Palm Jumeirah

The Palm Jumeirah offers some of Dubai’s most opulent 5-star hotels—including Atlantis, The Palm—all of them rising from its Crescent breakwater or trunk. The island’s 17 fronds are home to 1,730 private villas. Visitors come to enjoy the hotels’ beaches and dining options, as well as attractions, such as Atlantis’ Aquaventure Water Park and Lost Chambers Aquarium. Also popular are shopping malls, such as The Pointe and Golden Mile Galleria.

Nearly all Dubai tours include photo ops outside the Atlantis, arriving via road or the island’s monorail system. Some hop-on hop-off bus routes, meanwhile, let you alight at the Atlantis to explore at leisure, while boat and Jet Ski tours afford fabulous views of the Palm and Atlantis from the sea. However, the best option to admire the palm-shaped island design is to take a helicopter or seaplane trip that flies over the island.

• The Palm Jumeirah is a must-see for first-time Dubai visitors, shoppers, families, and theme park lovers.

• If time is short, take a half-day tour that covers Dubai’s highlights and an Atlantis photo stop.

• If you can’t manage a flightseeing experience, the monorail is the next-best way to see the Palm’s fronds and palm shape.

• Bring your hat and sunscreen; there’s little shade anywhere on the island.

The Palm extends into the Gulf from Dubai’s Al Sufouh area, midway between the Burj Al Arab and Dubai Marina. To visit, catch the monorail from the Gateway station on the trunk to Atlantis, The Palm on the Crescent breakwater. Alternatively, take a taxi to the island.

The Palm Monorail runs every 15 minutes, every day, from about 9am until 10pm. Check timetables before traveling, however. If you have a ticket for the Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park, aim to arrive early during the peak season (November-April) and on Friday and Saturday, to avoid the biggest crowds.

Though Atlantis’ main lobby is usually open to nonresidents, access may be restricted from time to time. Your best bet is to reserve a table at one of Atlantis’ on-site restaurants to ensure entry.

Yes, if you have the budget to stay at one of Palm Jumeirah’s 5-star hotels, then do so. If not, and you have till to kill, it’s worth visiting for the day to see how the other half lives. Public hangouts include Jumeirah Beach or The Pointe shopping center.

Yes. Anyone can enter the Palm Jumeirah neighborhood and walk around for free, but most attractions—like the View at the Palm and the Lost Chambers Aquarium—have admission fees. Visitors who want to check out Palm Jumeirah without spending money can hang out on Jumeirah Beach for free.

It depends on what you want. The mornings are sunny but not too hot for sunbathing, and you can lay out your towel with little problem. If you prefer the bustle, visit in the cooler evening when the restaurants liven up and the place twinkles with lights after dark.

Yes, the best place to walk in the Palm Jumeirah neighborhood is along the 7-mile (11-kilometer) boardwalk. Known officially as the Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk, the walkway hugs the shoreline beyond the Atlantis, The Palm hotel. It offers a scenic stretch for walkers, joggers, and bikers who want to exercise.

For vacationers, the downside of Palm Jumeirah is the lack of budget (or even midrange) hotels, along with the neighborhood’s somewhat isolated feel. This isn’t the place for intrepid travelers who want to see Dubai’s different faces. Public transport into downtown Dubai is awkward, although taxis and ridesharing services abound.

Visitors can get around the Palm Jumeirah neighborhood by foot, bike, taxi, or the monorail. Shuttle buses exist, but private hotels or malls run most of them. Ridesharing services are available from Palm Jumeirah, and hotels can help arrange taxis.