Dubai and Abu Dhabi itinerary, day by day

Dubai and its towers, the dunes at sunset and the great mosque of Abu Dhabi, day by day: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 3, 7 or 14 days📍 4 stops☀️ Best time: November to March

Dubaï · Photo Walid Ahmad / Pexels

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 3 days

2 stops · 11 things to do · ≈ 60 km

1Dubai

Days 1-2

A city raised from the sand in a few decades: the Burj Khalifa (828 m), artificial islands, and the old gold and spice souks on the far side of the creek.

🎟️ Worth booking

Burj Khalifa, levels 124 and 1251h · from €45
The observation decks of the tallest building in the world, some 450 metres above the city.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Aquaventure at AtlantisFull day · from €85
A huge waterpark on the Palm Jumeirah, with slides that drop almost vertically and a private beach.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The gold and spice souks of Deira · Al Fahidi historic district · The Dubai Fountain show · Dubai Marina beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Rove Downtown (€75 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Marina 4★ (€180 a night) · Luxury: Atlantis The Palm (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Girl & the Goose - Restaurante Centroamericano ↗ ★ 5 · 1455 reviews
Icarus Restaurant Dubai ↗ ★ 4.9 · 4250 reviews · €€
Hurricane’s Grill Dubai Mall ↗ ★ 4.8 · 21253 reviews · €€
Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe - Al Fahidi, Dubai ↗ ★ 4.8 · 19502 reviews · €€
Maison De Curry | Restaurant with the best views of Burj Khalifa & Dubai Fountains ↗ ★ 4.8 · 5628 reviews

Photo Maria Charizani / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h · 60 km

2The Dubai desert

Day 3

The dunes begin less than an hour from the towers. Evenings are for 4x4 rides, dinner in a camp and a sky full of stars.

🎟️ Worth booking

4x4 desert safari and Bedouin-style dinnerEvening · from €60
Dune driving in a 4x4, then dinner under canvas in a desert camp.
Book on GetYourGuide →
A night in a desert camp1 night · from €190
Sleeping out among the dunes, far from the city lights, and waking to the desert at dawn.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Sunset over the dunes · Sandboarding · Stargazing

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Bab Al Shams (€230 a night) · Luxury: Al Maha Desert Resort (€550 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

The Banc Dubai - Restaurant & Bar ↗ ★ 5 · 3504 reviews
M Society ↗ ★ 5 · 391 reviews
Sallet al Sayad seafood restaurant مطعم سلة الصياد للمأكولات البحرية ↗ ★ 4.9 · 16256 reviews · €€
Dinner In The Sky ↗ ★ 4.9 · 4288 reviews · €€€
Othmans Lounge ↗ ★ 4.9 · 2225 reviews · €€

Photo Jenis Christopher / Pexels

Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 7 days

4 stops · 22 things to do · ≈ 380 km

1Dubai

Days 1-3

A city raised from the sand in a few decades: the Burj Khalifa (828 m), artificial islands, and the old gold and spice souks on the far side of the creek.

🎟️ Worth booking

Burj Khalifa, levels 124 and 1251h · from €45
The observation decks of the tallest building in the world, some 450 metres above the city.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Aquaventure at AtlantisFull day · from €85
A huge waterpark on the Palm Jumeirah, with slides that drop almost vertically and a private beach.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The gold and spice souks of Deira · Al Fahidi historic district · The Dubai Fountain show · Dubai Marina beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Rove Downtown (€75 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Marina 4★ (€180 a night) · Luxury: Atlantis The Palm (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Maria Charizani / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h · 60 km

2The Dubai desert

Day 4

The dunes begin less than an hour from the towers. Evenings are for 4x4 rides, dinner in a camp and a sky full of stars.

🎟️ Worth booking

4x4 desert safari and Bedouin-style dinnerEvening · from €60
Dune driving in a 4x4, then dinner under canvas in a desert camp.
Book on GetYourGuide →
A night in a desert camp1 night · from €190
Sleeping out among the dunes, far from the city lights, and waking to the desert at dawn.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Sunset over the dunes · Sandboarding · Stargazing

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Bab Al Shams (€230 a night) · Luxury: Al Maha Desert Resort (€550 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Jenis Christopher / Pexels

🚗 Car · 2h · 180 km

3Abu Dhabi

Days 5-6

The capital of the Emirates, home to the white marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi under its latticed dome.

