Dear Reader,
Many of us have this view of Dubai that is glitz and glamour, but there are many other sides to the city as well. Therefore coming to visit this city does not have to be out of your budget. Keep reading to find my favorite five cheap things to do in Dubai and why you should try them too.
If you are looking for more information on Dubai and exciting fact check out
this fantastic post from My Travel Affairs.
Basic information
Before we get into the sites, here are some things you should know about Dubai. Most of the sites are located closer to BurDubai or Dubai Mall. If you are visiting Dubai by cruise ship, there are also ideal things to do in Dubai since many of them are easy to reach from the port. You can also reach these sites by metro, which simple and easy to use.
1, Dubai Creek
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| The Dhows on the Creek and the beautiful view |
If you haven’t heard of it yet, you are probably living under a rock. This is the historic part of Dubai, with a very touristy souq, and not just surrounded by skyscrapers. The closest Metro stop is called Al Gubaiba from wher5e it is about a 2-minute walk from the creek. It will wow you with its charm and authenticity (even though it isn’t). The main attraction are the dhows. For 1AED, they will take you across the river, which lets you see the Creekside from a different perspective. If you are coming from a cruise ship, it can be especially fun to experience these small, not very safe dhows. Plus they get you to our next thing on the list.
2, The Gold Souq and surrounding area
Another favorite of mine is to stroll around the old souq on the other side of the creek. There is one street dedicated to only gold, where you can get a reasonable price if you wanted to buy some. Most of the gold is imported from Italy but crafted here, which makes it cheaper. The other streets sell mostly the same souvenirs you will find anywhere else as well, but here it’s all close together. It can be a little overwhelming and the vendors annoying when they always try and sell you things, but in the end, it is a great memory to laugh about.
3, Dubai Museum and Al Fhaki Historical Neighbourhood
So when you first see the Dubai Museum, you will not think it’s that big of a deal. It is located maybe a 10-15 minute walk from the same bus stop mentioned in the Dubai Creek. It is housed in a small old fortress, and you can see outside some old ships and some other things. The entrance will cost you 3AED for an adult, which is totally acceptable, but you will first think it is overpriced because all you see is the small courtyard. However, there is a whole renovated museum underground that shows the history of Dubai and what it’s development. It is very well done and definitely worth a look. From there about five more minutes by foot, you have the Al Fhaki Historical Neighbourhood. This area has been reconstructed to resemble the Dubai of the 19 hundreds. It is a great place to wander around and explore all the little streets. They also sometimes have art or music festivals here, which can be a lot of fun.
4, Dubai Mall
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| Dubai Marina beach |
While the mall itself is expensive, window shopping is free. There are many cool attractions within the mall worth seeing, such as the fountain, the Burberry corner which they had for a while, and many other things. It also has airconditioning, which is an added benefit if you’re coming here anytime, but winter. The mall is also connected to the promenade that leads you to the Burj Khalifa. It is one of the most iconic places in Dubai and a must-see if you visit. So hop on the free shuttle provided by the Dubai Mall from many parts of the city or take the metro, and enjoy an afternoon of fancy stories and interesting people.
5, Dubai Marina
Okay, so this one may be a little bit of a stretch and can be adventurous if you want it to be cheap. If you want to do it the easy way, you can get a cab, which will take you there, but it will probably cost you between 70 and 100 AED, depends on traffic. If there is a group of you, that may not be so bad, but it can still add up. So if you are feeling adventurous, take the metro. Buy a metro card, and go on your way. Since there are only two lines, it is not hard to navigate. Once you reached Jumeira Lake Towers, which is the closest station to the Marina, you can just walk. It will take you no more than 20 minutes to reach the beach and a beautiful promenade. You can spend the day laying on the free beach or walking around the beautiful area. Whatever you decide, it will, for sure, be a fantastic day.
So there you have it. Five fun things to do Dubai that will cost you almost nothing. Hope this helped you enjoy your time in Dubai.
Kisses,
Juli
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