City Walk is an open-air street of shops, cafes and a central plaza in Al Wasl, and its best-known attraction is The Green Planet indoor rainforest. It is about 10-15 minutes by taxi from Downtown, with no Metro station at the door. Allow 2-3 hours for the Green Planet, plus an evening for dinner. This guide covers what is there, who it suits, how to get there, the best months, and how it compares with The Dubai Mall and La Mer.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Burj Khalifa Observation Deck — From $55 per person, 1.5-2 hours.
What is there to do at City Walk Dubai?
Walk the open-air streets and plaza, eat at the cafes and restaurants, and visit The Green Planet indoor rainforest, which is open 10 AM to 6 PM and takes 2-3 hours. There is also a cinema and the Coca-Cola Arena for concerts and events.
This guide also answers:
- How much is The Green Planet at City Walk?
- How do you get to City Walk Dubai?
- Is City Walk good for kids?
Five places that pair with City Walk
#1
The Green Planet
A four-storey indoor rainforest with a giant artificial tree, canopy walkways and an indoor waterfall. Allow 2-3 hours, and expect roughly AED 150-175 for an adult at standard prices; check the official site for your date. Go in the first hour after opening, when the dome is usually quietest and the sloths are more likely to be awake.
#2
Kite Beach
A long public beach with kitesurfers in the sky and the Burj Al Arab on the horizon. Cafes and food trucks sit behind the sand and shade is limited, so go in the cooler hours. Our beach rules and safety guide explains flags and swimming zones, which matter more at Kite Beach than at most, because of the kites.
#3
Etihad Museum
A white curved pavilion that tells the story of how the seven emirates became one country, next to the place where the union was signed. It is ticketed, so check the price and hours online. It makes a good second stop on a hot day, and a calmer choice than a mall for older children and adults.
#4
The Dubai Mall and the Aquarium
The huge glass panel of the Dubai Aquarium can be seen from inside the mall, and the tunnel and underwater zoo need a ticket. If you have time for only one of City Walk and The Dubai Mall, choose the mall for scale and the Fountain, and City Walk for a lighter evening.
#5
Burj Khalifa at sunset
A timed ticket for Levels 124 and 125 is from $55 per person, and a slot about an hour before sunset shows the city by day, at sunset and lit up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Prime-time slots cost more, and we confirm the price for your slot on WhatsApp.
City Walk in one minute
City Walk is an open-air district of shops, cafes and restaurants in Al Wasl, built around a central plaza, and the reason to go is The Green Planet. The indoor rainforest dome is open from 10 AM to 6 PM, takes 2-3 hours and costs roughly AED 150-175 for an adult at standard prices. The rest is a pleasant, well-kept place to eat, shop and stroll, free to walk around and busiest in the evening.
It is about 10-15 minutes by taxi from Downtown and The Dubai Mall, with no Metro station at the door. It works best from November to March, when the terraces are comfortable, and as a family stop: children have the dome, adults have the cafes. It is not a must-see on a short first visit, and in July and August it is a place to dash between air-conditioned doors, not to stroll.
What is there
City Walk is a district you walk through rather than a single sight. The mix is mainly shops, restaurants and cafes, with an anchor attraction and two entertainment venues.
| What | What it is | Time to allow | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open-air streets and central plaza | Shops and terraces around a plaza under a large LED canopy and screens | 1-2 hours | Free to walk |
| The Green Planet | A four-storey indoor rainforest with animals, plants and a waterfall | 2-3 hours | Roughly AED 150-175 for adults |
| Cafes and restaurants | International chains and independent cafes; many have outdoor tables | 1-2 hours | A meal or coffee |
| Cinema | A multiplex for a rainy or hot afternoon | About 2 hours | A ticket |
| Coca-Cola Arena | A concert and sports arena; check what is on | An evening | Event tickets |
Prices, hours and shows change. Check the venue's own website before you go.
Most shops open around 10 AM and close in the evening, with restaurants and cafes staying later; hours vary by venue and in Ramadan, so look them up. Our Dubai Mall guide covers the indoor alternative.
The Green Planet and children
The dome is the family draw. It is a vertical walk through the layers of the forest, with sloths, birds, snakes, monkeys and thousands of plants, and the air is warm and humid. It suits children from about 2 to 10 best; teenagers and adults without children find it more modest. At AED 150 or more for an adult, it is not the best value in the city, but it is one of the best things to do with small children when the weather is too hot, or too wet, for the beach.
Our Green Planet guide has tickets, hours and the honest case for skipping it, and the Dubai with kids guide shows where it fits in a family week. Light clothes and flat shoes are best, because the dome is humid and the floors can be damp.
Eating and drinking
Food at City Walk is mainstream: international chains, independent cafes and restaurants, and family-friendly places with outdoor tables. Prices are mall-level rather than cheap, and a coffee and a snack is the easy option. Weekend evenings are busiest, so book a table if you want one at a particular time, and walk the plaza first to see what looks good.
Alcohol is served only in licensed venues, so check before you order. During Ramadan, daytime opening hours and dining rules change, so check each venue before you go.
