How long is the Dubai Big Bus City tour?

When you’re in Dubai, one of the easiest and most flexible ways to see the city is with the Big Bus Tour, and Tripventura is proud to be an official partner bringing this iconic experience to you.

Think of it as your moving balcony on Dubai, an open-top double-decker bus that loops around the city’s major landmarks. You can simply ride the full route for a sightseeing overview, or hop on and hop off as you please to explore specific attractions at your own pace.

Knowing how long the tour takes matters so you can plan your schedule like meals, rest, or seeing specific places, so you don’t either overbook or under-use your time. If you’re making a list of things to do in Dubai, this tour is a smart choice to start with, as it helps you discover the city’s highlights in a convenient and enjoyable way.

How Long It can be?

Here are the facts:

• The full circuit of the Red Route (City Tour) takes about 1 hour 40 minutes (≈ 100 minutes) if you stay on the bus the whole way without stopping.
  
• The full circuit of the Blue Route (Beach/Marina Tour) is longer: approx 2 hours 30 minutes (≈ 150 minutes).
  
• There’s also a Night Tour which is a non stop experience (you don't hop on/hop off). That takes about 1 hour 45 minutes for a full loop.

So yeah, if you just ride the route without hopping off, expect around 1h 40 for Red, ~2h30 for Blue. If you combine both in one go, add them.

But, because of the hop-on hop-off system, you can stretch that time out. If you hop off at attractions, spend time walking around etc., the tour duration can vary a lot. It’s flexible which is good! Just depends on your pace.

Also, route durations can vary depending on traffic (especially in Dubai, during peak hours), weather, and even time of day. If there’s heavy traffic or road works, things slow down. If you ride early-morning or off-peak, you might move faster. If midday or during rush hour, expect delays.

Types of Dubai Big Bus Tour Routes

To understand timing, here are the main routes and what they cover:

There is mention in some sources of a Green Route or Marina Tour, but from Big Bus Tours’ official site, currently they list just the Red Route and Blue Route for daily hop-on hop-off service. Some blogs / third-party sites may refer to older or variant routes. Always good to double check.

If you decide to do multiple routes (Red + Blue, and maybe the Night Tour), total time adds up. If both Red + Blue without any hopping off, you’re already at ~4 hours (≈ 4h10). Add in hops, breaks, etc. and it's easy to spend half a day or more.

Ticket Options and Validity

What influences how long you can spend:

• Big Bus offers ticket periods like 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour passes. Some offers even 5-day “Explore” tickets.
  
• During the ticket’s validity, you have unlimited hop-on hop-off access on the routes included. So, if you have a 48-hour ticket, you can ride parts of the route, get off, explore, ride again, etc., any time in that 48h window.
  
• Some tickets include extras: e.g. a Dhow Creek Cruise, aquarium entry, sunset tours, etc., which adds time if you use them.

So, your ticket type influences how much you can stretch things out. With a 24-h pass, you’ll probably pick selected routes and maybe skip some off-bus stops. With 48-h or more, you can take your time, revisit, etc.

Factors That Affect Tour Duration

Here’s what might make your experience longer (or shorter) than the “official” circuit times:

1. Number of stops you make
    If you hop off to visit museums, souks, malls, take photos, walk around, eat, each stop might add 30 to 60+ minutes, depending on what you plan. If you’re only taking photos, maybe 15-20 mins per stop is enough.
   
2. Time spent at attractions
    If you want to go inside Burj Khalifa, explore the Gold Souk deeply, visit a museum (Dubai Museum or Al Fahidi), that’s extra time. If you’re only interested in exteriors or views, then less time.
   
3. Traffic / time of day
    Dubai traffic during peak hours (morning, late afternoon) on main roads (like Sheikh Zayed Road, near the Marina or central Downtown) can slow the bus. Also, when it’s very hot (midday), buses may go slower or stops may take longer as people board, etc.
   
4. Bus frequency / waiting time
    Buses come every ~30-40 minutes on each route. If you miss one, waiting adds time. When hopping off, you need to align with the schedule. If gaps are 30-40 min, that’s non-negligible.
   
5. Route order / overlapping stops
    How you sequence your routes (which route first), and whether you use overlapping stops well, can save time.
   
6. Weather / operational delays
   Rare, but possible. Heat, rain, city events, road works.

Best Way to Plan Your Big Bus Dubai Experience

Because I want you to get maximum fun, here are some planning tips “like I’d tell a friend”.

Tips to maximize ticket value:

• Start early in the day so you catch the first or second bus. That gives you more time.
  
• If you care about skyline views or photos, check times of sun / golden hour. Late afternoon can be beautiful.
  
• Use overlapping stops smartly: e.g. finish one route near a stop that starts another route.
  
• Plan off-bus stops in advance: pick 2-3 must-sees, but don’t try to do everything in one go. It gets tiring.
  
• Keep an eye on bus schedule: you want to catch buses frequently so you don’t waste waiting time.

Where to start:

• Many start at Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall because that’s a central landmark, easy to access, and one of the stops.
  
• Also, starting at a stop near your hotel or transit line can save time.

Best times to ride:

• Early morning (right after route opens, e.g. 9:00 AM) when traffic is lighter.
  
• Avoid rush hour (late afternoon especially) if possible.
  
• Weather-wise: cooler months (October to April) are more pleasant; midday summers are hot, so shade, water, sunscreen are essential.

Conclusion

Alright, here’s what I think: the Dubai Big Bus Tour gives you flexible enjoyment. The full loops (Red ~1h40, Blue ~2h30) are great as benchmark times. But with hop-on/hop-off, the real experience length depends on how curious you are, how many stops you pick, and how much time you spend at each.

If I were you and had one day, I’d get a 24-hour ticket, hit Red route first thing, explore old parts of Dubai in midday, do Blue later, maybe take the night tour to see skyline lights. If more time, stretch it over 2 days so you’re not rushing.