Old Dubai walking tour — Al Fahidi, Gold Souk and the abra crossing

Most visitors see Dubai through the lens of Burj Khalifa, the Marina and the Palm. Old Dubai — the original creek-side settlement that the city grew from — is a 15-minute drive away and feels like a different century. Three hours on foot is the right length to do it justice.

The route

Al Fahidi Historic Neighbourhood (start: 1 hour)

Start at the Al Fahidi Metro stop and walk into the restored 19th-century neighbourhood. Coral-stone houses with wind-tower air-conditioning, narrow sikkas and the Dubai Museum (housed in the 1787 Al Fahidi Fort). The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding runs excellent guided walks here that include a traditional Emirati breakfast — book ahead.

The abra crossing (15 minutes)

From the Bur Dubai abra station, take a one-AED wooden water-taxi across Dubai Creek to Deira. The crossings are constant, you pay the helmsman in cash on boarding, and the four-minute ride is the cheapest, most authentic boat trip in the UAE.

Spice Souk and Gold Souk (1.5 hours)

From the Deira abra station, the Spice Souk is a two-minute walk — open stalls of saffron, dried limes, cinnamon bark and incense. From there, the Gold Souk is signposted and another 5 minutes north. The souk holds the Guinness record for the largest gold ring on display (Najmat Taiba, 64 kg). Haggling is expected; the gold price itself is fixed daily by the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, so what you're negotiating on is the workmanship premium.

Practical tips

• Best time: 09:00-11:00 or 16:00-18:00. Avoid noon.

• Closed-toe shoes; the souks have uneven cobbles.

• Carry small UAE notes for the abra and souk purchases.

• Shoulder coverage is appreciated, especially when entering mosques.