Best Time to Visit the Burj Khalifa: Ultimate Planning Guide 2024

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At The Top – Burj Khalifa’s Main Public Observation Deck

The main observation deck that most visitors will see is At The Top on the 124th floor and 125th floor. Entrance is from the Lower Ground level of Dubai Mall.

After security checks and waiting your turn for the incredible high-speed elevator, you’ll arrive at Level 124 and the outdoor observation deck. Continue to work your way around the informative displays and immersive experiences, then make your way up to Level 125 through an internal staircase, where you’ll find a gift shop and a tribute to Arab Arts & Culture.

At a towering 456 metres above ground level, you will experience expansive views of the Persian Gulf, the surrounding Downtown area and the vast Dubai skyline (though visibility can be quite variable based on atmospheric conditions).

It is important to note that even with pre-booked tickets, these are not skip-the-line tickets; the time you book simply indicates the earliest time you can start to queue, in 30 minute blocks.

You should expect a sustainable period of lining – both to get up the tower (even with lifts that operate at 10m/sec) and down again. Overall, your Burj Khalifa experience will take 1.5 to 2 hours. There are further displays to read on the way out too.

In our experience, Level 125 can be a much quieter and more enjoyable place, as many do not realise the second floor is there until after they’ve observed the view from all angles. The main outdoor deck, which everyone seems to rush to, is on Level 124.

• Expect to pay off-peak 145 AED kids / 179 AED adults
• During peak hours, 165 AED kids / 259 AED adults
• Kids are only discounted for the main observation decks on levels 124/125, and this applies to 3 to 12-year-olds

(Note that At The Top SKY is different to Sky Views Dubai; the former is inside the Burj Khalifa and includes access to level 148, the latter is a separate building in Downtown with several features, including a glass slide and views looking at the Burj Khalifa)

Combined Ticket Offers for Burj Khalifa

The best way to save is to combine your ticket with other attractions. There are plenty, even just around the Dubai Mall complex, or you can get a combined pass that covers attractions across Dubai.

Burj Khalifa is also available on the Dubai Pass. We have a detailed review here of how the Dubai Pass works and how to get the best value-for-money Dubai Pass to suit your needs.

We also review the GoCity discount pass for Dubai which includes access to At The Top as one of the options in their package.

Best Time to Visit Burj Khalifa

The best time to visit the Burj Khalifa depends on the season you are visiting, but generally speaking, the most popular time is around sunset hours.

While sunrise and sunset are popular for the gorgeous golden hour light they throw over the city, early mornings inparticular can be interrupted by fog and other atmospheric conditions at certain times of the year. This can, of course, only add to the drama, or leave you in a blanket of disappointing white!

At night, you cannot see as much detail in the distance, but the city lights up in a spectacular fashion, and you can see just how far it stretches into the desert.

Best Time to Visit Burj Khalifa – Sunrise

Early risers can be rewarded with sensational views as night turns into morning. However, early starts are only available to book on Saturday and Sunday mornings (the weekend in Dubai).

There is a risk of being fogged in, so take this into account. This usually occurs as the daytime temperatures cool, so can be expected from November through to March.

• Sunrise tickets are for slots between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM.
• Expect to pay 129AED.

Best Time to Visit Burj Khalifa – Sunset

As you might expect, Sunset can reward visitors with beautiful pink and orange hues and the chance to see the city in detail both day and night. Staying until after 6.30 PM you can capture the spectacular nightly fountain sound and light show from above.

You will pay premium pricing for tickets timed between 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm (bearing in mind you could be queuing for a lot of this until there’s an available lift – later premium spots in our experience you won’t get up until after dark so think carefully before paying the premium).

We have a really detailed guide here on how to properly plan your visit to Burj Khalifa at night.

Least Crowded Time to Visit Burj Khalifa

If you are not so worried about the lighting and taking photos, the best time to visit the Burj Khalifa is during the off-peak hours; late morning or late evenings are best if you want to avoid long lines. 

The crowds from the early morning premium tickets have cleared, and you should expect much less queuing after 10:00 AM. This also equals fewer queues and less crowding at the top, making it a less hurried and stressful experience all around. You can then return to ground level at a leisurely pace and enjoy lunch at Dubai Mall.

Alternatively, have dinner first, then later in the evening once prime sunset hour queues have somewhat cleared, you can get a much better nighttime view than in the early evening. You will still benefit from seeing the nightly Dubai Fountain sound & light show too.

This advice is a good theory for off-peak weekdays; however, if you are visiting on a weekend (Friday afternoon, Saturday & Sunday) or during school holidays, it is crowded no matter what time of day you book for! Never mind other advice you’ve read; it can take UP TO 2 HOURS just to get to the lift. This is the downfall of visiting Dubai’s most popular attraction.

Alternatives to the Observation Deck at Burj Khalifa

At.Mosphere

At.Mosphere is the peak of fine dining in Dubai – literally! Situated on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa, At.Mosphere is the ultimate fine dining experience with special meals from elaborate high tea to breakfast with a view, as well as business lunches and romantic dinners.

Afternoon Tea at Armani Lounge

Situated in the Armani Hotel, this is the height of Dubai extravagance and one of Dubai’s most premium experiences. You are not quite at the top (indeed, the luxury hotel is on the ground floor and lowest levels of the tower), but here, you can enjoy one of the most luxurious settings overlooking the Dubai fountains.

Burj Khalifa from Ground Level

If heights aren’t your thing, or if the entry price will eat too far into your Dubai budget (trust us, if you visit everything on offer in Dubai, you will quickly go broke!), then you can also try:

• Watching the nightly LED Burj Khalifa light show from Dubai Mall & Downtown promenade during the fountain show
• Take a traditional boat out onto the lake during the evening fountain show
• Head to the small area on the opposite side of Burj Lake and take your photo with the Wingts of Mexico Statue, with the Burj Khalifa as you’re back drop

Getting to the Burj Khalifa

One thing is for sure: at 828m, it’s pretty hard to miss the Burj Khalifa; even the newest taxi driver knows how to find it!! You can easily taxi to the Dubai Mall, then walk to the entrance at the basement level (this is also where you will find the Will Call office for collecting tickets).

You can also take the Red Line Metro to the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station, which is approximately a 10 minute walk (via the airconditioned travellator!) to the mall. Allow at least another 5 minutes to find the basement level entrance.

If you’re only on a stopover in Dubai and want to squeeze this attraction in, we share here exactly how to get public transport from DXB to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.

Hotels Near Burj Khalifa

If you’re only going to be in Dubai for a short time, staying near the Burj Khalifa is an ideal, central location.

Other than staying in the Armani Hotel inside Burj Khalifa ($$$), there are several hotels within the Dubai Mall / Downtown Dubai district that make fabulous options.  Why not try:

And nearby some more budget-friendly options, still within walking distance of the Dubai Mall;

You can see our complete guide to the most convenient Downtown Dubai hotels here, as well as our guide to nearby hotels that offer the best views of Burj Khalifa, or check out all the nearby Downtown accommodation options here:

We hope our detailed guide to visiting the tallest free-standing structure in the world, the Burj Khalifa, comes in handy when planning out your itinerary for Dubai

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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

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