10 Best Places to Visit in Dubai with Family (2026)

Heading to Dubai? We share the best places to visit in Dubai with family, so you can enjoy a trip and find something for everyone to enjoy!

Dubai is the world’s fourth most visited destination, known for its high-rise architectural marvels and diverse range of hotels and spas. It’s a place where the Burj Al Arab, a colossal tower, was once the main topic of conversation, only to be supplanted by the Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Khalifa.

Let’s simply say that this metropolis is always expanding and expanding, erecting futuristic structures as well as amazing attractions. Continue browsing through this list of tourist hotspots and take on a guided tour of some of Dubai’s best attractions, where you’ll find plenty of fun things to do. Get your family or friends together, book some cheap flight tickets and visit Dubai asap.

Best Places to visit in Dubai with Family

1. Dubai Miracle Garden

This is the world’s biggest floral garden, with roughly 109 million blossoms to see and is one of the best places to visit in Dubai with family. You can spend the entire day admiring the blooms and possibly sniffing the sparkling aroma of the garden. Miracle Garden is undoubtedly one of the most prominent tourist attractions, and particularly nature lovers are going to appreciate it and admire it to the fullest.

2. Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

Even though you came solely for a tour of the city, heading out of Dubai is required because there are a couple of natural tourist spots when you enjoy a dune buggy in Dubai ride that you must visit.

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is one such fantastic place, a renowned wildlife spot where you may see local species of animals. Here you can see sand gazelles, mountain gazelles, and Arabian oryx. Don’t miss making a trip here and enjoy an adventure where you can see animals that you haven’t seen so far in your life. 

This is the perfect place to enjoy dune bashing in Dubai and explore the incredible landscapes; one of our favourite best places to visit in Dubai with family and one of the more family-friendly sports in Dubai.

3. Dubai Dolphinarium

The Dubai Dolphinarium is the Middle East’s first indoor, air-conditioned dolphinarium and is our next best places to visit in Dubai with family. It features bottlenose dolphins and fur seals dancing, juggling, singing, playing ball, and jumping through hoops to demonstrate their skill sets. Take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime chance to communicate with dolphins by kissing, embracing, stroking, dancing, and playing ball with them.

Splash with the dolphins in knee-deep water for a more personal encounter. Under the guidance of qualified trainers, take a dorsal fin tow or a belly ride to discover dolphin behavior, native habitats, and more.

4. Ski Dubai

Ski Dubai is the Middle East’s first artificial ski resort and one of the more popular best places to visit in Dubai with family. Ski Dubai, which is located in the Mall of Emirates, provides a selection of sights and activities, including close contact with adorable penguins.

With a wonderful snow park, great ski school, amazing slopes, chair lift, snowboarding, snow bullet, and an unforgettable penguin encounter, Ski Dubai is a true winter wonderland in the desert and one of the more exciting things to do in Dubai.

5. Dubai Fountain and Abra Lake Ride 

The Dubai Fountain, the world’s highest and largest completely coordinated and perfectly synchronized fountain performance, is a spectacular display and a must on any Dubai itinerary. It is a visual spectacle of a unique design, measuring 900 feet in length and equivalent to two football fields, with over 6,600 WET Superlights and 25 color projectors. Together they generate a visual spectrum of over 1,000 different water manifestations.

Did you know that the 50 color projectors provide a full spectrum of color with a total output of 1.5 million lumens? This is truly spectacular and you have to witness it with your own eyes. While pumping over 22,000 gallons of water to an incredible height of 500 feet, the fountain performs a variety of classical to modern Arabic tunes and international music.

6. Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

Aquaventure Waterpark offers a world of adventure that will make you feel special in the water in a variety of ways. There you can enjoy 30 different rides and activities that you will never forget; easily one of the more fun best places to visit in Dubai with family.

Are you ready to try your way down along Dubai’s Largest Lazy River, and unwind on a 500-meter private beach?

Animal lovers may get face to face with dolphins, sea lions, sharks, and stingrays, while adrenaline junkies can shout through world-record-breaking waterslides. It doesn’t really matter if you’re on holiday or a UAE resident looking to jazz up your weekend, you have to experience the  Aquaventure Waterpark.

