Dubai

The 124th or 148th floor observation decks offer panoramic views of the city, desert, and Gulf. Book the sunset slot for the transformation from golden hour to a twinkling sea of lights.

Dune bashing, camel rides, sandboarding, and a Bedouin camp dinner under the stars. The dramatic red dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve are unforgettable.

Cross the historic creek on an abra (wooden boat) and explore the gold and spice souks of old Dubai. A world away from the gleaming towers across the water.

Take the monorail across the world's largest man-made island. Visit the Atlantis waterpark, walk The Pointe, or stay overnight at the Seven Pines or Atlantis resort.

A 150m picture frame structure straddling old and new Dubai. The glass floor bridge between two towers and the historic vs. modern city view from each side is genuinely clever.

The world's most beautiful building is also its most thought-provoking — a torus-shaped silver structure covered in Arabic calligraphy houses five floors of immersive exhibitions about humanity's future. Inside you'll travel to a space station, walk through a rainforest of the future, and register as an ambassador for Earth.

The world's largest choreographed fountain shoots jets 150 metres into the air to soundtracks from Celine Dion to Arabic pop. The evening shows from the Dubai Mall boardwalk are completely free — time it with the Burj Khalifa light show for maximum sensory overload.

At 250 metres, the world's tallest observation wheel rises above Bluewaters Island with unobstructed 360° views sweeping from Palm Jumeirah to the Marina skyline and out across the Gulf. Each air-conditioned gondola completes a 38-minute circuit — come at sunset when the city shifts from gold to neon.

Board a traditional wooden dhow for an evening cruise past gleaming glass skyscrapers, superyachts, and the JBR waterfront — a surreal juxtaposition of old seafaring craft and futuristic cityscape. Buffet dinner and live entertainment included.

72,000 square metres of pure horticultural madness — 150 million flowers sculpted into an Airbus A380, Disney castles, and soaring archways. It sounds gimmicky and it absolutely is, but the sheer scale makes it genuinely jaw-dropping. Open October to April only.