Getting to City Walk
A taxi or ride-hailing is simplest. If you prefer rail, take the Metro to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall or Business Bay and a taxi from there. Our taxi and Careem guide explains fares and apps.
| From | Best way | Time | Taxi cost (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown or Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall | Taxi | 10-15 minutes | AED 20-30 |
| Business Bay | Taxi, or Metro then taxi | 10-20 minutes | AED 20-30 |
| Jumeirah and Kite Beach | Taxi | 5-15 minutes | AED 15-25 |
| Dubai Marina or JBR | Taxi | 25-35 minutes | AED 55-80 |
| DXB airport | Taxi | 20-25 minutes | AED 40-60 |
Rough fares in normal traffic; evenings and weekends cost more and take longer.
If you drive, City Walk has car parks; follow the signs, and check the Green Planet's own parking instructions. Give yourself extra time on weekend evenings, when the approach roads are slow.
When to go, and a winter evening
From November to March, go in the late afternoon and stay for dinner, because the terraces are pleasant after sunset and the plaza lights come on. In winter, mornings are good for the Green Planet and a long lunch.
From May to September, treat City Walk as an indoor day: a morning at the Green Planet, lunch in a cafe, and the cinema or a mall in the afternoon. Outdoors it is too hot to stroll at midday. The Dubai in summer guide lists heat-proof plans, and the month-by-month guide has the weather.
For a winter evening, between November and February when sunset is at about 5:30 PM, this is one way to spend it. Move the times earlier in December and later in March.
- 4:00 PM: arrive by taxi and walk the streets while the light is soft and the terraces are quiet.
- 5:00 PM: coffee or a snack on an outdoor table, and watch the plaza as the sun goes down.
- 6:00 PM: an early dinner, which beats the weekend rush and suits young children.
- 7:00 PM: the cinema, an event at the arena, or a second walk once the plaza lights come on.
- 9:00 PM: book your ride home before you leave the table, because ride-hailing is slower when the evening crowd leaves.
Dress is relaxed, but the usual mall standard applies: shoulders and knees covered is the safe choice, and the Dubai dress code guide explains it. A light layer helps on cooler winter evenings.
City Walk, The Dubai Mall or La Mer
Three places do a similar job, and they feel different. The table is how we would choose between them.
| City Walk | The Dubai Mall | La Mer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Open-air streets and a plaza | Huge indoor mall with attractions | Beachfront promenade |
| Best for | Families, dinner, the Green Planet | Shopping, the Aquarium, the Fountain | Sea air, a walk by the beach |
| Weak point | No Metro, hot in summer | Crowds and long walks | Hot in summer, busy at weekends |
| Best months | November to March | Any month | November to April |
Our guide to La Mer has the beachfront side in detail.
Our La Mer guide covers the beachfront option.
A family day, and our tickets
A plan that works with children in the cooler months: the Green Planet at 10 AM, lunch at City Walk, a rest at the hotel, then a Burj Khalifa slot about an hour before sunset. A Burj Khalifa ticket is from $55 per person for Levels 124 and 125. It needs full prepayment and cannot be refunded or changed once issued, so confirm the date and time first, and children must be accompanied by an adult. The best time to visit Burj Khalifa gives the slot for each month.
For a bigger day with older children, the full-day desert safari is 7 hours, from $45 per person, with hotel pickup in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman and no prepayment. It is not recommended for infants under 3. The shared yacht tour is from $32 per person for one hour, and children are welcome under adult supervision.
FAQ
What is there to do at City Walk Dubai?
Walk the open-air streets and plaza, eat at the cafes and restaurants, and visit The Green Planet indoor rainforest, which is open 10 AM to 6 PM and takes 2-3 hours. There is also a cinema and the Coca-Cola Arena for concerts and events.
How much is The Green Planet at City Walk?
Roughly AED 150-175 for an adult at standard prices, though age bands and prices change and resellers sometimes sell for less. Check the official site for your date.
How do you get to City Walk Dubai?
By taxi or ride-hailing: about 10-15 minutes from Downtown and The Dubai Mall, roughly AED 20-30. There is no Metro station at the door. You can take the Metro to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall or Business Bay and finish with a taxi.
Is City Walk free to enter?
Yes. The streets and plaza are free to walk. You pay for The Green Planet, the cinema, events, food and anything you buy.
Is City Walk good for kids?
Yes. The Green Planet suits children from about 2 to 10, the streets are walkable and the cafes are family-friendly. Outdoors it is hot from May to September, so plan indoor activities then.
What is the best time to visit City Walk?
November to March, in the late afternoon and evening. In summer, go to the Green Planet in the morning and stay indoors.
Is City Walk better than The Dubai Mall?
They are different. The Dubai Mall is bigger, with the Aquarium and the Fountain next door. City Walk is smaller and open-air, a lighter evening for families. Many visitors do both, on separate days.
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Photos: City Walk's central plaza at night under its hexagonal LED canopy and wrap-around screens — Lyn972, CC BY-SA 4.0, The Green Planet — WikiSilky, CC BY-SA 4.0, Kite Beach — MaryJaneB, CC BY-SA 4.0, Etihad Museum — Lxs, CC BY 4.0, The Dubai Mall and the Aquarium — Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).