Middle East
United Arab Emirates
Emirate of Dubai
Dubai
Things to Do in Dubai
Bastakia Quarter

Bastakia Quarter, Dubai: Address, Phone Number, Bastakia Quarter Reviews: 4/5

See all things to do

Bastakia Quarter

See all things to do
See all things to do
Bastakia Quarter
4
959
#63 of 491 things to do in Dubai
Historic Walking Areas
Call
About
A visit to the Bastakiya Quarter includes culturally significant sights, such as Dubai's oldest building (1780s), the Al Fahidi Fort, the Dubai Museum, and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Bastakia Quarter
See all
The area
Neighborhood: Al Fahidi
How to get there
  • Al Fahidi • 9 min walk
  • Al Ras • 10 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,948 within 3 miles
Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant & Cafe
88
350 ft$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • Barbecue • Grill
Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe - Al Fahidi
1,670
366 ft$$ - $$$ • Healthy • Middle Eastern • Arabic
Mumtaz Mahal Indian Speciality Restaurant
352
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Indian • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
XVA Cafe
249
144 ft$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Middle Eastern • Vegetarian Friendly
Fisherman's Hub Arabian Courtyard Hotel
90
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Indian • Bar
Sherlock Holmes English Pub
275
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Pub
Special Ostadi
372
0.3 mi$ • Middle Eastern • Persian • Halal
Al Ustadı Special Kebab
180
0.3 mi$ • Barbecue • Middle Eastern • Persian
Creekside Restaurant & Cafe
93
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Contemporary • Vegetarian Friendly
Mazmi Cafe and More
75
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
See all
Attractions
196 within 6 miles
Coffee museum
127
288 ftSpeciality Museums
Alserkal Cultural Foundation
10
214 ftArt Galleries
Dubai Creek
9,791
0.2 miBodies of Water • Piers & Boardwalks
Bur Dubai Abra Dock
3,963
0.2 miPiers & Boardwalks
Dubai Museum & Al Fahidi Fort
6,997
0.2 miHistory Museums
Deira Old Souk Abra Station
292
0.2 miPiers & Boardwalks
Museum of Illusions
487
0.3 miSpeciality Museums • Science Museums
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
180
0.3 miNeighborhoods
Shiva Temple
45
0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Grand Bur Dubai Masjid
1
0.2 miReligious Sites
See all
Popular mentions
4.0
959 reviews
Excellent
380
Very good
411
Average
131
Poor
28
Terrible
9
MumbaiRiders
Mumbai, India1,384 contributions
Wonderful discovery of Old Dubai.
Nov 2021
Walked along Al Musallah street and entered AL Bastakia Quarter also known as Al-Fahidi historical neighbourhood which is the ancestral home of the ruling family of Dubai now converted and preserved as a historical museum showpiece of Dubai.
Bastakia derives its name from the South Iran town of Bastak and consists of restored mud and stone houses , squares and narrow alley's as it existed in the 1890's when Dubai was a tiny pearl diving centre of World trade.
The "Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum centre for cultural understanding " which was the former ancestral home of the ruling Maktoum family of Dubai is now a rebuilt conserved museum that opened in 1998 and conducts local guided walking tours in Bastakia quarter educating tourists on the culture and customs of the U.A.E.Strolled along the narrow alleyway's entering a traditionally restored and historically preserved Emirati house.Visited the coin and philately museum and also sat in a traditional Emirati tent.From Bastakia Enclave walked to AL FAHIDI FORT now DUBAI MUSEUM and originally built in 1799 .This Fort situated on Al Fahidi street in the Bur Dubai locality is the oldest existing building in Dubai whose walls were made of coral and shell rubble from the sea and same cemented with lime.A visit to Bastakia enclave is mandatory to understand the historical development of Dubai.
Written November 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Rusiv
2 contributions
Loved it
Apr 2021 • Couples
Such a beautiful area , hard to believe it exists in Dubai. My boyfriend And i have visited it at sunset with Mohamed and we loved it
Written April 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Sasha Marquez
55 contributions
Come to join the flow or stay home to play video games
Mar 2021 • Solo
I really don’t get negative reviews of this wonderful and enchanting place. Do people really lack self sufficiency and expect the rattle toy in their faces to sell this place. Stay home please if you don’t get the point of quietly joining the flow of life. It is a quaint place, very well preserved and meticulously maintained. Walk outside to see the original abode bedecked with rugs and pillows. The guys were very chill offering a little history of the place. Nobody is hassling you. One thing I respect about this place is its people - never pushy or in your face. They simply let you be. The quarters is also a place for artists on Emirati scholarships to come and make their art. They come from different parts of the world, get cute studios to work and appear to be very happy to share their art and experiences. Dubai’s unbridled imagination doesn’t come from cheap modern stimulation that some reviewers seem to be looking for.
Written March 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Wilton L
London, UK520 contributions
Charming restored old town
Jan 2021 • Friends
I love this area, it evokes all that was charming about a bygone era, has a very nice hotel restaurant/cafe/gallery called XVA. I come here often for a detox from glass and high rise. Walking in between the low mud houses into the various alleys is a charm by itself, they’ve done a lovely job restoring this area.
Written January 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
CdnGoldy
Kitchener, Canada900 contributions
Beautiful old Dubai
Mar 2020 • Couples
This is where to go to see the buildings of old Dubai. Unfortunately, the old wealthy merchants homes have been turned into restaurants, and stores where hawkers constantly call out to you trying anything to get you into their stores. They all sell either tchotchkes or spices or fabrics. They will do anything to make a sale. My wife found their pressure unbearable so we didn't enjoy the visit as much as we could have without them.

