All You Need to Know About Hop On Hop Off Tours in Dubai
Interestingly, Dubai has a dedicated hop-on hop-off bus tour service that boosts the inexplicable, fascinating experience for anyone who wishes to explore the wonderful Emirate.
Crowned as the most actively explored Emirate of the UAE, Dubai can easily be explored with the hop on hop off bus Dubai service. As the name suggests, Hop on Hop off (HOHO) tours allow you to get on and off the bus at the dedicated Dubai hop on hop off bus stops and visit major attractions that you wish to see. Depending on the ticket, you can hop on and off multiple times. However, there is a lot more to it. Let’s get to know hop on hop off bus Dubai service operators and what they have to offer.
HOP ON HOP OFF DUBAI BUS TOURS
Hop on hop off bus Dubai tour is a brilliant service to provide flexibility to your trip in Dubai. You can plan your day your way without worrying about transportation or its charges. Those who want to tour the city’s best places have two options to choose from; they can stay on board for the entire route and enjoy a fascinating, scenic journey or they can hop off at the destinations if they wish to explore further. But that’s not the end of it. Tourists can simply get on the next bus that comes by to resume their tour to the rest of the places. Though you can also commute around the city via RTA buses in Dubai, but hop on hop off buses offer an ultimate tour experience.
Hop on hop off bus Dubai tour is offered by two companies primarily.
- Big Bus Dubai
- City Sightseeing
Both the companies operate open air-top double-decker buses so that you can feel the wind blowing in your hair as the bus speeds down the city’s sleek roads. Let’s explore the companies and their services in detail.
1. BIG BUS DUBAI HOP ON HOP OFF
One of the famous bus tour operators is Big Bus Dubai hop on hop off. Their bus operates on a ‘Red Route’ having nine stops/stations. These nine bus stops cover the major landmarks of the city, starting from Dubai Mall – Stop 1 – and towards Old Dubai. Travellers can begin their city tour from any one of the stops within the Red Route.
Another interesting feature of Big Bus Dubai hop on hop off tour is that they offer pre-recorded commentary of the city, which is available in 12 different languages. The commentator narrates the city’s intriguing history, from facts and figures to stories about architecture and culture belonging to each landmark the bus passes through. The cherry on top is that every passenger also gets free headphones when they board the bus.
Below is the list of landmarks that Big Bus Dubai hop on hop off takes you through:
- E11 Road/Sheikh Zayed Road
- Jumeirah Mosque
- Creekside Park
- Bastakia Quarter
- Jumeirah Beach Park
- Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Creek
- Jumeirah Public Beach
- Burj Al Arab
- Atlantis the Palm
- Diving Village
- Grand Mosque
- Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House/Shindagha Museum
- The Burj Khalifa
- Palm Island Drive
We have compiled a few important details for passengers to take notes of.
- The Dubai hop on hop off bus time starts at 10.00 am.
- The first Dubai hop on hop off bus stop is Dubai Mall
- The last bus arrives at 4.00 pm at the first stop.
- The tour’s full circuit time is approximately 2 hours.
- The frequency of bus incoming is at every 60 minutes.
- Passengers can get two types of tickets; classic (1-day) and premium (2-days).
TICKET PRICES
Classic Ticket: AED 280 /adult, AED 142/children (5-15 years)
Classic ticket includes: 1-day hop on hop off, pre-recorded commentary, flexible ticket, all the top landmarks and free mobile app
Premium Ticket: AED 325/adult, AED 165/children (5-15 years)
Premium ticket includes: 2-day hop on hop off, pre-recorded commentary, flexible ticket, all the major landmarks and free mobile app
Note: If you book your tickets online on their official website, you can avail 25% off on the prices.
BIG BUS TOUR MOBILE APP
Keep in mind to download the exclusive, free Big Bus interactive app (Android | iOS) before you board the bus. It provides you with real-time bus tracking and arrival times so you never miss out on any bus at any station. There are detailed maps, dining options, and incoming landmarks, to name a few, all available on the app.
