Dubai Tours & Things to Do
Desert safaris, dhow cruises and balloon flights — ranked by real reviews.
- Desert Safaris
- City Tours
- Attractions & Tickets
- Water Sports
- Burj Khalifa
- Abu Dhabi
- Hot air balloon
- Helicopter tour
- Jet ski
- Quad bike
Featured This Week
Handpicked experiences worth your time
Things to Do in Dubai by Category
63 experiences
Desert Safaris
The classic Dubai experience: dune bashing in a 4×4, quad bikes and sandboarding, a camel ride and a barbecue dinner at a desert camp. Pick an evening safari for the sunset and shows, a morning one for cooler, quieter dunes, or an overnight trip under the stars.
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43 experiences
City Tours
A Dubai city tour covers the highlights in a half or full day: Al Fahidi and the gold and spice souks, an abra across Dubai Creek, Jumeirah Mosque and photo stops at the Burj Al Arab, the Palm and Dubai Frame.
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64 experiences
Attractions & Tickets
Tickets for the Burj Khalifa observation decks, Dubai Frame, Museum of the Future, Dubai Aquarium and the theme parks — book a timed slot ahead and skip the queue at the busiest sights.
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33 experiences
Water Sports
Jet ski rides past the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis, parasailing over the Marina, flyboarding, snorkelling and diving — the Gulf is warm enough for water sports most of the year.
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27 experiences
Dhow Cruises
A dhow dinner cruise is one of the easiest evenings in Dubai: a traditional wooden boat, a buffet and live shows, on Dubai Creek past the old souks or in Dubai Marina among the towers.
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37 experiences
Family
Things to do in Dubai with kids: water parks and theme parks, aquariums, gentle cruises and desert trips that suit children as well as adults.
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30 experiences
Day Trips
Abu Dhabi is about 90 minutes away, with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Yas Island. Or head for the mountains of Hatta, or the fjords of Musandam in Oman (bring your passport).
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33 experiences
Scenic Flights
Dubai from the air: a hot-air balloon over the desert at sunrise, often with breakfast and a falconry show, or a helicopter tour past Burj Khalifa, the Palm and the Marina.
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Good to Know Before You Go
Plan your days in Dubai
Best time to visit
November to March brings warm, sunny days and pleasant evenings — peak season for safaris, cruises and beach days. From June to September it often passes 40 °C: plan desert trips for early morning or evening and keep middays for indoor attractions.
Local customs
Dress modestly in mosques, souks and the old town: shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf for women at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. During Ramadan most tours still run, sometimes at other times, and evenings come alive after iftar.
Booking & pickup
Popular safaris, sunset cruises and Burj Khalifa slots sell out in high season, so book ahead. Many experiences include hotel pickup and free cancellation up to 24 hours before — each listing shows its own terms.
How we rank
Not by stars alone: a 5.0 from three reviews says little, so we weigh each rating by its number of reviews. Tours come from Viator; you book on the partner's site, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Things to do in Dubai, answered
What are the must-do things in Dubai for first-time visitors?
An evening desert safari, the Burj Khalifa observation deck, a dhow cruise on Dubai Creek or in Dubai Marina, a walk through the old souks with an abra ride across the Creek, and a day at the beach or on the water off Palm Jumeirah. With an extra day, add a trip to Abu Dhabi.
Which desert safari should I choose?
The evening safari is the most popular: dune bashing, a camel ride, sandboarding and a barbecue dinner with shows at a desert camp. A morning safari is shorter and cooler, an overnight safari adds a night under the stars, and quad bikes or dune buggies let you drive yourself. With small children or back problems, pick a safari without dune bashing.
Is a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride in Dubai worth it?
For many travellers it is the highlight of the trip. Balloons take off over the desert at sunrise, so pickup is very early, before dawn, and most packages add breakfast at a desert camp. Helicopter tours start at about 12 minutes and fly past Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab, the Palm and the Marina.
Should I book tours in Dubai in advance?
Yes, especially from November to March and around holidays, when popular safaris, sunset cruises and Burj Khalifa time slots sell out. Booking ahead also fixes the price, and many experiences can still be cancelled for free.
Can I cancel a booking?
Many experiences offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. The exact policy depends on the tour and is shown on the partner's page before you pay.
What should I wear for tours in Dubai?
Light, breathable clothes, a hat and sunscreen. Cover shoulders and knees for mosques, souks and the old town; women also need a headscarf at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. In the desert closed shoes beat sandals, and winter evenings can call for a light jacket.
Is Dubai good for families with children?
Very. Water parks, theme parks, aquariums, gentle cruises and family-friendly desert trips make it easy to plan for every age. Many tours have child prices; check the minimum age, especially for dune bashing and water sports.
Can I visit Abu Dhabi on a day trip from Dubai?
Yes. Abu Dhabi is about 90 minutes away by road. Guided day trips usually include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and add the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan or the theme parks of Yas Island, with pickup from your hotel in Dubai.
Do I book through Dubai To Do?
We help you compare experiences; the booking itself happens on our partner's site — Viator for tours — under its terms, with its payment and customer support. When you book through our links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.