9 Absolute Best Dubai Tours & Excursions for 2025
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When we first visited Dubai, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It turned out to be a beautiful trip with plenty of variation to keep the whole family happy and entertained for 10 days.
Dubai has so much to offer for all types of tourists that it might be overwhelming to know what to see and do first, and especially if you are short on time. So in this post, we are highlighting the very best Dubai tours and guided day trips to help you get the most out of your stay in Dubai.
No matter if you are visiting Dubai for a week or just making a short stopover in Dubai, consider booking at least a few of these tours. It’s the best way to see multiple facets of this extremely diverse city.
This is just a small hand-picked selection of the most popular Dubai tours and activities based on our personal experience, customer reviews, and price/quality ratio. Out of thousands of available tours in Dubai, we chose the very best ones. It should help you to save time and research and get the most out of your time in this fascinating city. Take a look!
Best tours in Dubai:
Good to know: We recommend GetYourGuide for booking all your guided tours in Dubai because they have excellent customer service and the best cancelation policy on the market (better than anything you get if booking through other websites or directly).
In addition, I noticed on our recent trip that by booking via GetYourGuide and choosing to pay in our currency, we saved a lot of money on exchange rates.
These are the best tours and excursions in Dubai:
1. Burj Khalifa
If you visit just one place in Dubai, make it Burj Khalifa. This huge tower rising high in the middle of the desert symbolizes all that Dubai has become in such a short time. There are several options for Burj Khalifa tickets, but it’s a very popular attraction so make sure to book in advance.
- Burj Khalifa Tickets: Level 124 & 125 This is the most popular option when it comes to visiting Burj Khalifa – the entrance tickets to the 124th and 125th floors. Prices vary depending on the time of the day you visit (the hour around sunset is the most expensive as it allows you to see Dubai from above in daylight as well as in the dark). We opted for the later tour and night views and loved this experience!
- Burj Khalifa Tickets and Tour: Level 124, 125, and 148. What makes this tour different from the first one is that you get to skip the lines, avoid the crowds and visit the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa which includes access to the outdoor terrace of the world’s highest observation deck.
In addition, you also have all kinds of combination tickets that can save you some money and time. Here are some of the best-rated Burj Khalifa combo tours:
- Dubai City Tour with Burj Khalifa Experience.
- Night City Tour with Burj Khalifa Tickets.
- Burj Khalifa Ticket with 1-Way Transfer from Your Hotel. The one-way transfer gives you the flexibility to stay and explore the Dubai Mall area longer after visiting Burj Khalifa. Afterward, you can easily take a metro or a taxi to get back – here you can read more about Dubai public transport.
TIP: Just next to Burj Khalifa are the famous dancing fountains of Dubai. A popular way to see the music and light fountain show is from the water, by taking a traditional boat tour on the lake. We did this on a recent trip to Dubai and the whole family really enjoyed it.
READ ALSO: Dubai Travel Tips
2. Dubai Desert Tours
No visit to Dubai would be complete without a visit to the desert. Dune bashing in a 4WD is one of the most fun experiences you can have in Dubai, but there are so many ways to experience the desert…
From luxury private experiences to more touristy trips including camel rides, BBQ dinner under the stars, or a traditional dance performance… desert tours are a good way to experience a different side of Dubai.
Here are some of the most popular and best-rated Dubai desert tours, including the best Dubai desert safari deals:
- Dubai Red Dunes Premium Safari. This is by far the most popular of Dubai desert safari tours. It’s really catered for mass tourism, but when in Dubai, you have to experience all of this… We all loved the thrilling 4WD drive and the kids truly enjoyed the short camel ride, sandboarding, BBQ dinner, traditional Tanoura and belly dance shows, and all the other activities that came with this tour. There are many companies organizing a very similar tour in Dubai. The tour linked above has the very best customer reviews on all the major websites.
- Desert Adventure Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride & more. This is a more adventurous Dubai tour that includes all kinds of fun outdoor activities in the desert.
