Visiting Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world at 828 meters tall (2717 feet, or about half a mile).
Getting there, in my case, involved taking Dubai’s spotlessly clean and well-run metro to the Dubai Mall, which may or may not be the largest mall in the world, depending how you measure it. The entrance for tourists to go up the tower is inside the mall, and it’s not near the main entrance.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and buy tickets, I will receive a small commission. This will not affect your price.
[Last updated October 11, 2025]
The first time I went, I trekked across the mall to reach the entrance. After one look at the prices, I walked away again: back across the mall to the metro station, back to my hotel. I booked my 10,000 steps that day in that one expedition.
If you want to go to the top of the Burj Khalifa, you’ll have to pay at least AED179, which is €42 (US$49).
And when I say go to the top of the Burj Khalifa, I don’t really mean the top. I mean the 124th and 125th floor. To reach the 148th floor, it’ll cost you at least AED399 (€94 or US$109), and that’s just in the off-peak morning and evening hours; it goes up from there.
Not visiting Burj Khalifa
From that day forward, I regretted that I hadn’t done it. The price is – pun intended – over the top. But it’s one of those things one almost has to do in Dubai.
So when I was invited to lead a workshop in Dubai a year later, I resolved to bite the bullet and pay the admission price. And if I was going to pay so much anyway, why not get the full deluxe treatment and visit the very top?
Visiting Burj Khalifa, take 2
A fellow workshop leader and I set out in the morning to the metro and the long walk to and through the mall again, arriving at the entrance to the Burj Khalifa.
First we had to deal with a Groupon deal gone wrong. My friend had bought discounted tickets through them. Groupon had deducted the price from her credit card and then, for some reason, cancelled the order but not refunded the money. And they hadn’t let her know about any of it, so it took us by surprise at the desk. In a long phone conversation with Groupon’s customer service, she was assured that the money would eventually be returned, but that didn’t help us at that moment. I’m sure my friend wrote a very angry letter of complaint later.
In the meantime, there we were, holding vouchers that turned out to be worthless. We decided to go ahead anyway: we’d been looking forward to this! But for reasons that were not clear to me, we had to pay the peak-time price: 500AED at the time, AED 553 now (October 2025). That’s about €130 or US$151.
The beauty of a credit card is you don’t actually see the money changing hands. If we had, I’m not sure I would have been able to part with so much money just to ride an elevator to the top of a building, even if it is the tallest in the world.
You might also enjoy these articles about Dubai:
- Dubai Miracle Garden: Absurdity in the Desert
- One Day in Dubai: Things to do!
- A visit to the Dubai Frame (This includes my thoughts on the far-less-expensive Dubai Frame as an alternative for the Burj Khalifa.)
Visiting Burj Khalifa: “At the Top – Gold”
The Burj Khalifa offers three sorts of visitor experiences:
- “At the Top – Silver” includes a trip to the 124th and 125th floors (not actually the top). You can admire the view on all sides of the building and from a large outdoor space.
- “At the Top – Gold” goes to the 148th floor (still not the top!) and includes some extra services. It’s the one we chose.
- “At the Top – Platinum” goes even higher, to “the world’s highest lounge,” and includes quite a few extra elements.
Here’s a step-by-step account of our “At the Top – Gold” experience:
- The “Priority access and fast-track queues” didn’t feel particularly fast when we went, but we waited with a group of perhaps 20 people on comfortable seats. Waiters offered us Arabic coffee and an assortment of Arabic sweets and dates.
- The Burj Khalifa employees also handed each of us, for some unexplained reason, a pair of men’s swimming trunks. What that has to do with the Burj Khalifa? No idea. But the fact that they seemed like good quality (Burj Khalifa brand? Really?) took a bit of the sting out of what I’d just paid for the experience. I don’t think a gift is normally included in the tour.
- After a short wait, an employee led us down a series of halls, stopping to explain a few facts about the building as he went. We then stood and watched a large screen showing a clip about the filming of Mission Impossible 4, in which Tom Cruise dangled dangerously from the Burj Khalifa in one sequence. The video below is more or less the same:
- Next we zipped up in a dark elevator, images flickering on the walls, including readings of how many meters we’d risen. With so many people crammed in there, I couldn’t really see the images well. Fortunately, it went very quickly – ears popping – and we soon arrived at the 125th floor.
