The Big Bus tour is the most efficient way to get your bearings in a city as spread out as Dubai. Open-top double-deckers run two main routes with more than twenty stops between them, and your ticket lets you get off, explore, and pick up the next bus whenever you like.

THE ROUTES

Red Route — Downtown and Old Dubai

Roughly 1 hour 45 minutes for the full loop, covering the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, the creek, the souks and the historic quarter. This is the route to take first if it is your first day.

Blue Route — Marina and Atlantis

Around 2 hours 20 minutes along the coast, taking in Dubai Marina, JBR, the Palm and Atlantis. Best in the late afternoon as the light softens.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Recorded commentary runs in 12 languages through headphones provided on board, and a free creek dhow cruise is included with the ticket — a genuinely worthwhile addition rather than a token extra. Night tours run as a separate option for the city after dark.

GOOD TO KNOW

Buses run roughly every 30 minutes, 365 days a year. Multi-day tickets work out considerably cheaper per day and remove the pressure to see everything at once. The open top deck is the best seat but offers no shade — a hat and sunscreen matter in summer, and the lower deck is air-conditioned.

Use the bus to reach the headline sights and book entry separately: Burj Khalifa At The Top, the Dubai Frame and Dubai Museum are all on or near the routes. See more things to do in Dubai.

Sightseeing

Big Bus Tour Dubai

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