- Dubai Morning Safari: Red Dunes, Sandboarding & Camel Ride or Quad. This is a shorter version of the above tour (and organized by the same highly-rated tour company). It gives you the best experience of the desert (driving in the dunes) without all the other more tourist-oriented activities that you get in the evening. So if your main interest is to experience the Dubai desert, this might be a great option.
- Dubai Sunrise Balloon Flight with Breakfast & Falcon Photo. This tour offers a more luxurious and truly unique way to experience the Dubai desert. If your budget allows it, I wouldn’t hesitate!
READ ALSO: What to Wear in Dubai
3. Dubai Water Parks
Dubai has two major water parks – the Aquaventure at Atlantis The Palm and Wild Wadi near Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
The price of the two parks is about the same and I really cannot say which one is better. We visited Aquaventure and loved it. If our kids had been taller, we would have definitely tried both parks (many water slides have 120 cm (a bit less than 4ft) height limit, but there are still really nice water play areas for the younger kids too).
Whatever you decide, make sure to book your tickets in advance as they are much cheaper online than at the entrance of the park.
TIP: It’s worth noting that the entrance to Aquaventure is included for all hotel guests of Atlantis The Palm. If your family really likes waterparks it might be worthwhile looking into booking this hotel. In a less busy season and for families with up to 2 kids this might be a great option. Unfortunately, recently, they really hiked up the prices of the hotel. In any case, it’s worth checking the availability and prices for Atlantis The Palm if you haven’t booked a hotel yet.
TIP: Consider checking the prices for a family stay at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel as well. Guests of this hotel enjoy complimentary access to Wild Wadi Waterpark. The same is true for the guests of Burj Al Arab Hotel, however, this luxury hotel is in a totally different price category…
READ ALSO: Tips & Tricks for Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
4. Dubai City Sightseeing Tours
While you can see most of Dubai’s attractions individually, taking a city tour is a nice way to see all the main sights in a short time. We did a city tour one day at the beginning of our trip and it gave us a good overview of the city and the places that were potentially worth going back and exploring more.
There are several options for Dubai city tours, ranging from hop-on hop-off busses, guided city tours, and private tours… Some tours focus on the modern city, while some others bring you to the old town, or offer a combination of both…
Old Dubai is so very different than the modern parts most of the tourists visit. If you want to get a taste of more traditional Dubai, the way it was just a few decennia ago, don’t miss it!
Here are some of the best Dubai city tours:
- Old Dubai Culture, History, Souks & Street Food Walking Tour. This is one of the best tours of the historic Dubai. We recently did it and I can say that their itinerary and food choices were great.
- Half-Day Blue Mosque, Creeks & Souks Tour. This tour offers the quickest way to see some of the highlights you’d probably miss otherwise.
- Magical Dubai 8-Hour Tour with Burj Khalifa Experience. Similar tour to the previous one, but it’s longer and also includes tickets to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Aquarium.
- Dubai: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour (1 to 7 Days). This is a good way to see Dubai at your own pace.
READ ALSO: Tourist Guide to Dubai Public Transport
5. Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise
Dubai Marina area is one of our favorites in the city. There are several ways to explore it: on foot, by bicycle, by water bus, or by boat.
The most popular option is the Dubai Marina cruise with dinner.
There are many companies running these tours. And yes, they are oriented toward tourists, but it’s a really nice experience. If you choose well, it may not cost that much more than just a regular dinner at the restaurant (check this post for more information about how much everything costs in Dubai).
Here are some of the best-rated Dubai Marina tours:
- Dubai Marina Sightseeing Cruise – the most popular option for sightseeing.
- Luxury Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise – the most popular option for dinner.
- Alexandra Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina is one of the best options we found when looking for a more local experience when we visited. The boat is a traditional Arabic wooden dhow and you get to see a live traditional Tanura dance performance as well. Once again, it’s tailored for tourists, but so is everything in Dubai.
