Big Bus Dubai Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour by Open-Top Bus
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Dubai your way on a double-decker, open-top Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour. See highlights such as the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, and Old Dubai, with the freedom to hop on and off at key stops. Choose a 24-hour, 48-hour, or 5-day pass, with select tickets including extras like a Dubai Creek cruise and attraction admissions.
- Hop-on hop-off Big Bus sightseeing tour of Dubai by open-top bus
- Choose from a 1-, 2-, or 5-day ticket to suit your independent sightseeing schedule
- Create your own personalized sightseeing itinerary and explore Dubai at leisure
- See top Dubai attractions including Al Fahidi Fort, Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and the Burj Khalifa
- Hop on and off as many times as you like on different routes around Dubai
- Make use of additional benefits such as an Arabian Dhow Cruise.
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Part of the open-air upper decks of the buses are shaded so you can enjoy elevated views out of the sun.
What's Included
- Choose from a 24-hr, 48-hr or 5-day Hop-on, Hop-off bus ticket
- A traditional 1-hour Dhow Creek Cruise (Not included in the 24-Hour Bus only ticket)
- The Lost World Aquarium entry (48-hr and 5-day options)
- Desert sunset tour(5-day option only)
- The Dubai Frame Admission (5-day option only)
- Audio commentary available in 6 languages
- Unlimited Pizza & Soft Drinks on 1-hour Dhow Creek Cruise (5-day option only)
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Operating hours
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
Departure Point
- You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.
Ticket Redemption Point
Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa - Downtown Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Itinerary
Dubai is full of contrasts, having transformed from a fishing village into a cosmopolitan city in less than a century. From spectacular skyscrapers to traditional souks, there’s plenty for visitors to see and discover. So, climb aboard the open-top Big Bus sightseeing bus and get to know Dubai with ease.
Enjoy 360-degree views of the sights and hop on and hop off at any of the stops on the routes. Plus, stay aboard and repeat your circuits any number of times during your chosen ticket time — either 1-Day Discover, 2-day Essential, or an Explore 5-day unlimited attraction pass.
Included in your ticket is a range of enjoyable extras, depending on your choice.
Explore the traditional city of Dubai around the Dubai Creek, and visit a wide variety of museums, souks, a fort, an old palace, and historic districts. Experience the thrilling views of Dubai Marina and its stunning waterfront by taking the Marina tour.
See the Itinerary for a list of stops serviced and additional benefits.
Enjoy 360-degree views of the sights and hop on and hop off at any of the stops on the routes. Plus, stay aboard and repeat your circuits any number of times during your chosen ticket time — either 1-Day Discover, 2-day Essential, or an Explore 5-day unlimited attraction pass.
Included in your ticket is a range of enjoyable extras, depending on your choice.
Explore the traditional city of Dubai around the Dubai Creek, and visit a wide variety of museums, souks, a fort, an old palace, and historic districts. Experience the thrilling views of Dubai Marina and its stunning waterfront by taking the Marina tour.
See the Itinerary for a list of stops serviced and additional benefits.
Red Route - City Tour
13 Stops
16 Points of Interest
Duration: 2 hours
Operating Schedule: Buses depart every 30-40 mins. The first bus departs from Stop 1: Wafi City at 9:00 AM and the last bus departs at 5:00 PM. The full tour route lasts approx. 2 hours. For the most up-to-date bus stop locations and departure timings, we recommend visiting the Big Bus website or downloading the Big Bus app. To access live bus tracking on the day of your travel, please download the Big Bus app in advance of your arrival.
