My experience on a one day walking tour to see the history sites of Dubai. I would call it Jimmy's walking tour for the sake of reference :)
I reached Ghubaiba Bus station at 9 am in the morning. Most buses ply to ghubaiba bus station and Ghubaiba metro is right in front of the bus station.
Bus route no 8
Boarded bus no 8 towards Ibn batuta MS. I also felt that bus no 8 is good one to take a leisure bus ride if you want to avoid a hop n hop bus trip or an open bus trip.
Jumeirah Mosque
Bus stops right outside the mosque and it only takes 10 min from bus station. Jumeirah Mosque has a guided half an hour tour, which allows non-muslims to entire a mosque. There is also an interactive session by a guide Latifa on Islam and Muslim at sharp 10am. Tickets can be purchase for 10 bucks from 9:45 am, I would also suggest to pick up a copy of Islam & Mulsims copy kept right at the entrance of the mosque. I boarded bus number 8 back to Ghubaiba Bus station.
Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum's House
Popularly known as Shindagha house this right behind the Ghubaiba Metro Station and is a pleasant walk along the creek. The collection of coinage, maps, documents, photographs, history; this place is absolutely marvelous. Its not much visited and therefore not crowded. I will surely recommend Shindagha house in your do list if you enjoy a bit of history and reading and museums. Its much better than Dubai Museum and was also the house of Sheikh saeed. I spent easily around 2 to 2 half hour and in the end hunger forced me out of it. Carry a bottle of water, i would say.
Lunch: Special Ostadi
Either take a metro from Ghubaiba metro to Al-Fahidi Metro Station or for those bravehearts you can walk it down to Al fahidi metro station. I walked it and its not far. You walk through meena bazar so it can be a walk through the crowd. You may also ask people for direction towards "Al fahidi metro". Walk straight out of Al fahidi station and Special Ostadi is right next to musallah towers. Food can be described in just one word "fabulous" ( try their yogurt marinated kabab)
Bastakia Quarter
After a gorgeous meal its time to do some walking. Walk through the bastakia Quarter towards Dubai Museum.
Dubai Museum.
You would take one to one an half hour in the museum. Comparing to Shindagha house, dubai museum is not of much charm. The first few blocks of the tents and weaponry is ok. The rest is just a causal stroll and doesnt have much of interest. The last block of archaeology and a bit of excavation collection is interesting. Overall Dubai Museum is crowded doesnt have much of artifacts and can be done in a quick browse.
Al-Fahidi Fort.
Museum is located in this fort. On the exit from the museum we can stroll inside the fort or sit in the shade for a while. Nothing much to see. Its just to relax your feet from all the walking and standing :)
Bur Dubai Abra Dock
You can look for sign boards for direction towards marine transport service or dubai old souk marine transport service. Reach the abra and walk straight into any of the wooden boats docked with a water taxi driver. within a few minutes the engines would start and it would roar to the either side of the creek. Its a beautiful ride in the evenings and will be a very refreshing experience. Dont worry about any tickets; a few minutes on the ride you would feel a pat on your shoulders or else be courteous to throw 1 dhiram to the captain.
Deira Spice Souk
Stroll into the alleys of the souk, i recommend no buying and not to take much of photographs because they are mostly street side vendors and flea merchants. They try to bully you or make a quick buck, so use your street travel instincts :). But the stroll is worth. Incase you want to buy something, walk to those stores whether they dont woo you and usually has an old man sitting inside the counter. Ask the price and if over priced dont hang around much and move on to another shop.
Take wooden boat back to bur dubai abra and walk back to ghubaiba metro station. Board a metro towards Burjuman.
Paul Bakery & Restaurant
Once out of the Burjuman metro station walk towards burjuman center. On the basement of Burjuman you will find paul bakery & cafe. Take one of the outside seating. Enjoy the evening.
