THE PERFECT Dubai and Abu Dhabi Itinerary 3 days

My Dubai & Abu Dhabi 3 Days Itinerary should help you plan your time in the UAE perfectly. Dubai & Abu Dhabi cities are the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East. It has a rich history and a vibrant culture. Both cities have many fascinating sights and attractions which making it a great place to visit for a short break. And being on many flights between Asia & Europe makes Dubai a perfect city for a short stopover.

If you have just 3 days stopover in Dubai, you’ll want to see all the highlights of these vibrant cities . Including exploring the beautiful tourist attractions, Dubai desert. And beautiful beaches and of course would love to have some luxury shopping. And indeed you can also have a quick look around some of the heritage & historical attractions.

In this article we will you will find 3 days amazing Itinerary. hich you can include in your 3-day itinerary bucket list. If you’re wondering is Dubai or Abu Dhabi a country. I blogged the answer here too.

Overview of Dubai and Abu Dhabi 3 Days Itinerary

Day 1: Breakfast at Friends Avenue Cafe JLT. Visit Gold Souq, visit Dubai Museum, take an Abra ride, visit Atlantis & Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Blue Mosque, and Shopping Malls & dinner at Sky located in Dubai Al Sufoh Sky Dive

Day 2: Breakfast at Sarabeth located at Al Safah, enjoy the amazing scenery of Sheikh Zayed Road while traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, visit the Middle East’s largest mosque Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, visit to Heritage Village Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Beach. Visit to Emirates Palace & Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi city sightseeing, visit to Abu Dhabi Malls, and on a return visit Ferrari World & Louvre Museum and dinner at Villa Toscana Abu Dhabi.

Day 3: Breakfast at Cafe Bateel JBR. Visit Dubai Beaches, Miracle Garden & Dubai Sightseeing and Tour of Desert Safari with Dinner. Visit Burj Khalifa Top Floor.

Day 1 of Dubai Tour Itinerary

Breakfast:

In the morning enjoy your breakfast at Friends Avenue Cafe JLT where you can find lots of different variety foods at breakfast. They have lots of healthy options to choose from. I like their Breakfast Platter & Cappuccino with Coconut Milk.

After finishing your dinner head to Gold Souq Dubai which is the biggest Gold Market in the Middle East, here you can buy the latest designs of jewelry and traditional Arabic design jewelry, costly stone, gems, etc. Roam around Gold Souq Market for 1 or 2 hours and head to Dubai Museum to feel the Arab people past life traditions and culture. It’s the oldest building in Dubai located in bur Dubai in Al Fahidi port. Get a glimpse of Arab People’s life before the discovery of oil. The gallery includes Old Arab houses, Mosque, Souks, Swords, etc.

After ending at Dubai Museum head to Abra Ride, it’s a traditional boat ride at Dubai Creek, you can have a boat ride from Deira to Bur Dubai or Gold Souq just for 1 Dirham per head cost and even you can rent a full boat for family or group just for 30 AED.

Head to Atlantis Hotel and enjoy amazing sightseeing of the most beautiful 7-star hotel, you can have a cup of tea at Atlantis hotel and take some memorable pictures.

After Atlantis hotel, visit the most luxurious hotel in Dubai “Burj Al Arab Hotel”, you will need to have a prior booking to go inside Burj Al Arab if you don’t have a prior booking then roam around Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach areas and spend some amazing time with your family & friends.

In the afternoon:

In the afternoon head to Palm Jumeirah and go inside Dubai Blue Mosque, it’s one of the most beautiful Mosques in Dubai and the only mosque where non-Muslims are allowed to go inside.

After the blue mosque, visit Marina Mall, Mall of the Emirate, Ibn Batuta Mall, and on return to your hotel in the evening head to Dubai Mall which is the biggest mall in the Middle East and one of the most costly shopping malls in the Middle East, where you can have a luxury shopping and can spend lots of time moving around the mall.

Dinner:

Make your dinner memorable at Dinner in the Sky restaurant located in Dubai Al Sufoh Sky Dive which is named among the 10 most unusual dining experiences in the world. It’s 50 meters up from ground level in the sky and lifted by a crane.

You will enjoy luxury dining with the amazing surrounding scenery.

Day 2 Abu Dhabi Tour Itinerary

Breakfast:

 Before heading to the Abu Dhabi city tour enjoy a delicious breakfast at Sarabeth restaurant at Al Safah Street 67 Dubai. You might find a huge rush at breakfast time but the deliciousness of the foods offered by them is worth waiting for. Most of the sitting area is out door as the indoor area is a bit smaller. Try Eggs Benedict with Salmon and the Pancake.