1
Wafi City
2
Burj Khalifa
3
Museum of The Future
4
Al Seef Marine Transport Station 1
5
Al Bastakiya
6
Al Fahidi street
7
Dubai Spice Souk Information Center
8
Al Shindagha Museum
9
Gold Souq
10
Dubai Spice Souk Information Center
11
Dubai Creek
12
Baniyas Road
13
Dubai Frame
Points of interest passed by on this route
Burj Khalifa
Aquaventure Waterpark
Dubai Museum & Al Fahidi Fort
Old Souk
The Dubai Heritage Village
Gold Souk
Dubai Spice Souk
Palm Jumeirah
Burj Al Arab
Sheikh Zayed Road
The Dubai Mall
United Arab Emirates
Dubai Frame
BurJuman
Dubai Creek
Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum's House
Blue route - Beach Tour
10 Stops
12 Points of Interest
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
Operating Schedule: Buses depart every 30-40 mins. The first bus departs from Stop 2: Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall (Financial Center Road - Tourist Bus Parking Area) at 9:15 AM and the last bus departs at 5:15 PM. The full tour route lasts approx. 2 hours 30 minutes. Customers are advised to visit the Big Bus website or to download the Big Bus app to see the most up to date bus stop locations and timings. For live bus tracking on the day of travel - please download the Big Bus App in advance of arrival.
1
Dubai Mall
2
Ain Dubai
3
Dubai Marina
4
Skydive Dubai
5
Cayan Tower
6
Dubai Media City
7
Atlantis The Palm (Non Stop)
8
Fairmont The Palm
9
Palm West Beach by Dubai Retail
10
Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Points of interest passed by on this route
The Dubai Mall
At The Top, Burj Khalifa
Mall of the Emirates
Ski Dubai
Ain Dubai
Bluewaters By Dubai Retail
Cayan Tower
Aquaventure Waterpark
Burj Al Arab
Palm Jumeirah
Souk Madinat Jumeirah By Dubai Retail
Palm West Beach By Dubai Retail
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and to disembark
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.4
based on 2,797 reviews
4lauraberg, Feb 2026
We were able to cover the whole city. The 5 day pass was a great value for us. We enjoyed the included extras with the 5 day pass; the Frame, sunset desert, aquarium and boat cruise. The red route is pretty much on time but there was bad Sunday traffic on the blue route. The narration is very informative.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Laura! We appreciate your review. We are happy to hear that you were able to cover the whole city and that you enjoyed your tours with us. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Gayle_W, Feb 2026
Red Route excellent value and great to understand old Dubai.
Blue route wait until construction completed stuck as all we did was get stuck in traffic.
Commentary at least 4 years old.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Gayle_W, we appreciate your feedback. We are happy that you had a positive experience on our red route. It's disappointing to learn that the traffic conditions and constructions impacted your tour on the blue route. Big Bus Tours are proud of our best-in-class audio experiences, which we have revamped and rolled out to the majority of our cities, with the last few to follow soon. We're confident you'll enjoy the audio guide on your next trip, so be sure to jump on another Big Bus Tour the next time you're travelling. Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Julio_C, Feb 2026
All good, nice experience, professional, on time and good price for what it is. Definitely I’ll do it again.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Julio_C, thank you for the amazing review. We are happy that you had such a wonderful experience with us and we hope to welcome you aboard again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Glenda_H, Feb 2026
A good way to get around the city. Best to stay on the bus for the complete routes and go back to where you want to see later dues to the timing of the bus routes. Unfortunately the timetable is not kept to. One day we waited an hour for the next bus when should have been 40 minutes maximum. Couldn't fit in the boat ride that was offered.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Glenda_H, thank you for your review. We are happy that you had a positive experience with us. We regret that you did not have time to take the boat ride also. The bus arrival times can be delayed sometimes due to traffic conditions or unexpected outcomes. Therefore, we always recommend to download our app and track the bus in real time or you can also reach out to us via live chat for any assistance. We hope to have the chance to welcome you aboard again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Mark_A, Jan 2026
Works well and goes to most of the places you want to go to, so makes travelling very easy, but the traffic can be very bad, particularly later in the afternoon / evening
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Mark_A,
Thank you for your feedback! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, however we apologize for the bad traffic! The frequency of our buses may be affected by traffic conditions, leading to possible delays. We recommend using the Live Tracking feature on our app to help plan your route on the day. We hope to see you on a Big Bus Tour again soon! Best wishes. Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Popo_S, Jan 2026
This was a great way to see all the major sites of the city. It's not possible to get off and on the bus at multiple stops due to all the traffic and congestion. We didn't have time to get off at many interesting points because we would miss the last bus.