We took this dinner cruise and really enjoyed it. There are many companies offering dhow dinner cruises, but most have really poor ratings. We chose this dinner cruise because of the good reviews and excellent price/quality ratio. It’s also one of the best options for families – kids under 6 travel free, and kids under 12 get a discount.
You can find similar dinner cruises on Dubai Creek as well. But we found that the Dubai Marina area is a much nicer and more spectacular place to be in the evening.
6. Dubai Sightseeing Boat Tours
Many sights of Dubai are best admired from the water. The best way to see the iconic sights like the Burj Al Arab, Atlantis Hotel, and the Palm Jumeirah, is by taking a boat.
Here are some of the best sightseeing boat tours in Dubai:
- Speedboat Tour: Marina, Atlantis, Palm & Burj Al Arab. This is the best-rated speedboat tours in Dubai. It’s a great way to see many landmarks in a short time.
- Dubai Private Sightseeing Tour by Luxury Boat. A highly-rated private luxury boat tour. Depending on the number of people in your group, this luxury option may not be much more expensive than a regular boat tour. Worth taking a look!
- Self-Drive Boat Trip. If you rather combine the thrills of riding your own speedboat and sightseeing, this is a great option for you. And don’t worry about not knowing where to go or how to steer the boat, a guide escorts you all the way.
7. Camel Ride Tours
The above desert tours only include a very short ride on the camel. If you are looking for a longer camel ride in Dubai desert, consider one of these highly-rated options.
However, be sure to check what’s included because longer camel tours are getting replaced by shorter rides.
- Desert Safari with Camel Ride.
- Sunset Camel Trek in the Desert. We opted for this tour on our most recent trip to Dubai and it was great and very well organized. The camel ride itself was long enough to enjoy it without getting too repetitive.
READ ALSO: With kids: Things to Do in Dubai with Kids
8. Abu-Dhabi Day Trip from Dubai
With a driving distance of just an hour and a half, Abu-Dhabi is a very popular day trip from Dubai. Here are the best-rated and the most popular options:
- Abu Dhabi Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Dubai. This is the most popular/best-rated day tour to Abu-Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Mosque Half-Day Tour from Dubai. Great for those who want to see the main landmarks in just a few hours.
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi & Grand Mosque Day Trip from Dubai. If you want to visit the Abu-Dhabi Louvre Museum, this tour is the best option.
- Abu-Dhabi Highlights & Ferrari World. Combine a visit to the city with the Ferrari World theme park.
READ ALSO: Abu Dhabi Tour from Dubai (best tours + review of the tour we chose)
9. Other Great Activities in Dubai
Dubai is a truly unique place with so much going on in the city. The tours I listed above are very popular and really worth doing in order to see the best of Dubai. But if you have more time (and money) and are looking for something more extraordinary and unique, then take a look at some of these great activities in Dubai.
So, these are the most popular types of tours and excursions that you can do in Dubai.
It’s really difficult to say which activity was our favorite as they are all so different. As a minimum, I recommend visiting the Burj Khalifa, taking a city tour that brings you to Old Dubai, taking a day trip to the Dubai desert, and at least one water park.
More tips for your trip to Dubai:
- Costs: How Expensive is Dubai
- How to plan a trip: Dubai Itinerary for up to 1 Week
- Fun facts: Interesting Facts About Dubai
- Things to do: Free & Cheap Things to Do in Dubai
- Where we stayed: Review of DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach Hotel
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Thank you for the great information! We are staying 3 days in Dubai and 3 days in Abu Dhabi. Do you have specific recommendation for Abu Dhabi?
Thank you!
Hi Mike, in Abu Dhabi, a few things are must-see: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Royal Palace, and Louvre Abu Dhabi. If visiting with kids, don’t miss Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld (there are other parks as well – see Yas Island ticket options).
Just like in Dubai, there are also lots of great tours that visit several of the main highlights in a day, plus desert tours, etc. You can find the best selection here.
