Dubai has built a collection of attractions that would take most cities decades to assemble. It built them in under 20 years. The result is a skyline and a roster of experiences unlike anywhere else on earth — from the world’s tallest building to the world’s largest natural flower garden, from an indoor ski slope inside a shopping mall to an observatory hanging over the edge of the world’s most recognisable artificial island. These are the top attractions in Dubai to book before you arrive.
Burj Khalifa — The World’s Tallest Building
At 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest structure ever built by human hands. Arriving at the base and tilting your head to find the top takes a moment of genuine recalibration. The observation decks at level 124 and 125 — called At The Top — offer views across Dubai, the Gulf coast and, on clear winter days, the Hajar Mountains of the UAE interior. The level 148 Sky Lounge sits even higher, with a more exclusive experience and views that extend, on the clearest days, for more than 100 kilometres.
The Burj Khalifa is the single most visited attraction in Dubai, rated 4.4 out of 5 by more than 15,000 Tiqets visitors. Tickets include timed entry — booking online in advance is essential as popular time slots, particularly sunrise and sunset, sell out days ahead during the winter season.
- At The Top observation deck: level 124–125, the most popular option
- At The Top SKY: level 148, the highest accessible point
- Located at Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station on the Red Line metro
- The Dubai Fountain show runs below the tower every evening — free to watch from the boardwalk
Book your Burj Khalifa tickets on Tiqets
Museum of the Future
The Museum of the Future opened in 2022 and immediately took its place among the world’s most extraordinary buildings. The torus-shaped structure, clad in stainless steel and inscribed with calligraphy quoting Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, rises above Sheikh Zayed Road in a way that makes everything around it look ordinary. Inside, five immersive floors present visions of 2071 — using technology, design and storytelling to explore how humanity might live, work and travel in half a century’s time. It is not a conventional museum in any sense: there are no static exhibits, no glass cases. Every space is an experience.
Rated 4.2 out of 5 by more than 1,250 Tiqets visitors. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road near Emirates Towers metro station on the Red Line. Book in advance — entry is by timed ticket and popular sessions fill up quickly.
Book Museum of the Future tickets on Tiqets
Desert Safari Dubai
If the Burj Khalifa represents the Dubai that was imagined, the desert safari represents the landscape that existed before any of it. Drive 45 minutes east of the city and the towers disappear. The dunes begin. An afternoon desert safari takes you into the Hajar foothills for dune bashing in a modified 4×4 — a succession of vertiginous descents that is considerably more entertaining than it sounds — before settling into a traditional Bedouin camp at dusk. Camel rides, sandboarding, henna, shisha and a generous BBQ dinner follow as the sky darkens to a depth of black that the city does not permit.
The desert safari is the most reviewed tour in Dubai on Tiqets — 4.6 out of 5 from more than 2,700 visitors. Departures are typically between 15:00 and 16:00 from Dubai hotels, returning around 21:30–22:00. Most tours include hotel pickup and drop-off.
Book your Desert Safari in Dubai on Tiqets
Sky Views Observatory
Sky Views sits atop the Address Sky View towers in Downtown Dubai, connected by a glass bridge between two skyscrapers at 219 metres. The observatory offers 360-degree panoramic views of Downtown, the Burj Khalifa, Business Bay canal and the distant Gulf coast. For those who want more than views, the Edge Walk allows visitors to walk — harnessed — along the outer rim of the building’s roof. Rated 4.5 out of 5 by more than 600 Tiqets visitors.
Book Sky Views Observatory tickets on Tiqets
View at The Palm
The View at The Palm sits at level 52 of the Palm Tower on Palm Jumeirah — 240 metres above sea level — and offers something unique: the only place from which you can see the full shape of the Palm Jumeirah laid out below you, fronds extending in every direction while the Gulf stretches to the horizon. The 360-degree viewing deck also takes in the Dubai Marina skyline, the Atlantis resort on the crescent, and on clear winter days, the mountains of Oman on the far horizon. Rated 4.7 out of 5 by nearly 900 Tiqets visitors.
Book View at The Palm tickets on Tiqets
Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame is exactly what it looks like: a 150-metre-tall picture frame positioned precisely between old Dubai and new Dubai, with Deira and Bur Dubai visible on one side and the Downtown skyline visible on the other. The idea was to frame the city’s transformation in a single image. The glass-floored sky bridge connecting the two towers at the top adds a vertigo element that surprises most visitors. The Frame sits inside Zabeel Park, which is itself one of Dubai’s most pleasant green spaces.
