Today I chased the world’s tallest sunset all the way to the top of the Burj Khalifa.

I didn’t just buy a normal ticket. I went for the VIP experience — shorter lines, a private lounge, and a fast-track elevator ride to the 148th floor and beyond. On paper, it sounds amazing. In reality, it cost about $200.

So the big question is:
Is it actually worth it?

Let’s find out if this splurge, this view, and this whole experience live up to the hype.

Walking to the World’s Tallest Building

I started the afternoon walking along the edge of the Dubai Fountain, heading toward the Burj Khalifa. No matter how many photos you’ve seen, nothing really prepares you for how tall this building feels in person.

You don’t just look up at it. You crane your neck, squint, and still struggle to see the top.

Even with Google Maps, I had a moment of classic tourist confusion. The Burj is so huge and wrapped into the Dubai Mall complex that actually figuring out where to enter takes a bit of wandering.

The fountain itself was under some kind of maintenance. Crews were out working on sections of it, which was interesting to watch as I made my way closer to the entrance of the world’s tallest building.

Entering the VIP World

I’d booked the VIP “At the Top SKY” experience, which gives you access to a dedicated check-in area and the SKY Lounge before heading up.

As soon as I reached the entrance, staff directed me to sit in the lounge — soft seating, calm atmosphere, and, most importantly, no line.

On the table:

Complimentary juice
Cookies and snacks
A quiet place to relax before going up

I grabbed a juice (and almost missed my mouth on the first sip — hopefully nobody saw that) and took in the room. My tour time was just about to start, and the anticipation was real.

One small thing that made me irrationally happy:
They gave me a special VIP sticker — the “highest level” one. It’s a small detail, but when you’ve been waiting a long time for an experience, even the sticker hits different.

All in, this VIP package cost about $200, so from this point on, I was mentally tracking every perk.

Skipping the Line: The First Big VIP Perk

Once the group was called, we left the lounge and were escorted as a small VIP group toward the elevators.

This is where the upgrade started to feel real.

On one side: a huge line of standard ticket holders, snaking back and forth, people who had probably already been waiting a long time just to reach the elevators.

On our side: a dedicated VIP path where we walked right past them.

No waiting.
No crowding.
No stress.

We passed through security (tripods and filming gear were allowed for me, which was a relief), walked through a few themed rooms with building history and construction animations, and were eventually led to a separate elevator lobby.

The elevator itself?
Quiet. Almost too quiet. You could’ve heard a pin drop. I wasn’t sure if it was nerves, awe, or just the vibe of a private elevator shooting up the tallest building in the world.

Welcome to the Highest Lounge in the World

When the elevator doors opened, I stepped into another level of the experience — literally.

A staff member greeted me:

“Welcome to the highest lounge in the world at 585 meters.”

This VIP area spans three floors:

Level 154
Level 153
Level 152

One level down, there’s a buffet area with snacks and drinks from the Armani Hotel. Two levels down, there’s access to the open-air balcony, which I knew immediately I was going to find.

My ticket included a complimentary alcoholic drink, with a choice of:

Prosecco
Red wine
White wine
Beer

I went with the Prosecco — because if you’re going to drink anywhere, the tallest building in the world seems like the place to do it.

With drink in hand, I started exploring the lounge floors: quiet seating areas, panoramic windows, photographers offering paid portraits, and little pockets of space where you could soak in the view.

The Open-Air Balcony: Alone Above Dubai

Next stop: the open balcony on the 152nd floor.

When I stepped outside, there was… no one.

Just me, a railing, and Dubai spread out below like a model city.

It was about an hour and a half before sunset. There was some haze in the air — maybe pollution, maybe just one of those dusty desert days — but you could still make out major landmarks, including The Palm and the Dubai Marina where I was staying.

The wind wasn’t strong at all, which surprised me. For being so high, it was surprisingly calm.

Standing there, I was speechless. It’s a strange feeling to be completely alone on top of the tallest building on Earth.

I’d originally booked this experience to chase the world’s tallest man-made sunset, pairing it later with a trip to see the world’s tallest natural peak: Everest (or at least base camp). Top of the tallest building today, tallest mountain region in a couple weeks. Not a bad contrast.

The Burj Khalifa: More Than Just a Pretty View

At some point between sips of Prosecco and staring into the horizon, I stepped back inside and took in some of the details and facts about the building itself.

A few highlights:

Height: About 2,717 feet tall — over half a mile into the sky
Opened: 2010
Build Time: Around six years
Records:
- Tallest structure in the world
- Highest occupied floor
- One of the fastest elevators on Earth

It’s named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former ruler of Abu Dhabi, who helped bail out Dubai financially during the 2008 crisis — a key part of making this skyscraper dream a reality.

But the Burj Khalifa isn’t just an observation deck. It’s a vertical city:

Over 900 private residences
Corporate offices
A full luxury hotel designed by Giorgio Armani

You can stay here.
You can work here.
You can actually live in the world’s tallest building.

It’s not just a view.
It’s a statement about what Dubai does best: think big, then build bigger.

The World’s Tallest Sunset

As the sun started dropping closer to the horizon, the city changed.

The light shifted.
The Persian Gulf shimmered.
The desert began to glow.

The haze actually added a bit of cinematic softness to the scene. The buildings, roads, and coastline looked like they were being painted in slow motion.

Up here, suspended between earth and sky, it didn’t feel like just “another good view.” It felt like a moment.

A moment where the hype, the cost, and the anticipation actually met reality — and delivered.

This really was the world’s tallest sunset.

Heading Back Down: Gift Shops and Evening Crowds

Eventually, it was time to call it a day.

I asked how to leave, and they directed me to take the elevator down to the 125th floor, which connects back through the standard observation levels and the end-of-experience areas.

Down there, you’ve got:

Gift shops selling everything from keychains to high-end souvenirs
More viewing windows
A steady stream of people coming up and down

When I finally exited back into the Dubai Mall area, I made my way out to the Dubai Fountain again. The Burj was now lit up against the evening sky, and the crowds had multiplied.

The nighttime line for the Burj Khalifa?
Absolutely packed. Easily 50 times longer than it had been around 3 p.m. when I arrived.

If you’re planning your own visit:

Mid-afternoon arrival = calmer entry, smoother experience
Night views are beautiful, but lines are intense
VIP helps with lines anytime, but timing still matters

Was the Burj Khalifa VIP Experience Worth It?

So, was it worth paying around $200 for the VIP package?

For me — yes.

Here’s why:

I skipped the massive lines.
I had access to three quiet VIP floors.
I could enjoy the views without being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers.
I got time and space to just exist in the moment.
The drink, snacks, and lounge access made it feel like more than just a “ride to the top.”

Watching the sunset from the tallest building on Earth was already surreal.
Doing it in a calm, uncrowded VIP space made it even better.

That said, if your budget is tight, the standard ticket still gives you the essential part — the view. You’ll just trade some money savings for longer waits and more crowds.

Either way, the Burj Khalifa is not something you’ll forget.

Thanks for joining me at the top of the world.
Until next time — Travel Far.

Google Maps Links

📍 Burj Khalifa
📍 Dubai Mall
📍 Dubai Fountain

🎥 Watch the Full Video

Want to see the full journey — from walking along the Dubai Fountain to sipping Prosecco in the world’s highest lounge and watching the world’s tallest sunset?

🎥 Watch the full vlog: “I Tried the Burj Khalifa Top Floor – Dubai Vlog” on YouTube.

I Tried the Burj Khalifa Top Floor – Dubai Vlog