There’s honestly not a whole lot that I like about the flashy new high-rise part of Dubai, but the Burj Khalifa is the one obvious exception.

No matter where I see it from at whatever time of day, I always seem to go straight for the camera to try and frame the thing in a way that shows how imposing it is even over the rest of Dubai’s tall jagged skyline.

Perhaps my favorite view, though, is still from the plaza between the Mall of Dubai and the souk-like creation across from it. The Khalifa sits at the top of the area, looming larger than it has any right to.

My last night in Dubai, while I was killing time until my ridiculously timed flight to Istanbul, I even found a concert going on right at the base of the tower. The music was pretty medicore, but the view was as amazing as always.

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Like most of the touristy bits of Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is pretty easy to explore on your own (though do be sure to buy tickets in advance!). If you’d rather go with a tour group, though, I”ve worked as a photographer for several tours with GetYourGuide that offered anything from transport to the area up to a guide to go along with you to the observation deck. My tip: individually buy a ticket for 45min or so before sunset, then get up there and wait from full light through to dark for the ideal Khalifa experience!