If you are looking for what to do on a 3 day Dubai itinerary, make sure to include a bit of culture, a bit of history, and a bit of the lavish and impressive landmarks and lifestyle Dubai is famous for.
Dubai is a fantastic destination, offering a wide range of activities and attractions, no matter you are with your partner, friends, or alone. With the hassle-free process of obtaining a Dubai visa, you can easily pop in for 3 days in Dubai and find everything you want to do. From thrilling desert safari adventures to sky diving, marveling at world-famous structures, and enjoying delicious foods, you can do a LOT in 3 days here.
Whether you plan to do a three day trip or extend a stopover in Dubai, you will be amazed to learn that Dubai’s offerings are too much to take in in such a short time. So, I have put together a 3 day itinerary for Dubai that is jam-packed with a little bit of everything so you can make the most of your time.
3 Day Dubai Itinerary
For this 3 Day Dubai Itinerary we will spend one day exploring UAE history and culture, one day visiting landmarks and flashy parts of Dubai, and the final day in the desert and/or sea. You’ll love it!
Day One: Explore Old Dubai
The historical side of the gleaming city is an excellent way to start your trip. Many people get swept away by Dubai’s glamorous side, but it’s important to check out some culture too.
Old Dubai is home to numerous traditional markets and sites that provide a one-of-a-kind cultural experience during your Dubai vacation. This area existed far before the incredible skyscrapers and expansion of modern Dubai. A great place to start is the Deira district.
Deira District
One of the oldest districts of Dubai holds the most authentic and traditional side of the whole city. Deira District is a popular tourist attraction at the end of the Dubai Creek, near the airport. This area features the famous souks that are a must-visit.
There are three main souks in Deira to visit:
- The Gold Souk: Dubai is known as the “city of gold” and has a valid reason to earn such glory. Here you will find seamless gold jewelry retail stores brimming with various types of gold jewelry. They have great prices too!
- The Spice Souk: barely a 5-minute walk from the gold souk is the spice souk. The spice souk appeals to your senses with its plethora of spices such as saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, chili pepper, and others.
- The Perfume Souk: even if you are not a fan of fragrances, you will want to explore the perfume souk simply to breathe in delicious smells. Bring a wide range of various perfumes; you can even find your ideal fragrance here.
Check out the famous Deira Clocktower structure and make sure to walk along the creek for some great views.
Bur Dubai
Bur Dubai is your second stop after the Deiraon day one of your 3 days in Dubai, which requires you to cross the river! Don’t worry, just take an Abra, which costs around AED 1 per person, to reach Bur Dubai in a few minutes. Once you arrive, here are the places you can discover in Bur Dubai.
- House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum: once the residence or a ruler, now a popular tourist attraction featuring photos and documents about the history of Dubai.
- Dubai Museum: Dubai Museum is a must-visit museum on your Dubai trip. It offers the entire history of the city. You will learn about the first traces of tribes, the rapid growth during the 1960s, and the booming economy of Dubai that we witness today.
- Hindi Lane and Meena Bazar: A zone featuring beautiful fabrics and authentic Indian restaurants where you can get delicious food at cheap rates.
- The Old Souk: Try your haggling skills here. The Old Souk is packed with souvenirs of all kinds, such as bags, shoes, magnets, and more.
- Sheikh Mohamed Cultural Centre: Lunches are organized in the traditional house with an inhabitant of Dubai every day. You can either book here for lunch or opt for other restaurants in the area.
- The Al-Seef Street: A picturesque street to admire the architecture and traditional houses. Don’t forget to take some Instagram-worthy photos.
- Dubai Frame: No, not the small photo frame! This is a 150-meter-high structure in the shape of a giant photo frame, offering you breathtaking views of two completely different parts of Dubai—Old Dubai on one side and the Downtown skyline on the other.
- Dubai Garden Glow: The perfect place to end the first day of your 3 day itinerary in Dubai! Dubai Garden Glow features hundreds of sculptures that come to life every evening with dazzling light shows with musical backgrounds.
Itinerary Dubai 3 Days: Day Two
Today we will explore the major landmarks that Dubai is known for. These are the must-sees, the incredible sights, and most photo-worthy places to visit in Dubai in 3 days.
Major Landmarks of Dubai
Burj Khalifa: The world-famous icon of Dubai and the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, features marvels of modern engineering towers that will stun you. Go to the observation deck on the 124th or 148th floor to see interactive displays and learn about Dubai’s fascinating history. Make sure to get your ticket in advance in case it fills up.
Dubai Mall: Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the city with more than 1200 shops of ALL kinds waiting for you. It includes international brands such as H&M, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, and much more. If you are not a fan of shopping, there are numerous other entertainment options like cinemas, ice rinks, arcade games, and even a flight simulator.
Don’t miss the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, located inside the Dubai Mall itself. The Aquarium is home to thousands of marine animals of various species, including Sand Tiger Sharks and rays. The King Croc, the highlight of this aquarium, is one of the largest living crocodiles in the world.
Dubai Fountain Show: The Dubai Fountain Show is the largest choreographed fountain in the world. Witness the spellbinding shows of the dancing water on different music tracks that take place every 30 minutes between 6pm and 11pm. Make sure to arrive early to grab the best seat for the show – it gets CROWDED.
Global Village: The Global Village is a beautiful cultural theme park where you can find dozens of pavilions or replicas of most countries around the world, like China, Japan, Thailand, Iran, the United States, and more.