- Another employee ushered us out of the elevator and into a cordoned space to wait for the next elevator, which arrived almost immediately. This elevator whisked us to the 148th floor (555 meters high or 1821 feet).
- As soon as we emerged into a large, low-ceilinged, minimally-furnished space, a waiter offered each of us a glass of juice. Another offered small sweets from a tray.
- We were allowed up to 45 minutes on the 148th floor, where there were seats and sofas so we could sit and enjoy our juice and the view at our leisure.
- When we had seen enough of the 148th floor, we were free to join the hoi-polloi on the 124th and 125th floors, with no time limit.
Order tickets here for the 124th and 125th floors.
Order tickets here for the the 148th floor.
At the Top – Platinum is even fancier and, of course, more expensive. It comprises everything we experienced, plus access to the VIP lounge on the 152nd, 153rd and 154th floors. Visitors receive canapes, high tea, and unlimited soft drinks.
Order tickets here for the At the Top Platinum package.
To really immerse yourself in the luxury Burj Khalifa experience, stay at the five-star Armani Hotel, which is inside the Burj Khalifa. It was designed by Armani and occupies 11 floors quite low in the building (9th floor and up), but it looks gorgeous. It has a pool, a spa, and an elegant restaurant as well.
Visiting Burj Khalifa’s 148th floor
I have to admit that while I still wonder if this was a waste of money, the views were pretty mind-boggling. After all, Dubai has lots of skyscrapers, and we could look down on them from here. My friend and I circled the 148th floor (not a very big floor), snapping pictures from every vantage point, as did all of the other tourists in our group. A small outdoor viewing platform allowed us to get a relatively unencumbered view too.
As is often the case in Dubai, the sky was hazy. That meant we couldn’t see very far, despite how high up we were. We could make out the ocean, and, dimly, a few of the artificial islands along Dubai’s coast.
Straight below us, an artificially blue artificial lake blazed in the sun. Every evening an ornate multi-colored water and light show takes place down there. Next to it, the enormous sprawl of the Dubai Mall, possibly the largest mall in the world.
And all around in the middle distance, a scattering of skyscrapers, many completed, many still under construction. Between them on the ground: many vacant, sandy lots, but also highways lined with carefully-tended, colorfully landscaped strips of green and bright flowers.
It all accentuated, to me, the generally artificial feel of Dubai. It is a city in a desert, yet tries its best to be something else: Las Vegas, perhaps (without the gambling), with skyscrapers like Manhattan, only more spread out.
Visiting Burj Khalifa: the 125th floor
Down in the economy section, visitors have more room and less special treatment. The view, of course, is the same: not much difference at such a height between levels 148 and 125. We had to contend with more people, though, most of whom were busy posing for selfies.
While the 125th floor is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, we could also go downstairs to the 124th floor and outside to a large viewing platform below. Unfortunately this was also lined with large plate glass sheets. While this is certainly necessary to avoid anyone falling, either accidentally or on purpose, it made it hard to get good photos. Small opening in each section of glass did allow my compact camera’s lens to get a glass-free view.
Order tickets for the 124th and 125th floors.
Or order tickets for the 148th floor.
Burj Khalifa packages
There are lots of packages available that combine admission to the Burj Khalifa with one or more other activities. Here’s a small sample:
- A small-group tour of Dubai after dark including tickets to the 124th and 125th floors
- A private guided tour of Dubai including the Burj Khalifa (whichever ticket you opt for) and, optionally, the Dubai Frame and the Dubai Aquarium
- Tickets to the 124th and 125th floors + a meal at At.mosphere restaurant on the 122nd floor
There are many more combinations available: aquarium visits, for example, or a desert jeep safari. Click on the image below to see lots of choices.
How to get to Burj Khalifa
By metro: The least expensive way to reach Burj Khalifa is to take the metro to the Burj Khalifa station. The metros are wonderfully clean and very frequent in Dubai, and they even have a women-only car on every train.