The last bus was also very late to arrive due to the traffic. If this is your only way to see and experience the sites of Dubai, get a multiple day pass.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello Popo! Thank you for your review. We're sorry that the wait times impacted your trip. As we tend to operate in big cities, occasionally traffic can let us down. We recommend using the Live Tracking feature on our app to help plan your route on the day. We hope to see you on a Big Bus Tour again soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
tonia_s, Jan 2026
The bus takes you to all the interesting sites. The 5 day ticket includes entry to several tourist spots and they are very enjoyable. However, the bus leaves every 40 minutes and a 25 minute break at Wafi Centre is far too long. It takes a very long time to reach the sites.
The drivers were very informative and courteous
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello Tonia! We truly appreciate your review. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed your experience, and we will certainly consider your feedback regarding the break and the bus arrival times at the sites. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Mandy_E, Jan 2026
We did the red line, the blue line and the cruise on the creek. At £101 for 2 of us, it was well worth the money. Dubai is awesome and the tour was an excellent, informative way to get a handle on what there is and where. We caught the bus at The Mall, at 10am, and we're redelivered there at about 6.30pm ish. We only got off the bus at the creek cruise stop! If you want to get off at others, you'll need to start earlier or get a 48hr ticket. The last part of the bus tour was during rush hour, so we were stuck in traffic, which was unfortunate. But the whole experience was excellent and I would totally recommend it.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello Mandy! We truly appreciate your review. It's wonderful to know that you had a fantastic experience with us in Dubai and that you plan to recommend us. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
NICOLAEDANIEL_R, Jan 2026
Best experience for 5 days ticket. Manu activities included: Desert Sunset, The Frame, Dhow Cruise, Atlantis Lost World Aquarium.
Recommended 100%.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi NICOLAEDANIEL! We appreciate your review. We are happy to hear that you had the best experience with us. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Odile_M, Dec 2025
My Mum Big Sister & I enjoyed our entire day of 2 different Big Bus Tours that made have the best day. 1st New Dubai Bus Tour was 2.5 Hours & 2nd Old Dubai Tour was 2 Hours. So worth every penny & the ENITRE DAY!!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Odile_M,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We are always grateful when our guests have a great time on our tours! We recommend using the Live Tracking feature on our app to help plan your route on the day. We hope to see you on a Big Bus Tour again soon! Best wishes. Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
MelitaGrace_N, Dec 2025
I had a wonderful experience in Big Bus and covered red & blue line in a day. It was easy to start the tour from any point and it was convenient. Dhow Cruise was included which was very pleasant.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi MelitaGrace_N!
We are really glad to hear that you had a fantastic experience with us in Dubai on the red and blue line, thanks to the convenient Hop-On/Hop-Off feature, and that you enjoyed the Dhow Cruise. We look forward to seeing you again soon, and we appreciate your feedback!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Thess_H, Dec 2025
Everytime we travel out of country we have made Big Bus Tour part of our first couple days to get to know the local areas. And Big Bus Tour always delivers excellently. Our first day in Dubai was even more special because Big Bus Tour had Filipina agents that made us feel at home and welcome. Thank you Glenda, Jess and Abby for the warm and friendly welcome, and of course our bus driver for the day. We surely recommend Big Bus Tour to all everywhere there are in the world.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Thess, thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with us. We are absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful to learn that Big Bus has become your favorite way to explore the new cities you are traveling to. It fills us with immense pride and joy to know that Glenda, Jess, and Abby provided you with the kind of supportive, friendly, and fun atmosphere that made you feel welcomed throughout the tours. Your thoughts and feedback mean a lot to us, and we truly appreciate you sharing them. We cannot wait to see you again as you journey around the world! Warm regards, Anca from Big Bus
Roger_S, Dec 2025
Be prepared for the traffic congestion and roadworks
Dubai is very busy and lively
If you want to shop all the big names are there in the zmalls
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Roger, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We're genuinely sorry to hear that the wait times had a negative impact on your trip; as we tend to operate primarily in big cities, there are times when traffic can unfortunately let us down. To enhance your experience in the future, we highly recommend utilizing the Live Tracking feature available on our app, as it can assist you in planning your route more effectively on the day of your tour. We sincerely hope to welcome you back on a Big Bus Tour again soon! Best regards, Anca from Big Bus
Tazmin_N, Nov 2025
The busses were on time. We did the whole bus trip (red line) without getting off, then got off on the next go around.
