Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk

The Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk is the easiest way to enjoy the Palm without paying for a resort, and it delivers one of the great Dubai views for free. It runs along the inner edge of the crescent, the breakwater that wraps around the fronds of the island, facing back across the lagoon toward the mainland. From the boardwalk you see the whole sweep of the Dubai Marina and JBR skyline, the fronds of the Palm with their villas and beaches, and Bluewaters Island, while Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal rise at the far end. The path is wide, paved and flat, with lighting after dark, benches and shade structures at intervals, and it is shared by walkers, runners and cyclists, with cafes and restaurants at some of the hotels along the way. It is a quiet, local place compared with the busy promenades of the Marina and JBR: early in the morning you will meet residents jogging and walking dogs, and in the late afternoon couples and photographers gathering for the sunset, which lights up the towers across the water and turns the lagoon gold. You do not need to walk all of it; pick a stretch, walk for an hour, and turn back. The crescent can be reached by car or taxi through the tunnel under the sea, and there is parking at access points. Pair a walk with a visit to The View at The Palm, a meal at one of the crescent hotels or an afternoon at Aquaventure. Fit: couples, runners, photographers, and anyone staying on the Palm who wants fresh air and a view.

Why go: most visitors see the Palm only from a taxi window or from above, from The View or a helicopter. Walking the boardwalk gives you its scale at ground level and the best perspective back toward the mainland skyline, with the sea breeze that you rarely feel in the city. It is also a reminder that the Palm is a neighbourhood as well as a resort island, with families out walking in the evening.

How to do it well: go in the late afternoon and walk toward the sunset, then stay for the city lights coming on across the water; in the warmer months, go early in the morning or after dark, since there is limited shade. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. If you are cycling or running, keep to the marked lanes and watch for pedestrians. Combine the walk with an early dinner at one of the crescent hotels, or reach the boardwalk from your hotel if you are staying on the crescent. Respect the residential areas and any private hotel beaches you pass; the boardwalk is public, but some sections of beach are not.

Getting there: take a taxi to one of the boardwalk access points on the crescent, about twenty to thirty minutes from Downtown. The Palm Monorail runs up the trunk to Atlantis, but the boardwalk access points are spread along the crescent, so a taxi is simplest. Parking is available at the access points. The boardwalk is free and open daily; lighting makes it pleasant after dark.