Dubai: Old Souks Food Walking Tour & Abra Creek Ride

4.98

(140 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I still remember ducking into the narrow alleys of the Dubai Spice Souk—honestly, I was expecting just another touristy stroll, but it hit different. The air was thick with cardamom and something sweet I couldn’t name. Our guide, Fatima, handed us this flaky pastry from a bakery so tiny you’d miss it if you blinked. She laughed when I tried to say “thank you” in Arabic—definitely butchered it. The tea was milky and warm, and for a second I forgot about the city’s glass towers entirely.

Then came SPINGO—their own spice game—which is way more fun than it sounds (and slightly competitive). We sniffed jars and guessed names; I got cumin right but totally failed on fenugreek. There was this icy Iranian dessert after, drenched in rosewater and lemon juice—tasted like summer even though it wasn’t hot yet. Kids ran by with schoolbags bouncing, shopkeepers nodded as we passed. It felt like everyone knew each other here.

The best part? Crossing Dubai Creek on an old wooden abra. The water slapped gently against the hull while the city lights flickered behind us. On the other side in Bur Dubai, we wandered through the textile souk—so many colors it almost hurt my eyes—and finished with fried Indian snacks that left my fingers oily and happy. I didn’t expect to laugh so much or feel so at home in a place so far from mine.