Dubai in 7 days: tips and itinerary to make the most of your visit

Dubai is known as an oasis of modernity and luxury in the middle of the desert, with world-record architectural gems that combine luxury and technology while respecting the great Arabian tradition in the middle of the Arabian Gulf desert. Thanks to its incredible transformation in recent years, Dubai has positioned itself as the safest city in the United Arab Emirates.

Visiting Dubai for a week and don't know where to start? In the following 7-day guide to Dubai, you can organise your itinerary and enjoy magical desert adventures, see the city's most iconic sights and discover hidden gems, without missing out on anything there is to do in Dubai.

Welcome to your first day in Dubai, with the following itinerary you'll visit the world's tallest skyscraper, spend an afternoon shopping at the Dubai Mall and enjoy dinner with the world's best water and light show at the Dubai Fountain. Shall we get started?

Stroll through the gardens and parks at Burj Park

Your first stop in the city of the future is Downtown Dubai. Be dazzled by the incredible views of the futuristic skyline and enjoy a morning stroll through the parks of Burj Park.

Here, you can enjoy its incredible art installations such as: Wings of Mexico, a sculpture created by Mexican artist Jorge Marin, located in front of the Burj Khalifa where you can pose for an amazing photo for your social media.

Climb the Burj Khalifa: world's tallest observation deck

Recognised as the most important tourist attraction in Dubai, climbing the Burj Khalifa , the tallest building in the world, is a must if you go to Dubai; it rises to 828 metres allowing you to practically touch the sky with your hands from its observation decks.

You can choose between the two observation decks inside the Burj Khalifa and see unparalleled views of the city of Dubai. The 360º At the Top observation deck is located on the 125th floor and costs approximately €50. A few floors up for approximately €110 you can access the 148th floor, where the world's highest observation deck is located, perfect for viewing Dubai above the clouds.

Tour the Dubai Mall and ski at Ski Dubai.

The best way to spend the afternoon of your first day in Dubai is to visit the world's largest shopping mall, the Dubai Mall. A commercial space located right next to the Burj Khalifa ideal for shopping lovers thanks to its 1,200 shops where you will find luxury brands, international fashion chains and home accessories, among many others.

If you are not a fan of shopping do not worry, as the Dubai Mall has endless recreational and entertainment spaces to spend the hours without getting bored, among them are:

• The Dubai Aquarium with sharks and various marine species.
• Theme parks
• The Dubai Dino, a 155-million-year-old dinosaur fossil.
• Ski Dubai where you can ski and also visit the penguins.

Enjoy dinner at the Time Out Market overlooking the Dubai Fountain

After a busy afternoon of shopping in the Dubai Mall, head to the Time Out Market Dubai and enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the 17 restaurants to choose from without a reservation.

While you enjoy your dinner, end your first day on a high note with the Dubai Fountain's best musical water and light show, highly recommended if you go up to the Burj Khalifa at night. The largest dancing water fountain in the world thanks to its 150-metre high jets.

On your second day I suggest you take a trip back in time to visit the Heritage Village and experience an authentic experience of walking the souks and eating like a local in the old Deira neighbourhood.

Visit Heritage Village and Heritage House

On your second day, I invite you to travel back in time and see what Dubai was like before it was modernised. The best way to do this is to visit the Heritage Village and Heritage House.

Both are open-air museums, where you can relive first-hand the family life in Dubai's traditional houses during the 19th century and discover the traditional work of craftsmen and weavers who made weavings or fishing vessels. Before you leave, remember to visit the shops inside for authentic souvenirs.

Also at the Heritage Village, you have the chance to interact and pose for a souvenir photo with iconic Dubai animals, such as falcons, and ride a camel.

Tour of Dubai's traditional souks and markets

Enjoy a tour of the Souks, historic Arabian markets located in the traditional Deira district where you can lose yourself in the many narrow streets lined with local traders who will be happy to bargain for a good price on the various items of Arabic and Asian culture they have for sale.

As you stroll through the different souks, you can sample a variety of local dishes at the street food stalls in the markets and eat like a local. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, eating at these stalls ensures a unique and inexpensive experience in the traditional Deira neighbourhood that you wouldn't get in a restaurant.

