Dubai: Burj Khalifa At The Top Tickets & Sky Views Access

3.74

(183 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

It’s strange how quiet the elevator is when you’re shooting up the Burj Khalifa — I expected some rattling or at least a dramatic whoosh, but it was just this smooth, weightless feeling. We’d barely blinked and already the doors opened on level 124. There was a little kid next to me gripping his dad’s hand, eyes huge. I think mine were probably the same. The air up there felt different somehow, drier maybe, and everything below looked like a miniature city someone built out of sand and glass.

I wandered over to the floor-to-ceiling windows (they really mean it — you can press your forehead right against them) and tried to spot our hotel. Our guide, Samir, pointed out the Palm and even some distant desert haze curling at the edges of Dubai. He said mornings are best if you want shorter queues — wish I’d known that before my midday ticket, but honestly, it wasn’t bad. There’s an outdoor terrace too; I stepped out for a second and instantly regretted not bringing sunglasses. Sunlight just bounces everywhere up here.

The Sky Views Observatory was next — not as high as Burj Khalifa but still wild in its own way. Standing on that glass floor made my stomach flip; some teenagers behind me dared each other to jump (don’t worry, it’s solid). I tried saying “Burj” in Arabic to one of the staff and totally butchered it — she laughed and helped me out. Everyone seemed relaxed up there, even with all that height beneath their feet.

I bought a magnet from the souvenir shop mostly because my hands were still shaky from being so high up (plus my mom collects them). Even now, thinking back on that first step onto the glass makes me pause — you don’t really get used to seeing a whole city like that, not really.