Hundreds of small kiosks allow you to discover, explore, and purchase items from all over the world, ranging from food to clothing. As this place has so many things to do, save at least a few hours to explore everything. From early November to early April, the Global Village is open daily at 4:00 p.m.
Beaches and Mosques
La Mer, Beachside boardwalk and shops: La Mer is a waterfront promenade where you can find several restaurants and cafés with stunning views of the sea. This is the perfect spot to have lunch by the sea after you spend the morning checking out the mall and Burj in Downtown Dubai.
Jumeirah Mosque: The Jumeirah Mosque is one of the mosques that non-Muslims are permitted to visit. You can take one of the tours and learn about the culture, traditions, and five pillars of Islam. The tour takes place from 10am-2pm every day except Fridays and lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes
Hit the Beach: Spend the end of your day on one of the many beautiful beaches in this area of Dubai. The water is lovely and warm but still cool enough to be refreshing. Jumeirah Beach has lovely views of downtown, and Kite Beach is famous for Kitesurfing.
In the Evening: La Perle Show
La Perle Show, featuring the most talented artists and acrobats, is one of the most popular shows in Dubai. It’s located not far from the Downtown Dubai area. It has only two shows per night, so make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Final Day of 3 Day Dubai Itinerary
I know some people love desert adventures and some love the sea, so I will give two options for the final day in Dubai. Or, try and squeeze them all in if you have the energy.
Option 1: Hit the Desert
One of the MOST popular things to do in Dubai even with only 3 days in Dubai is to explore the desert. If you head outside the city there are stunning sand dunes where you can jump on an ATV for ‘dune bashing,’ see camels, try shisha and local food, safari in the desert, and have a local BBQ dinner too. This is a proper Dubai experience!
Option 2: Water Activities
Palm Jumeirah: On the third day of your visit to Dubai, you can spend the day on the architecturally stunning man-made island of Palm Jumeirah. Palm Jumeirah is in the shape of a palm tree, where the famous Atlantis hotel is located and is one of the best places in the world to skydive.
Aquaventure Park: Packed with thrilling rides and slides, this theme park is one of the best places to spend a fun-filled day in the sun. Moreover, you can enjoy two activities at the Atlantis Hotel.
More Dubai Water Activities:
- Discover Scuba Diving: Explore Dubai’s underwater world on an introductory scuba dive
- Lost Chambers Aquarium: Here you can witness different types of marine life, including various sharks and tropical fish. This aquarium features ten themed chambers with diverse aquatic life from across the world.
- Flyboarding: levitate above the water on one of the coolest water sports ever – and VERY Dubai!
- Swimming with dolphins: Dolphin Bay gives you a very good opportunity to have a close encounter with dolphins.
If you aren’t too into water and can’t get enough of Dubai’s shopping, the Mall of the Emirates is one of the other major malls in Dubai that even features indoor skiing.
Evening: Dubai Marina
Spend the end of your day exploring the Dubai Marina and the beautiful beaches, expanses of restaurants and cafes, and even beach clubs. Dubai Marina is a popular tourist attraction in Dubai, gleaming with striking skyscrapers and yachts.
The Marina is a great place to stay, or spend at least an afternoon walking around. One of the best ways to truly feel the Dubai vibe is doing a yacht tour of the Marina. You can also go to the Dubai Marina Mall or board a neon-lit Dhow Cruise which allows you to discover the city from a different perspective.
And that’s it for a jam-packed and adventurous 3 days in Dubai itinerary!
Getting around Dubai
Taxis and Metro: It is best to opt for regular cab taxis and look for the meter, which helps you estimate the cost of the distance.
In the case of the metro, Dubai has a good system of metros allowing you to reach almost every major attraction in the city. Before you get on any one of these, you should be aware of the rush hours in the city during the weekdays (Sundays to Thursdays) and weekends (Fridays and Saturdays).
Dubai Visa Guide
To explore and experience all of these in Dubai, you must avail yourself of a Dubai visa. If you are planning to explore Dubai on your stopover, you must apply for a Dubai transit visa. There are two types of transit visas, a 48 hour transit visa and a 96 hour transit visa.
Since you are looking for a three-day itinerary, go for a 96-hour transit visa.
If you are planning a longer stay in Dubai, you can apply for a Dubai tourist visa that usually permits a stay of 30 days or 90 days. While applying for a visa, you are likely to fall into any of these categories:
- Visa exempt travellers
- Visa on arrival travellers
- Visa must travellers
The citizens of GCC countries, including the UK, US, and Schengen countries, do not require a permit to enter Dubai, whereas the citizens of certain countries are eligible for visa on arrival. Travellers who must apply for a visa to enter Dubai must apply for one before travelling. You can opt for travel agencies, UAE-based airlines, or hotels for the visa application process.
Where to Stay for 3 Days in Dubai
Budget Option: Rove Downtown is a simple yet elegant hotel with a rooftop pool view of the Burj Khalifa. The rooms here are usually more affordable than most other places in Dubai yet still have a cute and unique/boutique vibe. Check it out here.
Luxury Option: Address Dubai Marina is the ULTIMATE Dubai luxury boutique vibe. The hotel is simply stunning with the BEST views over the marina, an incredible rooftop pool, sleek and edgy design, and great amenities.
What to Pack for Your 3 Days Dubai Itinerary
Dubai is HOT, so the most important thing to remember is to bring clothes for warm weather and plenty of sun protection. Check out my top travel essentials to plan for your trip.
Check out some adventure captions and sunset quotes for your photos!
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.