7. Dubai Aquarium

With an underwater tunnel a creepy crawly zone and plenty of exotic fish to see, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo shouldn’t be missed and is one of the best places to visit in Dubai with family. This indoor attraction is a great way to stay cool with the family and includes over 400 sharks and rays. 

You can also learn about underwater life on level two; you move through three ecological zones and learn about the creatures that can be found in the Rainforest, Rocky Shore and Living Ocean. 

Located in the Dubai Mall, you can partner up a trip to the Aquarium for a spot of ice skating, a movie or a delicious meal at one of the many, many restaurants inside the mall. 

8. Burj Khalifa

One of the most popular attractions in Dubai has to be the Burj Khalifa. As the tallest building in the world, you can head up to the top of the Burj Khalifa, taking in the views from 555 meters above the ground. 

For a special experience with older children, why not head up to The Lounge Burj Khalifa, here you can enjoy an afternoon tea on an outdoor terrace, 585 meters up. 

Remember to book tickets in advance and arrive for the opening to avoid too many queues. 

9. Desert Safari Dubai 

Desert Safari Dubai is a popular outdoor activity in Dubai that allows you to experience the thrills of off-roading in the desert. You’ll be picked up from your hotel in a 4×4 vehicle and driven out to the sandy dunes outside the city. This doesn’t really count as extreme sports in Dubai but it is definitely a thrilling day out!

Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping ride as your driver navigates the towering golden dunes. Stop to watch the sunset over the desert and enjoy traditional Arabic coffee and dates.

The tour includes sandboarding, camel rides, henna tattoos, and a delicious barbecue dinner under the stars. With music and entertainment, Desert Safari Dubai offers a memorable cultural experience.

10. Dubai Butterfly Garden

One of the most unique places to visit in Dubai with family is the Dubai Butterfly Garden, located next to the famous Miracle Garden. This indoor attraction is home to more than 15,000 butterflies from over 50 species, living inside climate-controlled domes filled with colorful flowers and plants. 

Kids love watching butterflies fly freely around the gardens and sometimes even land on visitors. There are also educational displays explaining the butterfly life cycle, so children can learn about how caterpillars transform into butterflies. The garden features ten domes with different habitats, plus a small butterfly museum and koi fish ponds, making it a peaceful and interactive experience for the whole family. 

Because it’s indoors and temperature-controlled, it’s a great family attraction to visit during Dubai’s hotter months. The attraction is also very photogenic, with colorful flowers and butterflies everywhere — perfect for family photos.

Tips for visiting Dubai

• Visit from October to April: Dubai has two seasons, hot and hotter. Visiting in the cooler months from October to April will offer you clear blue skies, pleasant heat, and less humidity. 
• Plan and book in advance: Dubai is a popular destination so booking everything ahead of time is best. Plus, Emirates has some great cheap seats when you book 6 months ahead of travel and hotels offer great deals when booking in advance. 
• Stopover: Dubai is the perfect place to use as a stopover. There are lots of things to see and do for all types of travelers, we will get on to that later, but Dubai is a great place to stopover when traveling from Europe or America to Asia. Book flights on the Emirates website to save money on the extra flight and hotel room. 

• Dress modestly: When packing for your trip, make sure you pack layers and reconsider those short skirts or crop tops. Aim to cover up to your knees and shoulders when possible out of respect for the local culture. 
• Tipping: Another thing to consider before your trip to Dubai is tipping. Tipping isn’t expected but some restaurants will add it to the bill. 
• Use the taxis: Taxis in Dubai are great, affordable, and easy to come by. We recommend using them whenever you can – you can even book taxis on the RTA Smart Taxi app. However, avoid just handing over the address of your destination, try to find out landmarks nearby as the drivers don’t always know every street in the city. 
• Being respectful: Something important to remember whilst visiting Dubai is to be respectful to the local culture. We have talked about dressing appropriately but also remember to avoid showing public displays of affection when around Dubai. 
• Weekends: Weekends in Dubai are Fridays and Saturdays, so consider this when planning your trip to the city. If you can, aim to visit from Sunday to Thursday. 

Reasons to visit Dubai

Best Places to Visit in Dubai with Family FAQ

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