10 Things to Do in Dubai in June

During June, there are still plenty of things to do in Dubai, even though it's very hot. Don't let the temperatures spoil your travel plans!

At this time of year, the city hosts many events (with nice cool air conditioning) and activities in its outdoor theme parks so you can cool off and enjoy the sunny days. Check out the 10 ideas I have for you!

If you're traveling to Dubai in June, whether as a couple, with friends, or with children, one of the best things you can do is book tickets to Atlantis Aquaventure, the city's water park where locals and visitors alike go to enjoy the good weather and take a dip in the open air.

Among its attractions are 79 slides to keep you entertained, a private beach over a kilometer long to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, and for the more athletic, a wave machine to immerse yourself in the surfing spirit. You'll feel like you're in Hawaii, the world's surfing mecca!

Practical information about Atlantis Aquaventure

• Where: The Palm, Crescent Rd.
• Average ticket price: approximately €82for adults and €70 for children. If you are staying at the Atlantis The Palm Resort Hotel, admission to the Atlantis Aquaventure water park is free.
• Opening hours: Every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (opening hours may vary depending on the season).
• Recommended if... you want to have a fun day out with family or friends and experience an adrenaline rush.
• Find out everything you need to know to enjoy your visit to Atlantis Aquaventure.

To enjoy the fresh air, one of the best things to do at sunset is to cross the Dubai Creek in an abra, a small wooden boat, and enjoy one of the most authentic sunsets. The bustling Dubai Creek has been the driving force behind the city for centuries and continues to attract curious travelers today.

The price? For just AED 1 (€0.24), the boat will take you from Bur Dubai to the Deira district, the center of Dubai. These unique water taxis run every few minutes throughout the day from four stations on the creek, and each trip takes only 5 minutes. A short but very authentic journey!

Sail for 1 hour

If you want to enjoy a more complete experience, I recommend renting an abra on your own to explore the creek for an hour for less than €30. From here, you'll have the opportunity to see the exchange of goods between locals and admire old and new Dubai and the architecture of its traditional houses, towers, and minarets. A unique perspective of the city. And if you're looking for a more premium experience, you can book a traditional sailboat cruise with dinner in Dubai.

Visiting Dubai in June, visiting Dubai in July, and visiting Dubai in August has its advantages, such as being able to book your ticket to the Burj Khalifa, the most impressive and tallest skyscraper in the world at 828 meters high (with apologies to the Empire State Building in New York), without waiting in the horrible lines that form during the high season in the winter months.

If you're curious to learn more about this flagship of modernist architecture, take a look at these articles on what you can see and do inside the Burj Khalifa and the views from the Burj Khalifa. It's well worth it!

My advice is to visit the Burj Khalifa at night, when you can enjoy fascinating views of Dubai's illuminated buildings. The views are magical!

One of my favorite pastimes in June was visiting the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, one of the largest aquariums in the world with 10 million liters of water and home to more than 33,000 marine animals, including the largest group of bull sharks on the planet.

The aquarium, which can also be seen from the Dubai Mall, has a fantastic 48-meter tunnel from which you can immerse yourself in the depths of the seabed without getting wet. You can also enjoy a boat ride with a glass surface, become a mermaid, or, for those who like thrills, get into an underwater cage and see the sharks.

But with tickets to the Dubai Aquarium, one of the experiences that fascinated me most was watching the aquarium divers feed the sharks and rays. They ate as if there were no tomorrow! If you are traveling with children, they will love listening to the biologists at the facility, who will share the underwater secrets of the inhabitants of this aquarium.

• Where: Ground floor and 2nd floor, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
• Hours: daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

At the end of the day, you can book a cruise along the 7-kilometer Dubai Marina, surrounded by palm trees, and watch the sunset from any of its terraces. This lively and picturesque coastal area is a must-see in summer, where you'll see a multitude of luxury yachts resting in its emerald waters. If you feel like sailing, you can do so by booking a cruise along Dubai Marina.

Summer is also one of the best times to go cycling (avoiding the middle of the day) and end the day, after pedaling, with dinner at one of the restaurants overlooking the marina. Another option for the more adventurous is to hop on the XLine, the world's largest urban zip line, and see the city from a bird's eye view. Ready, set... Go!

The weather in June is ideal for booking a desert excursion from Dubai and enjoying dinner. If, after exploring every corner of the city, you feel like discovering exotic landscapes, just a 30-minute drive away are the Al Qudra Lakes, an oasis near the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. Getting there is very easy!

