If you’re planning a trip to the UAE’s most glamorous city, you’re probably wondering where to stay in Dubai. You can choose from luxurious hotels in the famous Dubai Marina, glitzy high-rise hotels in Downtown Dubai, amenity-packed beach resorts in Palm Jumeirah, cool heritage hotels in Bur Dubai, and so much more.
With a population of roughly 3.5 million, Dubai is a sprawling city, and it’s important to do a little research about where to stay in Dubai depending on what you plan to do during your vacation. For example, if you want to have an epic week at the beach, you might want to consider a hotel in JBR or Palm Jumeirah.
If you’d prefer to do some serious shopping and dining, you’ll likely prefer to stay in a hotel in Downtown Dubai. Alternately, if you’re on a budget or prefer to stay in the charming Old Dubai area, then maybe a budget-friendly hotel in Deira or a heritage hotel in Bur Dubai is for you!
As you can see, there are plenty of different places to base yourself in sprawling Dubai. But don’t worry – read through my guide to the best places to stay in Dubai, and you’re sure to find the perfect home base for your Dubai getaway!
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A Little Bit About the Layout of Dubai
The main tourist areas of Dubai stretch along the coast from Deira in the north down to the Dubai Marina in the south. Although it’s roughly 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Deira to the Dubai Marina, Dubai’s traffic can be notoriously bad, so this can take an hour or even more.
Chances are you’ll be flying into Dubai International Airport. Downtown Dubai, Bur Dubai, and Deira are all located toward the northern end of the city, roughly 15 to 25 minutes from the airport. So these are convenient home bases if you’re in town for a quick trip and want easy access to many of the best Dubai attractions.
The other main areas for tourists to stay in Dubai are in Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), which are adjacent to one another, as well as the nearby Palm Jumeirah – Dubai’s famous “palm tree” that juts out into the Arabian Gulf.
It’s important to note that these parts of town are roughly an hour from the airport by taxi and roughly the same if you’d like to get to Downtown Dubai, Bur Dubai, or Deira.
OK, now that you’ve got your bearings, it’s time to figure out the best part of Dubai to stay in for you!
The Best Places to Stay in Dubai – A Neighborhood Guide
Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
JBR is where to stay in Dubai if you want to be right on the beach. In this part of town, you’ll find mid-range and luxury high-rise hotels lining the beach, which has blissfully warm and calm waters that are perfect for the whole family.
You can simply throw down a towel and work on your tan, rent a lounger or cabana, or get some thrills on a jet ski or one of the many other watersports that are popular at this beach. You can even snap a photo with the resident camel if you’re lucky!
JBR is also home to tons of international restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as cool beach clubs and rooftop bars, so there’s tons to keep you entertained.
Stay here and it’s also possible to walk over the pedestrian bridge to Bluewaters Island. This is where you’ll find the Ain Dubai, the world’s largest Ferris wheel, and more shops and restaurants. JBR is also a short walk to the spectacular Dubai Marina (more on the marina below).
Another perk of basing yourself in JBR is that you’ll be able to walk to the tram and metro stations, which means you can get to places like Deira and the airport via public transport, if you’d like to avoid traffic or save on taxi costs.
Dubai Marina
I live in the Dubai Marina, so I may be a bit biased, but I think this is easily the best area to stay in Dubai. Many hotels here boast incredible views of the famous, yacht-filled marina flanked by towering skyscrapers. Even if you don’t have a view from your hotel room, step outside and you’ll want to take endless photos of the marina.
The area is also home to the Marina Mall, which has some decent shopping, and the fine dining establishments in Pier 7. You’ll also find a ton of restaurants lining the 7-kilometer Marina Walk, which also happens to be a popular area for tourists and locals to do their evening walks and runs.
Another perk of staying in the Dubai Marina is that you’re never more than a 15-minute walk from the beach at JBR, so you kind of get the best of both worlds! The Dubai Marina also has multiple tram and metro stations, which makes getting around Dubai a breeze.
Looking for hotels in the Dubai Marina? Check out the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Dubai Marina.
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah is roughly 20 minutes from the Dubai Marina. This is the iconic palm tree-shaped island you’ve probably seen in the movies and on Instagram many times before. The 5-kilometer-long Palm Jumeirah is lined with swanky villas and some of the best luxury resorts and hotels in Dubai. This is where to stay in Dubai if you want to go all out on your vacation – and I mean all out.
Many of the hotels and resorts here are packed with so many luxury amenities that there’s really no need to leave the property if you don’t want to. You can have it all, from spa hotels right on a private stretch of sand to a family-friendly resort with its own massive waterpark and aquarium to exclusive 5-star hotels with multiple nightclubs on-site.
Looking for hotels in Palm Jumeirah? Here are the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Palm Jumeirah!
Downtown Dubai
Like the Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai is one of the best places to stay in Dubai. But unlike the marina, this isn’t where you want to stay if you’re looking for a vacation on the beach.
Instead, this is a great option if you want to spend your days shopping at the Dubai Mall (the world’s largest mall), marveling at the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building), and catching the spectacular Dubai Fountain show in the evenings.
The mall is absolutely massive, so you can expect all sorts of entertainment options, international restaurants, and, of course, shops! Downtown is also home to the Time Out Market, which is always a fun place to grab dinner and drinks before catching the fountain show in the evening. If you get there early enough, you can even snag a table with fountain views.
Many hotels here also offer incredible views of the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, which is an added perk of booking a stay here.
Looking for hotels in Downtown Dubai? Here are the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Downtown Dubai!
Bur Dubai
Just 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai, Bur Dubai is where to stay in Dubai if you want a taste of Old Dubai. Personally, I love exploring the areas of Bur Dubai that capture the city’s history and culture – it’s a totally different world than the more modern downtown or marina areas.
If that sounds up your alley, I highly recommend booking a hotel near the Al Seef heritage district or the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood. These will give you easy access to the area’s souks, shops, mosques, and more. Plus, you’ll be located near Dubai Creek, which means you can take an abra (traditional wooden boat) across Dubai Creek to Deira – a must on any Dubai bucket list!
Looking for hotels in Bur Dubai? Here are the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Bur Dubai!
Deira
One of the oldest parts of Dubai, Deira dates back to the mid-1700s and is home to Dubai’s famous Gold Souk and Spice Souk. This is another one of the best places to stay in Dubai if you want to be surrounded by culture.
This is also the best part of Dubai to stay in if you’re on a budget. Everything from accommodation to food is refreshingly less expensive than other parts of the city!
I love the hustle and bustle of Deira, eating at all of the delicious (and cheap!) street food stalls and restaurants, and taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the souks. Deira also gives you access to a metro station, so whether you want to get to the airport or explore further afield in the Dubai Marina, getting around the city is a cinch.
While there are many more areas to base yourself in Dubai, these are the places that I recommend to friends and family who are planning a Dubai vacation!
