Burj Khalifa is the most iconic building in Dubai, UAE.
At 829.8 meters (2,722 feet), it is the tallest building in the World.
More than two and a half million tourists visit Burj Khalifa’s observation decks every year.
In this article, we explain everything you need to know before you visit the Burj Khalifa.
Table of contents
- Observation decks at Burj Khalifa
- Burj Khalifa ticket price
- Best place to buy Burj Khalifa tickets
- Which Burj Khalifa ticket to buy?
- Burj Khalifa tickets
- How to reach Burj Khalifa
- Burj Khalifa timings
- Best time to visit Burj Khalifa
- Waiting times at Burj Khalifa
- How long does Burj Khalifa take
- How to avoid the crowd at Burj Khalifa
Observation decks at Burj Khalifa
There are three observation decks at Burj Khalifa – at Level 124, Level 125, and level 148.
Level 124 and 125 are together known as ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa.’
And Level 148 is known as ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa Sky.’
Level 124
The observatory at Level 124 is the lowest of all the three observation decks and the most popular.
This Level of Burj Khalifa is 452 meters (1,483 feet) high and helps experience a mesmerizing view of the Dubai skyline.
The Burj Khalifa At the Top has high-powered telescopes to help you get closer to the skyline.
Level 125
Level 125 of Burj Khalifa stands at 456 meters (1,496 feet) and is one Level above the At the Top Observatory on Level 124.
It is a spacious observation deck decorated in Arabic mashrabiya for illuminating 360-degree views from the top.
At Level 125, you can preserve your memories with the help of green screen photography, where reality merges with special effects to create unique photographs.
On this floor, you can also step into the ‘Dubai: A Falcon’s Eye View’ exhibit to see an exhilarating ariel view of the city – as a flying Falcon would.
To visit both Level 124 and 125, you must buy the Burj Khalifa’s General Admission ticket.
Level 148
Level 148 at the top of the Burj Khalifa is the highest observation deck in the World.
That’s why it is also referred to as At the Top, Burj Khalifa Sky.
It is at 555 meters (1,821 feet) and has an outdoor terrace as well.
At this top floor, a guest Ambassador greets you and takes you on a personalized tour.
You also get refreshments at the famous SKY Lounge.
To enjoy this Burj Khalifa Sky experience, you must book the Burj Khalifa VIP ticket.
Burj Khalifa ticket price
Burj Khalifa’s general admission tickets, which get you to Level 124 and 125, cost AED 154 ($42) for non-prime hours and AED 229 ($62) for prime hours.
Burj Khalifa’s VIP ticket, with which you can skip all the lines and visit Levels 124, 125, and 148, costs AED 538 for prime hours and AED 384 for non-prime hours.
The price you pay for your Burj Khalifa ticket depends on three factors.
1. Observatories you plan to visit
If you plan to visit the Observatories on Level 124 and 125, your tickets will be relatively cheaper.
To go up to Level 148, you must pay a higher price and buy the VIP ticket.
2. Time of your visit
The price of the Burj Khalifa ticket also depends on the time you want to visit the attraction.
Prime hour (4 pm to 6 pm) tickets are costlier than non-prime hour tickets.
The tickets are costlier during these hours because sunset is the best time to be at an observatory.
The setting sun makes for a colorfully stunning Dubai skyline.
3. Type of ticket you buy
You can buy two types of tickets – the General Admission ticket or the Skip The Line ticket.
Since Skip The Line Burj Khalifa ticket helps you avoid all the queues and walk right into the building, it is more expensive.
If you are short on time and can afford the high prices, we recommend you go for Skip The Line tickets.
The General Admission ticket is the cheapest ticket you can buy to go up Burj Khalifa.
Best place to buy Burj Khalifa tickets
If you are looking to buy Burj Khalifa tickets, you have two options –
Option 1: Buy them on the day of your visit, at the venue
Option 2: Buy them online in advance
Here are the three reasons why you must buy your tickets online and NOT at the attraction –
Reason 1: If you decide to buy your tickets at the attraction, you must wait in the long line at the ticket counter. Once you have the ticket, you must wait in another line to go up in the elevators. Buying your ticket online helps you skip the first line (at the ticketing counter).
Reason 2: If you are visiting during the peak months or prime hours, you may reach Burj Khalifa only to find out that all the tickets have sold out.
Since the officials sell only a limited number of tickets for every time slot, ‘Sold out!’ is a message seen often.
Reason 3: When you buy your tickets from the counter at Burj Khalifa, you pay more than three times the online ticket price.
The general admission ticket, which is the cheapest way to explore Burj Khalifa, costs 154 AED online, and at the venue, it costs almost 500 AED.
Which Burj Khalifa ticket to buy?
While buying Burj Khalifa tickets, you are sure to have lots of doubts.
Should you visit Level 124 and 125 or for Level 148?
What is better – a general admission ticket or a ‘Skip the Line’ ticket?
Which hours are advisable – prime hours or non-prime hours?
At the Top vs At the Top SKY
At the Top ticket = entry to Levels 124 and 125
At the Top Sky ticket = entry to Levels 124, 125 and 148
At the Top Sky ticket is also known as the ‘VIP ticket.’
