Travel guide for Dubai guests
My Airbnb guidebook of travel tips for visitors to Dubai.
Jun 1, 2012
7 min read
Visiting Dubai
I wrote this guide for friends and [Airbnb][] guests visiting Dubai. Don’t miss my top picks section below. Also bookmark this page on your phone. Before you head out download Google Maps and zoom in to load parts of the city you want to view later offline. Google Maps will cache the map and without cell data you should be able to navigate easily.
[Airbnb]: https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/1207007
Dubai’s Top Picks
- Dubai Fountain @ Dubai Mall - free shows every 30min - 6-11pm in front of the Burj Khalifa
- Eat at Dubai Mall or Souk Al Bahar restaurant or cafe to watch 3-4 fountain shows with dinner
- Dubai Aquarium @ Dubai Mall - 30,000 animals, 85 species, 400 sharks & rays.
- AED 50 for great tunnel view & underwater zoo
- At the Top Burj Khalifa - 124th floor view, entrance from Dubai Mall. AED 100
- book online at least 6 days ahead for sunset timing
- Dubai Museum - AED 3 to get a cultural understanding of UAE, Dubai,
- great location next to Dubai Creek. Then take a Dubai Creek abra (boat) to cross from near Dubai Museum to Gold Souk. AED 1 per trip on the abra (water taxi boat)
- Sheikh Mohammed Centre Cultural Understanding - Near to Dubai Museum. Book ahead for “cultural meal” which includes traditional Emirati food and discussion of culture and customs.
- Ravi Restaurant - metro to World Trade Centre, then taxi - Dubai cultural landmark for cheap, great Pakistani food
- or for fresh seafood served on plastic tables try Bu Qtair Cafeteria - next to Burj Al Arab - no frills fried fish and shrimp in curry sauce
- Arabian Adventures Sundowner Desert Safari (tell them pick-up at Bonnington Hotel, next to Al Mas tower in JLT)
- AED 350 for sand dune driving, camel ride, Arabic feast with drinks and belly dancer
- Aquaventure water park @ Atlantis Hotel on Palm Jumeirah AED 20 by taxi AED 220
Getting Around
- Dubai Metro is cheap, easy and clean. Open 6am-11pm everyday except Fridays (2pm-12am) - don’t eat/drink on Metro or you’ll get fined! Tip: pay extra (1 time at least) to sit in front (Gold class) of the driverless train
Metro walkway: use to cross Sheikh Zayed Road (highway) for Dubai Marina and JBR (beach)
- Dubai Taxi call 04 208 0808 anytime for fast, great service to arrange a taxi pick-up
- RTA Buses to other Emirates- 800 9090 for timetable / prices (Abu Dhabi E101 bus - see Abu Dhabi below)
Try a [larger version of this map][]
Around JLT & Dubai Marina
Groceries
- Carrefour Express open 24/7 + ATM top pick great selection. Directions: from Indigo lobby go outside and turn right. take stairs down and cross the street, then take stairs up to Carrefour
- Red Rose Market & Cafe coffee, baked goods, outdoor patio overlooking Lake. Directions: from Indigo lobby go outside and first building on the right. go to left side of building
Restaurants
- Flames Grills & Curry (Indian / Kenyan) $ top pick directions: just past Soum Soum
- The Kitchen of Thai $ directions: walk towards lake from Carrefour
- Hanoi (Vietnamese) $$ directions: on lower level, below
- Richy’s I am the Salad (salad bar) $$ directions: go to Red Rose Cafe, take stairs down to lake level, walk along lake until Cluster F, then go up stairs
- Innlay Asia (Burmese) $ next to Richy’s
- K-pop Chicken (Korean) $$ in front of to Innlay Asia
- Nais (Italian) $$$ next to Richy’s
- Bill’s Tex-Mex $$ Mexican food in Cluster H, diagonally opposite from Indigo Tower on the lake level, 7min walk.
Pubs / Bars
Dubai Marina
- Get there: take Metro walkway to cross over Sheikh Zayed Rd
- JBR Walk & JBR Beach - nice open air “walk” with food, shops, cafes and large public beach
Around (all of) Dubai
Restaurants
Tip: make a reservation to be sure especially on Thu or Fri nights
- Souk Madinat Jumeirah - 40 restaurants and bars set along canals next to the Burj Al Arab, use this list to pick the cuisine and price you want and make a reservation
- West 14th $$$$ - NYC style steakhouse on Palm Island at Oceana. Get cocktails outdoors first with a great view of Dubai Marina
- Toro Toro $$$$ - Latin American steaks and food at the Grosvenor House in Dubai Marina
- Le Traiteur $$$$ - #1 Friday brunch in Dubai, French gastronomic feast on old Dubai Creek - make reservations 7-10 days in advance
- La Brasserie $$$ - French brasserie at Atlantis with unlimited mussels on Tuesday nights
Drinks / Dancing
- Barasti Beach Bar - voted #1 bar in the world, multiple levels, live music, relaxed dress code (sandals, shorts ok)
- Mahiki - Tiki style bar / nightclub with dancing after 11pm. Packed usually on Tue/Thu/Fri nights
- i2 - 80’s style dancing at Habtoor Grand in Dubai Marina
- 360 - sundown drinks next to Burj Al Arab, must reserve online
- Irish Village - next to Dubai airport in Garhoud, great if you need to kill time and get a drink before a flight. Large outdoor area with live music at night and inside full old style Irish pub
- Rock Bottom - grimey but fun; no one admits to going here, but if it’s 2am and you still want to dance this place will be packed
- Concerts / clubs: check Platinum List and TimeOut Dubai for upcoming concerts, performances, DJs
- List of Ladies Night spots, every night of the week women can drink for free
Dubai Indulgences
Dubai Alternatives
Explore Abu Dhabi
- By car: 60-80 min drive from JLT - never go more than 20 kmph over posted speed limit (speed cameras = AED 700 ticket)
- By bus: call 800 9090 for timetable / prices for RTA Buses from Ibn Battuta Metro Bus Stop (1 stop from JLT)
- E101 bus goes every 60min from Dubai to Abu Dhabi for AED 25
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque - 3rd largest mosque in the world - check timings for free guided tours
- Abu Dhabi mangrove kayaking top pick
- Yas Marina Circuit - F1 race track - drive a race car around the track, from AED 1250
Downloads & Apps
- Google Maps has metro timings, 80% accurate turn-by-turn directions
- Google Earth for your iPhone/iPad or Mac/PC to explore Dubai by map and 3D buildings - zoom in on the Palm Jumeirah
- YaDig iPhone app for reviews of restaurants+
More resources