When somebody says ‘Dubai’, we understand how quickly your mind is conjured up with all those insanely massive shopping malls, super-luxury hotels and everything large and sparkling. But aren’t you missing something?
Dubai is the land of spectacular beaches and if you’re looking for a quiet and charming beach with less crowds, Mercato Beach awaits you. This is a small beach that can cater your need for a laid-back weekend trip to rejuvenate yourself.
Before you head for this wonderful beach destination, check out our full guide to Mercato Beach below, including things to do, nearby hotels and how to get there.
Mercato Beach Location
Mercato Beach is located in a peaceful residential area along Jumeirah Beach Road. You can spot the beach exactly opposite Mercato Mall. Distance of the beach from Dubai city centre is hardly 5 kilometres when you take the D71 route or 8 kilometres if you choose the Sheikh Zayed Road (E11).
Jumeirah Fishing Harbour is also just a short walk from Mercato Beach, which is well worth a visit whilst you are here. If you’re looking for a beach with a bit more going on, we advise you to head for the nearby Jumeirah Open Beach, a little further down the road.
5 Reasons to Visit Mercato Beach
There are quite a few alluring reasons to visit Mercato Beach when you are enjoying your holiday in Dubai:
- This beach is beautiful and peaceful too. Here you can literally ditch the maddening crowd of the city and enjoy your time in tranquillity.
- It’s pretty close to the city. By road, it is a 5-kilometres journey via D71 and 8-kilometres via Sheikh Zayed Road.
- Not many tourists visit Mercato Beach which means you can relax here without worrying about handling too many people around you.
- Being a little bit secluded, Mercato Beach allows you to behold the mesmerizing sunrise and sunset with some excellent photographic opportunities.
- The beach sits right opposite the Mercato Mall. So, you can have your lunch at the food court of this mall or mix up your day with a bit of shopping.
Things to do at Mercato Beach
Mercato Beach is not that popular among tourists as it doesn’t offer many beach facilities. Although this area is undergoing a massive redevelopment project, it may take a few years to earn its name as a major beach destination in and around Dubai.
There are no water sports activities available at Mercato Beach. However, there is a cycling track which is very appreciated by families residing in the locality. Mercato Beach also features an area with tables and beanbags for people to relax.
One good aspect of the beach for book worms is that it has its’ own Beach Library. This marvellous initiative from the Dubai Municipality literally makes it possible to borrow books and read them while soaking up the sun. The library is free to all beach-goers.
Nearby Attractions
After you are done with some fabulous beach time on Mercato Beach, you can always plan to explore the nearby attractions. Thanks to its close proximity to city centre, Mercato Beach comes with a bunch of fascinating nearby attractions.
Below we have mentioned all major tourist attractions so that you don’t have to toil hard to pick the best ones:
1. Jumeirah Fishing Harbour
Three fishing harbours in Dubai have been restored and redeveloped in recent times, and Jumeirah Fishing Harbour is one of them. This place is about 500 metres from the beach and is an easy walk.
This renovated boatyard now flaunts plenty of yachts, recreational boats, fishing boats and anchorages. The area is dotted with a number of restaurants and shops that make socializing simple and rewarding too. Jumeirah Fishing Harbour also offers a stunning view of Dubai and its surroundings.
Distance from Mercato Beach: 700m
Price: Free
2. Boxpark
Walk 1.6 kilometres from Mercato Beach and you will find yourself at Boxpark, one of the most enthralling entertainment hubs in Dubai.
The undying spirit of this place is visible through those renewed buildings made of used warehouse containers. The colourful (and somewhat quirky!) décor and funky installations in Boxpark open up a world of whole new shopping and dining experience to you. Retail choices coming at Boxpark can never go wrong. There are more than 20 cafes and restaurants to match your taste and standards. This place attracts plenty of young minds that add even more spark to its ambience.
Distance from Mercato Beach: 2km
Price: Free, until you start shopping!
3. The Green Planet
At a distance of just 1.5 kilometres from Mercato Beach, lies the bio-dome, Green Planet. Located at City Walk in the Al Wasl area, this one of its kind bio-dome houses a realistic rainforest ecosystem that introduces you to the untouched gems of nature that are hard to find right in a city.
The whole set-up is maintained with help of fine-tuned temperature and humidity levels. What’s more, Green Planet recreates the world’s largest man-made and self-sustaining tropical forest with 3,000+ plants and animals. This place makes you realize the preciousness of rainforests and its crucial role in creating a balance in nature.
Distance from Mercato Beach: 3km
Price: From 65AED
4. Jumeirah Mosque
Situated in the Jumeirah 1 Area, Jumeirah Mosque is one of the most iconic landmarks near Mercato Beach. The distance to this mosque from the beach is just 3 kilometres.
This stunning mosque is a flagship program under the banner of “Open Doors. Open Minds.” adopted by The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. Since 1998, Jumeirah Mosque is welcoming visitors of all faiths and encouraging everyone to learn about local culture and Islam in a friendly manner. With twin minarets and a large dome in the centre, this white-stone made mosque represents the typical Fatimid architectural style. This edifice is big enough to accommodate 1,200 worshipers at a time.
Distance from Mercato Beach: 5km
Price: Free
5. Etihad Museum
Interested in discovering the proud heritage and enticing history of UAE? Etihad Museum will assist you in your quest to know the past.
This Museum comes with a series of interactive pavilions where visitors can discover the history of the country through numerous films, photos and displays. This place is particularly very helpful in understanding the transformation that UAE underwent between 1968 and 1974. Designed by eminent Canadian architects Moriyama and Teshima, the layout of Etihad Museum is truly a piece of admiration.
Distance from Mercato Beach: 4km
Price: From 25AED
Hotels Near Mercato Beach
Below are our three favourite hotel choices when looking to stay somewhere close to Mercato Beach.
- Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah – 800m from Mercato Beach
- Four Seasons Resort Dubai – 1.6km from Mercato Beach
- La Ville Hotel & Suites City Walk, Dubai Autograph Collection – 2.9km from Mercato Beach
How To Get To Mercato Beach?
Reaching Mercato Beach from any part of Dubai city is not at all difficult. Bus routes that pass through the close vicinity of Mercato Beach include route no.15, 88, 8 and X28. There are three metro stations near the beach – Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station, Business Bay Station and Financial Centre Station. You can also book a cab from Dubai to reach the beach relatively cheaply.
Conclusion
Like many of the beaches in Dubai, Mercato is pristine and undisturbed. There are many things to do and places to stay nearby. Accessibility from anywhere in Dubai is also cheap and easy too!
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