2 Days in Dubai; Ultimate Highlights Itinerary

Only got 48 hours in Dubai? Here’s how to squeeze in the best Dubai has to offer with a detailed 2-day Dubai itinerary

Dubai, a city of stunning contrasts, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with futuristic marvels, offers an unforgettable experience for every traveller. But what if you only have 48 hours to explore this vibrant metropolis?

Fear not! Our carefully curated 2-day Dubai itinerary ensures you’ll make the most of every moment, capturing the essence of this dazzling city. Whether you’re a culture enthusiast, a thrill-seeker, or a luxury lover, this guide will help you navigate through Dubai’s top attractions, hidden gems, and culinary delights.

Get ready to embark on an exhilarating journey through a city that promises to enchant and inspire, all within just two days!

Your flight times may mean following an exact two days as we’ve set out is difficult, so of course, mix and match suggested mornings and evenings to best suit your timings and interests

This is a super detailed guide, so do bookmark this page for later in your browser or save it to Pinterest

Transport in Dubai for 2 days

Over the course of using our 2-day itinerary, you will need to take a combination of taxies, the Metro and private tours.

We’ve given basic directions on how to get to each place by public transport if possible, or where you may need a taxi to get door-to-door with ease. You can find our complete guide to Dubai Transport options here.

Metro Cost: If you stay in Dubai for only 2 days, it is recommended to get a Red Nol and top it up only as you need it (The card costs just 2AED + add your fare) We explain all the fares and different types of Nol in more detail here.

A note on taxies: In the hottest part of the year (i.e. about May to October!), be wary of how far you can walk during the day. Places may look relatively close and within walking distance on a map, but under the heat of the sun, a short taxi/Uber may very much be worth it (noting a minimum fare applies of 12 AED).

Hiring a car: Unless you are a super-confident driver or plan on taking several trips out of the city, you are best relying on taxis and tours during a short stay in Dubai.

What can I fit into two days in Dubai?

With only 48 hours in Dubai, there are undoubtedly some highlights you’ll need to miss out on. We have set out a mixed itinerary here that will appeal to a broad audience; those with kids to consider may want to prioritise the theme parks more, or culturally curious may want to add on some extra day trips and skip the beach and modern parts of Dubai.

We’d recommend once you’ve decided on your itinerary, book in advance the attractions and tours you want so that you can guarantee your spot, as numbers can be limited (and using a booking app such as Get Your Guide, you get a money-back guarantee if your trip needs to be cancelled).

When planning out your days, note that Dubai’s weekend has now changed to align with much of the Western world and runs for 2.5 days from Friday afternoon until Sunday; these days are MUCH busier with residents also out and about, especially Friday afternoons after prayer time. Some attractions may open later on a Friday and Saturday night.

For a comprehensive list of everything there is to see and do in Dubai, pop over here – we have 150+ ideas!.

Day 1 – 2 Day Dubai Itinerary: Old Meets New

Journey from Dubai’s bustling trading port past to the futuristic modern city

For your first day of sightseeing in Dubai, it really helps to go back to the grassroots of what Dubai city is about; a busy trading port city based around Dubai Creek.

Get your bearings at Dubai Frame

Let’s start your exploration of Dubai, taking in the views from the Dubai Frame. Pretty much what it says – it’s a giant picture frame! One of the first tourist highlights you will capture coming from the airport into the city.

You ascend one side of the 150m high frame (48 floors) and then walk across the top. The see-through floored sky deck gives you fabulous views of Old Dubai, Dubai Creek to Sharjah and beyond in one direction, and the modern skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the other.

Learn more about visiting the Dubai Frame here

Getting there: Nearest Metro is Al Jafiliya for Zabeel Park, but it’s a decent walk, you may prefer a taxi/Careem drop off

Wander Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood

This is the oldest part of Dubai city, a labyrinth of narrow laneways that date back to the 19th century. The area is protected so that the city’s heritage does not become lost forever under the sprawling skyscrapers. Most of the traditional sandy-coloured low rise buildings are now galleries, museums and small cafes.

Within this area, you will find the Dubai Museum, housed within the Al Faihi Fort, which dates back to 1787. At only 3 AED you should definitely pop your head in for more insight into the country’s Bedouin past and the pre-oil era of Dubai. {STILL CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS}

There are many other Dubai museums to be discovered within the laneways, the Coffee Museum (entry fee 10 AED) is one of our favourites worth seeking out.

