Dubai in 4 days: everything you can't miss during your trip

The United Arab Emirates has become one of the most sought-after and valued tourist destinations in recent years, and with good reason. Dubai, its capital, is a real amusement park for all fans of big cities, luxury and modernity.

If you've decided to come and see all there is to see and do in Dubai and you only have four days, don't worry! Below I propose an itinerary in which you can intensively see the essential parts that you can't miss.

Dubai is one of the most important cities not only in Africa, but in the whole world. This enormous relevance it has gained in recent years is due to its enormous economic potential, with buildings and constructions that have broken all world records, such as the Burj Khalifa skyscraper.

However, if there is one thing that makes visitors fall in love with this city, it is the striking contrast that still exists between the oldest and most traditional part of Dubai and the most modern area. On this first day you will discover this richness and its cultural clash.

Bur Dubai neighbourhood

You'll start the day in the north of the city, in the Bur Dubai neighbourhood, a place that still preserves the most traditional Arab heritage. To get there, you can use the metro or bus, but I recommend that you consider booking a tour of the area. This way, you will be picked up directly from your hotel and taken to Bur Dubai, where you will be shown the most important areas and souks.

This district has landscapes and streets typical of the oldest areas of the Arab Emirates. Beyond buildings or museums, Bur Dubai is an ideal place to visit as it has one of the most important souks in the city, the Old Souk, an Indian-influenced bazaar, Hindi Lane and Meena Bazaar, and the house of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, where the history of the city is kept.

Dubai Museum

Continuing with the history of the UAE, and to say goodbye to the more traditional Dubai, you can spend an hour visiting the Museum, just a few minutes' walk from Bur Dubai.

Here you can discover and understand the enormous growth of the city and see how progress and Western influence have marked a before and after in the country's economy.

You'll need to plan your days in the city well, as the museum is closed on Fridays, but if you have the opportunity to do this itinerary on any other day, you can enjoy a very enriching experience and understand the history of the UAE for less than 5 euros.

Dubai Frame

After you've had some lunch in the area and a rest after a morning full of history, it's time to head into the more modern part of the city and visit the Dubai Frame, a huge frame-shaped building that can be seen from anywhere in central Dubai.

It can be reached by metro or bus from Bur Dubai in less than half an hour.

This amazing building has become one of the latest additions to the city and consists of a history museum on the ground floor and an amazing observation deck at the top of the frame. For less than 15 euros you can take the two large lifts up and get a panoramic view of the entire city.

Dubai Garden Glow Sunset

After coming down from the heights, and taking advantage of the fact that it's already getting dark, I suggest you finish this first intense day a few steps from here, in one of the most incredible places in the area, the Dubai Garden Glow.

It's a huge theme park with different works and sculptures by contemporary artists and a whole set of lights ideal to see when it's already dark.

The aesthetics of the park, mixing nature and technology, will make the almost 20 euros that the entrance fee is worth it. There are also kiosks and street food stalls where you can have a typical dinner.

For this second day, you'll tackle Dubai's newest area, focusing on the grand avenues and shopping malls and ending at one of its main tourist attractions, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, considered to be the tallest in the world today. But first, to make the most of the morning, you will visit the great Jumeirah Mosque.

Jumeirah Mosque

This place is one of the holiest in the whole city and every day thousands of citizens go there to pray and pay tribute to Allah. That's why, despite being a very touristy place, its entrance is highly regulated and you can only enter with a guided tour between 10am and 2pm so as not to disturb the devotees.

To enter, you must move around and wash your feet and, in the case of women, cover your head and shoulders as you enter as a sign of respect for the Muslim religion. Despite all these measures, visiting the inside of the Jumeirah Mosque and being able to witness Arab culture first-hand will be an unforgettable memory.

Visit the La Mer promenade

Just a short walk from the mosque, you'll come across the La Mer promenade, close to the city's beaches. From here, you can see in the distance all the skyscrapers that you will visit in the afternoon, but first, you can take a stroll along the promenade, browse the luxury shops, relax on one of the sun loungers on the beach and have a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants in the area.

Dubai Mall

For the afternoon I have left you with one of the most typical and most visited sights in Dubai; the Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the world. Dubai has become synonymous with wealth and trendiness and here you can find it all.

Dubai Mall has up to 1200 different shops, spread over several floors and even underground. You can find the largest variety in the world, but that's not all.

If you don't want to buy anything or you're bored with window shopping, Dubai Mall has a lot more to offer you as it not only has cinemas, but even a flight simulation room or a go-kart track, as well as a zoo and an underwater aquarium. Without a doubt, it is a place that will not leave you indifferent.