Leave plenty of time, since you’ll still have a long walk to the mall entrance. The metro station and the mall are connected via pedestrian tunnels which are air-conditioned. Some parts have moving walkways. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the metro station to the mall.
By taxi: The metro doesn’t cover nearly the whole city. If you’re staying at a hotel that’s not near the metro lines, you’ll need to take a taxi either to the nearest metro stop or right to the mall entrance.
By rental car: If you have the use of the car, you can drive to the Burj Khalifa, parking in the Dubai Mall’s huge parking garage.
Inside the Dubai Mall: Once you reach the mall, you still have a lot of walking ahead of you, and there are no moving walkways here. Find the lower ground floor and follow signs to “At the top Burj Khalifa.” Or follow signs for the Dubai Aquarium and then look for the entrance, since they’re very near each other.
Try not to think too much about the money! Enjoy the experience!
My travel recommendations
Planning travel
- Skyscanner is where I always start my flight searches.
- Booking.com is the company I use most for finding accommodations. If you prefer, Expedia offers more or less the same.
- Discover Cars offers an easy way to compare prices from all of the major car-rental companies in one place.
- Use Viator or GetYourGuide to find walking tours, day tours, airport pickups, city cards, tickets and whatever else you need at your destination.
- Bookmundi is great when you’re looking for a longer tour of a few days to a few weeks, private or with a group, pretty much anywhere in the world. Lots of different tour companies list their tours here, so you can comparison shop.
- GetTransfer is the place to book your airport-to-hotel transfers (and vice-versa). It’s so reassuring to have this all set up and paid for ahead of time, rather than having to make decisions after a long, tiring flight!
- Buy a GoCity Pass when you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing on a city trip. It can save you a lot on admissions to museums and other attractions in big cities like New York and Amsterdam.
Other travel-related items
- It’s really awkward to have to rely on WIFI when you travel overseas. I’ve tried several e-sim cards, and GigSky’s e-sim was the one that was easiest to activate and use. You buy it through their app and activate it when you need it. Use the code RACHEL10 to get a 10% discount!
- Another option I just recently tried for the first time is a portable wifi modem by WifiCandy. It supports up to 8 devices and you just carry it along in your pocket or bag! If you’re traveling with a family or group, it might end up cheaper to use than an e-sim. Use the code RACHELSRUMINATIONS for a 10% discount.
- I’m a fan of SCOTTeVEST’s jackets and vests because when I wear one, I don’t have to carry a handbag. I feel like all my stuff is safer when I travel because it’s in inside pockets close to my body.
- I use ExpressVPN on my phone and laptop when I travel. It keeps me safe from hackers when I use public or hotel wifi.
Rachel Heller is a writer living in Groningen, the Netherlands. She is the owner and primary author of this website, Rachel’s Ruminations, a travel blog focused on independent travel with an emphasis on cultural and historical sites/sights. Read more here about her and about this website. All photos in her articles are her own, unless otherwise specified. Rachel also owns and operates a website about World Heritage travel.
Such an honest review of the place! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I live in Dubai and have been to the top of Burj Khalifa a few times 🙂 And I usually advise people to go to the 124th floor only, there’s nothing special on the 148th, given the high amount of difference in the price. And although you might end up feeling later that it really wasn’t that big a deal, going to the 124h floor observation deck, it is definitely one of those boxes you need to tick while you’re here. After all, both these observation decks are the highest ones in the world (atleast at the moment) 🙂
Yes, I agree. While the 148th was nice, especially because it wasn’t crowded, the difference isn’t very big.
I’m not a fan of heights but I think I would have to have this experience. I find it hard to turn down extremes – tallest buildings, world’s best cheesecake. waviest wave pool. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t like that but I guess I just am. Looks like an incredible visit. Glad you had the chance to do it after your first turnaway.
I have no trouble turning down extremes when I don’t feel safe doing them. The waviest wave pool would scare me too much. I won’t do things like bungee jumping or skydiving either. Too scary, so it’s not fun.
Unfortunately I suffer from vertigo, and I couldnt look down from a so high building. So thank you for having posted this article, at least now I know what other people can see looking to the bottom.
Saves you the money too! Glad I could be of service!
I don’t really get the tall building thing….but I guess you get good views.
You do!
