Recently, one of my close friends spent a fortnight in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and when she got back, she couldn’t wait to tell me all about it. Dubai sounds like a truly amazing place to visit and I’m so fascinated by it that I’ve added it to my travel bucket list.
No visit to Dubai is complete without a visit to the Burj Khalifa and as my top tips on visiting the Taj Mahal post did so well, I’ve decided to write a post on my top tips for visiting the Burj Khalifa – with a little help from my friend, of course!
What is the Burj Khalifa?
Towering above the rest of Dubai at over 828m (2,717 ft), the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. With 160 storeys, it also has more floors than any other man-made structure on the planet. It took six years to complete the construction work, before the building finally opened in 2010. On the 148th floor, you’ll find the At the Top Burj Khalifa SKY Lounge – the highest observatory deck in the world, offering breath-taking views over Dubai.
Some of Dubai’s rich and famous even own homes inside the Burj Khalifa, which also houses the Armani Hotel and Residences, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, the world’s highest restaurant and the world’s highest nightclub. See why I want to visit so badly?
Here are my top tips for visiting the Burj Khalifa:
- Planning your visit
Understandably, the Burj Khalifa is one of the world’s most popular buildings to visit. If it’s on your bucket list, it’s worth keeping an eye out for cheap flight deals so you can see it yourself in person.
One of the best things about visiting Dubai or elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates is that you can usually get a free visa upon arrival for up to 30 days for a leisure stay. However, if you want to cross the border into neighbouring Saudi, be aware that you would most definitely require a Saudi Arabia Visa. You might also be asked to arrange for documentation to be ‘legalised’ to prove that the signature, stamp or seal comes from a genuine and trustworthy source. In this case, you might consider enlisting the help of Apostille London.
Besides the Burj Khalifa, there are tonnes of tourist attractions in Dubai, including Dubai Aquarium, the Miracle Garden, the five-star Atlantis, the Palm resort (featuring marine wildlife parks and an enormous water park) and the View at the Palm.
The Burj Khalifa operates every day, from 8:30am until midnight, with the last entry at 45 minutes before closing time.
- Buying tickets
It’s best to book tickets for Burj Khalifa in advance, to get a cheaper price and to make sure your desired viewing slot isn’t fully booked on the day. You should arrive 10-15 minutes before the time of your booking.
Prices vary depending on which observation deck you want to visit, and what time you want to visit. To visit the At the Top observation deck on levels 124 to 125, costs range from AED 125 to AED 200 (£25-40). It costs more to visit during the peak viewing time of 5.30pm – 7pm.
However, if you also want access to the At the Top SKY observation deck on level 148, this will set you back around AED 350 to 500 (£70-100).
- What to bring
When visiting the Burj Khalifa, wear sensible, comfortable shoes for walking around in as you might be on your feet for a while – expect queues! If you’re lacking a decent pair of comfy shoes and don’t fancy spending too much money, you could use Protalus shoe inserts to make things easier on your feet. You should also eat something before going up to the observation decks, because you’re not allowed to bring food and drink with you, and some people get a little light-headed at high altitudes. Bring some cash for a meal in the restaurant if you like, and consider whether you’ll need spending money for any of the Burj Khalifa’s other attractions. Finally, it should go without saying that you should also bring a camera – this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture the best views you’ll ever see!
- When to visit
According to my friend, the most rewarding time of day to visit the Burj Khalifa is just before sunset. This is the best time to experience the phenomenal views over Dubai, as the light fades and nightlife begins to switch into full force. It is also the perfect time to take photographs to keep the memory alive – and impress your Instagram followers!
- Enjoy the outside
If ascending the Burj Khalifa and being faced with unimaginable heights isn’t for you, don’t worry! The exterior of this building is just as impressive as the view from inside. The architecture is incredible in its own right and at the foot of the structure on the Burj Lake, you’ll find the world’s tallest performing fountain, Dubai Fountain. Lit up in vibrant colours, the fountain projects water up to impressive heights, to the sound of magnificent soundtracks including classical, contemporary Arabic and world music. Not to be missed!
If you are into shopping, the nearby Dubai Mall is a fantastic place for fashion and luxury goods like gold and diamond jewelry. Just make sure you do your prior research and go prepared before hitting the stores. On the other side of the Burj Khalifa, another must see attraction is the Souk Al Bahar which offers an Arabesque shopping experience and plenty of dining options.
Have you ever been to the Burj Khalifa and what did you make of the experience? If not, is it somewhere you’d like to visit in future?
This is a collaborative post.
That looks incredible! I’ve never really thought about visiting Dubai but I’m hearing more and more about it that makes me want to go!
I hadn’t really thought about it until now, but my friend literally won’t shut up about it! She’s made me want to go so badly.
The views look absolutely stunning. I’ll be terrified being that high up though
Me too. I would have butterflies in my stomach!
Dubai looks amazing, I would absolutely love to visit! Great tips 🙂
Me too. I’ve heard it’s expensive, so I had better start saving now!
One day I would love to be lucky enough to see the view from the top of the Burj Khalifa x
I bet you can see for miles up there!
This looks amazing! The views are just indescribable. Your photo’s too are simply stunning! You’ve put Dubai on the map for me!
That’s good to hear. I really want to go too!
I can’t imagine being that high up!! It would be like the view from a plane!
Me too. I get a little queasy with heights.