'This luxurious city is much closer than Europe, but feels like a world away.'

Whenever I ask people if they've visited Dubai, I get one of two answers. Either they've only seen the inside of the airport on a stopover on their way to Europe, or they're absolutely obsessed and want to go back again. 

So, I was curious to see what one of the most glamorous cities in the world would actually be like when I visited for the first time in October (and got to see beyond the airport walls.) And it surprised me in ways I never expected. 

The crown jewel of the United Arab Emirates is a 14-hour flight from Sydney (I flew with Emirates) and has every element you could imagine needing for a luxurious holiday.

There's stunning architecture, incredible hotels, swanky restaurants, luxe beach clubs, state-of-the-art attractions and, of course, the shopping. I'm not talking about stroll-through-your-local-Westfield-shopping. It's as if spoiling yourself was an Olympic sport, and they have it down to a fine art. 

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Dubai is an incredible melting pot of cultures, with roughly 90 per cent of the population being ex-pats. It felt like nowhere else I've been in the world before, and yet I felt right at home.

So if you've always been curious about visiting Dubai, here is everything you need to know and my top recommendations while you're there. 

Where to stay in Dubai.

If you want opulence — whether it's for a special anniversary, girls' trip, or just because you've decided to live by the manta 'YOLO' — you need to stay at The Lana. 

Located on Marasi Bay Marina, the newly-opened hotel is part of the world-renowned Dorchester Collection and has stunning views of the Burj Khalifa from the rooftop infinity pool and bar. 

Image: The Lana.

Every detail, from the architecture to the signature tea blend in the generously sized room, has been thoughtfully crafted. The super king bed inside my suite felt like I was sleeping on a cloud — if a cloud had lumbar support and the softest pillows you can imagine. If there wasn't so much to see in the city, I quite literally never would have gotten out of it. 

Every morning breakfast was served at one of the hotel's six restaurants, Riviera by Jean Imbert, which felt like you'd been transported to the Mediterranean. Served a la carte, there was everything from freshly baked pastries and the most perfect scrambled eggs I've ever tasted, to the mezze selection, which was generous enough to feed four people with one serve. I will dream about the Rivera signature juice (made with mandarins) for the rest of my days.

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For dinner, we dined at Jara — headed up by 12-Michelin-star chef (yes, 12) Martín Berasategui — which takes inspiration from Basque country. From the crispy croquettes to the perfectly-cooked fish, everything was delicious.

And I know I've already mentioned the infinity pool, but it truly was the most spectacular swimming location I've ever been to, and it's the perfect spot to cool off with a cocktail after a day exploring the city. 

The most glorious pool. Image: Supplied.

If you want further proof of how luxurious this hotel is, it is home to the Dior Spa and Dior exercise equipment fills the on-site gym. (Did I exercise during my stay? No. But did I visit the gym just to pick up these hand weights? Absolutely.)

The Dior exercise equipment was the cherry on the already luxe cake. Image: Supplied.

What to do in Dubai.

Visit Dubai Mall. 

You know that Olympic shopping I mentioned? This is where you get your cardio training in. 

With 1,200 retail stores spread across four floors, the city's biggest shopping centre also has an aquarium that is home to 33,000 sea creatures, a massive ice rink, one of the largest gold souks in the UAE and an adventure park. 

I may have gotten lost multiple times strolling around, but there's an interactive map at every corner to point you back in the right direction. You could spend an entire day exploring here and getting the full experience, or knock over a few hotspots in a few hours.

Explore the souks. 

Dubai gold and spice souk. Image: Supplied.

The Spice Souk in Deira is an incredible cultural experience for all the senses.

If you love snagging a deal, you'll love strolling through the many laneways, chatting to the competitive vendors and learning about their teas and spices.

A short (but sweaty) stroll away are the gold and textile souks, where you can marvel at the incredible Emirati pieces on display, before taking a boat across to the old town to cool down at Arabian Tea House. 

This place was a little air-conditioned oasis in the middle of the city. It was one of the first traditional restaurants offering Emirati cuisine in Dubai, and they have it down to a fine art — you will practically have to be rolled out of here after enjoying the special salad, Balaleet (a spiced vermicelli pasta) and barbecue chicken. 

Visit The View at The Palm. 

Image: VIew At The Palm.

There are so many incredible attractions to visit in this city, from Burj Khalifa to The Museum Of The Future, but getting to experience the view of Palm Jumeirah from 52 floors up is one I will never forget. 