Hope this helps.
Have a great trip!
Thanks very much for the most informative information. I’m so excited and can’t wait to visit Dubai. You have given me so many choices.
Glad to help, Kathye. Have a great time in Dubai!
WOW Thank you so much for the information
Really interested in all these tours,
How do I go about it on getting a guide to make our reservations?
The links to the tours are literally in the post, Gladys. It’s really easy and simple to make your own reservations.
Hi!! Im going to Dubai next February 2020 just for five days? Do you recommend to buy tours in advance or can get them in Dubai cheaper?
Thank you for you advice
Monica
Hi Monica, my experience is that booking tours in advance you always get a better deal. First – you can compare reviews and prices and also tour itineraries and pick one that’s best for you. Whereas in the hotel, they often will try to sell you tours where they get the highest commission, not necessarily the best ones. Even once you’re at a destination, you can still always book online, and – in most cases – you’ll find better deals.
Enjoy your trip!
I’d like to book a short (4 hour) city tour for my wife and I during a flight layover on 7/12/19
Hi Tom, we are just a travel blog and don’t run any tours ourselves. Here is a Dubai layover tour that I think would fit your requirements, just make sure that you indeed have 4-5 hours + time for leaving the airport and getting back. I think that a total layover time of 7-8 hours is about the minimum you need.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the great blog post. It is often not easy to find the right information and this is one of the best blogs I read about Dubai.
Thank you for your feedback, Tony. Glad you found this useful.
Just came back 2 weeks ago, and every time someone asks me what Dubai was I like, I still go wow no words to explain – much more than amazing. The people were lovely, the place was just outstanding. We did the 3 day hop on/off bus, Burj kalifa, sunset safari, Wild waldi, aquarium and underwater Zoo. We went to the Emirates Mall with its ski slope, and Dubai mall with the ice rink, it’s just unreal. Not one complaint- and it’s a holiday for all ages, as I took my 18 year old, 12 year old and my Mam who’s 74. Will definitely be going back ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing your great experience in Dubai, Hayley. I agree with everything you said. Dubai is so diverse that everyone will find something they like. It’s not a typical destination for us, but we also enjoyed our time there and would go back without any hesitation.
Dubai always welcomed people with a warm heart and that’s thousands of tourist visit every month to explore the city which is full of attractions. I live in Saudi and generally travel to Dubai, as my family loves to spend time there. No doubt, it’s little costly but its worth.
Agree. Dubai is such a bustling place with lots to see and do. Worth seeing at least once.
Hi Jurga, Great blog with the exact info I needed. I am travelling to Dubai this July with my 12 year old son. When I try to book the tours in Dubai, I am not sure if he will be considered as an adult or child. Any idea?
Hi Raji, usually when you book a tour online you can see for each tour what price you pay for which age group. Many tours even differentiate between several age categories, so it really depends on each tour.
Dubai is fantastic, its really amazing. I have been to Dubai last year and it was a wonderful experience. The Camel milk chocolate, the dessert safari, and the theme parks will always be remembered. Thanks for sharing this blog, you refreshed my memories. Thanks again.
I never even tried camel milk chocolate… Have to go back 😉
Im going to Dubai soon, very exited to see the modern and old Dubai and also take a day trip to Abu Dhabi.
Enjoy it!
Thank you for the helpful information, Jurga. Do you have an estimate of how much it’s going to cost (in $) for the trips?
Hi Louri, if you mean the tours, you can see the price for each tour when you click on the links (I think you should be able to see the right currency depending on where you’re from, but on top of the page of every tour there is also an option to choose another currency). Depending on which ones you choose and how many, you can spend a little or a lot. 🙂
Check this post for more information about how much everything costs in Dubai. It’s not a cheap destination, but as everywhere, depends a lot on your choices. Here you can find some ideas for free and very cheap things to do in Dubai as well. Hope this helps.