After finishing your breakfast, get to your Abu Dhabi tour bus and enjoy 2 hours ride via Sheikh Zayed Road toward Abu Dhabi. On arrival to Abu Dhabi take a 2 hours tour of the largest mosque in the Middle East “Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque”.

Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi

The Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi is a beautiful, harmonious blend of Islamic architecture and design. The building is surrounded by gardens and features 82 white marble domes, more than 1,000 columns, and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet.

Next, head to the Abu Dhabi Museum and the traditional way of life before the oil discovery of Arab people. In this museum, you will find the history of the UAE from the first settlements in the region, to modern-day society. Abu Dhabi Museum is located in the heart of Abu Dhabi city. The museum has an excellent collection of archaeological, ethnological, and natural history exhibits, covering a broad range of cultural heritage from the earliest settlements in the region.

Emirate Palace

You can spend an hour or two in Abu Dhabi Museum then head to Abu Dhabi beach and walk around and feel the fresh air and head to Abu Dhabi Emirate Palace. The palace has a big garden and a small garden and it also has a pool and a spa. The Emirate Palace has a museum, a cinema, a game room, a library, and an art gallery. There are many things to see and do in the Emirate Palace. You can even go to the museum and see the art collection there. You can see many paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and antiques. The Palace has a lot of interesting things to see. If you are interested, you can take a tour of the palace and see it for yourself.

You can enjoy your free time wandering around the city and visiting the local markets like the Dates Market and Iranian Market. In Abu Dhabi, you will have the opportunity to try local food, visit local markets and buy dates at Dates Market, and can also buy Arabic traditional dresses and jewelry.

For shopping in Abu Dhabi visit Abu Dhabi Mall. This is one of the largest shopping malls in Abu Dhabi that features over 200 shops.

Yas Island

On return from Abu Dhabi local city sightseeing tour head to the world’s largest indoor theme park Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. The park is located in Yas Island Abu Dhabi and offers a great day out for all ages. You can visit the park and enjoy many rides such as the world’s longest rollercoaster, the Formula Rossa, which is the world’s fastest rollercoaster. You can also enjoy the Ferrari 360 Challenge. It is a simulator where you can experience the thrill of driving a Ferrari 360.

Visit Abu Dhabi Louvre museum on return, the museum is located at the heart of Yas Island. This museum is a museum of art, culture, and design. The museum was opened in 2007 and is located in the center of the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The museum is open to the public and offers many exhibitions and events. It is one of the best museums in Abu Dhabi. You can visit it when you are returning from Abu Dhabi’s local city sightseeing tour to your hotel in Dubai.

After finishing your tour of Abu Dhabi, head to Villa Tuscana restaurant for a dinner.

Dinner in Abu Dhabi:

Enjoy a delicious dinner at Italian Restaurant Villa Tuscana located in Nation Tower Al Regis Street Abu Dhabi. Their service is great and the atmosphere will give you a pleasant experience. They have a wide range of foods & meals on their menu. You can try Risotto, Buratta Salad, and Grilled Lamb.

Day 3 of Dubai Tour Itinerary

Breakfast

At the start of the 2nd day experience an amazing breakfast at Cafe Bateel JBR. They have a wide range of fresh food choices. You might wait a bit due to the huge rush of customers. Try their Pistachio Milkshake and take Scramble Shakshuka.

In the morning:

Get on your private tour bus and start your day by visiting Dubai beaches, 1st visit JBR beach Dubai, this city beach offer banana boats ride, an outdoor gym, and volleyball ground, etc. It’s a clean beach and has cool restaurants near around. You will have a great time with family & friends here. Bathroom and cloth changing rooms are available too and you can rent a sunshade umbrella to set and enjoy some amazing time here.

After JBR beach, head to Palm Jumeirah Beach which is also called the white sand beach, it’s an amazing beach with clear crystal water and you can spend even a whole day here, you can enjoy a cycle ride at the beach. Toilet, bars and lots of relaxation spots are available. There is gym and play areas for kids, people can play cricket, football, and volleyball here too.

Head to Kite Beach, kite beach is of most popular beach for sunset seekers, also if you are a water sports lover then it’s the beach for you, you can enjoy kite surfing, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, and enjoy playing volleyball. It’s the best place for kids too.

Take some amazing pictures for social sharing.

