StayAreas
Luxury pick
Armani Hotel Dubai
Why we like it: Inside the Burj Khalifa, designed by Giorgio Armani.
Typical luxury rate in Downtown Dubai: ~$680/night
Downtown Dubai
Dubai
The district around the Burj Khalifa, with the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain and the Opera, and some of the city's best-known hotels.
Best for First visit · Upscale · Families
- Transport
- 4/5
- Sights
- 5/5
- Value
- 2/5
- Quiet
- 3/5
- Food
- 4/5
Typical mid-range hotel ~$245/night · 5 min to Burj Khalifa
See hotels in Downtown DubaiDowntown Dubai on the map
What it's like
Downtown was built around the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and the lake at its foot where the Dubai Fountain plays every evening. The Dubai Mall, one of the largest in the world, has an aquarium, an ice rink and hundreds of restaurants, and the Dubai Opera sits across the water.
It's the best base for a first visit: the main sights are on your doorstep and the Red Line metro runs to the airport, the old town and the Marina. It isn't on the beach, prices are high, and in the heat you'll walk mostly through air-conditioned links rather than outside.
Best streets and sub-areas
Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard
The loop road around Downtown, with cafés and hotels.
Souk Al Bahar
Arabian-style mall with restaurant terraces facing the fountain.
Old Town Island
Low-rise hotels and restaurants on the lake.
Where to stay in Downtown Dubai
A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.
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Hotels in Downtown DubaiMid-range from ~$245/night
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