Thursday 8 September 2022

Dubai in 3-4 days


With its historic buildings with an Arabian profile, beautiful mosques, beaches and shopping malls devoted to luxury and entertainment, Dubai offers many things to do and see, but a 3-4 day vacation is still enough to get a good time. idea of ​​the city and explore the main areas. To make the most of your holiday , however, it is good to organize yourself and plan a travel itinerary to optimize times and thus be able to see what is most interesting, passing from the modern Dubai of Sheikh Zayed Road, the island of Palm Jumeirah and the Marina, to the historic part of the Creek. To move from one place to another I suggest you use taxis , cheap and practical, or the subway. To help you, here's a detailed 3-4 day travel program.

 

Day 1 - Downtown Dubai

Start your trip to Dubai by visiting the center, Downtown Dubai, to immerse yourself in the most elegant and modern atmosphere of the city. Here you will find iconic buildings of Dubai, such as the Burj Khalifa tower , the tallest in the world, the luxury shopping malls Dubai Mall and Souq al Bahar and the Dubai Fountain. The main artery of this district is Sheikh Zayed Road, which runs parallel to the coast and is one of the most scenic in Dubai, as it is flanked by skyscrapers , including the Burj Khalifa, and many shopping centers.

 The red line of the elevated metro passes right along this avenue allowing you to admire it from above. If you want to go up to the observatoryof Burj Khalifa, I recommend that you go early in the morning, as soon as it opens: there are fewer people in line and the view is clearer, with less haze than in the day.

For lunch you can stop in one of the various restaurants of the luxurious Dubai Mall , where you will also find many shops (over 1,000!) In which to shop and attractions such as the aquarium and the ice rink. Another attraction of Downtown Dubai is the Souk Al-Bahar , a shopping center that combines luxury with a splendid Arabian style; it can be reached along a pedestrian walkway that starts from the Dubai Mall, passing over the artificial lake in the center of Dubai, the Burj Khalifa Lake.

Inside you will find craft shops, clothing, carpets and souvenirs, restaurants and bars and from here you will have a privileged view of the Dubai Fountain, the largest dancing fountain in the world, which in the evening will delight you with the plays of water and light.

Day 2 - Dubai Marina, The Palm and Madinat Jumeirah

The second day I recommend you to visit the part of the beaches and the port of Dubai. The Dubai Marina district is a little out of the way from the center, so I recommend starting your visit here. To reach it quickly, you can take the red metro line . Here you can take a nice walk that runs along the marina where on one side you will see the boats moored, while on the other side modern buildings and surprising skyscrapers rise , such as the particular Cayan Tower, a spiral skyscraper.

If you want to do some shopping, the elegant Dubai Marina Mall is nearby. With a few steps you also arrive on The Walk at JBR , an open-air walk just over a kilometer long, overlooked by shops, restaurants and bars. Together with The Palm beach it represents the main attraction of this area.

During the day it is rather quiet, but it comes alive in the evening, after sunset, when it is cooler; the clubs and shops of this avenue stay open late, usually almost until midnight, so it could also be an alternative to spend the evening.

 

Going south along the promenade you will arrive at the Dubai Marina beach ; some sections are for the private use of hotels, while others are accessible to everyone. Here you can stop and eat in one of the many bars and restaurants overlooking the sea or alternatively go to the nearby Mall of the Emirates . The Mall of the Emirates is one of the most famous and important shopping centers in the city and in addition to shops and restaurants it hosts a series of attractions such as Ski Dubai, or an indoor ski slope, which you can also just look through the windows.

 

After lunch you can reach the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah, connected to the mainland by a bridge; you can get there either by taxi or by the elevated monorail which also offers a great view from the top of Palm Jumeirah. Palm Jumeirah's main attraction is the Atlantis hotel, a spectacularly designed luxury property; although the beach and pool areas are reserved for hotel guests, it is still worth admiring the building from the outside.

The complex also houses the aquarium The Lost Chambers, where the visit itinerary develops around the myth of Atlantis and allows you to discover many fish and sea creatures. Next to the Atlantis hotel you will also find another attraction of Palm Jumeirah: the Aquaventure, a water parkideal for both adults and children. If you are traveling with children it can be nice and fun to spend the afternoon in these places, otherwise I recommend you take a taxi and reach the luxury residential, hotel and commercial complex of Madinat Jumeirah. It is a very suggestive place since it was designed with the idea of ​​recreating a typical Arab city.

In addition to 3 luxury hotels, it includes a souq with numerous shops selling all kinds of products, from fabrics to perfumes to jewelery. All around the buildings there are canals, rivers and small lakes, some of which can be crossed by water taxi. Along the canals you will find many restaurants and bars in which to dine. From here you will also have a magnificent view of the splendid Burj Al Arab hotel, with its iconic sail shape, which has become a symbol of the city.

