City Sightseeing Dubai Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Fantastic staff, Mustapha Pacha tucked us in as if we were his family. Fun and charming. I recommend the service if only for knowing Mustapha Pacha. Thank you.

From Dubai Mall…. This tour was sold to us on the basis that the ‘red route’, Old Town would take about 90 minutes to an hour and 40 minutes depending on traffic. It cost £104 for two of us. We got on the bus at 3pm on a Thursday. We were looking forward to a good tour, hopping on and off at a couple of places in the Old Town. We had 3 and a half hours to spend here. The traffic was so appalling that we had only reached the first stop after an hour, and by the time we got as far as the Old Town and Dubai Creek it was clear that we would be unable to get off the bus because there was not enough time. Our 90 minutes on a hop on hop off turned into 3 hours and 20 minutes of sitting in traffic and we only just got back to Dubai Mall in time to get our return hotel transfer. It was a miserable experience. Sitting on an open top bus for more than 3 hours breathing traffic fumes. My gripe is not the traffic, it is that the guy who sold us the tour must have known from bus drivers coming in that the 90/110 minutes was a complete lie. What an absolute waste of time and £104.

We used City Sightseeing for two full days in Dubai - the Blue Route on our first day and the Red Route on our second - and had quite contrasting experiences. Day One (Blue Route) - Frustrating Start Our first morning was disappointing. We tried to start at the Grosvenor House Hotel stop but waited 40 minutes with no bus appearing. The mobile app is frankly useless - it showed wildly inaccurate wait times ranging from "no buses available" to 450 minutes, which destroyed any confidence in the information. We eventually gave up and paid for a taxi to Dubai Mall to start from the beginning. The app also fails to show that some buses begin partway around the route in the morning - information that's on the printed map but not in the app. Basic first departure times for each stop would solve this problem easily. Throughout the day on three different Blue Route buses, we had persistent commentary problems: on the first bus only one headphone socket worked where we were seated; on the second the language selector didn't function; on the third there was no commentary whatsoever for the entire journey. This was hugely disappointing as the commentary is one of the main reasons we use City Sightseeing. Dubai traffic is clearly beyond anyone's control, but be prepared - it took nearly two hours to get from the Fairmont Hotel back to Dubai Mall in almost stationary traffic, which was stressful when trying to catch the evening tour. The Good Bits That said, the drivers and staff at all the stops were exemplary - helpful, friendly and professional throughout. The evening tour (which they call the "sunset tour" though we didn't actually see the sunset) was genuinely enjoyable, showing Dubai's landmarks beautifully lit up. Day Two (Red Route) - Excellent All Round Day two was a completely different experience. The Red Route took us to the souks, where we enjoyed exploring the Spice Souk and Gold Souk - both atmospheric and fascinating. The dhow boat trip across Dubai Creek was lovely, giving a real sense of old Dubai's maritime heritage. The Dubai Frame was spectacular - the views from the top are stunning and the exhibitions inside are well done. Everything on this day worked smoothly and we had a brilliant time. Tips for Future Visitors 1. Not sure about the app! - it's not reliable all the time . Instead, get a printed map at your first stop and use that for planning. 2. Start early - the first buses leave around 9-10am depending on the route. Getting out early means fewer crowds and less traffic. 3. Allow generous time - Dubai traffic can be horrendous, particularly around rush hour. If you need to be somewhere for a timed tour, give yourself at least 90 minutes extra. 4. Check your headphones work before the bus sets off - if they don't, move seats or let the driver know immediately. 5. The evening tour departs at 6pm - consider whether starting after the rush hour clears might give you a less stressful journey, though you'll still see everything beautifully illuminated. 6. Do both routes if you can - the Red Route attractions (souks, dhow, Frame) are genuinely excellent and very different from the Blue Route sights. 7. Be prepared for crowds - particularly at Dubai Mall and popular stops in the evening. Overall Verdict Despite the frustrations of day one, we're glad we used City Sightseeing. When it works well - as it did on day two - it's an excellent way to see Dubai's key sights efficiently and at good value. The drivers are professional, the buses are comfortable, and the routes cover the main attractions thoroughly. The technical issues with commentary equipment need addressing urgently, as does the mobile app, but don't let that put you off entirely. Just go in with realistic expectations, particularly about Dubai traffic, and you'll have a good experience. Would we use them again? Yes, but we'd probably focus on the Red Route and the evening tour, which were the highlights.