Touring the Burj Khalifa: Tickets, Tips, and Views

If you’re planning a trip to Dubai, touring the Burj Khalifa should be high up on your must-see list. This iconic skyscraper, standing at a staggering 828 meters, offers a breathtaking view of the city and the Arabian Gulf. In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know to make the most of your Burj Khalifa tour.

Ticket Options

The Burj Khalifa offers several ticket options to suit various budgets and preferences. Tickets for your tour can be booked directly through the Burj Khalifa website. Tour providers also offer bundled experiences that include tickets. Here’s a breakdown of the different choices:

• VIP Lounge Experience – This is the most expensive ticket and includes access to the world’s highest lounge on floors 154-152. This experience includes a complimentary drink (with options to buy more) along with appetizers and sweets. This ticket gives you access to all the floors and observation decks listed below along with a dedicated elevator to skip the crowds.
• At The Top Level 148 – This ticket gives you access to the world’s highest outdoor observation deck at level 148. At this level there is the SKY lounge with options to purchase refreshments. This ticket also gives you access to the additional levels listed below.
• At The Top Level 125 & 124 – This is the cheapest option for touring the Burj Khalifa . Though it doesn’t give you access to the observation deck on level 148, these levels do still offer 360 degree views from the indoor viewing areas. There are also interactive experiences and exhibits on these levels.

Our Experience: We opted to go with the VIP Lounge Experience and would recommend it. Though it was a bit spendy, we figured it would be our only time visiting the Burj Khalifa so we might as well go all out. The lounge was spacious, not crowded, and you could spend as much time there as you’d like. There were comfortable seating areas where you could relax with your glass of bubbly and enjoy the views. If this ticket is out of your budget range, then we’d highly recommend still getting the Level 148 ticket. The outdoor observation is a must. We felt that levels 125 & 124 were very crowded and didn’t offer the same experience that you get at the higher floors.

Getting to the Entrance

Before you can ascend to the dizzying heights of the Burj Khalifa tour, you need to know how to get to the entrance. The Burj Khalifa is located in the heart of Dubai, in the downtown area known as the Burj Khalifa District. The entrance for the tours can only be accessed through the Dubai Mall. If you are arriving my metro, taxi, or bus, navigating to the mall will get you to where you need to be. Note that the walk from the Metro to the mall entrance is lengthy, but is all along a covered skywalk/walkway.

Once in the Dubai Mall, you need to navigate to the lower ground floor. We found this to be a bit tricky as there were only a few spots to catch elevators to this level. There are plenty of signs throughout the mall which you can follow to find the right spot to go. Make sure to arrive early as we ran into lines both at the elevators down the lower ground floor and also at the Burj Khalifa ticket counter.

Planning Tips

• Buy your tickets ahead of time. This will allow you to ensure you get the time slot that you want and also help skip some lines at the ticket counter.
• One of the most popular times to tour the Burj Khalifa is at sunset. If you’re looking to experience sunset, book a time slot an hour before sunset that day to give you plenty of time to make it through the crowds and enjoy the views. We opted to go this route and booked a 5pm time slot.
• If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, the best time to visit is in the morning when tours first start (10am Sunday to Thursday, 8am Friday & Saturday) or later in the evening closer to closing (tours go until midnight).
• Though there is no posted dress code for the Burj Khalifa tour itself, there is one for the connected Dubai Mall. The Dubai Mall asks customers to “dress modestly” by covering knees and shoulders. With that being said, we saw many people throughout the mall not following this policy. Check out our blog post about dressing as a woman in Dubai for more information.
  • Since we did the VIP experience, we opted to go with more “upscale casual” outfits. This seemed to be the trend for the majority of people in the lounge area, though not necessary.

Visiting the Burj Khalifa is an unforgettable experience that offers a bird’s-eye view of Dubai’s stunning skyline and beyond. Whether you opt for the standard ticket or indulge in a VIP experience, this iconic skyscraper promises a memory you’ll cherish for a lifetime. So, plan your trip, secure your tickets, and get ready to scale the heights of the Burj Khalifa! Check out our International Travel posts for more trip inspiration.