Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride
Recommended by 99% of travelers
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Step back in time with an immersive walking tour through Dubai’s Al Fahidi historic district. Enjoy traditional Emirati snacks, ride an abra on Dubai Creek, and take in the vibrant souks bursting with spices, gold, and authentic charm. Along the way, your expert guide will share fascinating stories about Dubai’s rich history and cultural roots. This unique experience offers a glimpse of the city’s heritage, far beyond its iconic modern skyline.
- Taste traditional Emirati snacks like luqaimat and ragag
- Enjoy an abra boat ride on Dubai Creek
- Visit Al Khayma Heritage House for cultural insights
- Stroll through Al Fahidi's historic district
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
- Guide
- Visit to Gold Souk
- Visit to Spice Souk
- Photo stop at Al Seef Mosque
- Abra ride (traditional boat ride along Dubai Creek)
- Dates
- Al Khayma Heritage House entry
- Bottle of water
- Street food (Karak tea and Samosa) (with premium option)
- Rogag and Luqaimat snacks (with premium option)
- Shawarma and Falafel (with premium option English)
- Camel milk ice cream (with premium option)
- Lemon Mint Fresh Juice (with premium option)
- Camel Milk Chocolate
- Heritage Site & Museums
- Arabic Tea
- Tips (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant | مطعم الخيمة التراثيHistorical Neighbourhood - 79 Al Mussallah Rd - Al Souq Al Kabeer - Al Fahidi - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Meet your guide at Al Khayma Heritage House, nearest Metro station is DG Sharaf Metro station - Green line
End point
- Dubai Gold SoukDubai - Al Ras - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
You may continue shopping at Gold & Spice souk
Itinerary
1
Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant | مطعم الخيمة التراثي
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Souk Al Seef By Dubai Retail
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Grand Souk - Bur Dubai
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Dubai Spice Souk
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Gold Souk
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please note, the tour duration will be 3-4 hours.
- Meet your guide at Al Khayma Heritage House, nearest metro station is DG Sharaf Metro Startion- Green line
- Kindly share your WhatsApp number for easy communication during the meeting point.
- This tour may be conducted in two different languages simultaneously.
- Do not carry luggage or large bags.
- Infants are not allowed on this tour.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 2,863 reviews
Megan_Z, Feb 2026
Ahmed Hussain was our tour guide we had a great time learning about Old Dubai. Our tour was informative and it was fun visiting the souks. We would definitely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Megan! Ahmed Hussain will be thrilled your walking tour was so enjoyable. He loves sharing the history and culture with guests while making the experience personal, comfortable, and memorable.
Paulo_A, Feb 2026
Excelent tour, Zeeshan gave us meaningfull presentation of the old town on both sides of the creek. Various information regarding the area and also general info about Dubai and the UAE. Zeeshan was an excelent guide.
Brenda_G, Feb 2026
Several items listed that would be on tour were skipped. We should have clarified to the host in advance that we needed to be done at the stated tour time end, but we did not and things ran a little long and we had to cut out.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Brenda! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate your note about the timing andyour point will help us clarify schedules better in the future. We’re glad you still enjoyed the highlights you could experience.
Shannon_L, Jan 2026
Very enjoyable afternoon learning so much about UAE’s history, culture, religion and food!!! Interesting, informative and fun. All the treats were delicious. Grateful to Mustafa for sharing his love and passion of his culture. Highly recommend this tour. We had an unexpected layover after a missed connection and it was a perfect introduction to Dubai!
F_D, Jan 2026
Very informative about the history of Dubai's people, culture, and food. Get to see how Dubai got it's start.
If I can recommend our guide Heidi. She was a wealth of information.
Megan_M, Jan 2026
The 2 stars go directly to our guide, Mustafa, as he was so knowledgeable, kind and funny.
However, know that the description is misleading, especially if you are booking the deluxe option with food.
Our instructions said to arrive exactly at 2:45pm to the restaurant, which we did. We were ushered to a room where we were left for 40 minutes with no information. The restaurant workers didn’t know what to do with us and the tour company was unresponsive on WhatsApp.
Finally, they brought us some of the food (with no explanation that this was some of the food in the package) and about 20 minutes later, a guide showed up. The tour itself started 1 hr 15 minutes after we arrived.