Book Dubai Frame tickets on Tiqets
Dubai Miracle Garden
Open only from October to April, the Dubai Miracle Garden is the world’s largest natural flower garden. Over 150 million blooms are arranged into sculpted displays across 72,000 square metres: a full-size Emirates A380 aircraft covered in living flowers, Disney characters assembled from petals, topiary peacocks, floral archways and entire streets of flower-covered cottages. The garden is at its best in the cooler winter months when the blooms hold their colour and walking through it for two or three hours is genuinely comfortable.
- Open daily October to April, 09:00–21:00 (Fridays until 23:00)
- Located in Al Barsha South, accessible by taxi or metro to Mall of Emirates then bus
- Combine with the Dubai Butterfly Garden, located next door
- Rated 4.6 out of 5 by more than 750 Tiqets visitors
Book Dubai Miracle Garden tickets on Tiqets
Dhow Cruise Dubai
The traditional wooden dhow is the vessel that shaped Dubai’s history. Before any tower existed, these boats moved gold, spices, fish and cloth across the Gulf and beyond. An evening dinner cruise boards one at Dubai Creek or Dubai Marina and spends two hours on the water as the city’s lights come alive around you. The Creek route passes the Al Fahidi district, the old trading wharves and the historic skyline of minarets and wind towers. The Marina route gives the full spectacle of the modern city reflected in black water. Both include a generous dinner buffet and live entertainment.
Book a Dhow Cruise in Dubai on Tiqets
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Dubai
For first-time visitors wanting to get oriented across the whole city, the hop-on hop-off bus covers Dubai’s main landmarks on two routes with more than 40 stops. The open-top upper deck provides excellent views and photo opportunities at the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Museum, Gold Souk, Jumeirah Beach and Dubai Marina. Tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours, audio commentary runs in multiple languages, and the service connects directly with the aquarium, the Frame and the main creek attractions.
Book Hop-on Hop-off Bus tickets in Dubai on Tiqets
Dubai Highlights Pass — Best Value Combination
If you plan to visit the Burj Khalifa, the Museum of the Future and the Dubai Frame on the same trip, the Dubai Highlights Pass combines all three at a significant saving over individual prices. The pass covers timed entry to all three attractions and can be used on the same day or across multiple days. Rated 4.5 out of 5 by Tiqets visitors. Ideal for visitors who want to tick off the three most significant architectural landmarks in the city in one purchase.
Book the Dubai Highlights Pass on Tiqets
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the number one attraction in Dubai?
The Burj Khalifa is the most visited attraction in Dubai, rated 4.4 out of 5 by more than 15,000 visitors on Tiqets. The At The Top observation deck on levels 124–125 is the most popular option. Sunrise and sunset slots sell out days in advance during the winter season (October to April) — book early.
Which Dubai attractions are only open in winter?
The Dubai Miracle Garden is open only from October to April and is one of the most unmissable winter-only experiences in the city. The Dubai Butterfly Garden next door operates on the same seasonal schedule. Both are at their best in the cooler months of November to February.
How much does it cost to visit the Burj Khalifa?
Burj Khalifa At The Top (levels 124–125) tickets start from approximately USD 39 per adult. At The Top SKY (level 148) tickets are priced higher. Prices vary by time slot — sunset slots command a premium. Book via Tiqets for the best availability and instant mobile tickets.
How many days do you need to see Dubai’s top attractions?
Three to four full days is sufficient to cover the major attractions in Dubai. The Burj Khalifa, Museum of the Future and Dubai Frame can be combined in one day using the Dubai Highlights Pass. A desert safari takes one afternoon and evening. The Miracle Garden, Aquarium and cruise can each be done in a half-day. Allow extra time for the Marina and Old Dubai neighbourhoods.
What are the best attractions in Dubai for couples?
The most romantic experiences in Dubai for couples include a sunset helicopter flight, an evening dhow cruise on Dubai Creek with dinner, a visit to the Burj Khalifa at night, and the View at The Palm for panoramic sunset views. The Dubai Miracle Garden in the late afternoon before closing is also particularly atmospheric.
