10 things to do in Dubai (better than going to the mall)

Sunset horse riding, golfing, a lot of adrenaline and fun and some beautiful views from the city of the future: Dubai is more than going sand bashing, souk and… the incredible big malls. Dubai is now a destination that gives you some amazing experiences. Here are (only) to do in Dubai (better than going to the mall).

More experiences to see at @vist.dubai and https://www.visitdubai.com/en/. 

1. Visit Dubai Frame. The construction was meant to symbolise a gate (a frame) between the old Dubai and the new Dubai. And, from the height of 150 meters in that beautiful construction I saw the old town and the new and impressive skyscrapers – and yes, walking on the glass floor was scary at first. 🙂 https://www.dubaiframe.ae/en  

2. Museum of the Future (https://museumofthefuture.ae/en). I wanted to see this one since last year, when I only could see the exterior, from the speeding car. It is impressive to watch closely the totally SF elevators, the simulation of a spatial journey and the very out-of-this-world (and still from planet Earth) DNA library (with 2.000 samples of DNA from species). Itwas designed by Killa Design architects. The words written on the Dubai Museum of the Future are 3 quotes from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, “We won’t live for hundreds of years, but we can create something that will last for hundreds of years”.

3. Sky Views Observatory sliding glass. The panoramic scenery is beautiful, the photos are sooo instagramable and the shot of the adrenaline very concentrate. How else, as long as the flying carpet over a glass slide took me over the skyscrapers at 219 meters above the land?! (@skyviewsobservatory) 

4. View from The View at The Palm (www.palmtowertickets.com). It worths paying a visit – for the splendid view over the Palm in one direction and to the new (an huge) Dubai marina on the other. 

5. Old town, old mosque, traditional experiences in the souk. Of course, for a traditional feeling of Dubai, a visit to Bur Dubai is mandatory, plus a visit to the mosque – Jumeirah Mosque (pay attention to the dress code here!) and a cup of tea in the souk. 

6. Riding horses at sunset. Yep, you heard me right: not camel riding, as you expect (and you were told to do in Dubai) but the Arabic horses riding experience. Apart of the landscape view, the experience will guarantee a complete state of zen. Book it with @sejurindubai. 

7. View of the Marina Bay from the yacht. It is nice to see the lights and the futuristic buildings from the sideway, but I tell you, nothing compares with a yacht trip on the sunset, gliding over Gulf waters, lying down in the front of the boat. Book the experience through @sejurindubai, the best way. 🙂

8. Alserkal Avenue – vintage cars and custom-made perfumes and so many more. For me, Alserkal Avenue looked as some hipster district in Miami (well, without the graffiti though). Once an industrial area in the centre of Dubai, Alserkal Avenue now comprises around 40 warehouses, converted into galleries, dance studios, artisanal cafes and more. To visit: a vintage car collector gallery (Nostalgia Classic Cars –  and a laboratory where I made my own perfume (Oo La Lab – @oola.lab). 

9. Golfing & fun. For team meetings or for a two hours fun with the friends, Top Golf Dubai (https://topgolfdubai.ae/) is one of the best choices. Burgers, tacos and chips, plus an entertaining way of practicing golf in a covered driving range. 

10. Coffee Museum (https://www.coffeemuseum.ae/). Not so well known, the museum of the coffee was a delicious experience for me, a coffee lover. I learnt that the original (as in primary) coffee was the Ethiopian one (with three degrees of strength), that ibrik coffee is the favourite in Turkey and Arabic countries and the most expensive coffee right now are from Panama and Hawaii crops. Oh, yep, and I tested a lot, you know, for the energy of taking other experiences in Dubai. To be continued.

PLUS: 5 places to stay in Dubai 

For tradition lovers – Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton – it is a hotel right in the heart f the old city. I had the most beautiful view over the ancient walls, I wondered through the streets admiring the most interesting pashminas, I smelled the tea and spices from the cafes lying around.

For pool – The Address Beach Resort took the record for the highest infinity pool in the world from Singapore Marina Bay. And the view over Blue Waters worh taking the elevator to the 77th level (access permitted only for the hotel guests).

For the design & food – SLS Hotel Dubai. For me, it was love at first sight. Because it is very artsy and because… my room has a balcony (yep, at 59th floor) and the view was breathtaking – the dessert and Burj Khalifa. And for the Smoke & Mirrors (a secret club you can only enter by invite) . 

For the fashion feeling and Italian food – Palazzo Versace. Everywhere you turn, you find a pattern you recognise. Yes, it is a hotel with an Italian touch – from the rooms, the terraces and (of course) the amazing food.

For beach and party – Nikki Beach Dubai. Situated right on the beach, with some zen rooms and incredible villas, Nikki Beach is one of the proprieties that you feel like you are on a secluded island.

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