Dubai is home to big and gorgeous things, and it’s quite cosmopolitan. It’s also one of the most famous cities in the world, attracting millions of visitors every year. However, not so many people choose to spend long vacation in the city, so for many travelers it’s somewhere for a short stay or even a one-day stopover.
This was also true in my case – I’ve been to the city twice and had only one day each time. There are plenty of attractions, including modern architecture, luxury shopping malls, gorgeous beaches and spas, etc., which makes planning quite difficult.
But don’t worry, it’s still possible to explore and fully enjoy the city in one day. The following itinerary covers some of the key historical and cultural heritage in Dubai. But if you’re a spa lover or looking to spend time relaxing on a beach, this isn’t the right itinerary for you!
Itinerary: Jumeirah Mosque (1 hour); Bastakiya Quarter, Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort (2+ hours); Abra boat ride in Dubai Creek to Deira (Gold Souk, Spice Souk, etc.) (1+ hour); Dubai Mall and “At The Top, Burj Khalifa” (3+ hours).
Activity keywords: Culture, old town, souk (souq), historical sites, shopping, night view
Begin your day at Jumeirah Mosque
Jumeirah Mosque is a Dubai landmark in the Fatimid style. It’s a modern Islamic architecture characterized by intricate geometric patterns and is one of only a few mosques open to non-Muslim visitors. They offer a 30-40 minute tour at 10 am as part of their “Open doors. Open minds” policy.
The tour is very engaging and we learned more than we expected! The walk-through covers both the Islamic religion and Emirati culture and lifestyle.
Roaming in the Bastakiya Quarter and stopping off at cafes
The next stop is the Bastakiya Quarter. The area was developed in the late 19th century by Persian merchants who settled there for trading. You can enjoy roaming in the narrow, winding streets lined with old-fashioned traditional buildings. You’ll find many photographic frames!
One of the things that makes the view unique and nostalgic is the wind-towers with sticks protruding from them. These served as “air conditioners” in old times – wet clothes would be hung from the sticks, cooling the surrounding air, which would then filter down into the building below.
Taking a short break at a cafe full with nostalgic mood
Many of the buildings are now used as galleries and cafes. We stopped off at one restaurant for a light lunch and then went to another cafe, Coffee Museum. The cafe entrance is so fascinating with its cute signboard and a small window giving a sneak peek of the interesting coffee-related items within. On the ground floor, they display centuries-old grinders, a roaster, and pots. The 2nd floor has a pretty cafe that serves great coffees. We chose ones from Ethiopia (the origin of coffee) and Colombia. Both tasted very good.
After exploring the district, be sure to drop by Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort, then head on to the creek to take an Abra boat.
Taking an Abra boat to Deira (Al Ras) and hanging around in Deira Old Souq
After passing through the Dubai Old Souk (textile market), you’ll come to the boarding point for Abra boats in Dubai Creek. Take an Abra boat, a wooden taxi boat that local people still use, to cross to the opposite side of the stream, Deira (Al Ras). It departs every 5-10 minutes. Enjoy the breeze in the creek and the views of the pretty buildings on your ride-hand side, such as the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Grand Mosque.
Roaming in souq
After reaching the souq area, Deira, re-start your exploration by following your instinct and enjoy some fun interactions with the shopmen along the way – they’re really funny and entertaining! In the Spice Souk, we were told that the item resembling a brown stone (the second from left) was Viagra!
Deira is divided into several areas, with each one having its own speciality, such as spices, gold, textiles, shoes, etc. In the Deira Gold Souk, the whole of the street and backstreets area glitters. My colleague who works in the city told me that the products here are of high quality, but I think many people just come to window-shopping and enjoy the feel of the “City of Gold.”
Heading to Dubai Mall and the highest night view in the world
The final destination of the day is Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa, which has the highest night view in the world. It’s a huge shopping and entertainment mall with over 1,200 shops and dining outlets, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, KidZania and an ice-skating rink. I, living in Singapore, which is known as a hub of shopping and entertainment, can say that this mall is definitely another giant representation of civilization. Another highlight is the Burj Khalifa situated next to the mall, which the tallest building in the world. It stands at 828 m tall, equivalent to 206 floors.
It’s debatable as to whether or not it’s worth the price to travel up to the 124th floor, At The Top, for the city view is worthwhile or not.
In fact, my husband and I had this exact discussion! In the end, I was convinced to go. If you do decide to go up, be aware that it takes 1+ hours from the time when you check in at Burj Khalifa till you reach “At The Top.” We went up for the sunset, but at least on the day we visited, the view of the city lights at night is more impressive than the sunset view. I will admit that the view from the open-air terrace is quite amazing and worth the effort.
After you’ve fully soaked up the view, end your day with a great dinner!