My favourite souks

• Golden Souk: If there's one word to describe this market, it's luxury. Visit it and discover the true meaning of the saying "worth your weight in gold".
• Spice Souk: Located on Old Baladiya Road, this is a dreamy market where you can find unimaginable spices.
• Bur (fabrics)Souk: Don't be fooled by its small size, this is the ideal market for tourists looking for the perfect souvenir. Find textiles of all kinds with exquisite embroidery in all colours.

Dubai Creek Dinner Cruise

Finish your day by cruising along the banks of Dubai Creek, a 10-kilometre-long estuary that served as a maritime trading post for transporting goods from Africa and India to be sold in the souks.

The best way to enjoy this area is to take an evening cruise along Dubai Creek: enjoy a traditional Arabian dinner inside a Dhow, a traditional Arabian sailing boat.

You can start your third day of sightseeing in Dubai with a leisurely stroll along Marina Walk but don't forget your swimming costume, because later it's time for some water fun at Atlantis Aquaventure - the world's largest waterpark.

Sightseeing by ferry or on foot at Marina Walk

Start your third day in Dubai with an early morning walk along the pedestrian Promenade around the 3.5 kilometre man-made water channel of the Marina Walk and be dazzled by the incredible views of Dubai's most modern and cosmopolitan area.

Enjoy the rest of the day at Atlantis Aquaventure

Enjoy a full day of thrills and adventure at the world's largest water park, Atlantis Aquaventure. Located within the grounds of the famous Atlantis hotel on the iconic man-made island of Palma Jumeirah, Atlantis Aquaventure is accessible via a monorail which runs every 23 minutes and costs approximately €2.40 return.

Take your swimming costume out of your suitcase and enjoy an unforgettable day on the park's various rides and attractions, including:

• Slide down the 79 slides at Aquaventure Waterpark.
• Surf on a wave simulator
• Swim with sharks and rays in Shark Lagoon or snorkel with 65,000 species of colourful fish in Lost Chambers.
• Sunbathe and swim at private beaches

If you travel to Dubai you have to go on a desert safari and be amazed by the magic of the desert and experience a nomadic Bedouin-like camel riding and of course extreme sports in the sand like Dune Bashing or sandboarding.

Speed through the desert in a 4WD vehicle

On your fourth day in Dubai I propose an itinerary that will take you away from the modernity of the skyscrapers to take a trip back in time and discover the magic of the desert with the most popular and famous activity in this region, a tour of the Dubai desert.

The best way to explore the desert and surf the dunes is through Dune bashing, an adrenaline-fuelled activity perfect for speed lovers that involves speeding up and down the dunes in a 4x4 Jeep.

Go extreme sports on a quad bike or sandboard across the sand.

Another activity to do on your desert safari if you're an adrenaline junkie and extreme sports enthusiast is sandboarding in the dunes, which, like snowboarding, involves sliding down the dunes on a board, but instead of snow, it's the desert sand. You can also use the board as a sled if you've never snowboarded before.

If speed on wheels is more your thing, get an extreme experience as you drive through the sand dunes on an off-road quad bike race in the Dubai desert from around €50.

Camel ride like the nomads of the desert

If you're travelling to Dubai, you should definitely take a camel ride and what better place to do it than in the desert while taking some wonderful sunset photos on the humps of your travel companion?

Camel riding is definitely the most popular and relaxing activity to do after a day full of adventure on the Lahbab desert tour, priced from around £50 with pick up and drop off at your hotel in Dubai.

Dinner under the stars with the best buffet and live entertainment

End your desert safari day with a Dubai desert excursion with dinner and live show where you can relax and enjoy the best selection of Arabian food while enjoying a live show such as belly dancing or fire shows under the starry sky in the middle of the Dubai desert.

During dinner, the buffet menu features the star dishes of Arabic gastronomy, where you will start with chickpea hummus and baba ghanoush aubergine cream that you have to eat with khubos bread, followed by a choice of grilled fish, chicken or lamb and potato or couscous salad, better known as tabbouleh.

To finish the dinner, you can try the delicious Arabian sweets and drinks to go with them:

• Dates or fruits
• Baklava, the famous pistachio and honey dessert.
• Luqaimat (fried dough with cardamom and saffron)
• Mint tea for digestion
• Traditional Arabic coffee, prepared with saffron or cardamom spices.

Enjoy a cultural day visiting the Dubai Museum in the traditional Al Fahidi neighbourhood, visit the Jumeirah Mosque and end the day at the Dubai Frame observation deck to see the two faces of Dubai, the modern and the traditional.

