2 days in Dubai: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 7 of 9 free; paid: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Creek and the abra crossing
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 18:02 each day
- Start and finish
- Burj Khalifa → Dubai Marina
- On foot
- ≈ 41 min in total
- Transport
- 3 rides, ≈ 1 h 36 min
- Lunch
- around 11:34
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- November to March. Start day two before 10:00 — there is little shade along the coast.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Dubai09:30–18:02 · 5 places · 8 h 30 min
Burj Khalifa
· 1 h 30 min · From AED 189
- 4 min on foot
The Dubai Fountain
· 30 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 8 min on foot
The Dubai Mall
· 2 h · Free
- 38 min · transport or taxi
Dubai Creek and the abra crossing
· 1 h · Abra AED 1–2, waterfronts free
- 12 min on foot
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Old Dubai)
· 1 h 30 min · Free
Day 2 · Dubai09:30–17:15 · 4 places · 7 h 50 min
Burj Al Arab
· 30 min · Free
- 17 min on foot
Madinat Jumeirah and Souk Madinat
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 31 min · transport or taxi
Palm Jumeirah
· 2 h · Free
- 27 min · transport or taxi
Dubai Marina
· 1 h 30 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
7 of 9 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Burj Khalifa | 79 | 1 h 30 min | from AED 189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Dubai Creek and the abra crossing | 40 | 1 h | Abra AED 1–2, waterfronts free |
| Other 7 places | 9 h 30 min | Free | ||
| Total | 12 h | 7 of 9 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Burj Khalifa. The world's tallest building, 828 m. At the Top on levels 124–125 starts at 189 AED; you enter by timed slot from the Lower Ground floor of The Dubai Mall. Book a day or two ahead online — it is cheaper and slots sell out.
- 2
The Dubai Fountain. Daytime shows at 13:00 and 13:30 (Fridays 14:00 and 14:30); in the evening every half hour from 18:00 to 23:00. Free from the lakeside promenade.
- 3
The Dubai Mall. Free to enter: the waterfall with divers, a dinosaur skeleton and the aquarium window, which you can see from the mall for free. Shops open until 23:00, until midnight Friday to Sunday.
- 4
Dubai Creek and the abra crossing. Cross the creek on a wooden abra: a few minutes and 1–2 AED. The traditional CR1 and CR2 boats take cash only.
- 5
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Old Dubai). Old Dubai: lanes, coral-stone houses and wind towers. Free to wander; the Coffee Museum is 10 AED. The fort with the Dubai Museum is closed for restoration.
Day 2
- 6
Burj Al Arab. The Burj Al Arab has been closed for restoration since April 2026, so you cannot go inside. The view from outside is free — from Umm Suqeim beach or Souk Madinat.
- 7
Madinat Jumeirah and Souk Madinat. A resort 'town' of canals and wind towers next to the Burj Al Arab. The souk is free; an abra ride is 100 AED for 20 minutes. A good lunch stop.
- 8
Palm Jumeirah. The palm-shaped island. Free to visit; the monorail to Atlantis is 20 AED one way, and The View on level 52 starts at 80 AED, open until 19:00.
- 9
Dubai Marina. A canal between skyscrapers: the promenade is free and always open. Best at sunset, when the towers light up.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Dubai
- A first trip without tours
- You want the city and the sea
- Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are separate trips
- For a beach day, spend day two at JBR instead
November to March. Start day two before 10:00 — there is little shade along the coast.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Dubai itinerary: Downtown and the old city on the creek. Day two follows the Jumeirah coast from east to west — from the Burj Al Arab to the Palm and the Marina, which is the best place for sunset.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Day two: the Jumeirah coast
The Burj Al Arab is closed for restoration, so you see it from Umm Suqeim beach. Next door is Madinat Jumeirah with its canals and souk — lunch is here. Then Palm Jumeirah: the monorail runs from Gateway to Atlantis every 15 minutes, 20 AED one way. It reopened after repairs in July 2026 — check on the day that it is running.
The last stop is Dubai Marina, a canal about 3 km long between towers. Back to Downtown on the Red Line from Sobha Realty or DMCC, 20–25 minutes to Burj Khalifa.
Where to swim
Right by the Marina is JBR Beach: free to use, a sunbed costs about 125 AED. If you want the sea, spend less time on the Palm and finish the day on the beach.
Is 2 days in Dubai enough?
For the main sights, yes. Safari, theme parks and Abu Dhabi need extra days. Atlantis at the tip of the Palm has the Lost World aquarium and Aquaventure; the evening desert safari picks you up at 14:00–16:30. Museums of old Dubai and the Frame are in the 3-day itinerary.
How to do it right
- Book Burj Khalifa online for a set slot.
- Reach the Palm by taxi, or by tram and the monorail from Gateway.
- Winter sunset in the Marina is around 17:30–18:00 — be by the water by then.
- The UAE uses the dirham (AED). Cards work almost everywhere; keep some cash for abras, souks and small museums. Dubai's metro needs a Nol card.
- Mosques and palaces want shoulders and knees covered, and women need a headscarf; malls and museums also ask for no beachwear.
Questions
What should I do with 2 days in Dubai?
Day one: Burj Khalifa, the fountain, The Dubai Mall, an abra and Al Fahidi. Day two: the Burj Al Arab from outside, Madinat Jumeirah, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.
Is 2 days in Dubai enough?
For the highlights, yes. A safari, theme parks or Abu Dhabi need a third day.
Can you visit the Burj Al Arab?
Not now: it closed for restoration in April 2026, with reopening expected in October 2027.
How much is The View at the Palm?
From 80 AED, daily 9:00–19:00, on level 52 of The Palm Tower.
How do you get to Palm Jumeirah?
By taxi, or by tram to Gateway and the monorail to Atlantis — 20 AED one way.
Is Dubai Marina free?
Yes, the promenade is open 24 hours; only boats and cruises cost money.
How much does this itinerary cost?
The must-pay items are Burj Khalifa, metro, monorail and taxis. Everything else is free or optional.
Does this work with kids?
Yes. The monorail is free under 5 or under 110 cm, and the mall has the aquarium.
Where to eat on day two?
At Madinat Jumeirah: restaurants along the canals open from 8:00 to 2:00.
What currency is used in Dubai?
The UAE uses the dirham (AED). Cards work almost everywhere; keep some cash for abras, souks and small museums. Dubai's metro needs a Nol card.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- RTA: Dubai Metro and Tram, Nol card
- Wikipedia: Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina
