City Sightseeing Dubai Tours

Dubai is a dynamic city that hosts many cultural, culinary and entertainment spots for visitors to indulge in. The metropolis features stunning skyscrapers, massive malls, forts, resorts, aquariums and monuments.

The City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off tour is the best way to visit the city’s most relevant sites, from the Burj Khalifa to the Jumeirah Beach and Atlantis The Palm. Avoid needless planning, worries about traffic routes, and delays while you explore Dubai on-board a comfortable open-top double-decker bus offered by City Sightseeing.

Why Choose City Sightseeing Dubai Hop On Hop Off Tours?

City Sightseeing is one of Dubai’s most prominent tourist travel options. Their Hop On Hop Off tour is the best way to indulge in the city’s main offerings. Visitors can choose between the 24, 48 or 72-hour tickets and hop on and off at any of the 40+ stops across 5 different routes.

Travellers can hop on at a convenient stop, travel along the route and hop off at any desired stop. Once they are done visiting the attractions in the area, they can board any of the City Sightseeing buses that frequent stops every 25-30 minutes and continue their journey.

The City Sightseeing tour is aimed at providing visitors with rides that are comfortable, hassle-free, informative and useful. As such, all their buses provide comfy seating, free wi-fi, water, and an audio guide in 11 different languages. A complimentary Night Tour is also included with the tickets.

Dubai City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour Advantages

Here’s why the City Sightseeing Dubai Hop On Hop Off tour is the best option for travellers and curious locals alike:

1. Overview of the city

Marvel at the panoramic views of the city atop a double-decker bus. Learn about Dubai’s engaging history through the complimentary audio guide, which is available in 11 different languages.

Admire Dubai’s iconic landmarks, such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Mall of The Emirates, Grand Mosque and the Burj Al Arab, on-board a City Sightseeing bus and hop off at any of the stops to take a closer look. Admire the city at night through the free Night Tour.

2. Ease of getting around

Traversing Dubai becomes a breeze with the City Sightseeing HOHO tour. Bypass headache-inducing travel planning, traffic jams, and detours with a convenient tour that takes passengers to over 40+ stops around the city.

Avoid Dubai’s scorching sun on-board air-conditioned buses that roam every part of the lively city. Forget about hiring expensive rentals and haggling with taxi drivers - simply buy a ticket and get access to a large fleet of buses, which frequent city-wide stops every 25-30 minutes.

3. Various routes to choose from

Dubai is a thriving metropolis that also hosts historic monuments, buildings and markets. To thoroughly explore this diverse city and its long list of attractions, the City Sightseeing HOHO tour offers 5 different routes - Red Route, Blue Route, Yellow Route, Pink Route and Orange Route.

These routes are meant to satisfy every travellers curiosity, whether they want to explore the massive malls and skyscrapers within the city, the waterfront at the Marina, or the man-made island of Palm Jumeirah.

4. Informative commentary

Every City Sightseeing tour bus is equipped with a free audio guide that provides valuable commentary for both adults and children. The commentary for adults is available in 11 different languages (English, Arabic, German, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, Korean and Japanese). The children’s commentary is available in English and Arabic.

The guide helps you understand the history and features of attractions in Dubai, allowing travellers to decide the places they'd like to visit and the places they’d like to just glance at.

5. Savings

Car rentals, fuel and taxi fares can add up to a significant amount very quickly as travellers try to get around from one attraction to the next. Save your money for the things that matter (sightseeing, dining, or shopping) rather than avoidable travel expenses with the City Sightseeing HOHO tour.

Passengers can also avail free Wi-Fi and audio commentaries on-board the buses. Premium ticket holders also save up on entry tickets to various sites and multiple cruises.

6. Attraction Entries

While standard ticket holders get HOHO access to all City Sightseeing buses, free amenities and a night tour, Premium ticket holders get a lot more. Premium tickets grant access to a complimentary dolphin presentation, a Back of the House tour of the Dubai Mall Aquarium & Underwater Zoo or access to The Lost Chambers & The Ambassador Lagoon at Atlantis The Palm.

Entry to the Dubai Museum, Global Village, the Al Seef Dhow Cruise and the Dubai Canal Cruise are also included with Premium passes..

7. Freebies

Passengers are given access to free-wifi, water and an audio guide (featuring 11 languages). Arguably, the best complementary benefit is the Night Tour - a breathtaking tour of the city, featuring panoramic views of the city at night and lit-up views of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Burj Al Arab and more.