Getting there: Al Fahidi Bus Station or Al Fahidi Metro station

Lunch at Al Seef Waterfront

By now, you have most certainly worked up an appetite, so if you’ve not stopped for lunch in XVA Cafe or Arabian Tea House situated within Al Faihidi Historical Neighbourhood, now would be time to head to one of many restaurants in this waterfront development. Seamlessly blending old with new, it’s directly across the street, next to the Al Faihidi Marine Transport Station.

Al Seef is set up like a traditional souk so you’ll be able to do your shopping here too. Kids may enjoy popping into Museum of Illusions or have some fun with photos in the instagrammable laneways.

Cross Dubai Creek on an Abra

An absolute must for an authentic old Dubai experience! Whilst there are far more modern methods these days of crossing Dubai Creek, a traditional abra at 1 AED per person is still a steal!

Explore the Traditional Deira Souks

Depending on the heat, you could spend several hours lost in the laneways of Deira, the most popular stops being the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk. It’s all open-air, so it can be heavy going and a bit of walking mid-afternoon in the hotter months.

On a short Dubai itinerary with just two days, we suggest you decide whether to spend your evening in Old Dubai or skip to modern Dubai to finish your day 1—in the hotter summer months, we suggest the latter.

Choice 1: An Evening in Old Dubai

Extend your trip to the Dubai Souks by joining in with an evening food tour. Being the multicultural city that Dubai is, you can be sure many dishes are vying for attention as “local” cuisine, in addition to traditional Emirati or Bedouin-style dishes.

One of the most highly recommended food tours in Dubai is Frying Pan Adventures, who offer various options for small groups to have authentic experiences in Dubai’s streets. Most group tours start and end in Deira.

Alternatively, hop on to one of the dinner cruises that operate along Dubai Creek for a taste of Old Dubai from the water.

Souk Al Bahar

Just across a pedestrian bridge from Dubai Mall, you’ll find Souk Al Bahar. This modern market is made in the design of a traditional souk offering handicrafts through to fine dining and spectacular views over Burj Lake. Don’t expect to pay the same prices as at the traditional souks in Deira, but a fun Dubai experience at the heart of the action.

You can find a good selection of places to grab a drink and bite around downtown Dubai here.

Dubai Fountains

This brings us nicely to one of Dubai’s most popular free things to do at night! Starting at 6:00 PM nightly, then every half hour, watch the fabulously choreographed light and sound show on Burj Lake, sitting at the foot of Burj Khalifa. Later in the evening the Burj Khalifa also lights up for half-hourly shows (timings are seasonal).

For a close-up view of the fountain show, you can take an abra ride on the lake. Alternatively, our favourite is to pick out one of the restaurants with uninterrupted views in either Dubai Mall or Souk Al Bahar and dine whilst getting to see the show a few times over without the crowds.

Burj Khalifa

Finish your first day by scaling the heights of Burj Khalifa, the World’s tallest tower. There’s an observation deck on the 124th and 125th floors (extra packages even take you to the 148th floor!) or even dine at At.mosphere restaurant and lounge on Level 122.

We have a detailed guide here that sets out all your Burj Khalifa visiting options.

If there’s one part of your Dubai itinerary you simply must book in advance, it’s the Burj Khalifa. Tickets at the door are extortionately more expensive and can sell out. Do allow a good 2 hours for queuing and having a good look around. Note sunset and sunrise slots (weekends) cost more and book up faster.

Alternate Day 1: New then Old Dubai

You can, of course, plan Day 1 in reverse. You might like to start your day at Dubai Mall and visiting the Burj Khalifa early on without long queues, get your bearings over the city and catch lunch around Dubai Mall or Souk Al Bahar before spending the afternoon and evening in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and crossing Dubai Creek in the evening to spend time in the markets or catch a dinner cruise.

Just be aware it takes time to get between the two areas of the city and you can’t ‘fit it all’ in under a day.

Day 2 – 2 Day Dubai Itinerary: Hit the sand! Desert & Beach

A day set aside for sand and surf – dune surfing that is!

You can tackle this day in two ways – hitting the desert first thing or the last thing in the day – just avoid being out in the desert middle of the day no matter which way around your plan it, especially as you hit the summer months.

Dubai Desert Safari

Forget the concrete; it’s time to go and experience the real Dubai out in the desert! Tour operators will pick you up from your city accommodation in 4×4 and drive into the dunes on the city outskirts, or a limited number of operators can work in the protected Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve for your morning desert safari.