The architecture was truly wonderful, demonstrating the wind towers and designs of the Emirati world of old.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Earlville
Chanhassen, MN21 contributions
Disappointing Compared to Expecations
Dec 2019
Dubai's "old town" is not very historical nor architecturally interesting. The boat ride across the canal was unique, and we found a quiet canal side restaurant too pass the time and somewhat justify the visit. .
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
KevMac1960
Stanford-Le-Hope, UK1,203 contributions
Nice place to wander through
Feb 2020 • Couples
This is a really nice area to take a stroll through although I think much of it is newer than it appears. Still that shouldn’t distract you from the nice old courtyards (particularly the philately museum) and shady areas. It’s just a short walk from (or to) the Dubai Museum
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
freefireman
Vienna, Austria2,335 contributions
Very charming old district
Oct 2019
The Al-Bastakiyya district is a old historic, listed district in Dubai, which is located on / near Dubai Creek and consists of narrow streets and wind towers. The district also houses the al-Fahidi Fort, the oldest existing building in Dubai (really recommended for a visit).
The Bastakiya quarter is one of the oldest residential areas in Dubai and goes back to the 1890s, with narrow and windy streets that provide a lot of shade and therefore make the heat very bearable. At that time the Bastakiya quarter was traditionally a stronghold of the wealthy residents. It is named after the city of Bastak in Iran, from which many of its inhabitants come.
The Bastakiya was often before demolition. During a visit in the 1990s, Prince Charles is said to have learned that the Bastakiya should be demolished. He then intervened with the sheikh and was able to convince him not to tear down the quarter. Since 2005, the city administration has started the restoration of the historic buildings and alleys, which has been very well done (very detailed), since many shops, cafes and some restaurants have settled. In the meantime, it has blossomed into an artist and cultural district with many galleries, exhibitions and museums.
It is really a quaint district and is located just behind the souks and reflects the flair of the old Dubai. Some houses with their great courtyards can also be visited, and the open floors can be climbed on narrow stairs, where you have a very good view of the district. Anyone who would like to get to know historic Dubai is in good hands here.
Countless exhibitions by as yet unknown painters can be admired. Galleries and museums are also not to be missed here. In addition to the culture, it is of course also important to be able to rest. In this Bastakiya district, visitors will also find numerous restaurants that invite them to relax. Bastakiya is even one of the 10 most important sights that must be seen in Dubai.
If this review was helpful for you, please activate the "Helpful button"!
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Eric
Jakarta, Indonesia433 contributions
It feels like walking thru old time
Dec 2019 • Family
Bastakia quarter is the old settlement within old dubai. Nowadays there’s no residence lived here. All houses and facilities are all renovated and designed for tourism. Its very well maintained and cleaned. No residences lived here. There’re few hotels, shops, cafes and art gallery.

Its really beautiful to walk around in the evening. You can see some art works and murals. Dont forget to bring your camera/ mobile phones since there are many things to photo. The area is not too big, but its like a maze you need a bit of time to explore.

You dont need to pay to enter bastakia quarter. But you may need to pay to enter several museum here.

Notes:
- dont forget to visit dubai museum its very close from bastakia quarter
- i dont see any public toilet within bastakia quarter. I used the one in the hotel there. They have cafe with charming garden inside.
- not many shops, cafes and restaurants within the facilities.
- if you want to go to coin museum and other museum make sure to check their operating hours.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Vandieman111
Adelaide, Australia1,378 contributions
An interesting place for a stroll
Dec 2019
This area gives you an idea of what old Dubai might have been like. There are a few galleries scattered around and reasonable cafes.
Written December 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 511
Anything missing or inaccurate?
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Frequently Asked Questions about Bastakia Quarter
We recommend booking Bastakia Quarter tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 18 Bastakia Quarter tours on Tripadvisor