Yes, I have read about the high prices in there but I guess is a one time opportunity. I almost choked when I had to pay $30 to go to the Top of the Rock, so, I am not sure how I would feel inhere. I didn’t know they are already constructing a taller building. Wow! #TPThursday.
They charge so much because they can!
Loved your looking straight down shot, not that I would look down like that myself. I also like the Tourists on the 125th floor of Burj Khalifa shot. The tallest buildings don’t get to bask in the limelight for long now!
Thanks Jan! To get the straight down shot, I had to stick my camera and my hand through the narrow gap between two of the glass plates of the wall, point it straight down and hope! In this case I was glad about my compact camera!
I cant believe you went up right to the top! I would be too scared! I had no idea they were planning to build a bigger one either!
It doesn’t feel particularly scary up there. Even out on the balcony there are high walls of glass and no way to fall.
I would really want to visit the tallest building in the world! Excellent post!
Thanks, Agness!
I loved your honest account of visiting both the 125th and 148th floor. Although I certainly would have a hard time parting with so much money, I think I’d go for it because I don’t know when I would be back in Dubai. Can’t believe that Dubai is planning to outdo itself with another “tallest building in the world”.
It’s an ongoing contest, I suppose. But this one won’t just be a few meters taller; it’ll be something like 150 meters taller! That won’t be beat for a while!
‘Really nice post Rachel. I’ve never been to Dubai but I would also make it a thing to go and visit the (as of now) tallest building in the world!
I went to Taiwan last year, and visited the The Taipei 101 Observatory and Taipei Skyscraper which I believe is one of the top 5 five in the world. I paid about $40.00 I think, but I was in Taiwan. It had to be done!
Wait a few years and you can visit the new one, though I suspect the price will be even higher. I bet the view in Taipei was more interesting!
You know I missed tickets to the top too, so it’s on my list when I head there the second time. I read the entire post as it really takes me through the experience.
Glad you liked it!
Your review brought me back memories of my Burj Khalifa visit. I did after sunset and a price was a bit lower but not cheap anyway. There are things you do sometimes regardless of price.
True. It still hurts to fork over that much for basically just a view, though!
I would definitely paid the hefty price to check out that view! So weird though to see no greenery! #blogpostsaturday
Any greenery you see in Dubai (around hotels, mostly, and along the highways) is carefully manicured and watered.
I feel like it’s so hard to fathom a building that tall, and even harder to imagine the one being built currently—a kilometer high! Would you go back to visit that one? Also… what did you do with the men’s swim trunks? I got a good chuckle out of that!
I wouldn’t go back just for that, but I’ve been in Dubai several times for work, so I think I might go up the new tower if I happened to be there again and had the time. I’ve seen all the main sights in Dubai already in the last four visits. As for the shorts, I offered them to the various boys at home (my husband, my son, and my foster son). Foster son took it!
I’ve feeling very out of date – when I stopped off in Dubai neither the tower nor the subway existed! Might be time for a re-visit! To put the price in perspective – I paid nearly as much to go to the top of Sydney Tower – which is not even the tallest tower in Sydney!
Really? I would never have guessed it cost so much! If you wait just a year or two, it won’t be the tallest anymore. Construction is pretty constant in Dubai.
Wow, that is really expensive. Nice to learn some of those details.
I must be really frugal (cheap) when it comes to elevators. I’ve been thinking that $14 is too much to pay to visit the highest viewing experience in Philly (for now) and that $19 was too much to ride the elevator to the top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore. For now, I’ll continue to claim the window seat on flights where the view is included in the price of the ticket.
So you understand why I walked away the first time! Now that I’m over the pain of paying so much, I’m glad I did it!
That view with the artificial blue lake in it looks so surreal, so futuristic! I love superlatives, so climbing the tallest building in the world would definitely be up there on my list, but I’m really not sure I could justify spending that much money on a view; it would almost be cheaper to book a flight and fly over it 😀
Really interesting post. I agree that if I see the 121 Euros passing from my hand to another, I might have second thoughts. It IS a lot of money. (Glad you went and shared your experience…not sure I would go). Loved that you added the Mission Impossible clip. Can’t believe he (or his stunt) would ever do those things.