I think, next time we would get off at our place of interest then reboard and continue our tour. We enjoyed the Cairo market, it was very unique
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Tazmin_N, thank you for the great review. We are happy that you enjoyed your recent experience with us and we're looking forward to have you aboard again soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Levardo_B, Nov 2025
Great way to get to experience both the old and new city and its rich and vast history. Highly recommended
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Levardo_B,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We are glad to hear that you had such a good time exploring the city! We want to make sure you get the best service possible. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon! Best regards, Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Ann_C, Nov 2025
Recorded commentary was very informative and appeared accurate based on driving location. Loops were longer than described, allow yourself more time, unless it was just traffic conditions that day.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Ann_C,
Thank you for your feedback! We are glad to hear that you found the commentary informative, however we apologise for the confusion created regarding the routes. You can check out our website in order to see the complete routes. We hope to see you again in the future! Best wishes. Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Wendy_W, Nov 2025
The On/Off bus is always a great way to get oriented in a new city. The RED line was a wonderful way to see the older city of Dubai. Good air conditioning and a lot of history to be learned. Great way to spend a couple of hours. This line also included an hour boat ride if you wanted to do that.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello Wendy, we are grateful for your fantastic review! It brings us great joy to know that you found our tour to be an excellent way to get acquainted with a new city, and that you enjoyed our Dubai Hop-On, Hop-Off tour. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you back on board soon. Thank you, Alice w/Big Bus Tours
Sandra_S, Oct 2025
Well organised and full of information. Guide was extremely helpful and approachable. Would recommend the trip to anyone
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Sandra_S, thank you for your feedback and recommendation. We are happy that you enjoyed your recent visit with us and found our staff helpful. Looking forward to have you on board again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Roberto_F, Oct 2025
Is not even worth it. Due to Dubai's extreme traffic conditions, you get to spend more time in the bus than sightseeing. I purchased the 48 hour trip one and was not able to see half of the sights due to heavy traffic all day long. What a waste of money.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello Roberto, thank you for sharing your feedback. We apologize that the wait times affected your experience; since we often operate in large cities, traffic can sometimes be a challenge. We suggest utilizing the Live Tracking feature on our app to assist in planning your route for the day. We look forward to welcoming you back on a Big Bus Tour soon! Best, Alice @ Big Bus
Victor_S, Oct 2025
Covered all major sites of the city. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Comfort and cleanliness of bus quite acceptable.
Beatrice_S, Sep 2025
The buses are always on time as per the listed schedule. We bought the five days, which is not very much more than the 24hr or 48hr and comes with great additions. We never had any issues and the drivers are very helpful. It is very easy getting on and off. Best way to see most of Dubai.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Beatrice, We value your feedback and are pleased to know that you enjoyed our Dubai Hop-On, Hop-Off service, as well as all the attractions included in the 5-day package you purchased. We look forward to seeing you on board soon. Thank you, Alice w/Big Bus Tours
JMW_J, Sep 2025
I booked this excursion for Monday September 22nd. No pick up time or location was provided. After asking serving people on the street finally found a pick up location.. The booth at the location had a flyer that stated an ending operation time contrary to the time on the email you sent me which stated 24 hrs operation. Met the bus on Tuesday at the Beach. The second level of the bus had no air conditioning. Was proved earphones but no narrative was provided along the way. Very disappointing trip altogether.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello JMW, we truly value your candid feedback, and we're genuinely sorry to learn that our tour fell short of your expectations. Please feel free to reach out to us so we can discuss this matter further. Exploring a new city can sometimes lead to missing a stop, and we apologize if that caused any inconvenience during your trip. Our app's Find a Stop feature is designed to assist you in locating stops accurately, complete with photos to ensure you're at the right location. Additionally, we regret that the audio system was not functioning on one of our buses, and we understand how this could affect your overall experience. Regarding the air conditioning, we apologize for the discomfort you experienced due to the heat while riding on the open-top bus. Since our buses are open-top, they can't maintain the same coolness as traditional enclosed vehicles. However, we are in the process of upgrading our fleet to Electric Buses, which will feature enhanced cooling technology. If you need assistance, our Live Chat is available 24/7 to help you out! We look forward to seeing you again next time. Alice from Big Bus Tours
Wendy_S, Sep 2025
Not possible to get on and off at many stops in a day, if you want to do both blue and red routes, and the boat trip.
