Sharjah offers delightful 90-minute journey

For majority modern-day travellers, bus tours have become synonymous with a fulfilling holiday experience. Well, who does not like to be perched on top of a double-decker bus and explore the history, landmarks and popular attractions of a city, with the freedom to just hop off on a whim and dig deeper into something that catches their eye or ignites particular interest?

With its magnificent history and architecture, great shopping, delicious food and some quirky spots too, Sharjah makes for a perfect holiday destination or even a memorable day trip squeezed into a weekend that can be taken on a comfortable, entertaining and enlightening City Sightseeing Sharjah bus tour.

The ‘Leisure Tour’ is a glorious feather in the world-class bus tour operator’s big hat of offerings. It is a 90-minute sensory journey through 13 Sharjah destinations and attractions including beaches, mosques, waterfronts, megamalls, aquariums, theme parks, and other places of interest.

The route had been carefully designed with great variety to cater for all age groups and explorative preferences with free Wifi available on the bus that helps passengers stay connected with the world or click pictures and share them instantly. All facilities on these buses are special needs-friendly.     

Once on an air-conditioned bus that offers recorded commentary available in Arabic, English, Russian, Chinese, German, Spanish, and Hindi, people have absolute freedom to either stay onboard and complete the tour or hop off at any of the designated stops.

The Leisure Tour on City Sightseeing Sharjah is represented by the Red Line on the bus tour map. It is available from the timings 9am – 7pm (October – May) with the duration of 30 minutes, and 10am – 6pm (June – September) with the duration of 90 minutes.

Once on board the leisure tour, the charming red bus charts an exploratory trail featuring the following attractions:

Central Souq / Blue Souq

Surrounded by Sharjah’s bustling roads and busy fly overs, and located between King Faisal Road and Khalid Lagoon, lies the Central Souq — a blue-tiled Arabian architectural masterpiece constructed over 30 years ago. It exuberates a particular old-world charm and brings the quintessential image of an Arabian marketplace to life.

Palm Oasis

This strip of land with hundreds of palm trees is a top attraction for families with its sprawling park with picnic spots. Tourists can hop off the bus, making it a perfect place to capture some magical moments during the trip.

Al Noor Mosque

Inspired by classical Turk-Ottoman architecture, the Al Noor Mosque is a treat for history and architecture enthusiasts, and a haven of serenity for the spiritual soul.

Al Majaz Waterfront

An ideal destination for visitors to capture the stunning scenery overlooking the Khaled Lagoon is the Al Majaz Waterfront. Visitors can explore the breath-taking landscapes, enjoy the spectacular Sharjah musical fountain or dine at any of its international restaurants and cafés.  

Al Majaz Amphitheatre

Tourists looking to experience cultural shows, music or plays, can deboard at the Al Majaz Amphitheatre. The destination brings some of the most prominent events of the region through its concerts, conferences and workshops.

The Flag Island

Home to a towering flagpole overlooking Sharjah, and one of the city’s premier destinations for outdoor sports, dining and entertainment, The Flag Island is a picturesque attraction set by the azure waters of the Khalid lagoon, which offers great leisure and photo opportunities to visitors. Art and design enthusiasts can also have a visit to 1971 – Design Space in The Flag Island.

Al Montazah Parks

Visitors keen on experiencing some leisure time or adventure, especially while travelling with children, must block time for this must-see destination. Al Montazah’s new water park is home to meandering lazy rivers and thrilling speed slides.

Al Khan Beach

Tourists deboarding at Al Khan Beaches 1 or 2, can rent sun loungers and umbrellas, or just enjoy a picnic on the sand. The more active can enjoy kayaking, kite surfing, parasailing, banana boat rides and fly boarding. Even a simple stroll on the beach, is well worth the time.

Sharjah Aquarium

Visitors disembarking from the bus at this stop, can enjoy a close-up look at the local fishes and learn about Sharjah’s historic coasts and ports. The aquariums here, shed light on the lively, mysterious and colourful world of the deep sea.

Al Qasba

Visitors will love the variety of restaurants with the view of the canal, along with the kids’ play area, while art fans can check out the latest exhibitions at Al Maraya Art Centre. Families can also enjoy traditional “Abra” boat ride, eco-friendly electric water karts and bikes for hire.