Through the app, you get to access exclusive offers that make you save money by fast-track entries. You can also purchase tickets for buses and landmarks included within its routes through a secured and easy-to-use booking system. There’s free Wi-Fi available as well on the buses to enhance your experience.
Don’t forget to visit their website to stay updated with the latest offers, deals, pricing, and initiation of tour routes around the city!
2. CITY SIGHTSEEING DUBAI
Another equally amazing bus tour operator, City Sightseeing Dubai hop on hop off has an amazing route on which their red, open-top bus moves around. It also has nine major bus stops in the city, including most of the major attractions such as the Dubai Mall, Al Fahidi Historical District, Gold & Spice Souk, Madinat Jumeriah, and Atlantis The Palm.
With City Sightseeing Dubai hop on hop off, you get to enjoy panoramic views of Dubai and kids’ commentaries in English and Arabic. The bus also features an audio guide in 11 languages.
Some other important details about the bus tour include the following:
- Their ticket validity is 12 months with free cancellation offer.
- Mobile vouchers are also accepted.
- The full circuit time is around 2 hours.
- Similar to Big Bus Dubai, the bus frequency is every 60 minutes.
- Starting from Dubai Mall, it leaves every hour from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.
- You can redeem your voucher,(either a paper or mobile e-voucher) at any stop.
- You can also cancel the tour within three months of the purchase date.
TICKET PRICES
24-Hour Ticket: AED 210 /adult, AED 145/children (6-11 years)
48-Hour Ticket: AED 245/adult, AED 165/children (6-11 years)
Both tickets include hop-on hop-off bus tour, stop at all the top attractions, audio guide in 11 languages
ADVANTAGES OF CHOOSING HOP-ON, HOP-OFF BUS DUBAI TOURS
TOUR AT YOUR CHOICE
The hop on hop off bus Dubai tour is designed to make passengers literally “hop” on and off whenever they want. This is extremely advantageous for people who have busy schedules or are in Dubai for a limited duration. People can plan their trip flexibly, get off at a station if they like, explore the landmark, take pictures, and hop back on the next bus as it comes. This way, people can tour the city in a short span of time, without missing any of the sights. HOHO tours provide you with the feasible and joyful experience of touring Dubai in a convenient manner.
FREE OF COST TRANSPORT
One of the benefits of using the hop on hop off bus Dubai service is enjoying visits to as many as nine stops without repeatedly paying Dubai taxi fares or other commute charges. One ticket covers all the major attractions in Dubai and you can stop at a particular location, click pictures and hop on the next bus. Many buses are travelling frequently between landmarks in Dubai, which gives you peace of mind that you neither have to worry about the routes nor the transport cost.
COMMENTARY
Passengers can listen to pre-recorded commentary by expert tour guides on the headphones provided by the service operator. The tour guide shares details from the history and you get to learn about how Dubai has evolved.
THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR A HOP ON HOP OFF BUS TOUR
- Make it a point to review the timetable and routes so that you can adjust and make most of the time.
- If your tour is planned anywhere around end of December to start of February, take something to wrap around yourself for it may get slightly chilly in the evening, especially on the open-air double-decker.
- Check with your guide if complimentary water is available on all tours. If not, keep a bottle with you.
- Take notes of the timings of the attractions you have planned to visit. By keeping tabs, you can ensure that you do not reach the place after its operating hours.
And, of course, don’t forget to enjoy it!
City Sightseeing Dubai hop on hop off and Big Bus Dubai hop on hop off, both offer similar services. However, you can choose among the two that cover more landmarks or have better packages. The two hop on hop off bus tours in Dubai is among a few convenient options to explore the Emirate.
Besides, if you are interested to explore attractions in Dubai on your own, you can then roam around in Metro trains or Dubai Taxi. However, for residents or those newly shifted in the Emirate, buying a used car in Dubai could be a better option. This investment will be helpful in the long run, as you can not only explore the city easily but commute to other places at your convenience.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information about different commute options in Dubai as well as other Emirates.