One of the best ways to explore thе city is by taking a Dubai hop-on hop-off bus tour. These tours offer a comfortable and cost-effective way to see the city’s top attractions at your own pace. Hop-on hop-off bus tours in Dubai are designed to provide a hassle-free sightseeing experience, allowing you to hop on and off the bus at various stops throughout the city. This flexibility enables you to spend as much time as you want at each attraction and truly soak in the essence of Dubai.
Moreover, the open-top double-decker buses offer a unique vantage point to admire the cityscape and capture stunning photographs. With a variety of routes covering all the major attractions, a Dubai bus tour is an essential part of any Dubai vacation. In this post, I will walk you through everything you need to know about the best hop-on hop-off Dubai tours, from top attractions, routes, bus stops and comparison of tour providers to tips for making the most of your experience.
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Why you should take a hop-on hop-off bus tour in Dubai
- Easily get around: Dubai boasts numerous attractions, each more impressive than the last. However, they are not concentrated in one area, so you will need to use public transport to see them. A hop-on hop-off bus tour is the perfect way to visit these iconic locations without worrying about transportation or planning a fixed itinerary.
- Flexibility: With a hop-on hop-off Dubai ticket, you can explore the city at your leisure and pace, visiting the attractions that interest you the most. Besides, you can select the duration of your pass.
- Local insights: These bus tours also come with the added benefit of an onboard guide or audio commentary, offering interesting insights and facts about Dubai’s history, culture and top sights. This enriching experience allows you to appreciate the city’s wonders with a deeper understanding of their significance.
- Value for money: Hop-on hop-off city sightseeing tours in Dubai offer great value for money. With a single ticket, you can enjoy unlimited rides on the bus for the duration of your pass, saving you the expense of hiring taxis, buying public transport tickets or renting a car.
- Additional benefits: Furthermore, Dubai hop-on hop-off bus tours often include additional perks such as free entry to select attractions, making it an even more economical option for exploring the city.
| Big Bus Dubai Hop-on Hop-off | Book your Big Bus Dubai hop-on hop-off tickets here |
| City Sightseeing Dubai Hop-on Hop-off | Book your City Sightseeing Dubai hop-on hop-off tickets here |
Top attractions accessible by hop-on hop-off buses
Dubai’s hop-on hop-off bus tours cover a wide range of attractions, ensuring that you can experience the city’s highlights during your trip. I recommend choosing the hop-on hop-off route that includes landmarks you would like to see and buying attraction tickets in advance. Some of the most famous attractions accessible by the Dubai bus tours include:
- Burj Khalifa: The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, is a must-visit destination for anyone travelling to Dubai. With its awe-inspiring design and breathtaking views from the observation deck, this iconic landmark is a testament to Dubai’s ambition and vision. Book your Burj Khalifa observation deck tickets here
- Palm Jumeirah: This man-made island, shaped like a palm tree, is home to luxurious hotels, upscale shopping destinations and stunning waterfront properties. Hop off the bus to explore its beautiful promenades and indulge in some retail therapy at high-end boutiques. Visit the famous Atlantis the Palm Hotel with the Aquaventure Waterpark and the Lost Chambers Aquarium. Book your Atlantis the Palm tickets here
- The Dubai Mall: As one of the world’s largest shopping malls, the Dubai Mall offers an unparalleled retail experience. With over 1,200 stores, an indoor theme park and a massive aquarium, this shopping haven is a must-visit for shopaholics and entertainment seekers alike. Book your Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo ticket here
- Dubai Heritage Village: Visit the Dubai Heritage Village, an open-air area with traditional buildings reminiscent of the past days. Continue your walk to the Dubai Creek and take a traditional abra boat to another shore.
- Traditional souks: Explore the Dubai Gold Souk with shops selling the best gold and jewellery and the Dubai Spice Souk with herbs and spices aromas hanging in the air to immerse into local culture. You can also join one of the walking tours to have better background information. Book your Dubai Gold Souk and Dubai Spice Souk tour here
- Museum of the Future: One of the latest additions to the plethora of Dubai attractions is the Dubai Museum of the Future. You will jump dozens of years ahead of our current time, visit the space station and learn more about technologies, medicine and other aspects that will define our lives. Book your Dubai Museum of the Future tickets here
Popular hop-on hop-off bus tour providers: Big Bus Dubai and City Sightseeing
There are two main hop-on hop-off bus tour providers in Dubai: Big Bus Dubai and City Sightseeing. Both companies offer similar services, including routes, comfortable double-decker buses and passes for 24-72 hours.
But there are a few differences that may impact your decision on which one to choose. Big Bus Dubai and City Sightseeing offer different packages and frequent discounts, so compare the prices using the links below before you book. The packages also include different Dubai attractions entry tickets, so I would recommend checking them individually to see which one is more suitable for you. In my opinion, City Sightseeing Bus tickets are often cheaper, but the routes include a bit fewer stops.
| Big Bus Dubai Hop-on Hop-off | Book your Big Bus Dubai hop-on hop-off tickets here |
| City Sightseeing Dubai Hop-on Hop-off | Book your City Sightseeing Dubai hop-on hop-off tickets here |
Big Bus in Dubai
Big Bus Dubai routes and bus stops
Big Bus Dubai offers two main routes covering the city’s top attractions: the Red Route (City Tour) and the Blue Route (Beach Tour). With 25 bus stops across these routes, you can easily access popular sights such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Frame, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Creek and Ain Dubai.
Take the Red Route to see the top Dubai Downtown and Old Dubai attractions. Join the Blue Route to enjoy the Arabian Gulf views and multiple attractions in Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.