Besides the bragging rights of having been on the World’s highest observation deck, this VIP ticket also gets you a guided tour of the Observatory and refreshments at the Sky Lounge.
Our Verdict:
The ticket to visit Level 148 is almost three times costlier than the tickets to see Level 124 and 125.
If you are on a budget holiday, we recommend you stick to the lower levels and buy only the At the Top tickets.
However, if money isn’t a concern but you care about the experience, we highly recommend the Sky Experience at Burj Khalifa.
You must know that visitors can’t stay at Level 148 for as long as they want – there is a time limit of 30 minutes.
General Admission vs Skip the Line
During peak times, the General Admission ticket holders may have to wait for an hour to get into the elevator.
Skip The Line Burj Khalifa tickets help avoid the crowd and the long lines.
Our Verdict:
If you plan to visit Burj Khalifa and have a lot of time on your hands, buying a General Admission ticket is the best option.
Skip the Line tickets at Burj Khalifa are almost three times the cost of General Admission tickets.
However, Skip The Line tickets don’t get you access to Level 148 despite being costlier.
That’s why instead, we recommend the next best option – the VIP ticket, which costs only 40 AED more but lets you Skip The Line and visit Level 148 as well.
Prime hours vs. non-prime hours
The Burj Khalifa ticket prices vary according to the time of entry to the building.
The ticket prices for entry at prime hours are around 40% higher than the non-prime hour prices.
The prime and non-prime hours are different for At the Top and At the Top Sky tickets.
At the Top (Level 124 and 125)
Prime Hours: 4 pm to 6 pm
Non-Prime hours: 9 am to 3.30 pm and from 6.30 to closing time
At the Top SKY (Level 124, 125 and 148)
Prime hours: 9.30 am to 6 pm
Non-prime hours: 7 pm to closing time
Our Verdict:
If the primary objective of your Burj Khalifa visit is to see the sunset, you have no option but to buy the ticket during the prime hours.
If this is your first visit to an observatory and money is not a concern, we suggest selecting prime hours while booking your tickets.
If you have already seen the sunset on a skyline from some Observatory, we recommend you stick to non-prime hours to save money and avoid the crowd.
Burj Khalifa tickets
Burj Khalifa offers various kinds of tickets, each offering a unique experience.
Before you book your Burj Khalifa tickets online, please read through this section thoroughly so that you know the different kinds of Burj Khalifa tickets.
General admission tickets
General admission tickets are the cheapest and most popular way to get to the observatories in the tallest building in the World.
You step into one of the world’s fastest elevators and reach the Burj’s observation decks, with lookout points located across Level 124 and 125.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money but want to experience the sunset from Burj Khalifa, opt for a timeslot that coincides with when the sun will go down.
Ticket Prices
(non-prime hours: 9 am to 3.30 pm, 6.30 pm till closing)
Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 154
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 119
Ticket Prices
(prime hours: 4 pm to 6 pm)
Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 229
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 137
Burj Khalifa VIP tickets
The VIP Tickets allow Skip the Line access to all the three observation decks on Burj Khalifa – Levels 124, 125, and 148.
You will be like a VIP all through your visit – so you don’t wait in long lines for the elevator.
On Level 148, a guest ambassador of Burj Khalifa gives you a tour of the observation deck.
After spending 30 minutes in Level 148, you can come down to Level 124 and 125 and hang around for as long as you want.
Children 3 years and below enter for free.
Ticket Prices
(prime hours – 9.30 am to 6 pm)
Adult Ticket (4+ years): AED 538
Ticket Prices
(non-prime hours – 7 to 10 pm)
Adult Ticket (4+ years): AED 384
Tea in the clouds ticket
This ticket gets you to access the 152nd, 153rd, and 154th floors of Burj Khalifa.
At the Lounge of these floors, you sip on afternoon tea and bubbly while taking in jaw-dropping views of the city.
Along with the tea, you also get an assortment of freshly baked pastries and dainty cakes.
Later you tour the outdoor terrace to check out the skyscrapers and the sprawling desert.
This 90-minute long tea session on Burj Khalifa starts at 2.30 pm.
Visitors must be at least ten years of age to try out this experience.
Ticket price: AED 754 per person
Sunset with champagne tickets
Burj Khalifa’s Bubbly sundowner ticket is a great way to see the sunset from the 152nd, 153rd, and 154th floors lounge.
You enjoy the colorful visual treat, with champagne in one hand and delicious canapes in the other.
You get to enjoy live entertainment and also wander the breezy outdoor terrace of the tallest building in the world.
This 90-minute long session starts at 5.30 pm, and visitors must be at least four years of age to try out this experience.
Ticket price: AED 754 per person
Sunrise plus breakfast ticket
With Burj Khalifa’s Breakfast in the Clouds ticket, you soar to the top of the world’s tallest skyscraper and witness a magical sunrise from the 124th floor.
Once you have seen the sunrise over the City of Gold, you get down for your complimentary pastry and hot drink at The Cafe.
You can visit the observatory anytime from 4.30 am to 7 am, and breakfast is available till 8 am.