It is a very special place in Dubai, as it is where you are most likely to see wild animals in their natural habitat, such as foxes, swans, geese, ducks, and flamingos. You can also see some endangered birds such as the steppe eagle. Pay close attention!

On the other hand, food lovers can treat themselves at the nearby food trucks or buy takeaway food and prepare an outdoor picnic with views of the desert dunes. It's a different kind of plan that you'll love.

Dubai's beaches are one of the city's great secrets. Who would have imagined that behind those skyscrapers there would be endless miles of fine white sand and crystal-clear waters... To dazzle travelers and enjoy all kinds of activities, such as a jet ski ride along Dubai's beaches.

There are two types of beaches: public beaches, where you don't pay anything (except, in some cases, the entrance fee to the nature park), and private beaches, which belong to the large hotels in the area. Here's a little trick: you can eat at one of the restaurants and enjoy these beaches for free.

Take note of the best public beaches:

• Al Mamzar Beach Park.
• Jumeirah Beach Park.
• Umm Suqeim Beach.

Who said there are no mountains in Dubai? If you thought there was only desert, you were very wrong. About 130 kilometers from downtown Dubai is Hatta, a fantastic mountain village and an oasis of tranquility thanks to its rugged mountains, clear springs, and valleys that contrast with the modern buildings of the city.

In this town, you'll travel back in time thanks to its fortifications and towers. You'll also get a first-hand look at what life was like for the ancient inhabitants who made their living growing palm trees and harvesting dates.

Bike routes, kayaking, canoeing, and much more

The more adventurous will have the time of their lives at the Hatta Dam, a dream location where you can admire the landscape from the water and get some exercise thanks to the kayak, canoe, and pedal boat centers that offer these activities. There is also a large twelve-meter-high water slide to take a dip on.

Another option, for those who are more fit, is to rent a mountain bike and explore the 52-kilometer network of trails, with routes marked by colors according to their difficulty, or go hiking in the Hatta mountains. Don't forget to bring water!

If you're the type who comes back with a suitcase full of souvenirs and gourmet gifts for the family (guilty!), I recommend you visit the Deira market, where, in addition to fresh seasonal produce, there are sections dedicated to honey and dates, both succulent delicacies.

This is a very old fish market, which has been in operation since 1958, but was modernized in 2017, resulting in a state-of-the-art, air-conditioned facility. Very important in June!

However, the magic of the old souk has been preserved, and customers can find a magnificent variety of fish and seafood, such as lobster, mackerel, and pomfret, at cost price. By the way, the best time of day to visit is early in the morning when the produce is freshest, or late in the afternoon when prices have dropped. A tip for your wallet: don't forget to haggle.

In the middle of Dubai's concrete jungle, you can visit the green heart of the city, The Green Planet, Dubai's rainforest, where you can enjoy the coolness of the vegetation. Although it's a bit of a trick, it's a custom-built space. But it looks the part!

The artificial jungle Green Planet

This is an exhibition of exotic flora and fauna that houses more than 3,000 species of plants, animals, and birds inside a glass dome with a special temperature and whose supplies come from sustainable sources. Here you can see lizards, crocodiles, snakes, and various reptiles.

Its main objective is to educate visitors about the important role of tropical rainforests in the future of our planet. The Green Planet is located in City Walk, one of the city's trendy districts with a wide range of restaurants where you can recharge your batteries before embarking on your tropical adventure.

The weather in Dubai in June is very hot, especially in the second half of the month when summer begins, so if you have the option to choose, I suggest you travel in the first half, when temperatures are more pleasant. In general, temperatures range from a low of 28°C to a high of 40°C.

Although the sun can be exhausting, remember that Dubai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and its buildings are designed to withstand high temperatures. In fact, in some places you will feel the chill of the air conditioning, so a neckerchief may be your best friend. Forewarned is forearmed.

If you think traveling to Dubai in the summer is a bad idea, you're very wrong. Although it's not the best time to travel to Dubai, you'll enjoy much lower prices than the rest of the year and you'll have direct access (without waiting in line) to many of the city's attractions. There are many things to see and do in Dubai regardless of the time of year.

What I liked most about visiting Dubai in June was that I was able to enjoy luxury hotels at half price. The winter months, which have cooler temperatures, are the busiest (there are outdoor festivals, races, and shows), and therefore prices skyrocket, while in the hottest months, if you plan ahead, you can stay in top-notch accommodations at a good price.