However it gave a good overall insight to places to visit and size of the city, and general layout of the area. I would recommend a separate visit in order to visit specific places, ie Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, aquarium etc
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Wendy! Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the hop on hop off tours. You can always contact us via live chat if you wish to set different dates for your inclusions. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus.
Jessie_C, Aug 2025
Excellent tour to see the main tourist spots. Our driver Ishaq was very friendly and professional, he made the tour enjoyable
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hello Jessie_C! Thank you so much for your feedback. We're thrilled to know that you enjoyed an excellent tour and discovered many attractions along the route. It's wonderful to hear that Ishaq enhanced your experience with us. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best wishes, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
Hildi_Y, Apr 2025
So many things to see in one day, hop and off will be most economical and enjoyable way to do it with no worries
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Hi Hildi, we are thrilled to learn that you had a great experience on our Dubai Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and found it to be the most cost-effective option without any hassle. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you on another adventure with us soon. Best wishes, Alice from Big Bus Tours.
Amy_B, Feb 2025
This was an ideal way to see all of Dubai, and the recorded information we listened to through provided earlplugs was very informative. Give yourself enough time, though. The traffic in Dubai was insane at some points, and the whole circuit took longer than our concierge had indicated. Highly recommend, though.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Dear Amy, we are so grateful for your lovely review! It brings us joy to know that you considered our tour to be just right and that the pre-recorded commentary was helpful and informative. Your enjoyment of the tour is what we strive for! Thank you for recommending us, and we encourage you to discover our other operating cities too. We look forward to having you join us again soon! Warm regards, Alice w/Big Bus Tours.
Ken_S, Feb 2025
Wait times at stops we’re far to long. At one stop I ust took Uber and left. If you don’t leave te bus it’s not bas.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Hi Ken, thanks for your feedback! We're really sorry that the wait times affected your trip. Since we operate in bustling cities, traffic can sometimes be unpredictable. We encourage you to use the Live Tracking feature on our app to help plan your route next time. We hope to see you back on a Big Bus Tour soon! Cheers, Anca from Big Bus.
Sheila_W, Feb 2025
I thought it was an Excellent way to get an overview of Dubai. The gold souk and the dhow cruise was my favourite and I highly recommend it.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Hi Sheila, We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts about Big Bus Tours Dubai! Your fantastic rating and kind recommendation mean the world to us, and we’re thrilled to have met your expectations. We can’t wait to welcome you back on your next adventure with us! Thank you, and enjoy your day! Best wishes, Anca from Big Bus Tours
ALEJANDRO_C, Jan 2025
Its a very practical and great way to see the city. We did the red route and took advantage of the boat ride. The bus park was easy to find behind the mall and the buses were comfortable. We missed to do the blue route due to lack of time.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hello Alejan, we’re so grateful for your lovely review! It’s heart-warming to know that you had a delightful experience on our Dubai Hop-On Hop-Off tour. We eagerly anticipate your next adventure with us!
Tabitha_J, Dec 2024
Great routes. Not too crowded. Many places to eat, shop or take in the culture. Definitely recommend the 2 day pass.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Tabitha, thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to know that you had a great time on our two-day Dubai Hop-on Hop-off tour. Dubai truly offers a vibrant mix of dining, shopping, and rich culture. We can't wait to welcome you back for another adventure with us!
From $48.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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