The City of Gold, Dubai is one of the swankiest and stylish cities in the world. Thriving on tourism, the best thing about Dubai is that it is for everyone: those on a budget and those looking for the most luxurious experience of their lives.
While it is necessary to spend at least a week in Dubai to enjoy the city in the fullest, you can get to know the essence of the place in two days. Dubai is known as a stopover destination, making it perfect for a short holiday before your actual holiday. Also, if you live in a nearby city or country, Dubai is great for a weekend getaway as well. Here is an itinerary about how to spend 2 days in Dubai.
Day 01: Day of Adventures
Dubai is known as a city for sightseeing as there are so many amazing places and things to see here. However, not many know that a myriad of adventures await people on this desert land. Enjoy an adrenaline-filled day on your 1st day in Dubai.
Ski Dubai
Dubai may be a desert land but it is home to the largest indoor ski park in the world. Situated inside the Mall of Emirates, Ski Dubai is a winter wonderland with actual snow and multiple skiing slopes and also the world’s first indoor black diamond run. Be it a beginner or an expert, you can have a wonderful time skiing, snowboarding, etc. on the snow mountains with varying levels of steepness. The Ski Park also has a snow park adjacent to it, where guests can enjoy typical snow games like making a snowman, snow fighting, tobogganing, etc. You also get to see penguins here. Do visit the café inside Ski Dubai to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate amidst all the snow.
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Day 01: Day of Adventures
Dubai is known as a city for sightseeing as there are so many amazing places and things to see here. However, not many know that a myriad of adventures await people on this desert land. Enjoy an adrenaline-filled day on your 1st day in Dubai.
Ski Dubai
Dubai may be a desert land but it is home to the largest indoor ski park in the world. Situated inside the Mall of Emirates, Ski Dubai is a winter wonderland with actual snow and multiple skiing slopes and also the world’s first indoor black diamond run. Be it a beginner or an expert, you can have a wonderful time skiing, snowboarding, etc. on the snow mountains with varying levels of steepness. The Ski Park also has a snow park adjacent to it, where guests can enjoy typical snow games like making a snowman, snow fighting, tobogganing, etc. You also get to see penguins here. Do visit the café inside Ski Dubai to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate amidst all the snow.
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Sky Diving
If you are a person who enjoys extreme adventures, you can switch skiing with sky diving. Dubai is one of the best places to go sky diving. Here, you jump from a moving plane some 4000 feet above the ground. If you are a beginner, you are usually accompanied by a professional, making it fun and at the same time assuring. Dubai offers to spots for sky diving, one is the desert and the other is the Palm Jumeirah. The latter is more popular as it gives people the chance to see the aerial view of the palm-shaped island in all its glory.
Ziplining
One of the most sophisticated localities of Dubai, the Dubai Marina is mostly known for its array of hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. However, the place is also home to the longest zipline in the world. XLine Dubai gives you the chance to zoom above the stylish Dubai Marina neighborhood. Measuring 1 km in length and 170 meter in height with an average speed of 80 km/hour, the zipline is exciting for adventure lovers. The best part is that two concurrent zipline run along each other, making it possible to zipline with your partner, bestie or family member.
Desert Safari
One of the favorite attractions of Dubai is the desert safari. Although it would not come completely under the category of adventures, there are several adventurous activities here. It starts late afternoon and goes on till night. The first half of the desert safari is filled with adventures, where you get to indulge in dune bashing, a ride on a 4x4 vehicle on the high and low sand dunes, which is akin to a roller coaster ride. Apart from this, sandboarding, quad biking and camel riding are also part of the desert safari trip. Once the sun sets, the action moves inside the desert camp, where you get to enjoy entertainment performances and delicious food as well.
Day 02: Sightseeing and Shopping
You cannot leave Dubai without checking out its myriads of attractions. So, dedicate the last day of your short Dubai holiday taking in the unique things that the city has to offer.
Old Dubai
While people around the world are familiar with the glitzy and glamorous side of Dubai, not many know that the modest fishing village of the past still resides inside the city. Popularly known as Old Dubai, here the remnants of Dubai’s past are preserved beautifully. One of the best places to visit here is the Bastakiya Quarter, which is the oldest neighborhood of the city. Filled with limestone buildings and wind towers, the place would take you back to the times when Persian Merchants lived in the city. Do not forget to take an abra ride, the oldest means of transportation in the city. Also, to complete your trip, shopping at the souks (Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Perfume Souk and Textile Souk) is a must.
Dubai Museum
Before you leave Old Dubai, you must visit the Dubai Museum, the oldest and the most important museum of the city, although many museums that are more modern have come up in the city. The museum is located inside the Al Fahidi Fort, which is the oldest standing building of the city. The interesting exhibits of the museum give you a glimpse of the life, culture and heritage of the Bedouins. Right from the models of Bedouin-style homes and tents to the occupation and attire of the locals, you would find all interesting details here. The Dubai Museum tour ends with an audio-visual presentation, which shows the extensive growth and development of the city.
Burj Khalifa
You cannot return from Dubai without checking out the Burj Khalifa, the pride and honor of Dubai. Known to be the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa can be seen from anywhere in the city. However, you must go for a Burj Khalifa tour to appreciate the architecture and beauty of the place closely. Although the building has a hotel and several fine dining restaurants, the observation decks are the most popular amongst tourists. It has two observation decks, one on the 124th floor and another on 148th floor. Riding on the fastest elevators on earth, you can visit either of the observation decks to enjoy a 360o panoramic view of the entire city.
Just next to Burj Khalifa is Dubai Mall, one of the largest malls in the world. It is a heaven for shopping lovers, as the mall has more than 1200 retail stores, including everything from fashion to electronics. Still, the Dubai Mall is more than just a shopping mall. There are plenty of entertainment activities and attractions here to keep you engaged. You can visit the Dubai Mall Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, try ice-skating at the Dubai Ice Rink, enjoy some adrenaline-filled moments at the VR Park Dubai and watch a movie at the luxurious multiplex theater. Kids can have a gala time at KidZania Dubai. The mall also has a huge food court, with an array of restaurants and cafes that serve a variety of cuisines. Do not forget to step outside the mall to enjoy the fantastic Dubai Fountain Show in the evening.
Dhow Cruise
End your trip on a high note with a dinner cruise on a traditional dhow-turned-restaurant. The dhow cruises run both on the Dubai Creek and Dubai Marina, and you can choose the spot depending on the place you want to see. While the Dubai Creek gives you the chance see the old part of the city, dhow cruise on the Dubai Marina takes you on a ride along the modern and glamorous part of Dubai. While both are charming, the experience on the dhow is more or less the same. You can choose between the open-air upper deck or the air-conditioned lower deck, where you would enjoy the beautiful views of the city, a delicious 3-course buffet dinner and some entertaining performances. The Dubai dhow cruise is a great way to enjoy a relaxing dinner after all the adventures and sightseeing you do in the city.
Conclusion
Spending 2 days in Dubai is so much fun that you would definitely crave for a bigger holiday in the city. However, the short holiday would give you the chance to enjoy the essence of Dubai. (Dubai Wikia)
