Old Dubai: Gold Souk, Spice Souk & Abra Boat Tour

The Gold Souk Holds World Records: Here's What Else You'll See

You walk through the historic streets of Old Dubai with a local guide, sip Arabic coffee in a traditional devan, take a 25-minute abra boat ride across Dubai Creek, explore the Spice and Gold Souks, and taste street food and local specialties. The tour includes bottled water, coffee or tea, and a tasting of different street foods and dates. Pickup from your hotel is available depending on which option you choose.

Options for this experience

6 options

From AED 90 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

English-language walking tour of Dubai 09:30 and 17:00 Lasts 3 hours

Premium walking tour in English 09:30 and 17:00

Guided tour offered in Spanish and Italian 09:30 and 17:00 Lasts 3 hours, with street food

See 3 more options

Shared tour in German 09:30, 14:00 and 16:30 Lasts 3 hours. Snacks include street food samosa and bakora, camel milk chocolates and Arabic dates. Includes a traditional local abra boat ride on Dubai Creek.

Premium tour that includes pickup 09:30 and 17:00 Guide in 4 languages Air-conditioned small van; no drop-off. Minimum 2 guests for hotel pickup. Pickup is included.

Private walking tour 5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 17:00 Guide in 4 languages Lasts 3 hours. Includes street food and fresh juice of your choice: orange, coconut, sugar cane or pomegranate, plus a sandwich of chicken shawarma, falafel or samosa.

None of these options right for you? See 1 alternative ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Old Dubai's culture and markets

• Meet at assembly point
• Explore Al Seef and Dubai Creek views
• Visit historical sites and sip Arabic coffee
• Receive shopping tips and try street food
• Enjoy free time for shopping
• Take traditional Abra boat ride
• Explore Old Spice Souk and taste street food
• Visit Dubai Gold Souk and see jewelry
• View Dubai Museum exterior
• Enjoy traditional boat ride on Dubai Creek

Stops and time spent at each 6 stops

1. Al Seef 20m
2. Dubai Creek 40m
3. Dubai Spice Souk 30m
4. Dubai Gold Souk 30m
5. Dubai Museum passing by
6. Bur Dubai Village passing by

What’s included

• Your day includes a professional local guide, a traditional abra boat ride across Dubai Creek, bottled water, Arabic coffee or tea, street food tastings (vegetarian and non-vegetarian options), Arabic dates, and camel milk chocolate.
• Hotel pickup is available depending on which option you select.
• The tour visits Al Seef, the Dubai Museum, the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk, and Bur Dubai Village.

Times

• Every day 09:30 10:00 14:00 15:30 16:30 17:00

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 15

Live guide English, Spanish, German and Italian Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up to 2h before

Ages Adult (25 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 75 years) · Youth (15 to 24 years) · Child (under 15)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Not recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Adventure tours

Prices and times updated today

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The experience

The Gold Souk isn't just crowded. It's where some of the heaviest jewelry pieces on earth are on display, and your guide will point out which ones hold records. But that's only one stop on this Old Dubai walking tour, and honestly, it's the part that makes sense only after you've spent time in the quieter streets first: the ones where the city actually began. You start at Al Seef, where the creek views are clearest, and from there the guide walks you through the neighborhoods where Emirati culture is still lived, not performed. There's Arabic coffee in a traditional Arab Devan, and the kind of conversation that happens when a local is explaining how things worked before the towers.

Then comes the abra ride across Dubai Creek. A wooden boat that's been the same design for decades, and the 25 minutes on the water is when the whole geography clicks. You're looking at Deira on one side and Bur Dubai on the other, and your guide is telling you which families built what, and why the creek mattered before the highways did. After that, the Spice Souk hits different. The smell alone is a shock, and you get time to walk through it, taste street food (fresh juice, dates, camel milk chocolate, savory bites), and actually absorb the place instead of rushing through. The Gold Souk comes last, so by then you understand why haggling matters and what you're actually looking at.

The whole thing runs about four to five hours depending on your pace and how long you linger. Your guide is local, so the stories aren't from a script. They're about the city they grew up in. If you book the option with pickup, the driver collects you from your hotel. If you choose the English walking tour without food, you meet at Al Seef and the street food tastings aren't included, but every other version comes with them. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and the surfaces are flat enough that most people manage it fine, though the souks do get crowded in the afternoon.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 24 years); Child (under 15).

How long is the Old Dubai walking tour?

The tour takes approximately four to five hours, depending on how long you spend at each stop and in the souks.

Is food included in the Old Dubai tour?

Food and drinks are included in all options except the English walking tour without food. Inclusions are street food tastings, Arabic dates, camel milk chocolate, and fresh juice.

What is an abra boat?

An abra is a traditional wooden boat that has been used for centuries to cross Dubai Creek. Your tour includes a 25-minute ride with views of both Deira and Bur Dubai.

Do I need to book hotel pickup?

Pickup is optional. If you choose the option with pickup, the driver will collect you from your hotel. Otherwise, you meet the group at Al Seef.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces are accessible, though the souks can be crowded during peak hours.

Can I haggle in the souks?

Yes. Your guide will teach you the art of haggling and give you shopping tips before you explore the Gold and Spice Souks.