This incredible island in the shape of a palm tree — which cost an estimated $12 billion and involved 120 million tonnes of sand — is home to some of Dubai's most luxurious hotels and wealthiest people.

And seeing it from a birds-eye view just makes the feat of engineering seem even more unbelievable.

After checking out the view of Palm Jumeirah, it's definitely worth tasting some of the best fusion food Dubai has to offer at SUSHISAMBA.

The view at SUSHISAMBA. Image: Supplied.

If the people watching here wasn't fascinating enough, the view from the 51st floor and the Japanese/Peruvian/Brazilian cuisine will do it for you. My mouth is watering as I type thinking of the sushi rolls. 

Relax at Maison De La Plage. 

There are so many incredible beach clubs to choose from in Dubai, particularly along the Palm West Beach, but this was my favourite.

At Maison De La Plage, you'll feel like you've been transported to Paris (if Paris had tropical weather) as you're escorted to your daybed and treated to cocktails and poolside bites. 

This place was lively enough for drinks with girlfriends but also relaxed enough for families.

My travel companions and I loved dipping between the beach (which was as warm as bathwater) and the pool (which was refreshingly perfect) with a strawberry daiquiri in hand. 

Image: Supplied/Maison de la Plage.

Have high tea at Palazzo Versace. 

High tea is incredibly popular in Dubai, so you might as well go big and have it at Palazzo Versace.

Served in the Mosaico Lounge, it is one of the most luxurious and unique experiences in the city, complete with little Versace logos on the coffee and these incredible serving trays:

Image: Supplied.

Check out Dubai Miracle Garden.

Dubai is not a place where anything is done by halves, and that's very obvious at the world's largest flower garden.

Yep, we're talking 250 million plants, including a life-size, flower-covered Emirates plane, castle and giant elephant.

I've never felt so small in my life (and I'm 6'1").

Me looking like I fell off a charm bracelet in comparison to the incredible flower gardens. Image: Supplied.

Try the Dubai chocolate. 

I've already ranted about the famed 'viral Dubai chocolate' (you can read the full review here) but part of the fun on this trip really was the quest to get my hands on the 'Can't Get Knafeh Of It' chocolate bar made by Fix Dessert Chocolatier.

And when I say viral, I mean it. This chocolate is only available for online order at 2pm and 5pm each day, as they have no storefront and it can sell out in minutes.

But on my second day of trying, I managed to score two blocks to taste test, and they were 10/10. With a $29 price-tag for each, I was very thankful they actually lived up to the hype!

You can also watch my taste test here if that's more your jam, because I'm insufferable and had to share my excitement after getting my hands on one.

@mamamiaaus If you ever find yourself passing through Dubai, I highly recommend trying one for yourself. And bring me back a bar, will you? @Fix Dessert Chocolatier #knafeh #chocolate #tastetest #kunafa #traveltiktok #viraldubaichocolate #dubaichocolate ♬ Pop beat BGM / long version(1283324) - nightbird_bgm

What you need to know about Dubai.

Before I go, here are the five things I learned from visiting this beautiful city. 

The city feels very safe.

As a female traveller, the city felt welcoming, and every staff member and local I came across was friendly and helpful.

Make no mistake, it's an expensive city.

Dubai is the mecca for luxury, and the prices reflect that. So if you're travelling here, you'll need to ensure you've saved enough to match the boujie lifestyle.

However, it is well worth it for a special girls' trip or romantic getaway to experience this bucket-list-worthy destination.

The portion sizes are HUGE.

This was the case at every meal. The Emirati hospitality means you'll eat a week's worth of food in one sitting. And it'll be worth it. On that note, pack elasticised clothing.

The culture is very progressive, but it's important to be considerate.  

The UAE is very modern and welcomes tourists, but it is a predominantly Islamic country, so I'd recommend dressing modestly (shoulders and knees covered) when walking around the city — especially if you want to visit a mosque — to be respectful of the culture. However, at beach clubs and hotels, it's very commonplace to be in bikinis or more revealing clothing. 

There is always traffic. Always. 

I was so surprised by just how busy this city is. 4am? Gridlock. 10pm? Chockers. Given it's a city of highways, it is constantly busy, but that is part of the exciting buzz.

It can be more than a stopover.

I visited for three nights and managed to fit a lot in, but we barely scratched the surface. It's definitely worth a stopover if you're planning a Euro trip, but Dubai is also a worthy destination in its own right, and I'll be dreaming (and saving!) for the day I can return again.

This writer travelled as a guest of Dubai Tourism. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's own.

Feature image: Supplied.