🎟️ Worth booking

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, guided1h30 · from €12
White marble, 82 domes and one of the largest hand-knotted carpets in the world, explained by a guide.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Louvre Abu Dhabi2h · from €17
Jean Nouvel's museum, opened in 2017, where sunlight falls through a vast latticed dome like light through palm leaves.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Corniche and its beach · Qasr Al Watan (from outside) · Yas Island

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Premier Inn Abu Dhabi (€70 a night) · Mid-range: Beach Rotana (€140 a night) · Luxury: Emirates Palace (€480 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe - Yas Mall ↗ ★ 4.9 · 12192 reviews · €€
NURI Grill & Bar ↗ ★ 4.9 · 1778 reviews
Ola Brasil Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.8 · 5285 reviews · €€
Swiss Butter - Novotel Al Bustan ↗ ★ 4.8 · 3108 reviews · €€
Hatay - Best Turkish Restaurant in Abu Dhabi ↗ ★ 4.8 · 2102 reviews · €€

Photo Daniel Dang / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h30 · 140 km (back to the airport)

4Dubai

Day 7 · return

A city raised from the sand in a few decades: the Burj Khalifa (828 m), artificial islands, and the old gold and spice souks on the far side of the creek.

🎟️ Worth booking

Burj Khalifa, levels 124 and 1251h · from €45
The observation decks of the tallest building in the world, some 450 metres above the city.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Aquaventure at AtlantisFull day · from €85
A huge waterpark on the Palm Jumeirah, with slides that drop almost vertically and a private beach.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The gold and spice souks of Deira · Al Fahidi historic district · The Dubai Fountain show · Dubai Marina beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Rove Downtown (€75 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Marina 4★ (€180 a night) · Luxury: Atlantis The Palm (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Maria Charizani / Pexels

Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 14 days

4 stops · 22 things to do · ≈ 500 km

1Dubai

Days 1-4

A city raised from the sand in a few decades: the Burj Khalifa (828 m), artificial islands, and the old gold and spice souks on the far side of the creek.

🎟️ Worth booking

Burj Khalifa, levels 124 and 1251h · from €45
The observation decks of the tallest building in the world, some 450 metres above the city.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Aquaventure at AtlantisFull day · from €85
A huge waterpark on the Palm Jumeirah, with slides that drop almost vertically and a private beach.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The gold and spice souks of Deira · Al Fahidi historic district · The Dubai Fountain show · Dubai Marina beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Rove Downtown (€75 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Marina 4★ (€180 a night) · Luxury: Atlantis The Palm (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Maria Charizani / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h · 60 km

2The Dubai desert

Days 5-6

The dunes begin less than an hour from the towers. Evenings are for 4x4 rides, dinner in a camp and a sky full of stars.

🎟️ Worth booking

4x4 desert safari and Bedouin-style dinnerEvening · from €60
Dune driving in a 4x4, then dinner under canvas in a desert camp.
Book on GetYourGuide →
A night in a desert camp1 night · from €190
Sleeping out among the dunes, far from the city lights, and waking to the desert at dawn.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Sunset over the dunes · Sandboarding · Stargazing

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Bab Al Shams (€230 a night) · Luxury: Al Maha Desert Resort (€550 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Jenis Christopher / Pexels

🚗 Car · 2h · 180 km

3Abu Dhabi

Days 7-9

The capital of the Emirates, home to the white marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi under its latticed dome.

🎟️ Worth booking

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, guided1h30 · from €12
White marble, 82 domes and one of the largest hand-knotted carpets in the world, explained by a guide.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Louvre Abu Dhabi2h · from €17
Jean Nouvel's museum, opened in 2017, where sunlight falls through a vast latticed dome like light through palm leaves.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Corniche and its beach · Qasr Al Watan (from outside) · Yas Island

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Premier Inn Abu Dhabi (€70 a night) · Mid-range: Beach Rotana (€140 a night) · Luxury: Emirates Palace (€480 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Daniel Dang / Pexels

🚗 Car · 1h30 · 140 km

4Dubai

Days 10-14

A city raised from the sand in a few decades: the Burj Khalifa (828 m), artificial islands, and the old gold and spice souks on the far side of the creek.

🎟️ Worth booking

Burj Khalifa, levels 124 and 1251h · from €45
The observation decks of the tallest building in the world, some 450 metres above the city.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Aquaventure at AtlantisFull day · from €85
A huge waterpark on the Palm Jumeirah, with slides that drop almost vertically and a private beach.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The gold and spice souks of Deira · Al Fahidi historic district · The Dubai Fountain show · Dubai Marina beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Rove Downtown (€75 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Marina 4★ (€180 a night) · Luxury: Atlantis The Palm (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Maria Charizani / Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Shawarma: grilled meat shaved from a spit and rolled in flatbread, the street food of every neighbourhood.
Machboos: spiced rice cooked with meat or fish, often called the national dish.
Hummus and mezze: the small dishes of the Levant, on every table.
Luqaimat: small fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup.
Dates and Arabic coffee (gahwa): a light coffee with cardamom, poured as a sign of welcome.

⚠️ What to avoid

Dress modestly away from the beach, and cover arms, legs and hair to enter a mosque.
Alcohol is served only in licensed venues, mostly hotels: never drink in the street.
During Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in public in daylight.
Ask before photographing anyone, and never photograph women without their consent.
Friday midday prayers still change opening hours, even though the weekend is now Saturday and Sunday.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

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