The tour is advertised to be 3-4 hours long, so we assumed 4 hrs from 2:45pm, meaning that we would end around 6:45/7pm at the latest. We left the tour at 7:15pm (due to other dinner reservations), and still hadn’t completed half the tour or eaten half the listed food included. Others on the tour also noted the time and prior engagements (including flights), so at least it wasn’t just us that had other commitments.
Throughout the experience, the tour company was not very responsive and initially only offered a 20% refund. I have escalated through Viator due to their lack of support.
So, if you have a very flexible afternoon, this could be a good option, especially if you have Mustafa. However, if you want a tour that stays within the time limit and offers all that’s listed in that time, I’d recommend another option.
Khadija_M, Jan 2026
Excellent friendly service. The tour guide explained alot to us and we were able to see the historical Arabian life. Thank you!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Khadija! Showing the historical Arabian lifestyle in a clear and friendly way is exactly what we aim for. Happy you felt welcomed and well guided throughout the tour.
anthony_v, Jan 2026
Well run excellent tour focused on history and culture. Started in the old town, then a boat ride to the souk. Khan was a great guide, very knowledgeable and he explained things very well. I highly recommend the tour and Khan.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi anthony! We’re thrilled Khan made your cultural tour so well organized and enjoyable. It’s great that his knowledge and explanations enhanced your experience.
wayne_e, Jan 2026
The tour was awesome and our guide Maaz Khan was informative as well as being professional he was easy to talk to and very funny, he made the tour very pleasurable.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi wayne! Maaz Khan will be thrilled you found him informative, funny, and easy to talk to. We’re happy the tour was enjoyable from start to finish!
Chris_M, Dec 2025
We learned a lot and the time flew by. I highly recommend this tour. It was entertaining and fun at the same time.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Chris! We’re thrilled to hear you found the tour both entertaining and informative. Glad the time flew by and you had a fun experience!
juliesae, Dec 2025
Great walking tour with very informed guide. Had a blast. I went with my favorite two cousins. We really enjoyed the samosas.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Julie! That sounds like such a fun way to spend time together. Glad the walking tour felt lively and informative and that the little food stops like the samosas added to the fun.
Toshma_G, Dec 2025
Ahmed Hussein was AMAZING!! Very informative and kept the group engaged, educated...and ON TIME!! Would recommend him as your Old Dubai tour guide
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Toshma! Ahmed Hussein brings great energy to the tour.He keeps everyone engaged, informed, and on schedule while sharing deep knowledge of Old Dubai and its history.
Vinay_A, Dec 2025
Ahmed was an excellent tour guide with very good communication and punctual. He explained very well the history of UAE.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Vinay! Ahmed is known for being punctual and clear with his explanations. Great to hear the history of the UAE came through in a way that was easy to follow and engaging.
Amy_U, Dec 2025
I did this experience in Dec 2025, 100% recommended, really interesting and a great mix of people and cultural information. If you get the opportunity do it.
Jigesh_S, Nov 2025
We had the best experience with our tour guide Ibrahim. He was very knowledgeable and friendly and provided an awesome experience highly recommend this tour of the soil, especially with kids.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Jigesh,
Great to hear Ibrahim made your family tour so fun and informative. Perfect for kids and adults alike!
Robert_R, Nov 2025
A great introduction to the old part of Dubai along with an explanation and quick history lesson on the UAE and the origins of Dubai.
Khan was clearly spoken and easy to understand and was actually pleased to answer the members of the tour groups questions. A good way to fill in a day!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Robert,.
Khan is thrilled you enjoyed learning about Old Dubai and the UAE. He loved answering all the questions from the group.
Teresa_B, Oct 2025
The Old Town and Souk tour was a wonderful experience! I loved exploring the traditional markets, trying local street food, and learning about Dubai’s history. The abra boat ride across the creek was relaxing and gave a great view of the city’s old charm. The guide was friendly and informative—definitely a must-do for anyone wanting to see the real Dubai!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Teresa,
We’re thrilled you loved exploring the souks, tasting street food, and enjoying the abra ride. The guide will be glad you found the tour informative and relaxing.
