10 things to do in Dubai in June

During the month of June there are still plenty of things to do in Dubai even though it's a very hot period, so don't let the temperatures put a damper on your travel plans!

At this time of the year the city presents many events (with cool air conditioning) and activities in its outdoor theme parks so you can cool off and enjoy the sunny days. Take a look at the 10 ideas I propose!

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

Among its attractions are 79 slides so you won't get bored for a minute, a private beach of more than a kilometer to disconnect from the bustle of the metropolis and for the most sporty a wave machine with which to soak up the surfing spirit. You'll feel like you're in Hawaii, in the world's surfing mecca!

Practical information about Atlantis Aquaventure

• Where: The Palm, Crescent Rd.
• Average price of admission: adults 82 € and children 70 € approximately. If you stay at the Atlantis The Palm Hotel Resort Atlantis Aquaventure water park entrance is free.
• Hours: Every day from 10 am to 9 pm (times may change according to the seasons).
• Recommended if... you want to spend a fun day with family or friends and experience an adrenaline rush.
• Learn everything you need to know to enjoy your visit to Atlantis Aquaventure.

To enjoy the fresh air, one of the best activities you can do at sunset is to cross the Dubai Estuary by abra, a small wooden boat, and enjoy one of the most genuine sunsets. Dubai's bustling estuary has been the city's driving force 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 cabs pass every few minutes throughout the day at four stations on the estuary and each trip takes only 5 minutes- a short but very authentic trip!

Sail for 1 hour

If you want a more complete experience, I advise you to rent an abra on your own to explore the estuary for an hour for less than 30€. From here, you will have the opportunity to see the exchange of goods between the locals and admire the old and new Dubai and the architecture of its traditional houses, towers and minarets. A unique perspective of the city. And if you are looking for a more premium experience, you can book a traditional sailing 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 entrance to the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest and most impressive skyscraper at 828 meters (with apologies to the Empire State Building in New York), without waiting for the horrible queues that form in high season in the winter months.

If you are curious to know more about this flagship of modernist architecture, take a look at these articles with what you can see and do inside the Burj Khalifa and the views from the Burj Khalifa. It is well worth it!

My advice is to access the Burj Khalifa at night where you can see fascinating views of the illuminated buildings of Dubai. The views are magical!

One of my favorite pastimes in June was to tour 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 will dive into the depths of the seabed, but without getting wet. You can also enjoy a boat ride with a glass surface, become a mermaid or for those who like strong emotions get into an underwater cage and see the sharks.

But with the Dubai Aquarium tickets, one of the experiences that fascinated me the most was watching the aquarium divers feed the sharks and rays - they were eating like there was no tomorrow! If you are traveling with children, they will love to listen to the biologists on site, who will share the underwater secrets of the inhabitants of this aquarium.

• Where: Ground Floor and Floor 2, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
• Hours: daily from 10 am to 10 pm.

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

Summer is also one of the best times to ride a bicycle (avoiding the middle of the day) and finish the day, after pedaling, with a dinner at one of the restaurants overlooking the marina. Another option for the more intrepid is to ride the XLine, the largest urban zip line in the world, and get a bird's eye view of the city. Ready, set... Go!

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

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

On the other hand, food lovers can indulge in the nearby food trucks or buy take-out food and prepare an outdoor picnic overlooking the desert dunes. It's a different plan that you'll love.

The beaches of Dubai are one of the great secret places of the city. Who would have imagined that behind those skyscrapers there would be miles of fine white sand and clear waters ... To dazzle the traveler and enjoy all kinds of activities such as a ride on a jet ski on the beaches of Dubai.

There are two types of beaches: public beaches, where you will not pay anything (only, in some cases, the entrance to the natural park) and private beaches, which belong to the big hotels in the area. A little tip: you can eat in 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 were only desert lands, you were very wrong. About 130 kilometers from the center of 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 will travel back in time thanks to its fortifications and towers. In addition, you will learn firsthand what life was like for the ancient inhabitants who made their living by cultivating palm trees and harvesting dates.

Bike tours, kayaking, canoeing and much more

The more adventurous will have fun like there's no tomorrow at the Hatta Dam, a dream enclave where you can contemplate the scenery from the water and exercise thanks to the kayaking, canoeing and pedal boating centers that offer these activities. There is also a large water slide twelve meters high on which to take a dip.

Another option, for those who are more fit, is to rent a mountain bike and ride along the network of trails consisting of 52 kilometers of roads, with routes marked by color according to their difficulty, or hike through the Hatta mountain range. Don't forget the water!

If you are one of those who come back with a suitcase full of souvenirs and gastronomic gifts for the family (guilty!), I recommend you to go to the Deira market, where in addition to finding fresh seasonal produce, there are sections dedicated to honey and dates, succulent delicacies.

This is a very old fish market, in operation since 1958, but it was modernized in 2017 and the result is a state-of-the-art, air-conditioned facility - very important in the month of June!

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

In the middle of Dubai's asphalt 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 has a trick, it is a custom-made space, but it looks good!

The Green planet artificial rainforest

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. In it you will observe lizards, crocodiles, snakes and different reptiles.

Its main objective is to educate about the important role of rainforests in the future of our planet The Green Planet is located in City Walk, one of the trendiest districts of the city with a wide range of restaurants to replenish your energy before starting your tropical adventure.

The weather in Dubai in June is very warm, especially in the second half of the year when summer begins, so if you have the choice I suggest you travel in the first half of the year, which has more pleasant temperatures. In general, these range from a minimum of 28° C to 40° C.

Although this sun can be exhausting, think that Dubai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and its buildings are prepared to withstand the high temperatures. In fact, in some places you will be cool with the air conditioning, so a scarf may be your best ally. He who warns is not a traitor.

If you think that traveling to Dubai in the summer is an unfortunate idea, you are very wrong. Although it is not the best time to travel to Dubai, you will enjoy much lower prices than the rest of the year and you will have a direct pass (without waiting in line) at many of the city's attractions. And there are many things to see and do in Dubai regardless of the time of year.

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