Dubai doesn't slow down when the sun sets. In many ways, that's when the city becomes more interesting.

The temperature drops, Downtown lights up, restaurants fill with late reservations and the city's nightlife begins to take over. Whether you're visiting Dubai for a few days or live here year-round, there are plenty of things to do in Dubai at night — and not all of them require having a plan before you leave your hotel.

So, what kind of night are you looking for?

Start outside.

Downtown Dubai is one of the easiest places to experience the city at night. Burj Khalifa dominates the skyline, the streets around Dubai Mall stay active well into the evening, and there are plenty of places nearby to stop for dinner or drinks.

If you're visiting Dubai, this is also a good opportunity to see a completely different side of the city from the one you explored during the day.

Take your time. The night is only starting.

Dubai takes late dinners seriously.

You can find everything from casual restaurants to fine dining, terraces and places where dinner gradually develops into music and entertainment.

And there's an advantage to eating later: you don't end up wondering what to do at 10 PM while the rest of Dubai is only starting to go out.

If you're planning to continue into the night, choose somewhere close to your next destination. Downtown Dubai and Business Bay make this particularly easy because restaurants, hotels, lounges and nightlife are concentrated relatively close together.

This is where the night splits in two.

Maybe you want cocktails, conversation and somewhere comfortable to sit. In that case, a lounge or rooftop makes sense.

But maybe everyone has finished talking.

You want the music louder. You want a DJ. You want to dance.

Then it's time to find a club.

The Myth, located inside Sofitel Dubai Downtown, is built around exactly that part of the night — when dinner is over and nobody is ready to go home.

Here's something worth knowing before going clubbing in Dubai:

The same venue can deliver completely different experiences depending on the day.

At The Myth, Tuesday starts with LOLLY, bringing Ladies Night and open-format energy to Downtown Dubai.

Thursday turns Latin with CAPRICHOSA, built around Reggaeton and Latin rhythms. Friday continues with LA RUMBA, a dance-focused Latin night.

Saturday changes direction with P.O.V., where Hip-Hop and R&B take over the club.

And if Sunday feels too early to finish the weekend, RED CIRQUE combines Reggaeton and Latin-International sounds with a darker, circus-inspired concept.

So before asking “what should we do tonight?”, ask one more question:

One of the best parts of Dubai at night is that you don't have to fit everything into the early evening.

A late dinner can become drinks. Drinks can become dancing. And a plan to “stay for an hour” can quickly become something very different.

If you're around Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Business Bay or Sheikh Zayed Road, staying in the same part of the city also makes the night much easier.

The Myth sits inside Sofitel Dubai Downtown, so you can move from an evening in the city into a nightclub without making the journey itself part of the night.

That's fine.

Some of the best nights don't start with a detailed itinerary.

Start with dinner. See how everyone feels. Decide whether you want drinks or dancing. Then check what's happening that night.

If you're travelling with friends, celebrating a birthday or want your own space inside the club, you can also reserve a table in advance. If you're there mainly for the music, head towards the dance floor.

Dubai gives you plenty of options.

You just have to decide when you're ready to stop sightseeing and start going out.

There are hundreds of answers to what to do in Dubai at night.

See the skyline. Walk around Downtown. Have a late dinner. Find a rooftop. Meet friends for drinks.

And when you want the volume turned up?

Find the right music, find the right crowd and get on the dance floor.

You should too.