There are broadly two different types of desert safari: those focused on the desert habitat itself and those focused on dune bashing and sand sports for a higher adrenaline thrill.

The evening camps tend to focus more on the latter, ending in a BBQ dinner and shisha in a camp. Both morning and evening desert tours are likely to include a camel ride in their itinerary, and possibly the option to participate in some sand sports like boarding or dune buggies.

Beaches in Dubai

It’s time to explore one of Dubai’s exciting modern beachfront districts and get out on the water. A trip to Dubai just isn’t complete without at least touching the warm waters of the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf, depending on who you ask!).

JBR, Bluewaters & Dubai Marina

Many first-timers to Dubai find the area of JBR and Dubai Marina a great place to start. Familiarise yourself with The Walk & The Beach precincts, then if you’d like to stretch your legs further, take a walk over to the ultra-modern Bluewaters Island to dine and marvel at the Dubai skyline along Jumeirah Beach.

You can easily spend a whole afternoon and evening in the JBR area between activities along the beach – think inflatable water parks, splash pads, jet ski and flyboarding, Flying Cup sky-high dining – and plentiful dining options read more on what to do around JBR here!

If time allows, you may also want to head out into the stunning Gulf waters with a cruise. Plentiful operators can be found in Dubai Marina, from speed boat tours around Palm Jumeirah to jet ski adventures, or for a more sedate experience at a fraction of the cost try the RTA Ferry!

Getting there: JBR/Dubai Marina is the perfect place to stay for 2 days in Dubai due to the high number of spacious hotel apartments and resorts with direct beachfront access. If coming by Metro from Old Dubai or Downtown, you want to alight at DAMAC Properties or DMCC Metro Stations.

Dubai also has plenty of public beaches; some are completely free, and others have a small Dubai municipality charge but excellent facilities. Local favourites include Al Mamzar Park and Kite Beach has slightly bigger waves than others, or head to Sunset Beach for iconic views of the Burj Al Arab – naturally around sunset for the best views!

Alternatively, even if you’re not staying at one of Dubai’s fancy beachfront resorts, it’s easy to pick up a day pass to one of the incredible beach clubs to spoil yourself for an afternoon and enjoy sundowners on the beach.

If you are visiting in the peak of summer, you would likely need to modify or scratch this largely outdoor day of play and replace it with some further activities from our indoor guide to Dubai

Souk Madinat Jumeirah

The perfect place for a little retail therapy to finish up your trip to Dubai is Souk Madinat Jumeirah. A modern souk (market) built in traditional style, with indoor and outdoor (seasonal) stalls and shops offering tourist tat to genuine souvenirs and a superb range of eateries to choose from.

You can get some brilliant Burj Al Arab views here and even take an abra out on the waterways around the extravagant Jumeirah hotels (a bit more pricey than the 1 AED on Dubai Creek, but what an amazing backdrop!). Plentiful bars and restaurants can also be found here, catering to all tastes.

Getting there: Souk Madinat Jumeirah is not on the Metro, but you can get to the Mall of the Emirates and take a short taxi from there, or stop at Internet City and then hop on Bus 88.

What Does Our 2-day Dubai Itinerary Exclude?

With only two days, there’s an awful lot we have cut back from our classic 7 Day Dubai itinerary to try and squeeze everything in.

Firstly, you will likely have to rule out any day trips or heading further than the outskirts of Dubai. Whilst all of the other major cities of the UAE are within a 2-hour drive of Dubai, a 2-day timetable is too tight to fit anything extra in (unless it’s a subsequent trip and you’re looking to build on previous Dubai experiences by checking out the other Emirates).

We include a list of suggested Dubai day trips below if you’d like to exchange Day 2 in Dubai for an out-of-town experience.

We’ve also excluded a big theme park day. The theme parks in Dubai are huge, so you really need a full day for each. Unless you’re total theme park junkies, you’ll need to sacrifice this on a tight 2-day itinerary. Those with kids, though, may well want to replace one of the more cultural days with a theme park day if burning off energy before your next flight is the aim of the game! Our full list of theme park suggestions below.

Relaxing time – what we haven’t really built into this action-packed two days is downtime! If you’re coming to Dubai for the glorious sunshine rather than the sightseeing, you could quickly scrap the whole lot above and simply spend two days at the beach or poolside – but look at everything else you’re missing out on!!

Alternative Activities for Your Dubai Itinerary

There was only so much we could fit in an initial 2-day Dubai itinerary! We’ve included some suggestions below, particularly if you’re not a theme park fan you may want to try one of these instead.