illegal.
What laws should I know?
No public drinking, strict drug laws, no swearing or rude gestures, and ask before photographing people.
How do I get around?
By metro and tram with a Nol card, from AED 3, plus taxis and Careem.
How do I cross the creek?
By traditional abra, for AED 1.
When is the best time to visit?
November to March.
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