Premium tickets give free access to numerous sights, including the world-famous Lost Chambers at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai Museum, 2 cruises, and even get a buy get one free drink offer at Costa Coffee.

City Sightseeing Dubai Ticket Options

Standard

Premium

Standard Ticket

This ticket comes in 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour variants.

It enables passengers to take advantage of the large fleet of City Sightseeing buses roaming the city.
Ticket holders can choose between 5 routes, with over 40 stops, and hop on to a double-decker wifi-enabled bus.
Enjoy the whole ride or hop-off at any desired location for further exploration.
A complimentary night tour is also included so travellers can enjoy sweeping views of Dubai at night.
Passengers are also given free water and audio commentary in 11 different languages for adults (English, Arabic, German, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, Korean and Japanese).
The children’s audio commentary is available in 2 languages - English and Arabic.

Popular Dubai City Sightseeing Routes

The City Sightseeing Dubai HOHO tour features 5 expertly-planned routes spread across the city and surrounding areas:

Red Route

The Red Route encompasses the main attractions in the city, showing passengers how a tiny fishing village turned into a mammoth city. Starting with the Dubai Mall, this route features 15 stops. Visitors can explore the Al Seef Contemporary Area - home to the historic Union House building and one of the largest flags in the world, the Burjuman Centre - a lively shopping mall, the Dubai Museum - which presents the history of Dubai and its surrounding cities.

Other popular attractions are the Old Souk (a traditional marketplace), Spice and Gold Souk, Riviera Hotel, Dubai Creek, Deira City Centre, Dubai Festival City Mall and Sheikh Zayed Road.

Blue Route

This route starts in the city and follows a circular route which spreads out to the beaches. The Dubai Mall is the first of 10 stops on this route. The most popular attractions along this route are the Etihad Museum, Jumeirah Mosque, Public Beach Umm Suqeim, Burj Al Arab, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, and the Mall of Emirates.

Passengers can explore Dubai’s history before visiting several commercial centres along with a scenic beach, the Grand Mosque and the Mall of Emirates, which hosts an indoor ski resort.

Yellow Route

The Palm Jumeirah and the Marina are the main attractions on the Yellow Route. The route begins at the massive Mall of Emirates and has 5 more stops. Visitors on this route frequent the Dubai Marina Walk, the Dubai Marina Mall, The JBR Walk, Dubai Media City and Atlantis The Palm.

Passengers that love the waterfront should choose this route. There are numerous options to explore the Dubai Marina and its surrounding areas. Atlantis The Palm is another major attraction, with top-class spa and dining experiences, a renowned aquarium and a water park.

Pink Route

For those that want to solely focus on the man-made Palm Jumeirah island, this is the ideal route. Featuring 6 stops, this route takes passengers from end of the crescent-shaped island to the other with a fun stop at the iconic Atlantis the Palm.

The Atlantis provides the most attractions along this route, offering helicopter tours, a breath-taking aquarium, a full-fledged water park, numerous restaurants, bars, a spa and a private beach. The island features several other luxury hotels and resorts for tourists.

Orange Route

This route is a seasonal one that is offered between November and April only. It is also closed on Mondays. The route features 4 stops, starting at Dubai Mall. The two main attractions along this route are the Global Village - the culture and entertainment hub of the city - and the Miracle Garden - which hosts over 100 million flowers across 70 different species.

The Orange route is perfect for both culture enthusiasts, who can watch shows, concerts and musicals at the Global Village, and nature lovers, who can relax amidst millions of awe-inspiring flowers. The Global Village also offers funfair rides, delicious dining options and lavish shopping centres.

Popular Dubai City Sightseeing Hop On Hop-off Stops

The most popular stop on the City Sightseeing Dubai HOHO tour:

Dubai Mall

The massive Dubai Mall features over 1,200 retail stores, hundreds of food and beverage outlets. It is one of the largest malls in the world with a land area of over 1 million square metres.

But, if shopping is not your cup of tea, then you can also visit the equally large aquarium and underwater zoo. The 10-million litre Dubai Aquarium zoo hosts over 1300 marine animals, including around 400 sharks and rays.

Atlantis The Palm

Atlantis The Palm is a world-famous luxury resort, aquarium and waterpark. The massive hotel, located at the tip of the Palm Jumeirah island, is one of the most memorable attractions in Dubai, if not the world.

