Dubai itinerary in 7 days

Dubai is the capital city of one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area after Abu Dhabi. The city of Dubai is a luxury dream; here you can find the world's tallest skyscrapers, the largest shopping malls and the largest marina. Nothing is excessive, apart from some prices, but not in the way you think: apart from attractions and restaurants, you can also save money in Dubai!

But let's take a look at the Dubai itinerary in 7 days!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Dubai

Day 1: Desert Excursion

A must-do during a stay in Dubai is a desert safari. For this experience you will necessarily have to take part in an organised tour! We recommend the desert safari with dinner and activities such as sand boarding and the camel ride (including pick-up from/to your hotel or chosen point, transfer, dinner and activities).

In the morning you reach one of the pick-up points for your safari, we recommend Port Rashid, the marina where the largest cruise ships dock. Here you can enjoy the fantastic sea and you could visit the House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum museum, former residence of a former ruler of Dubai (8am-8pm).

Stop for lunch at Arab Udupi Restaurant (average charge per person AED 35.00 / about €8.66).
If you choose the 7-hour package, you will depart for the safari at 15:00 and spend time on the red dunes and in the Dubai desert until late in the evening.
Finally, you will be comfortably returned by transfer to your accommodation.

At a glance:

• Distance travelled: 4.9 km

• Places visited: Port Rashid (free), House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum (free), desert safari with dinner and activities and Dubai Red Dunes (€57.00)

• Daily expense: €66.00

• Card, tickets and recommended tours: Dubai: desert safari, dinner, sandboarding and camel ride

• Where to eat: lunch at Arab Udupi Restaurant(Get directions), dinner is included in the Getyourguide tour package

Day 2: Downtown must-sees

On the second day, you can make a stop in Downtown Dubai, one of the most famous and fashionable districts, not only for its world-renowned buildings and attractions, but also for the essence that this place offers.

At the centre of this district is the Burj Khalifa, the world's famous tallest structure at 829 metres high. It has 160 floors and a strategic vantage point (daily from 8:30am, Sat-Sun from 5:30am, 148th floor from 12pm. Cost from €37.00 up to €57.00 depending on time slot and observation platform 148th floor or 124/125th floor).

Then head to the Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping mall with more than 1,200 shops and attractions that go beyond shopping. For lunch, stop at Taza (average cost per person AED 26.00, about €6.43).
Inside the mall you can see the Dubai Aquarium, which has 10 million litres of water, 30,000 marine animals of all species including 400 sharks (10 a.m.-12 p.m., ticket AED 100.00, about €24.70).

In the evening, walk to the Burj Khalifa and enjoy the spectacle of the world's largest dancing fountain. You can stop for dinner at Shake Shack, and have a burger overlooking the skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai (average charge per person AED 30.00, about €7.42).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 1.9 km

• Places visited: Downtown Dubai (free), Burj Khalifa (from €37.00 up to €57.00), Dubai Mall (free), Dubai Aquarium (100.00 AED, about €24.70), The Dubai Fountain (free)

• Daily expenditure: €100.00

• Where to eat: lunch at Taza(get directions), dinner at Shake Shack(get directions)

Day 3: Deira, Souk and Bur Dubai

Deira and Bur Dubai are the right areas for those who want to discover the traditions of the city of Dubai. We recommend you get to and visit the local market areas, the souks. Remember, the basic rule here is to haggle.

Already in the morning in the heart of Deira you start hearing the first voices of customers. We start at the gold souk, one of the most famous, which is divided into several pedestrian streets lined with many shops. Continuing on, you arrive at the spice souk, where you can find local spices and herbs, as well as rice and fruit. You might want to take advantage of this to taste something on the way (you will spend around AED 25.00, about €6.20).

In the afternoon you can take theabra, atypical Dubai boat, which is used to connect the various markets from Deira to Bur Dubai. The cost is only AED 1.00 (about €0.25).
Reach the textile souk, where you will find shops selling rolls of luxurious fabrics, from silk to cotton to saris. Spend the remaining hours of the afternoon wandering the stalls and streets of this huge market.