Burj Khalifa: the world's tallest building

It is precisely through the impressive Dubai Mall that you can access the views from the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world and one of the focal points of all tourism in the city.

At more than 500 metres high and 148 floors, the skyscraper offers spectacular views of the entire city and part of the sea and desert.

There are several types of tickets to the Burj Khalifa that include different stops at the most important floors, such as 124 and 125 or the top of 148, and also combined tickets with dinner included. Either way, I recommend you book your ticket now as it is a very popular tourist attraction and this way you will secure your place without having to wait in line.

After spending two intense days in the old and new parts of Dubai, I suggest you spend the day in a unique and unparalleled place; the desert.

Dubai is only a few minutes away from the city centre with the incredible Dubai desert and it is usually one of the most popular excursions for tourists. There is so much demand that there are hundreds of tours to spend the day and do the activities you like the most. This time, I am going to tell you about some of the most complete ones.

Dubai desert by quad bike or 4WD

Entering the desert is an adventure and you'll realise that, leaving the busiest parts of the city, you can already see the vast white sandy landscape. This scenery is as beautiful as it is breathtaking and one of the best ways to explore it is to hire a quad bike or 4x4 Jeep tour to take you through the dunes with ease.

There are no roads or rules here, the cars seem to be surfing the dunes in a thrilling experience that will take you deep into the Dubai desert. For about an hour, you can experience the adrenaline rush of being in such a breathtaking setting.

Sandboarding in the dunes

Another of the most popular activities once you've arrived in the most important area of the Dubai desert is sandboarding in the Dubai desert.

As the name suggests, it's a sport very similar to snowboarding but on the warm desert sand. On most sightseeing tours you'll have the option of taking time out of your morning to try out the sport and experience the thrill of tumbling down the dunes for yourself.

Lunch at a Bedouin camp

The desert seems an inhospitable and desolate place, but the truth is that inside you can find Bedouin camps and villages that have a very interesting and peculiar way of life.

At lunchtime, depending on the type of tour you choose, you can stop for lunch and rest at one of these settlements or, if included in the price, go to the desert's Al Khayma camp, where you can sample local food and sweets, watch dance performances or get henna tattoos.

Sunset or sunrise camel ride

To end this magical and special day, I recommend a camel or dromedary ride at sunset or sunrise to discover the unique desert scenery, enveloped by the orange tones of the sun and sand.

These rides usually last around an hour and are usually included with your Dubai desert tour booking, so you can just let yourself be guided and enjoy the experience.

We have reached the fourth and last day and, in order to say goodbye to this incredible city, I suggest you finish with two plans that will make your holiday round.

On the one hand, take advantage of the morning to take a short yacht trip and discover the entire marina area. In the afternoon, you can do your final shopping at the Mall of the Emirates and, before dinner, enjoy one of the city's most famous shows, La Perle.

Morning cruise

Dubai Marina, or Dubai Marina, is one of the most luxurious and exclusive areas of the city. This is where the world's richest people keep their yachts and nearby you'll find all kinds of brand-name shops and exclusive restaurants.

To get to know the surroundings, I recommend you start your day by strolling around the harbour and its surrounding beaches and then experience a cruise around the Dubai Marina.

Mall of the Emirates

For some final shopping and lunch after the yacht cruise, I recommend you go to the large Mall of the Emirates, a huge shopping mall that is easily accessible from the port area.

There, you'll find all kinds of international brands and restaurants.

Also, for this itinerary, unfortunately, you won't have time, but this mall has an indoor mountain station to go skiing. As you can see, Dubai has attractions that will leave you speechless and it's made so that you'll never get bored.

La Perle de Dragone

After spending the afternoon shopping for the last souvenirs and gifts, and as night falls, I suggest you say goodbye to this marvellous and enigmatic city with one of its greatest shows, La Perle de Dragone. A show that consists of all kinds of acrobats and tightrope walkers who will display their talent in a light show.

This show has two shows a day, both in the afternoon and evening, and I recommend that you book it in advance as it is usually in high demand. To get there from Mall of the Emirates you can take the metro to Bussines Bay, although as it is only 4 kilometres it may be advisable to take a taxi.

Dubai is a city that has hundreds of places to visit and most of them require a ticket. Although most of them you can buy on arrival, the destination is so touristy that you may run out of tickets or they may be much more expensive than usual.

I recommend that you plan your trip a few weeks before coming to Dubai and book in advance for the main attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, La Perle, the yacht cruise, the desert excursion or the Dubai Garden Glow ticket to make sure you can enjoy the must-see places in Dubai.