Dubai: Old Town, Street Food and Souks Guided City Tour with Abra Ride
Dubai: Old Town, Street Food and Souks Guided City Tour with Abra Ride
Duration: Varies (3 hours to 4 hours)
Varies (3 hours to 4 hours)
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Explore Dubai's long history and vibrant culture on this guided city tour, taking you through Old Town for an authentic experience of street food and souks. Your journey begins with a traditional Abra ride across the Creek to Deira, followed by visits to iconic spots such as Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Al Khayma Heritage House—a 19th-century merchant home featuring a unique wind tower design that exemplifies passive cooling techniques from centuries past.
Explore Dubai's long history and vibrant culture on this guided city tour, taking you through Old Town for an authentic experience of street food and souks. Your journey begins with a traditional Abra ride across the Creek to Deira, followed by visits to iconic spots such as Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Al Khayma Heritage House—a 19th-century merchant home featuring a unique wind tower design that exemplifies passive cooling techniques from centuries past.
A restored 19th-century wind-tower building at Al Khayma Heritage House served as the Gulf's natural air-conditioning system. Step onto a traditional Abra to cross Dubai Creek and enter this heritage site.
Taste authentic local flavors by savoring dates, Arabic tea or coffee, camel milk chocolate, and street food from trusted vendors — not tourist-facing stalls where locals dine in Old Town of Dubai.
Sample exclusive treats like camel milk ice cream, fresh lemon mint juice, karak chai (condensed milk street tea), falafel and shawarma, along with freshly made luqaimat (fried dough balls) as part of The Premium Tastings experience.
Choose the Group Tour with Transfers for convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off; all options include an Abra ride across Dubai Creek, entry to a heritage house, and core food experiences.
English-speaking live guide
Traditional Abra ride across Dubai Creek
Entry to Al Khayma Heritage House
Visit to Spice Souk and Gold Souk
Arabic tea or coffee served
Dates as a sweet treat
Camel milk chocolate delight
Bottled water provided
Pickup and drop-off (Group Tour with Transfers option only)
Session on Arabic coffee-making (Premium Tastings only)
Tasting of Camel milk ice cream, karak chai, fresh lemon mint juice, falafel, shawarma, luqaimat (Premium Tastings only)
Food expenses beyond package
Shopping costs at bazaars
Tips
Tourists on a traditional Abra boat ride in Dubai Creek, UAE.
Your Experience
Start an engaging food and cultural journey through Old Dubai, featuring iconic spots such as Abra crossing, Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Al Khayma Heritage House. Along the way, you'll indulge in street delicacies at various stops.
Journey Through Time
Starting from the Creek waterfront, this tour includes a charming five-minute ride across to Deira via Abra—a traditional wooden ferry accommodating roughly 15 passengers per trip for just one dirham. Upon reaching Deira's side, your first stop is Al Khayma Heritage House: an impressive 19th-century merchant residence featuring a distinctive badgir (wind tower) on its roof that once served as the Gulf’s early cooling mechanism by channeling sea breezes into living spaces below. Here, insights are shared about Dubai before it became known for towering skyscrapers.
Culinary Delights
As you explore, your guide pauses at select vendors: a stall where luqaimat is freshly prepared (delicious fried dough balls dusted with sesame and honey); the spot offering karak chai in its signature condensed-milk style that has become synonymous with Dubai's street culture; and a counter serving camel milk ice cream infused with unique flavors like saffron and cardamom. Opting for The Premium Tastings upgrade includes an Arabic coffee session, where you'll grind beans mixed with cardamom and rosewater to the perfect blend before pouring from a dallah into a finjaan cup. This experience not only tantalizes your taste buds but also enriches your understanding of Gulf hospitality traditions.
Couple walking hand in hand inside Al Khayma, Dubai.
Visitors enjoying Arabic coffee in a traditional setting with a host in Dubai.
Tourists on a traditional Abra boat ride in Dubai Creek, UAE.
Couple walking hand in hand inside Al Khayma, Dubai.
Visitors enjoying Arabic coffee in a traditional setting with a host in Dubai.
Visitors enjoying street food tasting experience.
Packing essentials
- Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting the heritage area; modest dress is advised.
- We recommend bringing comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and a sun hat for comfort during the tour.
Don't forget to carry a bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated throughout the visit.
Accessibility details
This excursion is not accessible for individuals with mobility impairments or those using wheelchairs.
Prohibited items
Please note that baby strollers, luggage, and large bags are prohibited on the tour.
Additional details
- Tourists under 2 years old cannot participate in this experience.
- The tour may be presented simultaneously in two languages.
- Note that The Dubai Museum is currently not open to the public.
For vegetarian visitors: both the standard and Premium Tastings tours offer options suitable for vegetarians, such as tea, dates, camel milk chocolate, luqaimat, falafel. Please confirm your dietary needs at booking if necessary.
Guide interacting with tourists at a traditional desert camp in Dubai.
Visitors sampling street food at an outdoor market.
Visitors enjoying street food tasting experience.
Guide interacting with tourists at a traditional desert camp in Dubai.
Visitors sampling street food at an outdoor market.
Book at least a day in advance during peak season to avoid sold-out sessions and ensure you secure a spot on this popular tour.
Dress modestly by covering shoulders and knees when visiting the heritage areas like Al Khayma Heritage House for cultural respect.
Come prepared with comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and a sun hat to comfortably enjoy walking through Dubai's streets and souks.
Bring a bottle of water along on your tour to stay hydrated as you explore the city's vibrant sights and savor local street food.
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