For dinner, stop at Silver Spoon Restaurant, located a few steps away from the clothes market (average charge per person AED 25.00, about €6.20).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 2.5 km

• Places visited: Deira (free), gold souk (free), spice souk (free), Abra (1.00 AED, about €0.25), Bur Dubai (free), fabric souk (free)

• Daily expenditure: €15.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at Spice Souk(Get directions), Dinner at Silver Spoon Restaurant(Get directions)

Day 4: Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina

A mandatory stop to make on a stay in Dubai is Palm Jumeirah, one of the city's craziest projects. It is an artificial island in the shape of a palm tree, now home to luxury villas and hotels.

Here, unless you stay in one of the hotels in the area, it is impossible to access the beaches. We therefore recommend spending the day atAquaventure Dubai, an incredible water park. You can purchase the One Day Super Pass with Meal at a cost of AED 380.00 (about €94.00), which includes daily admission to the entire water park, The Lost Chamber Aquarium and the Shark Safari Experience. Also included in this ticket is a meal (Aquaventure Dubai daily 10am-6pm).

After a day of fun, head to Dubai Marina, where engineers and architects have created a new world that is all artificial but looks natural, and stop for dinner at Piccolo Mondo Bay - Shisha Restaurant (average cost AED 100.00, about €25.00). In the evening, stroll along its pedestrian promenade, the Dubai Marina Walk, lined with palm trees, shops, boutiques, restaurants and skyscrapers, an area popular with tourists and locals alike.

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 13.9 km

• Places visited: Palm Jumeirah (free), Aquaventure Dubai (AED 380.00, about €94.00), Dubai Marina (free)

• Daily expense: €120.00

• Where to eat: lunch included in Aquaventure Dubai entrance fee, dinner at Piccolo Mondo Bay - Shisha Restaurant(Get directions)

Day 5: Grand Mosque, Al Bastakiya, Al Fahidi

For this day, visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The best way to visit it is by taking part in an organised tour that includes transport from Dubai. This proposal starts at 8:00 am with pick-up at the hotel, lasts 5 hours and costs €55.04. Once you arrive, you will be amazed by the beauty of what is theeighth largest mosque in the world, and you will gain a better understanding of Islamic culture thanks to the guide who will accompany you.

At the end, you will be taken back to your accommodation, or to another agreed upon point, also in Dubai. For the afternoon, head to the Al Bastakiya area , a small, very characteristic Persian quarter located near Bur Dubai, the souk area. Stop for a lunch break at Local House Restaurant (average charge AED 30.00, about €7.42). Then continue on to some of the highlights of this area, such as the Al Fahidi Historical District, the attraction that most represents the 'old' Dubai district. A short distance away is the Museum of Illusions (10am-11pm), which is really fun and curious.

You can stop for dinner, a short walk from the Al Fahidi area, at AL Ustad Special Kebab, a historic Persian eatery in Dubai where you can eat excellent meat (average charge AED 40.00, about €9.90).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 1.8 km

• Places visited: Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque (€55.04), Al Bastakiya (free), Al Fahidi Historical District (free), Museum of Illusions (80.00 AED, about €19.79)

• Daily expenditure: €90.00

• Card, tickets and recommended tours: Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Mosque tour from Dubai

• Where to eat: lunch at Local House Restaurant(Get directions), dinner at AL Ustad Special Kebab(Get directions)

Day 6: Jumeirah District

For your sixth day in Dubai, we recommend a stop in the Jumeirah district, which means'beautiful' in Arabic. It's an exclusive neighbourhood, home to Dubai's wealthiest citizens; after all, the district is also known as the Beverly Hills of the Middle East.

