---
type: "Article"
title: "Dubai – 13 travel tips for the city of superlatives"
description: "Dubai is the city of superlatives! Here everything is a higher, bigger and more luxurious than in other metropolises. Highlights and practical tips."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/united-arab-emirates/dubai-13-travel-tips"
author: "Katja Birrer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 44
tags: ["City Trip", "United Arab Emirates"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/united-arab-emirates"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/zuerich"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/city-trip"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/sea-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/golf"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/shopping"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lake"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/winter-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/boutique-hotel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/resort"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/round-trip"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/travel-photography"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/vehicle-rental"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/getyourguide"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:38:59+00:00
---

# Dubai – 13 travel tips for the city of superlatives

> Dubai is a city of superlatives — home to the world's tallest building, largest shopping mall, and a relentlessly growing skyline — offering an overwhelming but fascinating mix of luxury, spectacle, and contrasts. A short visit combining the city's iconic landmarks with a desert excursion and a side trip to Abu Dhabi is highly recommended.

## Destination
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a sprawling coastal metropolis on the Persian Gulf.

## Getting there
Swiss and Emirates both operate direct flights from Zurich to Dubai (approx. 6.5 hours). Emirates flies the Airbus A380 to Terminal 3.

## When to go
Winter months are popular, particularly for golfers, due to balmy temperatures.

## Why visit
Dubai packs an extraordinary density of record-breaking attractions — tallest tower, biggest mall, iconic luxury hotels — into a rapidly evolving city that is unlike anywhere else on earth.

## What to see
- **Burj Khalifa** — 828-meter world's tallest building with observation decks on floors 124/125 and 148; tickets cheaper and faster when booked online in advance.
- **Dubai Mall** — World's largest mall with 1,200+ stores, a giant aquarium, ice rink, water slide, and cinema spread across 1.1 million square meters.
- **Dubai Fountain** — 275-meter fountain on Burj Khalifa Lake with daily water, light, and music shows; best viewed from the Apple Store terrace in Dubai Mall.
- **Palm Jumeirah** — Iconic artificial island home to luxury hotels including Atlantis The Palm; heavy traffic at peak times and high room rates.
- **Burj Al Arab** — 321-meter sail-shaped luxury hotel, Dubai's symbol; interior access requires purchasing a cocktail or afternoon tea (around 170 CHF per person).
- **Souk Madinat Jumeirah** — Atmospheric Arab-style lagoon market selling souvenirs, antiques, jewelry, and groceries, with a great view of Burj Al Arab from its far end.
- **Textile Souk, Bur Dubai Old Town** — Traditional market in the old town; bargaining expected. Gold and spice souks are accessible across Dubai Creek by water taxi for 1 dirham.
- **The Frame** — World's largest picture frame at 150 meters high, with a glass-floored bridge offering views of both old and new Dubai.
- **Dubai Marina** — Man-made yacht harbor and city district with an impressive skyscraper skyline and a lively canal-side Marina Walk.
- **Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) — The Walk** — Popular beachfront promenade with shops, restaurants, and open-air markets selling jewelry, street food, and household goods.

## What to do
- **Golf** — Dubai is a popular winter golf destination; Dubai Creek Golf Club with its iconic clubhouse is the most famous course.
- **Desert excursion** — A side trip into the desert is strongly recommended; Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort near Abu Dhabi and Al Maha Desert Camp are highlighted options.
- **Side trip to Abu Dhabi** — About 90 minutes by car; the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the standout attraction in the UAE capital.
- **Hop-On Hop-Off Bus** — Three lines cover the city's main hot spots and offer a good overview of this very spread-out metropolis.

## Good to know
Getting around is best by rental car or taxi (taxis are cheap due to low fuel costs and wages). Public transport is limited and walking is impractical — the city is vast with few sidewalks. Dubai is expensive: meals, hotels, and attraction entry fees are comparable to Swiss prices. Alcohol is available in hotels but costly; consuming it in public is prohibited and the blood alcohol limit for drivers is zero.