My 5 five cents: It can be a little tiresome during the peak summers during July and August if you are not much into walking. This area doesnt have much of public restrooms, so if you want to relieve yourself the dubai museum would be the last option before burjuman. :)
I reached Ghubaiba Bus station at 9 am in the morning. Most buses ply to ghubaiba bus station and Ghubaiba metro is right in front of the bus station.
Bus route no 8
Boarded bus no 8 towards Ibn batuta MS. I also felt that bus no 8 is good one to take a leisure bus ride if you want to avoid a hop n hop bus trip or an open bus trip.
Jumeirah Mosque
Bus stops right outside the mosque and it only takes 10 min from bus station. Jumeirah Mosque has a guided half an hour tour, which allows non-muslims to entire a mosque. There is also an interactive session by a guide Latifa on Islam and Muslim at sharp 10am. Tickets can be purchase for 10 bucks from 9:45 am, I would also suggest to pick up a copy of Islam & Mulsims copy kept right at the entrance of the mosque. I boarded bus number 8 back to Ghubaiba Bus station.
Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum's House
Popularly known as Shindagha house this right behind the Ghubaiba Metro Station and is a pleasant walk along the creek. The collection of coinage, maps, documents, photographs, history; this place is absolutely marvelous. Its not much visited and therefore not crowded. I will surely recommend Shindagha house in your do list if you enjoy a bit of history and reading and museums. Its much better than Dubai Museum and was also the house of Sheikh saeed. I spent easily around 2 to 2 half hour and in the end hunger forced me out of it. Carry a bottle of water, i would say.
Lunch: Special Ostadi
Either take a metro from Ghubaiba metro to Al-Fahidi Metro Station or for those bravehearts you can walk it down to Al fahidi metro station. I walked it and its not far. You walk through meena bazar so it can be a walk through the crowd. You may also ask people for direction towards "Al fahidi metro". Walk straight out of Al fahidi station and Special Ostadi is right next to musallah towers. Food can be described in just one word "fabulous" ( try their yogurt marinated kabab)
Bastakia Quarter
After a gorgeous meal its time to do some walking. Walk through the bastakia Quarter towards Dubai Museum.
Dubai Museum.
You would take one to one an half hour in the museum. Comparing to Shindagha house, dubai museum is not of much charm. The first few blocks of the tents and weaponry is ok. The rest is just a causal stroll and doesnt have much of interest. The last block of archaeology and a bit of excavation collection is interesting. Overall Dubai Museum is crowded doesnt have much of artifacts and can be done in a quick browse.
Al-Fahidi Fort.
Museum is located in this fort. On the exit from the museum we can stroll inside the fort or sit in the shade for a while. Nothing much to see. Its just to relax your feet from all the walking and standing :)
Bur Dubai Abra Dock
You can look for sign boards for direction towards marine transport service or dubai old souk marine transport service. Reach the abra and walk straight into any of the wooden boats docked with a water taxi driver. within a few minutes the engines would start and it would roar to the either side of the creek. Its a beautiful ride in the evenings and will be a very refreshing experience. Dont worry about any tickets; a few minutes on the ride you would feel a pat on your shoulders or else be courteous to throw 1 dhiram to the captain.
Deira Spice Souk
Stroll into the alleys of the souk, i recommend no buying and not to take much of photographs because they are mostly street side vendors and flea merchants. They try to bully you or make a quick buck, so use your street travel instincts :). But the stroll is worth. Incase you want to buy something, walk to those stores whether they dont woo you and usually has an old man sitting inside the counter. Ask the price and if over priced dont hang around much and move on to another shop.
Take wooden boat back to bur dubai abra and walk back to ghubaiba metro station. Board a metro towards Burjuman.
Paul Bakery & Restaurant
Once out of the Burjuman metro station walk towards burjuman center. On the basement of Burjuman you will find paul bakery & cafe. Take one of the outside seating. Enjoy the evening.
My 5 five cents: It can be a little tiresome during the peak summers during July and August if you are not much into walking. This area doesnt have much of public restrooms, so if you want to relieve yourself the dubai museum would be the last option before burjuman. :)
