In 2014, I had already been to Dubai, but at that time, I was a less experienced traveler, so I missed out on a lot. However, this year I caught up on almost everything!
At the end of January, I noticed that there were particularly good flight deals to the Emirates for early March. I managed to book a trip from Thursday to Sunday, flying to Abu Dhabi in the morning and returning from Dubai in the evening. It was a perfect combination, a rare good deal for non-hot weather. (There might have been even cheaper deals towards the end of March, but that was during Ramadan, so not as ideal.)
This time, I didn’t travel alone; a friend’s 13 and 16-year-old sons came along with me. Dubai is suitable for all ages, they just had to endure walking around the city from morning till night. 🙂
Hungarian citizens do not need a visa, so we could enter the country at Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports with our passports. One thing to be careful about is to make sure the border officer stamps the correct date in the passport.
Luckily, we caught good weather. Friday was a bit cloudy and humid but not very hot. Saturday and Sunday had brilliant sunshine, especially on Sunday, you could really feel the power of the Sun. Those sensitive to sunlight should definitely be prepared, as I also felt the beneficial influx of vitamin D on my skin after just a few minutes.
Table of Contents
Abu Dhabi
We departed from Liszt Ferenc Airport at 8.10 with Wizz Air and landed at 16.50 local time (+3 hours time difference).
We used taxis twice. In both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the official taxi brand is Toyota Camry, that’s what you should look for. The starting fare from the airport to the city is 25 dirhams, and in the city, it’s 5 dirhams. Our ride from the airport to the hotel, about 24 km away, cost 67 dirhams, so it’s very cheap for several people.
Since we also used public transport, we needed to buy a Hafilat card. There’s a machine at the airport (in the middle of the arrivals hall), where you can pay with cash or a bank card. Confusingly, you have to buy it in the „recharge” menu. The card costs 10 dirhams, and any amount above that is for travel. You need to tap the card to the sensor on the bus when getting on and off, and the display will show the remaining balance. There are top-up machines at several bus stops.
That same evening, we visited the famous Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Entry is free, but you need to register on the official website. You can book in ten-minute intervals, and the QR code is sent by email. The entrance is in the small shopping center in front of the mosque, on the -1 level. They weren’t very strict about the time, we got in 15 minutes before our booked time.
The mosque is marvelous both inside and out! If you spend more time in Abu Dhabi, see it both during the day and at night, each has its charm. I specifically booked for the evening to see it illuminated. I was not disappointed! There is no time limit for the visit, you can stay as long as you want. You can only take photos in designated areas, clearly indicated by signs.
It’s essential to cover knees and shoulders, so you can’t enter in shorts! Women need to wear an abaya, which can be bought at several stores at the entrance.
The next day, we took a taxi to the city center. Being Friday, there were hardly any people on the streets. Compared to Dubai, there are not many sights, but it’s definitely not to be missed!
The Emirates Palace building and its gardens are particularly noteworthy! It opens its gates at 10 am, and shorts are not allowed. Nowadays, it functions as a hotel.
Across from it is the Emirates Tower, which has an observatory at the top. We didn’t go up, as it was quite hazy, and we wouldn’t have seen much.
It’s worth walking along the road leading to Al Marina Island, from where you can get a good view of the city’s skyscrapers. On this island is the Emirates Heritage Village, which brings to life the past of Abu Dhabi.
Travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai
There is a regular bus service between the two cities, marked E101. It runs from dawn to evening, every 20 minutes during the day. The journey takes about 100 minutes.
You can buy tickets at the bus station building, clearly marked as Dubai. You can only pay in cash! They give you a NOL Card, on which the ticket is loaded, costing 25 dirhams. The card fee is 6 dirhams and is valid for five years.
In Dubai, the final stop is at Ibn Battuta Shopping Mall, from where the metro takes you into the city.
Dubai
Useful tips
Dubai covers a large area, so for a short stay, it’s wise to divide which parts to explore. For example, traveling between Dubai Marina and the old town takes nearly an hour by metro, so a lot of time is spent in transit. Try to plan visits to attractions that are close to each other.
Book a hotel close to a metro station for easy access within a few minutes’ walk. The red metro line runs through the city along Sheikh Zayed Road, and most attractions are easily accessible with at most one transfer. Since it mostly runs above ground, the view itself is an experience. We stayed at the 4-star Atana Hotel, a few minutes from the Dubai Internet City metro station. (At 50 euro per person per night with breakfast, it was good value for money.)
Nine years ago, I also took a long-sleeved sweater to the city, as they sometimes cool the interiors quite a lot. Of course, it’s nice to enter the cool from the heat, but it’s easy to catch a cold. If you’re prone to colds, be sure to bring one!
Public transportation
We arrived at Ibn Battuta at 13:45 on Friday, where we topped up our NOL Card with a weekly pass at the metro station. It costs 110 dirhams and allows unlimited use on the metro, tram, and buses for seven calendar days. Except for the 105 (Miracle Garden) and 106 (Global Village) buses, these require an additional 5 dirhams per direction to be on the card.
If you don’t want to buy a weekly pass, load a certain amount onto the card. Dubai’s transportation is divided into zones. The system deducts the fare based on one, two, or more than two zones traveled. Always tap the card upon exiting, where the display shows the available amount.
Buying the card and topping it up is simple and available in English. Here you can also pay by card.
For the metro, note that the last train’s timing is uncertain. Supposedly it runs until midnight on Saturdays, but the Dubai Mall station was already closed at 11:30 PM. So, we had to take a taxi. Don’t be surprised if you get stranded. 🙂
Boat to Dubai Marina
Several boat routes are available. We chose the FR1 from the boat station near Al Ghubaiba metro station to Dubai Marina. I recommend this route for its many sights and the panoramic view. It departs at 13:00 and 18:00, and tickets can be bought at a booth near the boat station. The journey takes about 2 hours and costs 50 dirhams (about 13 euro), payable with NOL Card or cash. Considering the experience, it’s a bargain!