Vanessa_L, Oct 2025
Great day tour with Ibrahim - lots of knowledge and background around Old Dubai and history of Dubai which was super interesting!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Vanessa,
Ibrahim will be so happy to hear you enjoyed the Old Dubai tour and found the history interesting.
Sandra_E, Oct 2025
This tour with Walid was brilliant. Walid was very knowledgeable and interesting and gave us a good insight to Dubai and the Emirati. We also tasted many delicacies and lovely teas and true Emirati coffee. And he showed us through the Souk markets. Loved the Abra taxi across the water too. Highly recommend
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Sandra,
We’re so glad you enjoyed your tour with Walid, tasting local delicacies and experiencing the Souks. Thank you for recommending us!
pamela_v, Oct 2025
This tour was great. Zeeshan was one of the best tour guides we've ever had anywhere! He was extremely knowledgeable about the places on the tour, was very warm, friendly and personable and interested in us participants really enjoying the tour and Old Town. We highly recommend anyone visiting Dubai to take this tour.
Kenneth_E, Oct 2025
Fun walking tour through the souks along with tasty bites of food. Adnan was knowledgeable and funny as he gave interesting facts and figures about Dubai. We highly recommend this tour.
Ineathea_J, Sep 2025
This tour exceeded my expectations. Zee, the tour guide, was excellent. He was very professional and knowledgeable. My husband is a history buff and he thoroughly enjoyed learning about old and new Dubai. I highly recommend this tour and if you are able to recommend Zee, I assure you, you will not be disappointed.
Natalie_L, Sep 2025
Awesome tour! Heidi is amazing guide and very knowledgeable. Great value for money. Highly recommend!
Chris_H, Sep 2025
The tour guide Noor Ahmad was fantastic. He’d been doing this a while so he had lots of useful information. The one thing that would propel this tour to a 5-star rating would be more emphasis on the “street food” portion of the tour. I booked it thinking that we’d get a more interactive time with vendors and learning more about food culture, but what we got was a falafel, samosa, and a shwarma wrap in a bag. Good tour overall, but could be excellent.
Frank_P, Aug 2025
This tour is extremely long. When taking this tour I did not know it would start at an old restaurant going over the history of Dubai then going into the old town then going to the mosque before doing the Abra and the old souk tour. If you were just interested in seeing the soup and trying street foods that are offered at the souk, this is not a good tour to choose. However, if you want to know the history of old Dubai in the history of it is so while doing a walking tour around the old city before going to the market and this is a great choice.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Frank,
The tour follows a set itinerary to give guests a full historical and cultural experience of old Dubai. Stops at the restaurant, old town, mosque, Abra, and souks are all planned to provide context and enrich the visit. The exact order and timing are beyond our control, as the route is designed to cover everything properly.
Simon_I, Jun 2025
Good informative tour guide who knew all the facts in an out. We started off at a beautiful restaurant for tea then walked into several places .. its obvious being in Dubai its hot. The spice, gold and grand souk was busy. Dont forget to ask questions to tour guide if you want to know more
MariadelMar_M, May 2025
Very disappointed with the poor organization at Walking Your. Everything felt chaotic, with little communication and unprepared staff. Not what I expected! they need to get it together.
Rajesh_A, May 2025
The tour guide was good. The tour could have been much better and information could have. Been better . Over all the it was disappointing. There were too many people The tour was not having anything interesting it was boring. I paid for premium but they have a plastic bag of food and we pushed in a shop in the soul. It was completely overpriced. Never again I would like my money back.
Response from Host, May 2025
We acknowledge your concerns regarding the tour’s structure, crowd size, and overall value. It's unfortunate to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations, especially considering the premium option selected. Your feedback will be taken into account as we work to improve the quality and delivery of our tours.
Tanisha_J, Apr 2025
This was an amazing tour! Khan is very informative about the history of old Dubai. From the beginning to the end this tour is great. Thank you Khan!
Eve_B, Apr 2025
Our guide Hassan was amazing! We learnt greatly about the history of the UAE and Islam. The souk (Spice and Gold) exploring was really cool to see and it was fantastic to walk through the heritage village then ride on the Abra. Hassan gave us good knowledge and helped us barter/ haggle for fair prices in the souk. Great guide, great refreshments and great experience! Would 100% do again.
From $18.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Dubai: Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride
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