With so much to do in Dubai, it’s not easy deciding what to prioritize. To help you narrow it down, here are five attractions I’m glad we didn’t do with young children. Personally, I don’t regret skipping them although they were recommended by fellow travel parents. Let me know if I should reconsider when the kids are older!
Global Village is just what it sounds like – a mini city of diverse cultures, attractions, shows, rides and food from around the world. It sounds like a fantastic way to “see the world” if you have no intention of ever actually seeing the world. But we do. In my opinion, it looks overwhelming to do with small kids also. It was closed when we were in Dubai anyway. It is only open from October to April, and if you have ever been to Dubai in the summer, then you know why.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at Dubia Mall seems overpriced and repeatedly rated as “underwhelming” on TripAdvisor. You can see plenty of sharks and fish in the giant tank outside of the entrance for free, without wasting the time and money. I’d rather spend it at the Lost Chambers Aquarium, which is included with a stay at the Atlantis.
Ain Dubai sets another world record for Dubai, as it’s the world’s tallest observation wheel (Ferris wheel) at nearly twice the height of the London Eye. I had enough of the giant Ferris wheel experience in Seattle. You’ve ridden one, you’ve ridden them all, so we took a pass here. Our balcony view of Dubai was pretty darn impressive though, so I’m sure the view from the wheel isn’t too shabby.
The Green Planet is a biodome-enclosed tropical rainforest that looks fascinating for animal-lovers. Our kids aren’t that interested in these birds and critters yet so it wasn’t worth visiting. It did receive a 4.5-star rating on Trip Advisor and came highly recommended by other travel families.
I thought we missed out on the Dubai Garden Glow Dino Park. The “glow” was definitely eye-catching as we drove by on the freeway at night. But after briefly reading some reviews, now I’m not so sure. I think if your kids love dinosaurs and bright lights, go for it, otherwise it might be overpriced, out of the way, and needing a bit of TLC.
I can only do so many “kid-focused” activities while on vacation, so these didn’t make the cut. To read more about the ones that we did choose and enjoy, read my post on the best activities to do with kids in Dubai. I need all the tips I can get when traveling, so I shared some insider tips for you about each attraction.