Visit the Jumeirah Mosque

Start your fifth day in Dubai with a visit to one of the city's most important cultural and religious centres, the Jumeirah Mosque. Located in the main residential area, Jumeirah is considered an architectural jewel by the sea and can be visited from Saturday to Thursday. It is the only mosque in Dubai that allows non-Muslims to enter for a 1-hour guided tour at 10am only.

If you are visiting the mosque you should follow the following dress codes, which apply to all mosques in general:

• Men should wear long trousers to cover their legs, in addition to covering their shoulders.
• Women should cover their hair with a headscarf, and cover their arms and legs completely.

Cultural stop at the Dubai Museum and traditional Arabian food

Following the cultural itinerary on the fifth day, I recommend a visit to the Dubai Museum located just inside the Dubai Fort in Al Fahidi, the second traditional quarter of old Dubai.

You will learn about the history, origin and cultural essence of Dubai from a different perspective thanks to its incredible exhibition of chronologically organised historical pieces, including Dhows over 1000 years old, antiques and architectural pieces.

After your tour of Dubai's history, head to the Arabian Tea House a few metres from the museum and try the Tahta Laham, the restaurant's signature dish of meat, rice and spices, a delicious traditional Arabian meal that averages between €10 and €30 per person.

End your day at Zabeel Park and climb the Dubai Frame

After a day of cultural sightseeing in the old Al Fahadi neighbourhood, head to Zabeel Park and enjoy the sunset inside Dubai's largest green space where you can picnic in the winter months while enjoying live music and exhibitions such as the Dubai Garden Glow.

To end the day, head to the Dubai Frame, two 150-metre-high towers connected by a 93-metre high glass observation deck for an incredible panoramic view of the city where you can see modern, technological Dubai on one side and old, traditional Dubai on the other, from around €13.

Before you leave Dubai, make the most of your visit and take a day trip to Abu Dhabi to visit the world's most beautiful mosque and enjoy a day of adventure at Ferrari World.

Take your day trip to Abu Dhabi and climb the Etihad Towers observation deck.

Before you leave Dubai, take advantage of its proximity to the capital of the United Arab Emirates and take an organised tour to Abu Dhabi from Dubai from around £50. The journey takes about an hour and you'll be able to visit the city's most iconic sights, such as the Etihad Towers.

Abu Dhabi's most iconic landmark is the Etihad Towers where you can enjoy unique views of the city from around €20 at the Observation Deck at 300.

After being above the clouds, walk to the Qasr Al Watan Palace and visit its incredible library, whose collection of historical items includes the famous Birmingham Qur'an, for around €15.

Visit the world's fastest rollercoaster at Ferrari World.

If you're an adrenaline junkie and a lover of high-end cars, you must head to the man-made island of Yas and visit Ferrari World where you can enjoy an afternoon of adventure inside the world's largest indoor amusement park.

It has 19 rides, including Formula Rossa, the world's fastest rollercoaster. You can also visit the Ferrari car museum and dine in the themed restaurants.

Visit the world's most beautiful mosque: Sheikh Zayed Mosque

After a day of sightseeing in Abu Dhabi, end the day with a must-see stop at the world's third largest mosque, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

In order to visit the interior of the mosque, it is important to follow the dress code for the respect of its inhabitants and worshippers.

Women should cover their shoulders and arms, wear loose-fitting clothes with long trousers and cover their hair completely with a tunic or pashmina over it. Men should cover their shoulders and legs, for this I recommend wearing long trousers.

I recommend that, before the sun goes down, you walk for about 15 minutes to the Oasis of Dignity viewpoint. From there you will be able to witness a real spectacle; the white colour of the mosque will contrast with the beautiful sunset and you will be able to see it reflected in its pools, I assure you that it will leave you speechless.

If you don't have a cover-up with you, the mosque will lend you one free of charge.

What better way to end your week in Dubai than with a full day cruise excursion aboard a Dhow, a traditional Arabian wooden boat, and sail along the beautiful Arabian Sea shores of Mussandam Dibba in the Gulf of Oman.

Enjoy maritime activities perfect for friends and family such as snorkelling, swimming in crystal clear waters or simply relaxing while sunbathing on board the cruise ship. The excursion includes a delicious buffet with traditional food and drinks such as Arabic tea and coffee.