Ultimate 5-Day Dubai Itinerary: The Perfect Mix of Luxury, Adventure, and Culture

Dubai, the city of superlatives, is a dream destination where modernity meets tradition. Whether you’re here for the stunning skyscrapers, desert adventures, or luxurious shopping, this 5-day itinerary ensures you experience the best of Dubai. Here’s a detailed guide with travel tips, must-visit attractions, and insider recommendations to make your trip seamless and memorable.

Here’s how we planned our first international family trip, and you can too!

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Relaxation

After a long flight, first day in Dubai is all about settling in, soaking in the city’s skyline, and enjoying a relaxing evening. Depending on your arrival time, you can explore nearby attractions or simply rest up for the days ahead.

• Travel to Dubai: Arrive in Dubai. After clearing immigration, head to your hotel for check-in and unwind after your journey.
• Recommended Stay: Choose a hotel near Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, or Palm Jumeirah for easy access to major attractions. We stayed at this amazing Airbnb facing the most amazing views of Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain and Dubai Mall (Airbnb link). Alternatively, you can also book a hotel in the Dubai Downtown, or Marina (find hotels here).
• Dinner Recommendation: If you’re not too tired, consider dining out or order from a food delivery app (Careem, Noon, Talabat, Deliveroo) like us.

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Day 2: Burj Khalifa & Desert Adventure

Your first full day in Dubai begins with a spectacular breakfast at the Burj Khalifa, followed by a fun-filled day of shopping and an unforgettable desert safari experience with dinner and entertainment.

• Morning: Visit Burj Khalifa and enjoy breakfast at Atmosphere Lounge on the 122nd floor. We booked the breakfast with Atmosphere lounge to enjoy both the views from the top and the food. This has a minimum 250 AED spend requirement per person (reserve table here).
  • Alternatively, you can also book Burj Khalifa – At the Top tickets (book tickets here). We chose the lounge option as we got to enjoy a delicious meal also in almost the same amount.
• Afternoon: Explore Dubai Mall, home to 1,000+ stores, Dubai Aquarium, Underwater Zoo, and luxury shopping. Grab lunch at Somewhere Restaurant for an international dining experience or at The Cheesecake Factory (our favourite).
• Evening: Time for the desert safari, which was one of the biggest highlights of our trip, offering a mix of adrenaline, adventure, and cultural experiences. Book a tour which includes dune bashing, camel riding, and cultural performances with a dinner under the stars (book desert safari tour here). Here’s what we loved (and what we didn’t) about each activity:
  • ✔ Dune Bashing in a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 – This was hands-down the most thrilling part of the experience! The skilled drivers manoeuvre through steep dunes, giving you the sensation of tipping over at every turn—without ever actually doing so. It’s an absolute must-do for adventure lovers.
  • ✔ ATV Ride (Quad Biking) – If you love off-roading, this is for you. You’ll get to ride across the open desert with a guide. A 10-20 minute session is perfect to get the experience without feeling too repetitive. We wouldn’t recommend the full 60-minute ride unless you’re really into it.
  • ✔ Camel Riding – A short ride that offers a traditional Bedouin experience. It’s great for first-timers, but don’t expect an extended journey—it’s more of a quick photo opportunity.
  • ✔ Sandboarding – The idea of skiing down the dunes sounds fun, but in reality, only a few people gave it a go, and even fewer actually enjoyed it. It can be a bit tricky, so try it only if you’re up for the challenge.
  • ✔ Cultural Performances – The Tanoura dance, showcasing mesmerizing whirling moves, and the fire show, which was the standout act of the evening, added a magical touch to the night.
  • ✔ Dinner & Entertainment – The evening ended with a buffet-style dinner, including snacks like falafel and a mix of Arabian and international dishes. The food was decent, but the overall experience—dining under the stars in the heart of the desert—made it special.

🚗 🐪 Safari Tips: Safari tour operators will try to sell you more time on ATVs and a premium dining seating. Take a call basis your budget. Our recommendation would be to skip more ATV time but upgrade to a better dining experience (book desert safari tour here).

Day 3: Miracle Garden, Yacht Cruise & Global Village

Today is a mix of natural beauty, luxury cruising, and global cultural experiences, making it a well-rounded day for families and couples alike.

• Morning: Visit the Miracle Garden, a floral paradise with millions of flowers arranged in breathtaking designs, perfect for family photos (book tickets here).
• Afternoon: Lunch at Bikanerwala Arjan, a vegetarian Indian restaurant, just 10 minutes walk from Miracle Garden. Miracle Gardens has multiple restaurants inside and plenty of more restaurants around for options.
• Evening:
  • Dubai Marina Yacht Tour – Enjoy a yacht cruise around the Marina skyline with food included. They have three routes for 1, 2 and 3-hours. Choose as per your preference (book yacht tours here).
  • Explore JBR Broadwalk for a relaxed evening by the beach. Sit by the sea in the sand, or enjoy some adventurous activities like Jet-Ski or Banana Boats (book adventures here).
  • Visit Global Village – A fantastic cultural festival showcasing pavilions from different countries, street performances, and food stalls (get tickets here). We shopped for some Shea Butter from Ghana and Purses from UAE before ending our day with the dinner at Grand Dhaba before heading back.

🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️Tip: This day involves a lot of outdoors walking. So, wear comfortable shoes, carry water, sunglasses, and umbrella. You can also consider splitting the miracle gardens and global village on two separate days for a more relaxed itinerary.

Day 4: Abu Dhabi Day Trip & Dubai Fountain Show

A day trip to Abu Dhabi to explore the grandeur of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan & Etihad Tower followed by an evening at the stunning Dubai Fountain Show.

• Morning to Afternoon: Take a guided Abu Dhabi city tour starting at 8:45 AM (book tours here). A typical itinerary will cover all the major attractions and include:
  • Visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.
  • Stop by for a quick photostop at the Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi.
  • Stop at Marina Mall to take a break for lunch at the mall’s food court or restaurants (at your own expense).
  • Visit Qasr At Watan, the grand place. Marvel at the sprawling garden of the Palace before entering its exquisite interiors. The enchanting building, located in the premises of Presidential palace, displays artefacts, manuscripts, and other historical documents.
• Evening:
  • Return to Dubai for The Dubai Fountain Water & Light Show at Burj Khalifa (no entry tickets required).
  • Dinner at Thiptara (Thai cuisine with a fountain view).

🚗 Booking Tip: Book a day tour for Abu Dhabi here to cover all the top attractions. You need a one full day if you want to visit Ferrari World (book tickets here).

Day 5: Dubai Aquarium, Old Dubai & Gold Souk

Last day in Dubai is relaxed and is all about marine wonders, and shopping, making it a family-friendly and immersive experience.

• Morning: Explore Dubai Sea Aquarium – One of the world’s largest suspended aquariums. The 10-million-liter tank is home to more than 33,000 aquatic animals, comprising over 140 species with more than 300 sharks and rays. You can also book optional activities like Dive with Sharks, Cage Snorkelling and Glass Bottom Ride (book tickets here).
• Afternoon: Finish the Aquarium trip with the lunch at one of Dubai Mall’s restaurants or explore the multiple cuisines in the food court (Dubai Mall dining).
• Evening: Explore Old Dubai. You can do in on your own or book a guided tour that includes:
  • Stroll through Al Fahidi Historical District to explore old Dubai.
  • Visit the Gold Souk & Spice Souk for unique souvenirs.
  • Enjoy a traditional Abra ride across the Dubai Creek.

💎 🛍️ Gold Shopping Tips: Calculate and know the prices of gold jewellery in your country, and compare against Dubai prices to know if it makes sense to purchase (it did not for us).

Day 6: Departure from Dubai

After an amazing trip, it’s time to pack up and head to the airport. If your flight is later in the day, you can squeeze in a few more experiences.

• Have a relaxed breakfast at your hotel or visit Kite Beach for a morning stroll.
• Check out and leave for the airport.
• Head to Dubai International Airport (DXB) at least 3 hours before departure.

Dubai Essentials

Where to Stay?

Choose a hotel near Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, or Palm Jumeirah for the best experience and for easy access to major attractions.

• We stayed at an Airbnb as we were a large group of 8 people and wanted kitchen (morning kadak chai is a must) and living area to hangout in the evening. We booked this amazing Airbnb facing the most amazing views of Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain and Dubai Mall (Airbnb link).
• Alternatively, you can also book a hotel in the Dubai Downtown, or Marina (find hotels here).

What to EAT?

If you’re not too tired, consider dining or you can just order-in like us. For dining out, consider Pier 7 (Dubai Marina) for scenic waterfront views or Arabian Tea House in Al Fahidi (Old Dubai) for authentic Emirati cuisine. 

For Vegetarians: Dubai has enough Indian and vegetarian options. You can find vegetarian restaurants (even Jain ones), and dishes are clearly marked as vegetarian, vegan, dairy etc. in all major restaurants.

🥘 Tip: Dubai has food and grocery delivery apps like Careem, Noon, Talabat, and Deliveroo. You can download these from the Play Store / App store and order delicious food or the necessary groceries (we ordered milk, water, fruits etc.).

How to GET AROUND?

While Dubai has a public transportation including metro service, we ended up using cabs as we were a large group (find your metro stops).

🚗 Cab Tip: You can use Uber, Careem, or just hail a taxi (they are metered, but good to confirm with the driver first). Alternatively, book a private airport transfer here to avoid taxi queues.

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More Things to Do in Dubai

• ✔ Palm Jumeirah – Visit Atlantis, The Lost Chambers Aquarium, or take a speedboat tour (book tours here).
• ✔ The View at The Palm – Get breathtaking views of Palm Jumeirah from an observation deck (book tours here).
• ✔ Mall of Emirates – Experience Ski Dubai, an indoor snow park.
• ✔ Kite Beach – A great place for families to relax by the shore with a view of Burj Al Arab.
• ✔ Burj Al Arab – Visit the iconic 7-star hotel for a luxury high-tea experience.
• ✔ Dubai Frame – Experience stunning panoramic views from this architectural marvel (get tickets here).
• ✔ Museum of the Future – An architectural marvel showcasing futuristic innovations and immersive exhibits on AI, space, and technology (get tickets here).

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Final Thoughts

Dubai is a perfect family destination, offering a seamless blend of adventure, culture, and relaxation. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning, this itinerary ensures you cover all the must-visit places while also leaving room for leisure.

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🚀 Book your Dubai adventure now! Check out our recommended tours and Dubai hotels here.