U.A.E in 4 days

Best time to go: Definitely winter, November to March are the best months so you can enjoy the warmth of the United Arab Emirates' desert-like climate and avoid the peak of the heat.

General advice: As you might know UAE is expensive (very expensive) so be mentally prepared for this. Switzerland and Norway are cheap compared to Dubai. Rent a car at the airport to be more independent, there are many parking places around the city so parking is not an issue and that way you can explore more areas, as not everything is nearby.

If you want to keep your expenses under control, stay at an apartment instead of a hotel. The best area to stay is “Downtown” so you will be near restaurants and shops. The recommended apartment is

“DAMAC Maison Distinction”. If you prefer staying at a hotel, “Vida Downtown” it is a great option and the breakfast is incredible!

Day 1: Downtown

First day itinerary to explore downtown and the most famous areas of Dubai:

• Burj Khalifa- Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world standing at 828 metres high and with 160 floors. This is probably Dubai’s most iconic landmark and holds plenty of world records. You can go up to the 148th floor and marvel at views of the city. My personal view is that you don’t need to go to the top as it is so high that you cannot see anything from there! It is nice to have a walk around the Burj Khalifa and the fountain and maybe take one of the little boats that take you around the fountain.

• The Dubai Fountain – The Dubai Fountain is quite impressive, it is so big that it looks more like a lake than a fountain! It is more than 900ft in length and shoots water into the air to a range of different songs, from classical music to contemporary Arabic tracks and classic pop songs. It’s a spectacular show and one that’s always popular with city dwellers and visitors alike. Head to ZETA or NEOS for some stunning views. Performances take place at 1:00 pm and at 1:30 pm as well as every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 10 pm.

• The Dubai Mall - The world’s biggest mall still has plenty you can do and see. The Dubai Mall is home to The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, where you can marvel at 300 sharks and countless species of fish completely free from the outside of the tank, as well as Dubai Ice Rink where you can learn to skate.

For dinner the recommended restaurant is “Abd El Wahab”, serving Lebanese cuisine overlooking the fountain. The location is amazing!

Day 2: Souks and La Mer You can start your day by visiting the Souks that are a 20 min drive from downtown.

• Dubai Gold Souk - It is a traditional market located in Dubai's commercial business district in Deira. The souk consists of over 380 retailers, most of whom are jewellery traders. Some of the shops are as old as four decades, while some are as new as a year. The major items of the souk include Gold, Platinum, Diamonds and sometimes also silver.

• The Spice Souk - It is adjacent to the Dubai Gold Souk. The souk comprises several narrow lanes which are lined with open and closed-roof stores. Stores in the Spice Souk sell a variety of fragrances and spices, from frankincense and shisha to the many herbs used in Arabic and South Asian food. In addition, several household items, textiles, tea, incense, rugs and artifacts are also sold in the Spice Souk. A majority of the trading occurs through haggling.

• La Mer – After visiting the souks, make your way to the beach that is a 25 min drive from the souks. Even if you don’t like the beach it is worth visiting La Mer as it is a very popular area full of restaurants and shops and is a nice place to have a walk around.

• Jumeirah Mosque – From La Mer you can have a 25 min walk or a 5 min drive to the Jumeirah mosque. The mosque is open to visitors and tourists so you can explore around and admire the architecture.

For dinner the recommended restaurant is “Nobu” to enjoy some fancy sushi.

Day 3: Abu Dhabi Your third or second day could be a good opportunity to pop out to Abu Dhabi for a day trip as it’s just 1 hour and 20 min from Dubai. There are 2 main things to see in Abu Dhabi:

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – The biggest mosque of the UAE was constructed between 1996 and 2007 by Syrian architect Yousef Abdelky. It is very nice and completely worth the visit. The walls were built entirely of marble from Macedonia. The colour white is one of the most astonishing characteristics of the mosque.

• The Louvre - The architectural design is special and definitely something to visit. Artworks from around the world are showcased at the museum, with particular focus placed upon bridging the gap between Eastern and Western art.

For dinner on the way back from Abu Dhabi , stop at Dubai’s Marina at Pier 7. Each floor of this building has a different restaurant and all of them are great!

Day 4: Dessert or Boat tour For your final day you can choose between a desert day trip or, if you don’t like the sand, a boat tour.

• Desert – At “get your ride” website you will find few options to choose from, but the day trips normally include Desert Safari with BBQ, Camel Ride & Sandboarding. A great experience to enjoy on the last day!

• Boat Tour - The boat tours are generally departing from the Marina, which is a 20 min drive from Downtown. You can choose among a few providers and select how many hours you want the tour for. Some of these tours can also include dinner or lunch. Most of them will take you around the coast, you can see the skyline from a different perspective and it will provide you with some information about them.