The Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) tours are the best and most convenient way to explore a city, making it one of the first options any tourist prefers to take. The tours offer you the flexibility and independence of creating your own itinerary, along with the added advantage of a knowledgeable guide. Once aboard the open top double-decker sightseeing bus, you are free to take unlimited trips within the time frame booked. The multiple routes and stops offered helps you plan and pick the best available attractions.

You can look at the city from the top of the bus, giving you a very different view had you taken public transport or a taxi. You can spend a whole day checking out the best of what Dubai has to offer, all based on your convenience. Additionally, if you think one day isn’t enough, no problem! You can also avail the multiple-day tours and take your time to explore the Jewel of the Middle East.

Advantages of Choosing a Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour

1. Hop on and off whenever you want
One of the most obvious advantages if that you can hop on the bus and hop off whenever you want. This makes it extremely comfortable to plan your trip because of the flexibility you have. If you like a particular attraction, you can stay as long as you want, and if you don’t, you can hop back on and move on to the next one. This allows you to see the city in a short span of time, without missing any of the attractions. Whether you are pressed for time or have a good amount of time on your hands, HOHO tours give you the chance to see the best of a city at your own pace.

2. Free Transport
What could possibly be better than being able to go to every attraction you want to visit in a city without having to repeatedly pay for the public transport systems or a taxi? HOHO tours make your travel extremely comfortable. With buses running frequently between attractions, you can choose the routes you want to take, and visit attractions at your own pace, without having to worry about how you’re going to get there.

3. Engaging Commentary and learning
Every HOHO tour is supported by a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. The tour guide takes you back in time with a detailed history of the city you are exploring, along with commentary on how the city has evolved. You will find that you can approach the guide about any questions you have about the city and how it has grown over time. The guides also know the attractions which are completely unmissable, and will advise you on the same. And all HOHO tours provide audio commentary in different languages, so you will not miss out on any of the fun!

4. Free Extras
Most HOHO tours provide you with a lot of freebies! Depending on the tour you choose, you can explore neighbouring cities of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah as well. Or, you can see a completely different side of the city by taking a cruise aboard the traditional Dhow. Some tours offer you free walking tours of the city, or free entry into museums. You can also get a taste of the Bedouin culture, as some HOHO tours give you the chance to go dune bashing, followed by dinner at a traditional Bedouin camp.

Types of Hop-on-Hop-off Tours in Dubai

There are three major types of HOHO ticket options: Multiple Days, Day/Night, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

1. Multiple Days
Some HOHO tours give you the flexibility of seeing the city over a span of multiple days. Based on the option you choose, you can see the city using the HOHO tours in three days, or even over a week. The Multiple Days HOHO tour gives you the flexibility to explore the city at your own pace, as and when you want. It gives you access to multiple routes and entry into many attractions, making your tour extremely convenient. This is best suited for people looking to enjoy Dubai and discover every part of it.

2. Day or Night
There are HOHO tours that are available during the day or at night. While the day HOHO tours are popular, the night tours are worth checking out. You can watch the city come alive at night and take in the incredible, glittering landmarks, as you sit atop the open-decker bus and listen to your tour guide. The Night Tours also take you across the Sheikh Zayed Road, which is absolutely spectacular at night. The day HOHO tours are, of course, convenient, as you can hop off at any place of interest explore it, and hop on back again on the next bus, onward to the next site.

3. Dubai and Abu Dhabi HOHO
You can also check out other cities by choosing this HOHO. This tour gives you two days to explore both Emirati cities, covering all major tourist spots like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Burj Khalifa, and the Burj Al Arab. As you also get complimentary free entry into some of the popular sites, allowing you to truly experience the two cities that have put the UAE on the World Travel Map.

Comparing the Best Hop-on-Hop-off Services in Dubai

Two of the biggest Hop-on Hop-off tour operators in Dubai are Big Bus and City Sightseeing. In this section, we will compare them based on their offered routes, bus frequency, pricing, reviews, and extra inclusions offered.

1. Routes

While Big Bus offers three routes that help you cover the entire city, City Sightseeing has 8 routes, each of which shows you a different side of the city. For those looking to see the best of Dubai, the Big Bus City Tour Red and Blue, and the City Sightseeing’s Historic and Marina tours are the best.

Big Bus Routes

Click here to view the detailed Big Bus Hop-on-hop-off bus route map.

City Sightseeing Routes

Click here to view the detailed Big Bus Hop-on-hop-off bus route map.

2. Frequency

With both Big Bus and City Sightseeing, your wait for the next bus will be less than half an hour.

Big Bus Routes: The Red and Blue Routes have a frequency of 20 minutes, while the Green Route has a frequency of 15 minutes.

City Sightseeing Routes: Unless specified differently, City Sightseeing tours’ frequency is 25 minutes.