 

3rd day - The Old Town

On the third day I recommend that you reach the Dubai Creek area, the waterway that borders the two historic districts of Bur Dubai and Deira.

 

Here you will be able to take a step back in time, breathing the atmosphere of the Dubai of the past: take the opportunity to stroll through the small silent alleys of the city overlooked by traditional houses and visit the traditional markets that teem with life and envelop visitors with the scents of spices and the colors of fine fabrics sold at the stalls.

Bur Dubai is home to the atmospheric Al Fahidi Historic District, a renovated historic district that gives you an idea of ​​what Dubai once was like.

The old houses have been converted into shops, bars and art galleries and among the main attractions is the Al Fahidi fort, the oldest building in Dubai. In addition to the fort there are some museums interesting like the Dubai Museum where you can discover the history of the city, and the Bur Dubai Textile Souq, a colorful textile market. South of Bur Dubai is the Jumeirah Mosque, the most important mosque in the city and the only one that can be visited by non-Muslims.

 The atmosphere of this place becomes even more fascinating when the sun goes down, when the residents go out to shop in the Deira district, where you can find many traditional markets including the Spice Souq, the Gold Souq and the Deira Covered Souq. For dinner you can stop and eat in one of the many restaurants overlooking the canal, to get a splendid view of Dubai.

 

4th day - Desert or beach excursion

If you stop for 4 days I recommend that you dedicate the last day to a tour in the fascinating desert around Dubai or, alternatively, you can relax lying on the beach.

Desert tours are usually done aboard 4 × 4 vehicles, which offer an exciting journey over the undulating sand dunes, but there are also impressive balloon rides that offer breath taking views of green dunes and oases.

Some tours also include a desert dinner under the stars, with typical dishes and the accompaniment of belly dance performances.

You can visit Alif Bazaar  for online shopping in Dubai at very affordable price

 

How to dress in Dubai


Despite being a Muslim country with strict rules when it comes to bon ton, Dubai is quite tolerant when it comes to clothing, as long as you follow a few simple rules. Even women, who are often tied to an even stricter etiquette, are allowed to dress in the Western style without running into any kind of problem.

Generally speaking, there is greater tolerance towards foreign tourists , as locals are aware that they are dealing with very different cultures, each of which has equally different dress codes. The fact remains that excesses are poorly tolerated , especially if implemented during the Ramadan period. Many tourists who go to Dubai for the first time are led to think that the best thing to do is to wear traditional clothes and blend in with the locals: in reality Dubai is a city totally projected towards the West and many residents (both women than men) dress in the Western style.

Female tourists can safely avoid walking around with their head covered by the scarf, but they will have to follow some simple rules of bon ton.

Anyone planning a trip to Dubai should find out about local dress habits , so as not to cause offense or create moody situations. If you find yourself being "reprimanded" for inappropriate clothing, you must avoid arguing or showing indignation, on the contrary politely apologize or correct the object of the reprimand, thanking the person who pointed it out.

Persistence in wanting to wear (or not wear) a certain item of clothing or accessory can lead to a worsening of the conversation and, in extreme cases,upon arrival of the police . Generally, the police do not roam the streets and shopping malls to check the clothing of tourists and residents, but are rather inclined to accept complaints and to intervene when necessary.

In order not to be mistaken, it is good to always make sure that certain parts of the body are well covered, in particular: shoulders , décolleté and legs from the knee up . If you are in doubt about what to wear, it would be a good idea to avoid clothing that is too tight or provocative, an advice that is valid especially for female tourists, who are implicitly asked not to expose themselves excessively in order not to attract prying eyes.

The hot factor

Dubai is a city born in the desert: the summers often record unbearable temperatures and even the winters can be quite hot. The ideal is to wear light clothes, in natural and breathable fabrics , which are not too tight or provocative. In most indoor venues, the air conditioning is kept quite high, so the ideal would be to always have a long-sleeved garment or a light scarf with you to cover your neck and avoid unpleasant discomfort.

The situation changes if you go to the desert in the company of other tourists (and in the absence of locals): in this case you are obviously free to wear what you like best, but the desert climate reasonably requires you to cover yourself so as not to expose your skin to the excessive heat from the sun.

In the mosques

The rules listed so far apply more than ever inside mosques, where the ideal is to cover up as much as possible , especially knees, elbows, stomach and upper torso.

Not allowed

·        topless, banned everywhere. There is no penalty, but if you are surprised, you will be immediately invited to cover yourself.

·        swimwear that is too provocative, especially on public beaches and especially on Fridays, the holy day for Muslims.

·        turn shirtless (men and women)

·        skirts too short and tight

Allowed

·        slippers and flip-flops , generally tolerated everywhere (it is better to bring a pair of shoes, in case of any complaints)

·        shorts and skirts (as long as they cover the knees)

·        everything that does not fall into the previous category and is not in any way provocative or too flashy (especially during the Ramadan period)

You can visit Alif Bazaar  for online shopping in Dubai at very affordable price

 

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