Downtown and DIFC, on foot

Two districts, ten minutes apart

Downtown is built around the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and a lake with the fountain in it. The Boulevard loops round the outside, with cafés at street level and apartments above. DIFC, the financial district, is just to the north across Sheikh Zayed Road: offices by day, and in the evening some of the best restaurants in the city, in and around Gate Village.

We put guests in Downtown when they want to walk out of the door into something. We suggest DIFC for a working week, or for anyone who wants to be close to the city and a little apart from it.

The fountain, the Opera and the tower

The fountain runs every half hour through the evening. The view from the Souk Al Bahar side of the lake is as good as from a restaurant terrace, and it costs nothing.

Dubai Opera is a nine-minute walk from most of our Downtown homes. The season runs from autumn to spring, and the programme goes from ballet to stand-up.

For the Burj Khalifa itself, book the observation deck for an hour before sunset and stay while the city lights come on. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to go.

Where we would go

Everything here is a walk from our Downtown homes, except Gate Village, which is one metro stop or a short taxi.

• Souk Al BaharAcross the lake, the best fountain view
• Dubai OperaBallet, concerts and comedy, autumn to spring
• The BoulevardA morning walk, before the heat
• Gate VillageGalleries by day, dinner in the evening
• Dubai MallGroceries, the aquarium, a cinema

Next in the journal

Dubai Marina and Bluewaters, by the water. A seven-kilometre promenade, a public beach and an island across a footbridge. Which end of the Marina we choose, and why.