3. Price

The prices for the city tour are in nearly the same range for both Big Bus and City Sightseeing Tours, but both tours offer you different experiences. With City Sightseeing, you can choose the multiple day tickets, and with Big Bus, you can choose from Classic, Premium, and Deluxe versions, each of which come with different inclusions. The City Sightseeing tour is recommended as it offers a 7-day HOHO tour for AED 316.

Big Bus Routes: Rates depend on the tour chosen. Based on the variant chosen of the City Tour (Classic, Premium, Deluxe), the price varies between AED 227-314. The Dubai-Abu Dhabi HOHO tour costs AED 429, while, depending on the tour chosen, the Night Tour can range between AED 164-185.

City Sightseeing Routes: Depending on the option chosen (1-day, 3-day, 7-day), prices range between AED 219- AED 316.

4. Reviews

Based on thousands of reviews on Tripadvisor, Big Bus scores a 4.5 and City Sightseeing scores a 4, making them two of the best HOHO tour operators in Dubai.

Big Bus Routes: 4.5

“It is a very convenient tour with all tourist spots covered . Our tour guide Mr. Brian gave us detailed information on all aspects of the destinations covered. T[h]e main attraction of this big bus tour is the convenience of hop on hop off. Had a great experience”
- Aruna R.

City Sightseeing Routes: 4

“For someone who comes the first time to Dubai this is a good way of exploring the city. Several lines connect attractions and places to see. It’s good to hop on and off on the places of interest continue the trip with the next bus later.”
- Anja B.

5. Extras

While most HOHO tours do not offer just the bus tour, both Big Bus and City Sightseeing offer you the chance to visit attractions or indulge in various other experiences like the Dhow Cruises, desert tours, museum admission tickets, and much more.

Big Bus

City Tour

• Free entry to over 10 museums (including Dubai Museum and Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's House) (only on Classic)
• Walking tour of Dubai (only on Classic)
• 1-hour Dhow Cruise (Premium & Classic)
• Dubai Night Tour (Premium & Deluxe)
• Half day tour to Sharjah (Premium & Deluxe)
• Marina and Island Lagoon Boat Cruise (Premium & Deluxe)
• Desert Sunset Tour (only on Deluxe)
• Full day tour to Al Ain (only on Deluxe)
• Flamingo Lagoon Discovery (only on Deluxe)

Abu Dhabi - Dubai Tour

• Entry to Dubai Museum
• Entry to Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House (Dubai)
• Wafi Welcome Card
• Mercato Advantage Booklet

City Sightseeing Routes:

• Audio commentary (available in 13 languages)
• Dhow Cruise (from Dubai Creek)
• Night Tour (6 PM - 9PM)
• Entry to the Dubai Museum
• Dubai guided walking tour
• Entry to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo (With 3 day/ 7 day ticket)
• Palm Jumeirah Cruise (Only with 7 Day Ticket)
• 20% discount at Sun & Mediterranean Lounge (Only with 7 Day Ticket)

Hop-on Hop-off Tickets

City Sightseeing Dubai: Hop-On Hop-Off 1 Day, 3 Day or 7 Day

​• With 7 operating routes and over 40 stops, you can explore the best that Dubai has on offer at your convenience.
• Stops at major attractions like Burj Khalifa, Atlantis the Palm, Dubai Mall, Burj Al Arab, Souk Madinat, Old Souk, Gold Souk & Mall of the Emirates, giving you a choice to hop off at either.
• Also included in your ticket are a cruise, walking tours, and museum entry.

Big Bus Dubai Hop-On Hop-Off Classic, Premium, Deluxe Bus Tours

• Choose from Classic, Premium, and Deluxe tours
• Package with 3 routes, 40 Stops & 12 Languages to choose from.
• Buses run at a frequency of 30 minutes, giving you enough time to explore the attractions.

Big Bus Panaromic Night Tour of Dubai

• See all of the city's top highlights, including the Atlantis Hotel, Burj Khalifa, Dubai's historic sector, and Jumeirah Beach Road.
• Hear fascinating facts and tales about Dubai's rapid development, as well as Emirati history and culture in 13 languages through the audio guide.

Abu Dhabi & Dubai Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Combo

• The hop-on-hop-off tour gives you 2 full days to explore both cities.
• Convenient stops and regular frequency of buses let you plan your itinerary with greater flexibility.
• You also get access to Dubai Museum, and entry to Sheikh Saeed al Maktoum’s House.

Dubai: Hop-On Hop-Off Night Panoramic Sightseeing Tour

• Experience Dubai at night and see the illuminated wonders as you drive through the streets.
• On-board guides who provide commentary about the culture and heritage of the land.
• Your tickets are valid for any day within 6 months of your scheduled date of visit.

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Hop On Hop Off Tour Tips

• Review the time table and routes offered for you to adjust and get the most of the tour.
• If travelling between October-March, take something to wrap around yourself because it gets slightly chilly in the evening.
• Complimentary water is available on almost all tours. Check with your guide regarding the same.
• Check the timings of the attractions you want to visit, in order to ensure you do not reach the attraction after it has shut down.