Is Burj Khalifa worth it?
Updated October 27, 2026
Quick answer
Yes, for most first-time visitors to Dubai. The standard Levels 124 & 125 ticket starts at $51 and rates 4.3 out of 5 on 92,917 reviews of that ticket on GetYourGuide. The main complaint is queues, not the view, so pick your slot and level with that in mind.
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at 828 m to its architectural top (829.8 m to the pinnacle, per Wikipedia), and its decks are the only way to see Dubai from that height. Reviewers rate the experience well across every level: 4.3 for the standard ticket, 4.4 on 1,979 reviews of the fast-track ticket, 4.6 on 24,553 reviews of SKY level 148 and 4.6 on 2,819 reviews of the Lounge on level 152, all on GetYourGuide. The pattern in recent reviews is clear. People rate the view highly and complain about waiting. Whether it is worth it for you depends on how much you mind a line and how much you want to pay to skip it. Prices here are in USD at 1 USD = 3.6725 AED.
What you get for the money
The Levels 124 & 125 ticket, from $51 (AED 189), buys a timed entry slot, the elevator ride to level 124 at 452 m, the open-air terrace, viewing telescopes and free Wi-Fi, with about 1.5 hours on the decks according to the listing. On a clear day you see the city, the Arabian Gulf and the desert, and the Dubai Fountain plays directly below. Optional add-ons on the same listing include a café treat or a souvenir. The price rises in the prime hours around sunset, and the booking calendar shows the price for your slot. Our ticket price page lists every level side by side.
Who finds it worth it and who doesn't
In the ten latest reviews of the standard ticket, read on 27 October 2026, two praise seeing the city in daylight and after dark around sunset, and two say outright it is worth it. The complaints are practical: two mention long queues, one waited an hour to go up, one found the entrance hard to locate inside the mall, and one thought it should be cheaper. On the fast-track ticket, six of the ten latest reviews mention the queues they skipped and five say the extra cost was worth it. It suits first-time visitors, photographers and anyone who likes a city from above. It suits less well people who dislike crowds, hate waiting or are visiting on a hazy day.
- Worth it for — First visits, sunset views, photography, the fountain from above
- Think twice if — You hate queues, dislike crowds or the day is hazy
Level 124 vs 148 value
The SKY level 148 ticket, from $109 (AED 399), costs about twice the standard ticket. For that you skip the lines for security and the elevator, get a greeter, refreshments in a lounge and an outdoor terrace at 555 m, and you still visit levels 124 and 125. The listing says no more than 50 people are allowed on that deck at once. It has the higher rating of the two, 4.6 against 4.3. If your time in Dubai is short or you are going at sunset, the extra mostly buys back time. If you can go on a quiet morning, the standard ticket gives you most of the view for half the price. Our 124 vs 148 comparison goes deeper.
Cheaper alternatives with a view
You do not have to go up to enjoy the tower. The Dubai Fountain plays at its foot, at 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm daily except Friday (1:30 pm and 2:00 pm on Friday) and every 30 minutes from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm, as listed by the booking listings; times can change in Ramadan. A lake ride during the fountain show costs from $20 (AED 75) and rates 4.5 on 21,215 reviews of that ride on GetYourGuide. The fountain boardwalk ticket costs about $7 (AED 25). The 124 & 125 plus Sky Views combo, from $76 (AED 278), adds a second observatory with the Burj Khalifa in the frame. See Dubai's observation decks compared.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth going to the top of Burj Khalifa?
For most first-time visitors, yes. The standard ticket rates 4.3 on 92,917 reviews of that ticket on GetYourGuide; queues are the main complaint.
Is level 148 worth the extra money?
If you hate queues or are going at sunset, usually yes: it includes skip-the-line access and rates 4.6 on 24,553 reviews of that ticket. On a quiet morning, level 124 gives most of the view for about half the price.
How long do you need at Burj Khalifa?
The standard and SKY listings give about 1.5 hours. Add time for queues and for walking through The Dubai Mall to the entrance.
Is Burj Khalifa better during the day or at night?
A slot shortly before sunset gives both, which is why it costs more. Recent reviewers who went then saw the city in daylight, at sunset and lit up.
What is the cheapest way to see Burj Khalifa?
From the ground, at the Dubai Fountain below it. The fountain boardwalk ticket costs about $7 and the lake ride from $20.
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