An Evening Walk Along Dubai Deira Creek

Dubai Creek winds through the city from the Persian Gulf to the Ras al Khor wildlife sanctuary in the outskirts of central Dubai. The Deira side of the creek was once the commercial centre of Dubai; a bustling port and home to the city's markets. Its famous souks and markets are still bustling with life today and the waterfront remains a popular thoroughfare for locals and visitors, and ideal for an evening stroll under the city lights.

The hustle and bustle of Dubai's Gold Souk is worth the visit alone, with traders, shoppers and curious onlookers combining to create a lively atmosphere. There's glittering gold as far as the eye can see in Arabia's largest gold market, which is located just a short walk away from The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek. Swing by in the evening and put your haggling skills to the test with one of the local traders. Remember, their initial asking price will be high but with a bit of patience and stubbornness you'll soon find yourself knocking down the price. Who knows, you may even haggle your way into a bargain deal.

The nearby Spice Souk, meanwhile, stocks pretty much every spice you can think of – and then some. You'll also be able to get your hands on perfumes and textiles in and around the small market area, which spreads out across a few narrow streets.

Beat Dubai's traffic by hopping aboard a water taxi and enjoy a leisurely ride along the Creek. You can opt for a traditional experience aboard wooden vessels, known as 'Abras', which are similar in style to Venetian gondolas and ideal for a relaxed cruise in the evenings.

Or if you'd rather live it up a little, the modern fleet of taxis offer leather seats and flat screen TV's. With pick-up and drop-off points spread along the creek, water taxis are a fun way of seeing the city from a unique vantage point. Most services run from 10am to 10pm and prices vary according to your choice of vessel and travel distance.

You may well wish to take a water taxi across the creek to the Bur Dubai side, where you'll find Bur Dubai Souk. Here you can get your hands on everything from suits and shirts to jewellery and perfumes. This market comes to life during the late evening as locals, expats and tourists cram in to pick up bargain deals.

The Deira Corniche (often referred to as the Dubai Corniche) waterfront promenade lies in the northern part of the city, stretching from Dubai Creek to the Al Hamriya Port. The wide promenade is lined with overarching palm trees and is ideal for a late evening walk, with the lights from the city casting a magnificent colour across the water.

As you make your way up to the Corniche from Dubai Creek, keep an eye out for the Dubai Fish Market located near the start of the promenade – just a short distance from the Gold Souk. This is Dubai's main fish market, and whether you're a seafood fan or not, its sheer size and enormous selection of seafood delicacies makes it well worth a visit. Hundreds of traders gather here from early morning until 11pm at night, selling everything from prawns to baby sharks. You'll also find stalls selling fruit, vegetables and cuts of meat.