Destination Dubai: Why the Big Bus Tour is Worth Every Penny!

​It was Day 2 in Dubai, and I discovered that the city had its very own “hop on/hop off” Big Bus Tour **Yeahhhhh** I firmly believe that bus tours are one of the best ways to not only explore top attractions across a travel destination, but are also a fantastic way to view and get a feel of the city’s landscape. And here... we... go!

[READ] Destination Dubai: What it's Like Inside the World's Largest Mall
[READ] Destination Dubai: At the Top of Burj Khalifa & on to Dubai Fountain

I arrived at Wafi, an Egyptian themed shopping mall, around 11am, shelled out 339 AED for a full package Deluxe Ticket, and set off for my very first trip on Dubai’s Big Bus Tour.  

​The first line I rode was the Red Line, or City Tour, which would drive past the Burj Khalifa before touring Deira, a region brimming with much of the historical and early development settlements of Dubai.  

We drove around and, though thrilled at the opportunity to get my first glance at the city, I was surprised at just how, well, normal the city looked.

In fact, much of Dubai’s landscape reminded me of cities back in the States like Phoenix, Arizona and Los Angeles, California.

The weather was hot and sunny, there were long stretches of busy highways, palm trees, and 2 to 3-story manila painted housing complexes were spread out in every direction.

​Furthermore, the streets were safe, orderly, clean and everything was modern and aesthetically appealing—key things I had reservations about before my trip. The Big Bus Tour was the best way to see Dubai!

Dubai Museum

The first stop I “hopped off” at was at the Dubai Museum, located in Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest building in Dubai. The museum housed a number of galleries and displays detailing the culture and history of Dubai in addition to the traditional lifestyle of its citizens. ​It was interesting, but I only needed about 30 minutes to cover the entire museum. On to the next one!

Dubai Creek

Up next? A 1-hour cruise along Dubai Creek. Again, it was smoldering hot, but I love cruises and  just couldn’t resist having a perfect view of the architecture lining the creek.

During the cruise a pre-recorded voice provided commentary on the historical significance of Dubai Creek and many of the buildings situated along its edge. 

I learned that it was once served as a major port for ships and was a great place to fish due to its shallow waters. 

​Today, Dubai Creek is mainly used for transporting small cargo, sightseeing, and transporting pedestrians. 

After the cruise I arrived back at Dubai Mall and transferred to the Green Line of the Big Bus Tour, where it would make stops at Jumeirah Mosque, Jumeirah Public Beach, the Burj Al Arab, and the Atlantis the Palm--all top attractions I wanted to see in Dubai.   

Burj Al Arabb & Sunset Beach

After a while we landed at Burj Al Arab—a luxury hotel resembling the sail of a ship. Did I also mention that it's a 5-star hotel!

And to the right of the Burj Al Arab sat Sunset Beach, which was a bright green closest to the sand and transformed into a dark navy blue just a few meters out.

​It was mid-afternoon so I skipped the beach to explore Atlantis at the Palm. And just like that I was on my way to another iconic attraction in Dubai: Palm Islands. 

[READ] Destination Dubai: Inside Atlantis the Palm's Lost Chambers Aquarium