What makes Dubai so fascinating isn’t just the glittering skyline—it’s the way centuries of history and culture sit right alongside all that glass and steel. You can spend the morning in a cutting-edge “poetry in architecture” museum, and by afternoon be sipping tea in a quiet courtyard in Old Dubai, listening to the call to prayer carry across the Creek. Book My Booking+1
Start with modern Dubai and its now-iconic skyline. The Museum of the Future is a perfect example of how the city blends art, language and design: its torus-shaped exterior is wrapped in flowing Arabic calligraphy featuring lines of poetry, and inside you’ll find immersive exhibits about the future of technology, space and sustainability. Book My Booking Nearby neighborhoods and new waterfront areas are full of stylish cafés, rooftop lounges and beach promenades, where you can people-watch, walk the boardwalk and sample everything from Middle Eastern mezze to global tasting menus. Lightfoot travel+2Visit Dubai+2
Then, head back in time to Old Dubai. Along the Creek, the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood and nearby heritage areas give you a feel for what the city was like before the skyscrapers. Here you’ll find traditional wind-tower houses, small museums and cultural centers. The Traditional Crafts House in the Al Shindagha Museum complex showcases Emirati handicrafts—things like weaving, boat-building and palm-frond work—sharing how artisans shaped daily life long before oil and tourism. AL Shindagha Museum+2ES Camps •+2
One of the simplest, most charming experiences in Dubai is to hop on an old wooden abra (water taxi) and cross Dubai Creek like locals have done for generations. For the price of a few dirhams, you glide from the Bur Dubai side over to Deira, passing the old city walls and historic neighborhoods as the skyline rises in the distance. On the Deira side, you can dive into the Spice Souk and Gold Souk, where narrow lanes are filled with fragrant spices, textiles and glittering shop windows. Visit Dubai+2Tripadvisor+2
Food is a huge part of the Dubai experience. Because this is such an international city, you’ll find everything: traditional Emirati dishes, Levantine favorites, Indian and Pakistani street food, Persian grills, North African flavors and high-end restaurants from global chefs. A good night might mean a food tour through Deira, tasting falafel, shawarma and knafeh, or lingering over grilled seafood and mezze at a beachfront restaurant. Visit Dubai+2Four Seasons+2 And if you’re a culture lover, consider adding a desert evening with Bedouin-style hospitality or a visit to heritage villages where artisans demonstrate pottery, weaving and other traditional crafts. ES Camps •+2Safari Desert Dubai+2
The beauty of Dubai is that you can mix all of this into one itinerary: cutting-edge museums and futuristic architecture, creek-side heritage quarters, craft and culture museums, souk-hopping by abra and a food scene that spans the whole region (and world). Whether you’re here for a quick stopover or a longer stay, it’s easy to tailor your days to your pace—busy and sight-packed, or slow and immersive.
If Dubai is on your list and you’d like help weaving together old-town experiences, new-city highlights, food tours and time to simply relax, I’ve put together more ideas and tips here:
👉 Insider’s Guide to Dubai – with Heidi Dent
When you’re ready, I’ll help design a Dubai itinerary that feels like your perfect blend of modern sparkle, historic charm and authentic cultural experiences.