15 of the Best Things To Do in Dubai Near the Burj Khalifa

A hugely popular must-see near the Burj Khalifa Dubai is the Dubai Fountain, whose myriad water jets sway to lights and music every night on the Burj Lake below the town. View the choreographed show from the lakefront during a guided Dubai night tour or get up-close to the sprays with an abra boat ride on the lake. Bonus: You can walk here in just minutes from the Burj Khalifa.

No visit to Dubai is complete without a shopping splurge and Dubai Mall—home to a staggering 1,200-plus stores and endless other entertainments—is one of the biggest and best attractions near the Burj Khalifa. Catch a hop-on hop-off bus here before strolling to the next-door Burj, or enjoy a shopping spree during a private Dubai sightseeing or layover tour. (You can choose to meet your group right at the mall.)

Dubai Opera is one of Dubai’s, ahem, unsung sights and another destination to explore near the Burj Khalifa Dubai. (It's less than a 10-minute walk away.) See inside this stunning glass venue, learn about its innovative multiform design, and discover its backstage secrets on a guided tour. Alternatively, admire its exterior on a Dubai-by-night tour that showcases it and neighboring landmarks like the Burj in one time-efficient outing.

See the best of the Dubai skyline, both from the land and the water on a guided sightseeing tour which allows you to take in the views of sights close to the Burj Khalifa, including the Pointe at the Palm Jumeirah, the Dubai Mall, and more. Cruise through the streets of Dubai for an up-close look, and get another perspective on the city from a boat ride on Burj Lake.

Add another skyscraper to your Dubai done-it list at nearby Sky Views, which is just a 10-minute walk from the Burj and home to another of the city’s super-high observation decks. Book Sky View entry to ride the glass slide fixed to the exterior, inch along a vertiginous outer ledge, and absorb the awe-inspiring cityscapes from the observation bridge perched more than 656 feet (200 meters) up.

Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road bisects the city and is famous for the soaring towers around it—the Burj Khalifa included—which form a steel-and-glass corridor. Traveling its central stretch is a quintessential Dubai experience that features on many city tours, including this excursion to old and new Dubai. Alternatively, see the highway ablaze with lights on an evening open-top bus tour.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo houses more than 3,300 marine creatures, making it one of the most engaging and educational places to visit near the Burj Khalifa, particularly for families. Admire the tiger sharks, rays, turtles, and reef fish galore as you stroll its wrap-around tunnel and tanks. Prebook admission or choose a time-saving combo package of aquarium and Burj Khalifa tickets.

Another of the numerous Dubai activities near the Burj Khalifa, the traditionally styled Souk Al Bahar is more than worth your time. Find it along the waterfront of Burj Lake and dive in for classic Arabian handicrafts and a choice of upscale global restaurants. It’s also a prime vantage point for the Dubai Fountain: Consider taking a private city tour that includes dinner directly overlooking the dancing jets (and Burj Khalifa Observation Deck tickets).

If you’re after some family fun, make tracks for Dubai Ice Rink—an Olympics-size ice rink in Dubai Mall, right next to the Burj Khalifa. Put your sightseeing on hold, lace up your skates, and give the ice a whirl: you don’t necessarily need the kids in tow to enjoy it. Prebook admission and get all-day unlimited access to to the Snow Park, Snow Cavern, and more at Ski Dubai.

With its contemporary sculptures providing ready-made photo ops, the Burj Plaza graces many visitor bucket lists of what to see near the Burj Khalifa Dubai. Take a city highlights tour or guided art-and-architecture walk to clock its artworks and views of the towering Burj; people-watch from its cafés, and capture the obligatory photos of the Wings of Mexico sculpture with the Burj Khalifa framed behind you.

A short 5-minute cab ride from the Burj Khalifa brings you to the Museum of the Future, whose steel-and-glass elliptical shape makes it one of Dubai’s architectural standouts. Save time by advance-booking admission to the museum, where the interactive displays imagine life in 2071, or settle for just viewing its surreal, calligraphy-carved exterior on an old and new Dubai sightseeing tour.

Running for 1.9 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Business Bay near the Burj Khalifa to the Persian Gulf, the Dubai Water Canal is flanked by boardwalks overlooking stunning cityscapes and look-at-me landmarks. Enjoy the views and dinner on an evening cruise to the neon-colored cascades of Dubai Waterfall Bridge (which departs just a 15-minute drive from the Burj Khalifa), walk or jog beside the water, or see the canal on a private 4WD tour of Dubai’s sights.

Swap Dubai’s concrete jungle for the natural world of The Green Planet, a tropical biodome just a brief, 10-minute cab journey from the Burj Khalifa. More than 3,000 animal, bird, and plant species fill this multi-story sanctuary, and you can roam around to observe them and learn how rainforests survive and thrive. Prebook tickets to visit when it suits you, or choose a hassle-free ticket-and-transfer combo package.

Just 20 minutes by car from the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah boasts talcum-powder sands ripe for recharging. View it from the sea on boat trips, admire it from above on helicopter tours, experience its stellar Burj-Al Arab views on a Dubai city tour or get adventurous on a RIB boat ride that departs from Dubai Marina.

If you’re creatively inclined, delve into the city’s art scene with a Dubai guide near the Burj Khalifa on a tour of Alserkal Avenue, just a short 15-minute cab ride from Downtown Dubai. This post-industrial hub is a cradle of contemporary art: explore its warehouse galleries, exhibitions, ateliers, and artisanal food spots on a guided walk, or join a wider Alserkal and Downtown tour to cover both districts in one.