Big Bus Dubai Red Route
Big Bus Dubai Red Route includes the following bus stops (subject to change):
- Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall
- Financial Centre
- Museum of the Future
- Royal Palace
- Arabian Dhow Cruise
- Bastakiya Old Village
- Al Fahidi Fort
- Old Souk of Arabia
- Heritage Village
- Gold Souq
- Spice Souq
- Dubai Creek
- Baniyas Road
- Dubai Frame
- Frequency: every 40 minutes
- Tour duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Big Bus Dubai Blue Route
Big Bus Dubai Blue Route includes the following bus stops (subject to change):
- Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall
- Mall of the Emirates / Ski Dubai
- Ain Dubai
- Dubai Marina / JBR
- Bayside / Skydive
- Tallest Block
- Media City
- Dubai Palm Fountain
- Atlantis the Palm
- Palm West Beach
- Souk Madinat Jumeirah / Burj Al Arab
- Frequency: every 40 minutes
- Tour duration: 2 hour 20 minutes
Big Bus Dubai timings
- Big Bus Dubai opening hours: 09:00 to 17:00 (Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall tour departure for Red Route and Blue Route), 19:00 for night tours
Big Bus Dubai hop-on hop-off tickets
Big Bus Dubai ticket options include 1-day and 2-day passes for adults and children. These passes include unlimited rides on all routes, as well as additional perks such as a complimentary dhow cruise and attractions tickets. I recommend checking each package individually to see the full list.
- Big Bus Dubai hop-on hop-off ticket prices: AED 283 to 378 per adult and AED 175 to 269 per child (5-15 years old)
Book your Big Bus Dubai hop-on hop-off tickets here
Big Bus Dubai night tour
Besides day hop-on hop-off city tours, Big Bus also offers Dubai night tours departing daily at 19:00 from their designated Dubai Mall stop. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of popular Dubai attractions in enchanting evening illumination. You will be able to see Burj Khalifa, Museum of the Future, Atlantis the Palm, Madinat Jumeirah and many other landmarks from the top deck. Keep in mind that this is not a hop-on hop-off tour, and you will return to your original departure point after 2,5 hours.
Book your Big Bus Dubai night tour here
City Sightseeing Bus in Dubai
City Sightseeing Dubai routes and bus stops
City Sightseeing Dubai also provides two main routes: the Red Route (City Tour) and the Blue Route (Beach Tour). It covers almost 25 bus stops, including popular attractions like the Burj Khalifa, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Frame and Atlantis The Palm. Furthermore, several City Sightseeing Bus Dubai packages come with a sunset/night tour and admission to certain landmarks.
City Sightseeing Dubai Red Route
City Sightseeing Dubai Red Route includes the following bus stops (subject to change):
- Dubai Mall
- Museum of the Future
- Al Seef Heritage Area
- Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
- Dubai Museum
- Old Souk
- Al Shindagha Museum
- Gold Souk and Spice Souk
- Riviera Hotel
- Dubai Creek
- Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers
- Dubai Frame
- Frequency: every 30 minutes
- Tour duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
City Sightseeing Dubai Blue Route
City Sightseeing Dubai Blue Route includes the following bus stops (subject to change):
- Dubai Mall
- Souk Madinat Jumeirah / Burj Al Arab
- Atlantis The Palm
- Fairmont The Palm
- Dubai Marina Mall
- JBR The Beach
- Dubai Marina Promenade
- Grosvenor House Dubai
- Infinity Tower
- Mina Seyahi
- Mall of the Emirates
- Frequency: every 30 minutes
- Tour duration: 2 hours 10 minutes
City Sightseeing Dubai Sunset and Night Tour (not hop-on hop-off)
- Dubai Mall
- Mina Seyahi
- Atlantis The Palm
- Madinat Jumeirah
- Mall of the Emirates
- Departure: 17:00
- Tour duration: 2 hours
City Sightseeing Dubai timings
- City Sightseeing Dubai opening hours: 09:00 to 17:00 (Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall tour departure for Red Route and Blue Route), 17:00 for night/sunset tours
City Sightseeing Dubai hop-on hop-off tickets
City Sightseeing Dubai offers 1-day, 2-day and 3-day passes for adults and children. These tickets include unlimited rides on all routes, a free dhow cruise or a sunset/night tour and additional free entrance to several attractions. Check the package description for details.
- City Sightseeing Dubai hop-on hop-off ticket prices: AED 280 to 340 per adult (frequent discounts available)
Book your City Sightseeing Dubai hop-on hop-off tickets here
Tips for getting the most out of your hop-on hop-off bus tour experience
To make the most of your Dubai hop-on hop-off city sightseeing tour, consider the following tips:
- Start early: Begin your day early to maximise your sightseeing time and avoid the afternoon heat.
- Use the map: Study the route map provided by the tour operator in advance to plan your day and identify the attractions you wish to visit.
- Take advantage of additional perks: Check free attractions and experiences tickets included with your hop-on hop-off bus tour ticket for added value.
- Stay hydrated: Dubai’s climate can be harsh, especially during the summer months. Keep a water bottle with you and stay hydrated throughout the day.
How to plan your itinerary using the Dubai hop-on hop-off bus tour map
- Use the provided routes to identify the attractions you want to visit and plan your day accordingly.
- Prioritise the must-see attractions and allocate sufficient time for each stop.
- To make the most of your tickets, buy at least a 48-hour hop-on hop-off ticket in Dubai. This way you can dedicate each day to one of two routes.
- Book your Dubai attraction tickets in advance to skip the line at the entrance and save time.
- Be mindful of the bus timings and frequency to ensure that you don’t miss the last bus of the day.
A Dubai sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tour is the perfect way to explore this incredible city at your own pace and save money. With numerous attractions, flexible tour options and insightful commentary, you’ll have an unforgettable experience. So, hop on board and discover the best Dubai attractions. Have fun in Dubai!
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