World cities are always trying to beat each other by building the tallest building in the world and at this moment that honor is for Dubai! Right next to the biggest shopping mall in the world, the Dubai Mall, you will find the Burj Khalifa, a tower of 830 meters (2716 feet) tall. In comparison, the Eiffel Tower is 300 meters (1063 feet) tall and the Empire State building 443 (1454 feet) tall. The Burj Khalifa has got 163 floors and is located right in the center of Dubai where this icon is the beacon for travelers from all over the world. The tower is so tall that the summit may be shrouded in clouds when you look up. The Burj Khalifa has a viewing platform called ‘At the Top’ at a height of 550 meters (1805 feet) that will amaze you. This man-made miracle should undoubtedly be on your bucket list!
When you enter the Burj Khalifa you first walk along an exhibition that highlights every step of the construction of the tower. Building skyscrapers requires a lot of talent, vision and expertise and for building the Burj Khalifa expertise from around the world has been used. The construction of the Burj Khalifa started in 2004 and in 2010 the skyscraper was opened. The exhibition shows how the construction took place using photographs and scale models. Before entering the elevator, take a look at the floorplan of the Burj Khalifa, which has the shape of a Hymenocallis flower to increase the stability of the building.
After the exhibition you arrive at the elevator, which takes you to the 125th floor at ten meters (33 feet) per second (or 36 kilometers per hour which is 22 miles per hour). It takes about a minute before you reach the top and during the ascent various skyscrapers from the world are shown on the walls of the elevator. After arrival on the 125th floor, a number of photos are taken which you can buy. Afterwards you can enjoy the view and walk around the tall windows around the Burj Khalifa. The view includes the Dubai Mall and the Dubai fountains at the foot of the Burj Khalifa and the surrounding skyscrapers. On the coast you can see the Burj Al Arab and the World, the artificial islands in the form of the world map. Now take the stairs down to floor 124. where you can visit the outdoor platform. You will be protected here as well by tall windows. When you have enjoyed the beautiful view you can visit the souvenir shops on the 124th or 125th floor. Here you can buy nice souvenirs ranging from Burj Khalifa chocolates, bags, pens, books, t-shirts and much more. At last you take the elevator down again.
When you buy your ticket for the Burj Khalifa you can also choose to buy a more expensive ticket, which gives you access to an even higher floor. The highest floor of the Burj Khalifa is floor 148 at 555 meters (1821 feet), making it the highest observation deck in the world. When you want to visit this floor, you are guided into the elevator in small groups and while the elevator is going up you watch a movie. When the elevator opens you see a breathtaking outside deck, at almost 2 times the height of the Eiffel tower in Paris!
When you can’t get enough of this amazing building, descend to the 122nd floor for a drink or a snack. The Atmosphere Restaurant is located on this floor and you can enjoy fine dining here. The restaurant is busiest in the evenings, because in the evening you can enjoy the lights of the city looking through the windows. The Burj Khalifa remains a unique place in the evening to complement the stunning views during the day.
The Burj Khalifa is visited by many tourists and most do not adjust their clothes, which means that there are whole groups of people walking on slippers, sleeveless shirts, tops, skirts and so on. There does not really seem to be a dress code when you just want to enjoy the view. If you want to dine in the evening on the Burj Khalifa it might be wise to dress smart.
Tip: The Burj Khalifa is working with time slots to spread the number of visitors throughout the day and these time slots are quickly sold out. It is therefore highly recommended to buy your tickets in advance online so that you don’t get disappointed when you want to visit the tower.
The Burj Khalifa is located right next to the Dubai Mall and can be reached by taking the metro to the Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall stop. From here you can walk, but that is still a significant walk. Fortunately, there are treadmills so you can cover the distance much faster. Alternatively you can take bus 27 from the Deira Gold Souk station or bus 29 from the Ghubaiba bus station. The buses stop in front of the Grand Drive Entrance, Lower Ground Floor of the Dubai Mall. In Dubai Mall you go to the lowest floor where you follow the signs to Burj Khalifa - At the Top.
Take the Financial Centre Road exit and park your car in the huge car park under the Dubai Mall. Once in Dubai Mall you go to the lowest floor where you follow the signs to Burj Khalifa - At the Top.
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