Dubai Do-It-Yourself Tour 3 Days Itinerary

This blog post is inspired by the emails and Facebook messages I have received from blog readers who are planning to visit Dubai. Aside from FAQs like "Is Dubai safe?" and "How can I go from here to there?" , I was also asked to check DIY tour itineraries a couple of times. 

So, I thought, why not share my own 3-day Dubai DIY tour itinerary?

This itinerary is based on my personal interests and includes my favorite places which I want to share to my visitors. You can consider this as a guide, but it is still best to do your own research. Skip the places that don't pique you interest and replace it with the attractions that matters to you.

Important note: This Dubai 3-Day Itinerary involves a LOT of walking. Make sure to have a good breakfast before you start the tour. Following this tour during Summer season will be quite a challenge. Best time to visit Dubai is from November to April.    

Day 1 : Dubai Culture and Heritage Tour

For me, this is the perfect way to jump-start your holiday in Dubai. Before you visit the mega-structures, get to know the city from the roots first!        

09:30 AM - From your accommodation, take the bus or cab to Gold Souk, or ride the train in Dubai Metro Green Line to Al Ras Metro Station. 

10:00 AM - Start your Dubai DIY Tour in the Gold Souk. Don't miss the Najmat Taiba - Guinness World Record's heaviest gold ring!

Read: Old Dubai Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour  for a detailed guide and map.

11:00 AM - Walk to Deira Grand Souk: Textile Market, Herbs and Spice Souk

11:30 AM - Ride the abra (wooden boat) to the other side of Dubai Creek

12:00 NN - Shop for souvenirs at Dubai Old Souk. Don't forget to haggle! 

01:00 PM - Dubai Museum - Dubai's oldest building turned museum

Stop and smell the spices at Dubai Spice Souk!

Hop on that small wooden boat in Dubai Creek

appreciate Dubai's humble past in Dubai Museum

02:00 PM - Lunch in Bastakiya (Arabian Tea House or Local House) 

Read: Camel Burger at Local House in Bastakiya

03:00 PM - Explore Bastakiya if you still have enough time or proceed to your Desert Safari pick-up point

04:00 PM - Desert Safari - package includes dune bashing, camel ride, desert camp show and activities, Arabic BBQ dinner

Read: Reasons why Desert Safari should be in your travel list

09:00 PM - Drop-off in your accommodation

Coffee Museum in Bastakiya

Camel Burger! Dare?! :)

camel ride in the desert

Day 2: Dubai Attractions along the Coast

09:00 AM - If you're coming from Al Ghubaiba bus station, take bus # 8 to Burj Al Arab.

Read: Dubai Attractions along Jumeirah Road for a detailed guide and map. I skipped Jumeirah Mosque, Mercato and Kite Beach in this 3-day itinerary due to time constraint. 

10:00 AM - Alight in Umm Suqueim Park bus stop and walk towards Umm Suqueim public beach aka Burj Al Arab beach.

10:15 AM - Burj Al Arab from Umm Suqueim beach

10:30 AM - Walk to the main road, then towards Jumeirah Beach Hotel (the wave-shaped hotel)

10:45 AM - Pass by Wild Wadi entrance and the main gate of Burj Al Arab while walking towards Souk Madinat

11:30 AM - Souk Madinat. A brisk walk from Umm Suqueim beach to Souk Madinat would take around 30 minutes. Considering that you'll take a lot of photos, a slow stroll would probably take 1 hour. 

12:00 NN - Lunch in Souk Madinat. There are plenty of restaurants in this Arabian-inspired shopping mall. Our constant spot is Noodle House. 

01:00 PM - Explore Souk Madinat. 

view of Burj Al Arab from Umm Suqueim public beach

Arabian-inspired shopping mall

view of Burj Al Arab from Souk Madinat

01:30 PM - Take a cab to Palm Jumeirah Monorail station. If your cab driver is not familiar with the location, tell him to drop you off the monorail station near Palm Jumeirah Tram Station.