Ticket prices
Adult ticket (12+ years): AED 134
Child ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 99
Burj Khalifa + Dubai Aquarium
The Metro Link Bridge, which connects Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Aquarium, makes it very easy to move from one attraction to another.
This 828-meter (2715 feet) long air-conditioned glass tunnel travellator link also offers fantastic views of the city of Dubai.
This is why the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Aquarium ticket combination is quite popular with visitors.
This combo ticket allows one entry to both attractions on a single day.
Like all combo tickets, it also helps you reduce your ticket costs by 15 to 20%.
Ticket price
Adult ticket (12+ years): 237 AED
Child ticket (3 to 11 years): 202 AED
How to reach Burj Khalifa
The towering structure of Burj Khalifa stands in Downtown Dubai, right next to the Dubai Mall.
If you plan to take Dubai Metro, board the Red Line to reach Burj Khalifa station.
From the station, take the F13 bus and get off at the Dubai Mall Bus Stop.
Now, walk to the Mall through an air-conditioned overpass. This walk takes approximately 15 minutes.
You will have to go through the Mall and reach the Lower Ground Floor (LG).
The Ticket Office to Burj Khalifa is on the Lower Ground floor near the Subway Sandwich Restaurant.
Important: We recommend you buy Burj Khalifa tickets online, much in advance – you save time, money and also avoid last-minute surprises.
Burj Khalifa timings
Burj Khalifa opens at 9 am and closes at 11 pm, all through the week.
The last entry is 45 minutes before closing.
Non-prime hour rates apply from 9 am to 3.30 pm, and 6.30 pm to 11 pm, and from 4 pm to 6 pm prime hour rates apply on the tickets.
The prime hours are also known as the sunset hours.
Ticket prices are higher when you book your visit during a prime hour slot.
Best time to visit Burj Khalifa
If high ticket cost during prime hours is not an issue, sunset is the best time to visit Burj Khalifa Observatory and see the fantastic Dubai skyline.
For this prime-time visit, you can either purchase the general admission ticket or the VIP ticket.
If you are on a budget, you can visit as soon as the prime hours get over at 6.30 pm.
If you do not mind waiting, you can buy your ticket right before prime hours kick in and stay long enough in the Observatories to see the sunset.
Best time to see sunrise
The observation deck at Burj Khalifa opens at 5.30 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and it is best to reach before 6 am to see the sunrise.
It is best to purchase the Sunrise tickets to enjoy this early morning Burj Khalifa experience.
Tip: Keep an eye on the weather because a foggy day means a not-so-good experience.
Burj Khalifa in winter
If you visit Dubai in the winter months, it will be best to see Burj Khalifa in the late mornings or early afternoons.
During winters, Dubai gets dark by 6 pm.
Waiting times at Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is the most popular tourist attraction in Dubai.
On average, 7,000 tourists come to see Dubai’s skyline from the Burj Khalifa observatory every day.
Peak months (Nov to March)
If you visit Burj Khalifa during the prime hours, the queue for general admission might exceed one hour.
During such times, it is best to buy Skip The Line tickets.
During non-prime hours, you may still have to wait for around 30 minutes in the elevator lines.
Off season (Apr to Oct)
Dubai is hot during these months and hence draws fewer tourists.
However, being the most popular tourist destination in Dubai, you may still have to wait for 20-30 minutes during your visit.
How long does Burj Khalifa take
If your question is, how long does a tour of Burj Khalifa take? Well, the answer is, “it depends on you.”
Going up Burj Khalifa’s observatory and enjoying the fantastic views at your own pace takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Some tourists are also known to finish the Burj Khalifa tour in an hour.
It is essential to keep in mind that your trip can take longer if you visit during peak season and/or sunset hours.
We propose you keep one hour of lead time to reach the top because while the elevators reach the observation deck in one minute, the waiting line to enter the elevator might take a while.
If you want to avoid waiting in the elevator lines, go for Skip The Line tickets – you can reach the observatory in less than 15 minutes.
How to avoid the crowd at Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is one of Dubai’s most popular tourist attractions and attracts around 2.5 million tourists every year.
Here are our three tips which can help you avoid the crowd in this usually crowded tourist attraction.
1. Buy tickets online, and in advance
Being the must-visit attraction in Dubai for most tourists, Burj Khalifa tickets are always in demand. Especially during tourist seasons, weekends, school holidays, festivals, etc.
As a result, at peak hours and during peak months, the waiting time at Burj Khalifa’s ticket counter even exceeds one hour.
The best way to avoid these lines at the ticketing counter is by booking your tickets online, in advance.
Booking online helps you avoid long lines and gets you your preferred time slot.
2. Purchase ‘Skip the Line’ tickets
All visitors to Burj Khalifa need to take the elevators to go up to the observatories.
Visitors with ‘General Admission’ tickets must stand in long lines till it is their turn to take the elevator.
However, if you buy a “Skip the Line’ ticket, you can walk past all these people waiting for their turn and get into the elevator.
3. Get the time of your visit right
If you want to avoid the crowd, it is best to visit Burj Khalifa during non-prime hours.
In the process, you will also end up saving money.
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