For a city like Dubai, which is home to the world’s best skyscrapers, glittering attractions, bustling markets and sumptuous food, 48 hours doesn’t seem enough. True, you need a lot more time to experience Dubai. But, if planned intelligently, even 48 hours in Dubai is enough to capture the essence of the city on a whirlwind ride.

Here’s how you can see the best of Dubai in 48 hours:

Day 1 – The Dubai of World Records

Start your day by seeing the might of Burj Khalifa.

You just can’t miss this one. Experience the world from the 144th floor observation deck of Burj Khalifa and take your time to admire this exceptional engineering marvel.

the dubai mall & the burj khalifa: tallest building in the world... so far — the dubai mall & the burj khalifa: tallest building in the world... so far

Visit the Dubai Aquarium, Underwater Zoo and Candylicious.

Located very close to Burj Khalifa is the world’s biggest mall- The Dubai mall. No, don’t even think of covering the mall in a day because it’s just not possible. With over 1200 shops, a 250 room luxury hotel, 22 cinema halls and over 120 restaurants and cafes; you just can’t cover it all up on your hasty trip.

See it to believe the grandeur of the world’s largest suspended acrylic aquarium that holds a 10 million lire water tank and is home to over 33000 marine animals. The obvious next thing to do is visiting the underwater zoo that has over 458 species of marine giants that can be seen with a 180 degree view. And please don’t return without shopping candies from Candylicious- world’s largest candy store. They have so much variety, it’s a guarantee you won’t come back without a bag full of candies.

Go for an evening stroll at the Jumeirah beach.

Amongst the most beautiful and free entry beaches of Dubai is the Jumeirah beach. The beautiful shoreline and the illuminated Burj Al Arab - world’s most luxurious 7 star hotel made on an artificial island, makes your evening stroll at the beach worth every minute. Your time spent at the beach makes you relaxed and helps you soak in all the beauty and wonders you have seen during the day.

Have dinner at the Mango Tree and enjoy undisputed view of the Dubai Fountain.

It can’t get better. You get to eat sumptuous cuisine and enjoy the world’s largest themed water fountain that jets water up to a height equivalent to a 45 storey building. Illuminated with the most advanced incandescent lights and 25 color projectors, the fountain creates a visually stunning spectrum of more than 1000 abstract attractions. It’s a guarantee, you’ll remember this dinner for a long time.

Day 2- The Dubai of rich cultural heritage and history

Start your day with the amazing Dubai Museum.

One of the best maintained museums in the Middle East, the Dubai museum literally transports you back in to the Bedouin era when Dubai was nothing but a small fishing village. The mannequins of craftsmen at work, sellers of that era selling goods, houses during these times, and the humble lifestyle e of the villagers leaves you in admiration of the heights Dubai has achieved in such a short span of time. Located in the Al Fahidi fort, UAE’s oldest fort, Dubai Museum is your peek into the origin and history of Dubai.

Have lunch at the Ravi restaurant at Dhiyafah road.

Almost legendary now, Ravi restaurant deserves your travel of 5kms from the museum towards Al Dhiyafah road. This amazing restaurant with minimal décor, tables with no table cloths and food served in no fancy plates; Ravi restaurant is flooded with locals and tourists alike almost all throughout the day. From millionaires to the low middle class, everyone at least once have eaten here. The restaurant dishes out some of the best Asian dishes in both veg and non-veg delicacies.

Visit the gold and spice souk.

The traditional gold souk of Dubai is an experience in itself. Glittering golden metal hanging on the shops in unimaginably distinct designs and shoppers bargaining on its prices to an unbelievable amount, the sight of the bustling gold souk is a must have experience. The crowded street is filled with infectious energy and compels you to shop.

Located very close to the gold souk is the spice souk. Experience vendors with their humble shops selling the most exotic spices in the world and the mixed aroma of spices refreshing your senses.

Get picked up by the Desert Safari Tour Car.

No trip to Dubai, no matter how short, is complete without the desert safari experience. The Desert Safari tour in Dubai is one of its most famous attractions. Adventurous dune bashing in a 4x4 along with Quad biking, refreshments in the colossal desert of Dubai is a must have experience. Further, you are taken to the desert camp for a sumptuous dinner, shisha, music, dance and various entertainment activities to complete your trip in style. Post dinner you are dropped to your hotel by the tour operators.

Remember to book your desert safari trip in advance for your last day of the trip and tell them the spot from where you want to be picked up.

Don’t forget to:

Take a selfie at the Jumeirah beach with Burj Al Arab at the backdrop.
Take your camera on the desert safari to capture best sunset shots in the desert.
Use the driverless metro at least once to travel to your place of visit.
Try the special Arabic delicacy camel meat.
Take a look at the illuminated Burj Khalifa and the glittering skyline at night.

Come back for:

Bastakiya Quarters to get a feel of Old Dubai
Dhow Cruise dinner
Dubai nightlife party scene
Dubai Miracle Garden
Global village
Wild Wadi Water Park
Atlantis and the Palm
Skydiving at the Palm
Scuba and cage diving
Saeed Al Makhtoum house
Grand Mosque
Perfume Souk
Dubai dolphinarium
Ski Dubai

With so many endless possibilities of entertainment, adventure, and enjoyment, it’s hard to pick a few for a 48 hour trip and its almost impossible to put up a perfect list for Dubai. But these few places are ideal to offer a perfect introduction to the city of this world entertainment hub.

Have you ever been to Dubai? What did you enjoy the most? Do let us know what’s that one thing that no one should miss while in Dubai?

Neha Singh is a postgraduate in Mass Communications, who loves everything about life. Traveling is extremely close to her heart and writing came to her naturally. An avid trekker and explorer who often takes off some time from her busy life for mountaineering, she loves meeting new people & gets attached to their cultures very easily. Her ambition is to explore as many places as she can in her life. She strongly believes in Gandhi principle - “simple living high thinking”. Check out her Dubai Wiki for more amazing stories!