In the morning, head to the Burj Al Arab, the luxurious sail-shaped hotel located on an artificial island. You can't go inside unless you are a guest, so admire it and take some pictures from outside. Then head to the Wild Wadi Water Park, the open-air water park with pools and water rollercoasters where it is impossible to get bored (10am-6pm, day ticket AED 270.00, about €67.00).

In the evening, head to Madinat Jumeirah, one of the largest residential, hotel and shopping complexes in the United Arab Emirates. In full Arabian style, it is characterised by canals and rivers that can be crossed by water taxi. Dine at the Thai restaurant Pai Thai, located right on the canals of Madinat Jumeirah (average charge AED 90.00, about €22.27).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 2.4 km

• Places visited: Jumeirah (free), Wild Wadi Water Park (AED 270.00, about €67.00), Madinat Jumeirah (free)

• Daily expense: €90.00

• Where to eat: lunch at Wild Wadi Water Park(Get directions), dinner at Pai Thai(Get directions)

Day 7: Beaches of Dubai

On the last day, we recommend visiting the beaches of Dubai. Some beaches are private, accessible only to hotel guests, then there are the public ones, which in turn are divided into free and paid. These, on certain days of the week, are only accessible to women and children.

In the morning, we recommend Russian Beach, also known as Jumeirah Open Beach. It has free access and is located immediately after the Palm Strip Mall. It is very conveniently close to the many bars and restaurants.

Stop for lunch at Arz Lebanon Restaurant - Jumeirah, a restaurant serving typical Arabian cuisine with style and fine dining (average charge per person AED 30.00, about €7.42).
In the afternoon you can continue on to Kite Beach, located a 10-minute drive from Open Beach and a 20-minute walk from the Burj Al Arab. As the name suggests, this is the beach where kitesurfers congregate. The beach has free access.

In the evening, you can dine at Bait AlBahar (average charge per person AED 60.00, about €14.85), and then enjoy a leisurely stroll through the streets here.

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 2.9 km

• Places visited: Russian Beach (free), Kite Beach (free)

• Daily expense: €25.00

• Where to eat: lunch at Arz Lebanon Restaurant - Jumeirah(Get directions), dinner at Bait AlBahar(Get directions)

How much does a week in Dubai cost

NB: The prices in the table above are per person.

Dubai, it is well known, is a very expensive city. It is possible to try to save money by choosing a hostel or B&B as accommodation, for example, and it is possible to find cheap ones even a few kilometres from the city centre. Contrary to what one might think, means of transport are not expensive. Getting around by taxi or local bus is comfortable and cheap. Attractions such as skyscrapers and water parks, with prices as high as €100, and restaurants in the most avant-garde areas such as the Jumeirah district, are stellar.

• Cheap flights: from €350.00 - see offers

• Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €80.00 per room - see deals

• Card, tickets and recommended tours: ticket for the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa

• Total cost for one week including flight: from €1,295.00 per person

Before you go: useful tips

• When to visit Dubai: during mid-season. With a desert climate, it is characterised by high temperatures, reaching 50° in July and August, and low rainfall, concentrated in winter - find out more

• Getting there: The airport (the emirate's main hub) is 5 km from the city. Accessible by metro, taxi, bus or hire car. The average cost of public transport is AED 4.04 (about €1.00), of the taxi about AED 20.21 (about €5.00)

• Where to stay: the resort of Dubai Marina, with its private and free beaches and jaw-dropping hotels, is ideal for lovers of the sea. For those who want to discover the city's architecture, the Downtown Dubai area is very convenient.

• Gettingaround: with transport, the city is very large and getting from one part to another is complicated on foot. The bus and metro lines are very efficient. For a 7-day stay it is worthwhile to take the weekly pass, which costs AED 44.46 (approx. €11.00) - find out more

• Local currency: dirham (AED) / €1.00 = 4.6 AED

• Time zone: GMT+4 (+3h compared to Italy)

• Entry requirements: passport with residual validity of 6 months from the date of entry into the country; entry visa to stay in the Emirates for an extended period of time, this visa is issued on arrival at the airport; health insurance compulsory