Al Seef

Al Seef is the Creek at its most inviting, a long waterfront promenade on the Bur Dubai bank that blends the look of old Dubai with modern restaurants and shops. It runs along the Creek next to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, and it has two characters. The heritage section is built in the style of a traditional Creekside town, with sand-coloured walls, wind towers, wooden balconies, shaded alleys and souk-style arcades selling crafts, perfumes, spices and souvenirs; some of the buildings are carefully restored, while many are new buildings designed to recreate the old look. Further along, a contemporary section has a glassier waterfront with a broad promenade, outdoor seating and views across to Deira. All along it, restaurants and cafes spill out onto terraces by the water, ranging from Emirati and Arabic cuisine to international chains, and there are floating restaurants and dhows moored alongside. Abras and water taxis stop here, so you can arrive or leave by boat, and Al Fahidi, the textile souk and the Bur Dubai abra station for Deira are a short walk away. It is free to visit, open late, and at its best in the evening when the lanterns are lit, the heat has gone and families and couples stroll the promenade. Two hotels, Al Seef Heritage Hotel and Canopy by Hilton, sit right in the district if you want to stay. Fit: couples, families, first-timers exploring old Dubai, and anyone looking for a scenic dinner without the glass towers.

Al Seef is sometimes dismissed as a recreation, and parts of it are, but that misses the point: it gives visitors a comfortable, atmospheric way to enjoy the Creek, which remains the historic heart of Dubai, and it connects naturally to the genuinely old quarters around it. Watch the wooden dhows unloading on the Deira bank opposite, the abras criss-crossing the water and the call to prayer echoing from the mosques along the Creek, and you get a sense of the trading town Dubai once was.

How to do it well: come in the late afternoon, explore Al Fahidi and the Al Shindagha Museum first, then walk along the Creek to Al Seef for sunset and dinner. Wander the heritage lanes before you settle on a restaurant; the waterside terraces fill up on weekend evenings, so book if you have a particular place in mind. Browse the arcades for dates, perfumes and crafts, but compare prices with the older souks across the water. In the cooler months, a short Creek cruise or abra ride at dusk is a lovely end to the day.

Getting there: the nearest metro stations are on the Green Line in Bur Dubai, a short walk or taxi ride away, and you can also arrive by abra or water taxi. There is paid parking for drivers. Al Seef pairs perfectly with the Dubai Frame in the afternoon, with an abra crossing to the Deira souks, or with a stay at one of the heritage hotels nearby for a slower, old-town base.