02:00 PM - Ride the Palm Monorail to Atlantis Aquaventure Station. Tip: Occupy the first seats in the first cabin for best views!

Read: Monorail Ride at The Palm Jumeirah

02:30 PM -  Atlantis The Palm. No entrance fee at The Avenues.

03:30 PM - If you purchased a round trip monorail ticket, ride the monorail back to the Palm Gateway station. If not, you can take a cab to the next destination - Dubai Marina. This would save you time and energy, but would be costly especially if you are solo traveler. 

04:00 PM - From the monorail station, walk towards Palm Jumeirah Tram Station. Take the tram to Dubai Marina.

Read: Dubai Tram Stations, Attractions and Trip Tips for a detailed guide and map

04:30 PM - A short walk from Dubai Marina tram station is the Marina Walk where you can view Cayan Tower (world's tallest twisted tower). 

05:00 PM - If you're still up for a long walk, you can stroll towards Jumeirah Beach Residence where The Walk and The Beach are located. Or you can take the tram from Dubai Marina tram station to Jumeirah Beach Residence 1 tram station.

05:30 PM - Relax and catch the sunset at The Beach

07:00 PM - Dinner at The Beach or at The Walk.

08:00 PM - Back to your hotel.

This day tour can be done the other way around if your accommodation is in Dubai Marina side.

Atlantis The Palm as seen on board Palm Monorail

Dubai Marina - Cayan Tower on the rightmost side

cool street art in JBR-The Walk

Day 3: Dubai Man-made Wonders

09:00 AM - Start your day early at Dubai Miracle Garden. Please note that Dubai Miracle Garden is only open during winter season. It is quite far from the city; taxi fare from Mall of the Emirates metro station is around 30 AED.

Read: Morning at Dubai Miracle Garden

11:00 AM - Take a cab to Mall of the Emirates

11:30 AM - Lunch in Mall of the Emirates

12:30 PM - Snow fun in Ski Dubai

Read: Snow Adventures in Ski Dubai

02:00 PM - Take the train in Dubai Metro Red Line from Mall of the Emirates to The Dubai Mall. Heads up for Dubai Water Canal before Business Bay metro station.

Dubai Miracle Garden: miracle in the desert

Ski Dubai: ski resort inside a shopping mall

Dubai Water Canal: Dubai's newest man-made attraction

02:30 PM - Walk to The Dubai Mall via the Dubai Mall Metro Link; an 820-metre walkway connecting the metro station to the shopping mall.

03:00 PM - Shop or visit the free attractions inside The Dubai Mall: Dubai Dino, The Waterfall, Dubai Aquarium

Read: Discover the Dinosaur at The Dubai Mall

04:00 PM - Burj Lake (where Dubai Fountain is located) - photo opp spot for Burj Khalifa

05:00 PM - At The Top Burj Khalifa. This is a prime hour at the observation deck. Book your tickets ahead online!

Option: At The Top is also open for sunrise viewing every Friday and Saturday during winter season.
Read: Burj Khalifa: Sunrise At The Top

07:00 PM - Dinner at The Dubai Mall or Souk Al Bahar. Best spots? Restaurants with a terrace facing the Dubai Fountain.

08:00 PM -  You're probably super tired by now. So, sit back and relax near the Burj Lake and finish off your Dubai DIY Tour with a mesmerizing Dubai Fountain show.

Read: The Dubai Fountain

09:00 PM - Back to your hotel.

The Waterfall inside The Dubai Mall

stunning view from Burj Khalifa At The Top observation deck

Dubai Fountain. Prepare to be amazed!

And that's how I tour Dubai!

Three jam-packed days are never enough though. There are so many things left to do; check out my 100 things to do in Dubai blog post! I hope this itinerary will help you in some way. Leave a comment below if you have done this yourself or if you have tips to add! :)