Afternoon:

Visit Miracle Garden, it’s the best flower garden in Dubai, each and everything and design are made of flowers, it’s not only kids friendly but all ages of people can enjoy here, you will surely enjoy seeing the Smurf village & cartoon designs, it’s the best place for kids and you need enough time to enjoy this amazing garden. It’s open only between November to February and the entry ticket cost is 50 AED.

After finishing from Miracle Garden you will have time till 4.30 pm before heading to Dubai Desert Safari, so let your Dubai tour bus driver take you for a Dubai city sightseeing ride and visit Dubai Creek, Marina, and JBR.

At 4.30 pm head to Dubai desert safari camp by private rented bus, the safari camps are located approx 50 minutes far from Dubai’s main areas, on arrival at desert safari camp enjoy a 30 minutes Dune Bashing adventure ride which is a desert ride by 4×4 land cruiser, after 30 minutes ride have an amazing experience of camel ride for about 20 minutes and enjoy sand boarding and take some memorable pictures at sunset at the red desert, after the sunset head to safari camp and refresh yourself with cold drinks & tea coffee and set relax. In the late evening enjoy watching two live belly dance shows and Tannura dance and have a great dinner with BBQ, Veg & Non-Veg foods options available also.

Head back to Dubai around 8 pm and get to the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa 125 Floor and enjoy an amazing panoramic view of Dubai. The ticket cost starts from 200 AED.

Transport Options in Dubai

To explore Dubai and Abu Dhabi with family or group, you will need to book a private van or bus from local bus rental Dubai companies to explore both cities with ease and comfort.

Hiring a private tour bus with a driver on daily basis is a great option for big groups, the private bus or minivan is the best option for families with kids and luggage, and it is the cheapest and most convenient way to travel. You can choose the route you want to travel in Dubai, and the driver will be your guide.

Taxi

Another option is Dubai Taxi, if you are in a group of 4 or less and want to visit just one place like needing a ride to a meeting place or any short ride then you should consider taking a regular Dubai taxi.

If you are traveling to Dubai for the first time, it is a good idea to check the prices and rates of taxis before you leave. This will help you to get the best rates and to avoid any unexpected charges.

In Dubai, taxis are generally metered, but some taxi drivers are known to charge extra for certain journeys. If you are traveling with your family or friends, it is always better to agree on the fare before you leave.

Metro

There are Dubai Metro and general public transport buses (RTA Buses) transportation options also available, but they have specific routes and static times which are not recommended for tourists who have just 3 days stopover in Dubai.

Renting a private bus in Dubai with a driver or van service is a popular choice for tourists, business people, and locals alike. They offer the best value for money and flexibility for the traveler.

You can book your private bus in advance with a driver or directly with the driver and the bus driver will meet you at the designated pick up and drop off points.

Private transport

The recommended transport option is to rent a private bus in Dubai or Minivan with the driver which will cost per day between 600 AED to 1200 AED depending on the size of the vehicle and the number of travelers etc.

Which Season is Best Time to Visit Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

Dubai has a diverse climate. It has hot summers, mild winters, and dry summers. The summers are very hot and humid, while the winter months between November to February are cold and dry.

The temperature generally ranges from 25 to 45 degrees. Dubai receives an average of 130 millimeters of rainfall per year.

Dubai is a wonderful city to visit in the winter months between Nov to February, as it is located on the Gulf of Oman and is close to the Arabian Sea, during these months the average temperature is around 23°C, and the weather is generally pleasant.

Reason to Visit Dubai for Holidays

One of the main reasons why people travel to Dubai is because of its luxury shopping opportunities, high skyscrapers, desert adventure activities, and beaches; you can find anything you want here, from clothes, jewelry, and electronics, to cars, and even real estate. The city is also a major international hub and is home to one of the busiest airports in the world, Dubai International Airport.

Where to stay in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

If you are looking to travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you will be pleased to know that there are lots of hotels to choose from. There are plenty of budget hotels in Dubai, as well as luxurious hotels.

Dubai has many luxury hotel chains, including Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, and Shangri-La. There are also plenty of boutique hotels in Dubai, including the Grand Hayat Dubai, the Hayat Regency Dubai, and the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai.

If you are looking for a more affordable option, you can choose from a variety of budget hotels in Dubai, such as the Al Sahab Hotel, the Holiday Inn Dubai, and the Ibis Hotel.

Abu Dhabi has several luxury hotel chains, including the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, and the Radisson Blu. The Radisson Blu is one of the best four-star hotels in Abu Dhabi. There are also several boutique hotels in Abu Dhabi, including the Yas Island Beach Resort, the Kempinski Abu Dhabi, and the Sheraton Abu Dhabi hotel.