Guests can stay in luxury rooms and suites, access premium amenities and room service, and marvel at unimpeded views of the Arabian Gulf. Visitors can also have fun at the waterpark or head over to The Lost Chambers, an Atlantis-themed aquarium which is home to around 65000 marine animals.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah

This Arabian bazaar in Old Dubai is built in the traditional middle eastern style and features a host of stalls and restaurants. Visitors can wander through stalls laden with local handmade jewellery, wood carvings, mouth-watering spices and more.

The souk also features over 23 restaurants that serve a variety of culinary delicacies and drinks, in varying local and international cuisines, so visitors can take a break from their exploring to have a quick bite and a refreshing drink.

Global Village

The Global Village is one of the most popular stops on the City Sightseeing HOHO tour in Dubai. Attracting over 7 million visitors from October 2018 to April 2019, the Global Village claims to be the world’s largest tourism, leisure, shopping and entertainment project.

The Village combines over 90 cultures from around the world in one place via numerous concerts, shows, carnivals and shopping centres. The Global Village is among the must-see places in Dubai.

Mall of the Emirates

Hosting over 630+ brands, the Mall of the Emirates claims to be the world’s first shopping resort. Everything you need from fashion to home furnishing is available in this expansive mall, with a land area of around 233,400 sqm.

Apart from shopping, the all is also known for its indoor ski resort - Ski Dubai - which enables visitors to cool off while skiing, snowboarding or taking lessons. The mall also has a multiplex cinema along with Magic Planet - a family entertainment centre featuring rides, games and other activities.

Suggested City Sightseeing Dubai Itineraries

We suggest the following City Sightseeing HOHO routes in Dubai:

1-Day

2-Day

3-Day

1 Day Itinerary

Travellers looking to traverse Dubai in a single day should take the Red Route to explore the depths of the actual city. From the Dubai Mall to the Creek to the City Centre, this 15-route tour is the perfect way to decide your itinerary for the day. The Red Route is aimed at helping tourists understand Dubai’s exciting history and transformation.

Those who want to mix in a bit of waterfront activity along with city sights should consider the Blue Route, which also starts at the Dubai Mall and moves around town before heading out the Public Beach Umm Suqeim, Palm Jumeirah and Mall of the Emirates.

Premium ticket holders can also squeeze in extra activities at certain stops. The complimentary night tour is the perfect way to end your day as you relax in the gentle breeze while looking out at the city.

City Sightseeing Dubai Hop On Hop Off Tips

Make the most of your City Sightseeing Dubai HOHO tour by using the following tips:

Buy tickets in advance, either through the official website or through Headout, for easy and smooth. City Sightseeing buses provide instant confirmation and allow cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of the tour.
Advance ticket purchases often offer discounts. Purchasing online tickets is also helpful as City Sightseeing buses allow passengers to simply show the ticket on their phones and enter.
Thoroughly check the different routes and stops online so you have a basic idea of where to start, end, and how to get back to your accommodations.
Make use of the audio commentary on board to decide where to hop off and explore further.
We suggest that all travellers dress modestly as Dubai is a Muslim country that follows Sharia law.
Summers in Dubai can be hard to handle for most outsiders so we recommend visiting from November to March so you can enjoy the open-top City Sightseeing buses.
Please remember that the 2, 3 and 7-day passes are activated on the day you start the tour and must be used consecutively. For example, if a 3-day ticket is purchased, you cannot choose to use up two days and come back later for the third day.
Consider packing snacks that you can munch on along the tour if you plan to visit outdoor areas. If you plan to stay within the city, we recommend indulging in the diverse range of culinary delights that Dubai has to offer.

City Sightseeing Dubai Hop On Hop Off Reviews

“We used the City Sightseeing tour in Dubai last month and it was great. We used the blue route and had a lot of fun. We visited a lot of places but the Dubai Mall and the Dubai Opera were the best for us. Although the tour was really nice, we recommend taking a two-day or three-day ticket if you want to see a lot of attractions. Otherwise, your day can get pretty cramped and tiring.”

“I and my friend group decided to use the City Sightseeing tour when we visited Dubai earlier this year. We bought the 3-day Premium tickets and it was well worth the money. The buses are comfortable and the staff on-board were really nice and helpful. We used the passes to go on different routes. My personal favourites were the Green and Orange routes. The night tour and the cruises were also amazing.”

“The City Sightseeing tour is a must-use when you visit Dubai. I visited Dubai with my husband and kids and the tour was really family-friendly. My kids even got their own audio commentary on the buses. The staff was very friendly and helped us navigate the city. We visited many attractions but our favourite was the Atlantis The Palm, I and my husband loved the huge aquarium while our kids loved the waterpark.”