We took the 18:00 boat, just in time to catch the dusk on the sea, so we could see the city’s skyscrapers starting to light up. It passes right by Palm Island and arrives at Dubai Marina near the giant Ferris wheel.
Make sure your camera and/or phone is charged, as we couldn’t stop taking pictures and videos. This is a must-do activity!
Dubai Marina in the evening
The boat docked near Dubai Marina Mall. This area is an artificial bay, filled with skyscrapers and a popular nearby beach.
A promenade runs around the bay, and you can walk for hours among the differently lit buildings.
A few hundred meters away, Marina Beach is a real central spot. It’s crowded with people, even late at night with many swimmers. This is the best spot for a view of the giant Ferris wheel.
Miracle Garden
After breakfast on Saturday, we took the metro to the Mall of Emirates, from where bus 105 goes to the garden. As mentioned earlier, this (and bus 106) is a private bus, so the weekly pass doesn’t apply. The ticket costs 5 dirhams, ensure you have enough money on the NOL Card (10 dirhams for a round trip).
Entry tickets can be bought on-site for 75 dirhams per person (about 18 euro).
Many have probably seen the picture of an Emirates plane adorned with flowers. Well, that’s here. The entire garden is a huge floral empire, with numerous buildings and fairy tale figures decorated with flowers.
Mall of Emirates
We returned on bus 105 and went into the shopping center. It’s famous for its indoor ski slope.
Ski Dubai is unique, not found anywhere else, especially not in a desert setting. It’s quite extraordinary. 😊
Madinat Jumeirah and Burj Al-Arab
From the Mall, we took bus 81 to one of the world’s most famous hotels. You can take close-up photos of the hotel on foot, but there’s an iconic spot in the adjacent bazaar for an even better view.
Madinat Jumeirah is a bazaar surrounded by lakes and walkways. It’s a pleasant place, but I wouldn’t call it a must-see. Perhaps visit for the view of Burj Al-Arab.
Burj Khalifa, Observation Deck
We also took bus 81, which drops you off right next to Dubai Mall, from where the towering Burj Khalifa is accessible.
We had booked tickets online for the observation deck on the 124th and 125th floors at 5:30 PM. It’s advisable to buy tickets in advance, as they sell out days ahead for the most popular times. Tickets for sunset times are more expensive, costing us 244 dirhams.
Since sunset was at 6:25 PM, we reached the top in daylight and watched as the city gradually lit up. It’s a magnificent sight, and I recommend watching the sunset from here!
The entrance to Burj Khalifa is on the lower level of Dubai Mall, near the exit to the Fountain. The elevator takes less than a minute to reach the 124th floor. There’s an open section here, but not all around. The 360-degree view is on the 125th floor. You almost have to fight for a spot to take photos, as everyone wants to get their picture taken first. However, if you are patient, there will always be a free spot for a selfie.
You can stay on the observation deck as long as you like; there’s no time limit. Expect to wait a long time for the elevator down during popular times. We queued for about 45 minutes around 7 PM.
The Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa show
The fountain show in front of Burj Khalifa starts at 6 PM and occurs every half hour. The last show starts at 11 PM. Additionally, at 15 and 45 minutes past every hour, different „shows” are projected onto the side of the tower with LED lights.
My advice is not to stay in one spot! It’s worth watching the few-minute shows from different locations. The popular spots get very crowded, but for example, on the west side of the lake, at Green Roof, you can enjoy the show lying on artificial turf.
Dubai Marina in the daytime
After breakfast on Sunday, we packed up and set off for our last day. Although we had been to the Marina on Friday evening, it’s a must-see during the day too!
It’s less crowded in the morning and has a pleasant atmosphere. We took a short walk and then moved on.
The View at the Palm
To get to the observatory at Nakheel Mall on the Palm, we first took the tram from the Marina, then transferred to the Monorail at the Palm Gateway stop. A separate ticket is required for this, available at every station.
The observatory is on the 52nd floor and offers a fantastic view of the „palm tree”. We bought tickets online for the 11 AM slot for 100 dirhams per person (about 25 euro).
The Pointe
This is a beachfront, bazaar-like area at the „tip” of the palm trunk. It offers a great view of the Atlantis Hotel.
There are bean bags on the beach, and we rested for a few minutes under the umbrellas, enjoying the view. (No payment is required.)
There is a fountain show here in the evenings, but unfortunately, we didn’t have time for it.
After the rest, we traveled back to the starting point by Monorail.
Old town, Bazaars
We took the metro to Burjuman station, where the old town begins. This is the „old” Dubai, where everyday life is tangible. The locals stared as we walked down the main street, wondering what tourists were doing there. In one store, there was a huge crowd, but we were the only tourists! I like visiting such places.
Reaching the Creek, many local boats, abras, ferry people across to the other side. The journey takes a few minutes, and it’s a must-try! The boatman collects the fare during the trip.
On the other side, in the Deira district, are the spice, gold, and perfume markets side by side. You can get everything here, but the vendors can be quite insistent. Sometimes they push too hard, and you need to bargain hard. We just walked through the entire bazaar, as we were in a hurry to get to the airport.
And what we missed
One major attraction we didn’t have time for was the Dubai Frame. This window frame-shaped observatory was built a few years ago, an interesting sight even from afar.
Of course, there are still several attractions to visit, but I think we saw most of the city. What we missed, we’ll do next time.