9 Absolute Best Dubai Tours & Excursions (Our Top Picks for 2026)
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Visiting Dubai and looking for fun tours to make your trip more memorable? This guide covers the best tours and excursions in Dubai – from city highlights and desert safaris to the most popular day trips – that are truly worth your time and money. All recommendations are based on our personal experience, customer reviews, and the best price/quality ratio.
Dubai offers a mix of modern landmarks, traditional neighborhoods, beaches, desert scenery, and family-friendly attractions. With so much choice, it’s not always easy to decide what to prioritize, especially if your time is limited. Guided tours are a great way to experience many different facets of Dubai without spending hours on planning.
No matter if you are visiting Dubai for a week or just planning a short layover, this hand-picked list of the most popular Dubai tours and activities will help you make the most of your visit. Take a look!
Good to know: We personally use and recommend GetYourGuide for booking all your guided tours in Dubai. They have the best selection of tours, excellent customer service, and an excellent cancellation policy. In addition, we noticed that by booking via GetYourGuide and choosing to pay in our own currency, we saved quite a bit on exchange rates.
Best tours in Dubai:
These are the best tours and excursions in Dubai:
1. Burj Khalifa Experiences
If you only plan one paid activity in Dubai, make it the Burj Khalifa, but try to turn it into more than just a quick elevator ride up and down. There are several Burj Khalifa experiences that offer more comfort, better views, dining, or extra sightseeing, and those are usually much more enjoyable than basic tickets alone.
Here are some of the best Burj Khalifa experiences:
- Burj Khalifa Levels 124 & 125. This is the basic option and the most affordable way to visit the tower. You get access to the indoor and outdoor observation decks on levels 124 and 125. Ticket prices depend on the time of day, with sunset slots being the most expensive.
- Burj Khalifa Levels 124, 125 & 148 (Sky Level). This upgrade is well worth considering if you want a calmer and more personalized visit. You skip most lines (this alone is worth the extra price!), visit the 148th floor, and have access to an outdoor terrace. In addition, Sky Level tickets include access to the lounge with snacks and hot drinks, as well as an introductory tour with a guest ambassador.
- Burj Khalifa Levels 124 & 125 + 3-course meal at The Burj Club. This is a great option if you are looking for a unique dining experience in Dubai. You visit the observation deck first and then enjoy lunch or dinner at The Burj Club, with views over Downtown Dubai and the fountains area. It’s an easy way to turn the Burj Khalifa visit into a more memorable experience.
- City tours that include Burj Khalifa entry. If you want to see the main landmarks of Dubai in a short time, consider guided city tours (both shared and private) that include Burj Khalifa tickets along with stops at places like Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Mosque, and traditional neighborhoods. These are especially great for first-time visitors or short stays.
TIP: Right next to Burj Khalifa is the Dubai Fountain. One of the nicest ways to see the evening fountain show is from the water, on a short traditional boat ride 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 several fun outdoor activities in the desert. Please note that children under 12 can’t ride camels on their own, and those under 16 must share quad bikes with an adult.
- Sunset Camel Trek & more. This is my personal favorite of all the Dubai desert tours we’ve tried. It includes a longer camel ride at sunset, followed by the classic desert camp activities and evening entertainment that most Dubai desert tours offer. Unlike jeep dune bashing or quad biking, this tour is much calmer and is great for those looking for a more relaxed desert experience.
- Dubai Sunrise Balloon Flight. This morning tour with a gourmet breakfast 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 main water parks: Aquaventure World at Atlantis The Palm and Wild Wadi, located next to Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Aquaventure is the larger of the two and focuses on big slides, river rides, and a beach area. We’ve been there several times and really liked it. Wild Wadi is smaller and more compact, with great views of Burj Al Arab and a mix of thrill rides and family-friendly attractions. Ticket prices are usually similar, so the choice mostly comes down to location and which park fits your plans better.
TIP: Whichever park you choose, it’s best to book tickets online in advance – prices at the gate are significantly higher.
Good to know: Entry to Aquaventure is included for guests staying at Atlantis The Palm, and Wild Wadi access is included for guests of Jumeirah Beach Hotel. If you’re still deciding where to stay in Dubai and plan to visit a water park anyway, it’s worth checking these hotels to see if the bundled access makes sense for your trip.
READ ALSO: Tips & Tricks for Atlantis Aquaventure World
4. Dubai City Sightseeing Tours
You can visit most of Dubai’s attractions on your own, but a city sightseeing tour is an easy way to see the main highlights in a short time. We did a city tour at the start of our first trip, and it helped us get a good feel for the city and decide which places were worth returning to later.
Dubai city tours come in many different formats, including guided bus tours, walking tours, private tours, and hop-on hop-off buses. Some focus mainly on modern Dubai, others on the historic districts, and many combine both in one itinerary.
Good to know: Old Dubai feels very different from the modern parts of the city. If you want to see what Dubai was like before the skyscrapers, make sure your tour includes the historic neighborhoods, traditional markets, and a walk through the souks.
Here are some of the best Dubai city tours:
- Old Dubai, Souks & Street Food. This is one of the best walking tours of historic Dubai. We recently did it, and I can say that their itinerary and food choices were great.
- Blue Mosque, Dubai Creek & Souks Tour. This popular half-day tour offers the quickest way to see some of the highlights of Dubai you’d probably miss otherwise.
- Magical Dubai 8-Hour Tour with Burj Khalifa Experience. A longer city tour that also includes Burj Khalifa tickets and a visit to the Dubai Aquarium.
TIP: If you prefer to explore Dubai at your own pace, consider the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour. It’s the most flexible option with easy transportation between major attractions.
READ ALSO: Tourist Guide to Dubai Public Transport
5. Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise
Dubai Marina is one of our favorite areas in the city. You can explore it on foot, by bike, by water bus, or from the water, but a boat cruise is by far the most popular option, especially in the evening.
The best-known experience here is a Dubai Marina dinner cruise. While these cruises are very touristy, they’re a very pleasant way to see the skyline after dark. If you choose carefully, the price isn’t much higher than a regular dinner at a restaurant in the area.
Some of the best-rated Dubai Marina cruises include:
- Dubai Marina Sightseeing Cruise. A short daytime cruise focused on views and photos, ideal if you just want to see the area from the water.
- Luxury Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise. One of the most popular options for a dinner cruise with live music, offering good views of the marina and surrounding skyscrapers.
- Alexandra Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina. This is one of the better dhow cruises we found when looking for something a bit more traditional. The wooden dhow, live Tanura dance performance, and relaxed atmosphere make it a perfect choice. We took this cruise ourselves and really enjoyed it. It’s also family-friendly, with free tickets for young kids and discounts for children under 12.
Good to know: You’ll also find dinner cruises on Dubai Creek, but we found Dubai Marina to be more impressive and lively, especially after sunset.
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 tour 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 would 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 Riding
The above desert tours only include a very short ride on a camel. If you are looking for a longer camel ride in the 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. More Fun 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
TIP: Did you find this guide helpful? Bookmark this post for later, share it with your friends, and save it to Pinterest to inspire your next trip.
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.