Edinburgh Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours

All top attractions covered
All top attractions covered
Regular Schedule. Unlimited rides
Regular Schedule. Unlimited rides
Last minute availability. Instant confirmation.
Last minute availability. Instant confirmation.



Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
People on Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Passengers on the bus
Passengers on the bus
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
People on Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Passengers on the bus
Passengers on the bus
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
People on Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Passengers on the bus
Passengers on the bus
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
4.2(380)

City Sightseeing: Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

from
£18
Free cancellation

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Extended validity
Instant confirmation
Mobile ticket
Flexible duration
  • Discover the best of Edinburgh on this unlimited 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus tour, giving you maximum convenience.
  • Get access to the Red Route, with over 14 stops dotted around the Scottish capital, near all major sights with buses arriving every 10-12mins.
  • Learn about the city's iconic attractions through the audio guide available on board and enlighten your kids with the kid's commentary ‘Horrible Histories.’
  • The open-top double-decker bus will give you the best views of the city, including Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, the Royal Mile and Johnston Terrace.
  • Discover the best of Edinburgh on this unlimited 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus tour, giving you maximum convenience.
  • Get access to the Red Route, with over 14 stops dotted around the Scottish capital, near all major sights with buses arriving every 10-12mins.
  • Learn about the city's iconic attractions through the audio guide available on board and enlighten your kids with the kid's commentary ‘Horrible Histories.’
  • The open-top double-decker bus will give you the best views of the city, including Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, the Royal Mile and Johnston Terrace.

Inclusions

  • 24-hour unlimited hop-on hop-off pass
  • Access to Red Route
  • Audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Russian
  • Horrible Histories' kid's commentary
  • Headphones
  • Free kids' tickets
  • Flexible validity for up to 12 months from your selected date

Exclusions

  • Entry tickets to attractions

Please click here for the detailed route map and boarding points.

Red Route

  • First bus: 8:45am from Waterloo Place
  • Last bus: 5:57pm from Waterloo Place
  • Frequency: every 10 to 12mins
  • Popular stops: Lothian Road, Grassmarket, Lawnmarket & Regent Road

Join the tour at any stop and hop on and off throughout your ticket's duration.

  • Tip: Want to take a break from exploring? Savor Scottish cuisine: haggis, fish and chips, and Scotch whiskey by exploring local spots for authentic flavors.
  • This experience is wheelchair accessible.
  • Wheelchairs must be no larger than 70cm wide, 120cm long, and 135cm high to board the bus. If unsure, contact the service provider.
  • Just a heads up, each bus can only accommodate 1 wheelchair at a time. If there is already a passenger in a wheelchair, please wait for the next one.
  • Children aged 3 and under travel for free. Child tickets must be added to the cart at the final stage of booking.
  • Small and well-behaved dogs allowed onboard.
  • You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
  • These tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Edinburgh HOHO Bus
Visitors ready to board HOHO Buses
HOHO Bus near Edinburgh Castle
HOHO Bus near Edinburgh Castle
Guide on HOHO Bus
Edinburgh bus tour at Waterloo Place
Couples standing on Royal Yacht Britannia
Royal Yacht Britannia
Royal Yacht Britannia Bell
Passengers on the upper deck of HOHO bus
Edinburgh HOHO Bus
Visitors ready to board HOHO Buses
HOHO Bus near Edinburgh Castle
HOHO Bus near Edinburgh Castle
Guide on HOHO Bus
Edinburgh bus tour at Waterloo Place
Couples standing on Royal Yacht Britannia
Royal Yacht Britannia
Royal Yacht Britannia Bell
Passengers on the upper deck of HOHO bus
Edinburgh HOHO Bus
Visitors ready to board HOHO Buses
HOHO Bus near Edinburgh Castle
HOHO Bus near Edinburgh Castle
Guide on HOHO Bus
Edinburgh bus tour at Waterloo Place
Couples standing on Royal Yacht Britannia
Royal Yacht Britannia
Royal Yacht Britannia Bell
Passengers on the upper deck of HOHO bus
4.5(184)

3-Route Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

from
£24
Free cancellation

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Instant confirmation
Mobile ticket
Flexible duration
Guided tour
  • Explore Edinburgh's royal history on a 24/48-hour hop-on hop-off tour, riding an open-top double-decker bus for a perfect city view in a flash.
  • Enjoy access to 3 different routes each with over 15 convenient stops, and hop on and off as many times as you like.
  • Tune into a multilingual audio guide or a live guide's narration of the city's tales on the green route plus, score cool discounts at attractions.
  • Pass by must-sees! Glide past the lively Grassmarket, admire the iconic Edinburgh Castle, dive into the National Museum of Scotland's exhibits, and more!
  • Explore Edinburgh's royal history on a 24/48-hour hop-on hop-off tour, riding an open-top double-decker bus for a perfect city view in a flash.
  • Enjoy access to 3 different routes each with over 15 convenient stops, and hop on and off as many times as you like.
  • Tune into a multilingual audio guide or a live guide's narration of the city's tales on the green route plus, score cool discounts at attractions.
  • Pass by must-sees! Glide past the lively Grassmarket, admire the iconic Edinburgh Castle, dive into the National Museum of Scotland's exhibits, and more!

Inclusions

  • 24/48-hour hop-on hop-off tour of Edinburgh
  • Access to 3 routes: City sightseeing tour, Edinburgh tour, Regal tour
  • Audio commentary in English, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Scottish, German, Portuguese, Spanish & Chinese (City Sightseeing & Edinburgh tours)
  • English-speaking guide (Edinburgh tour)
  • Discounts at the Royal Botanic Garden, Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace of Holyroodhouse & more (full list here)
  • Headphones (Regal tour)

Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.

You can join the tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.

City Sightseeing tour (Classic red route)

  • First bus: 8:45 am from Waterloo Place
  • Last bus: 5:57 pm from Waterloo Place
  • Frequency: every 10-12 mins
  • Popular stops: Historic Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, Old Town, Royal Mile

Edinburgh tour (Green route)

  • First bus: 8:51am from Waterloo Place
  • Last bus: 5:51pm from Waterloo Place
  • Frequency: every 10-12 mins
  • Popular stops: Georgian New Town, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse

Regal tour (Blue route)

  • First bus: 8:40am from Waterloo Place
  • Last bus: 5:25pm from Waterloo Place
  • Frequency: every 15 mins
  • Popular stops: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace of Holyroodhouse
  • Tip: Don’t forget to grab discounted tickets to iconic food places like Street Burger by Gordon Ramsay, Hard Rock Cafe, and Bread Street Kitchen & Bar.
  • This experience is wheelchair accessible.
  • Mobility scooters are allowed if folded and stored as luggage.
  • Low-floor ramps are available for easy access.
  • Screens are conveniently available on the lower decks of City Sightseeing and Regal route buses.
  • Your guide dogs and pet dogs are welcome aboard.
  • Great news! If you're traveling with children aged 15 and under, they can hop on board for free with the 24-hour ticket.
  • You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Inside Edinburgh Castle
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus by the Edinburgh Castle
Greenhouse in Royal Botanic Gardens
Inside the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Yacht Britannia on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Royal Yacht Britannia Bell
Palace of Holyrood House on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Visitors outside Palace of Holyrood House
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Inside Edinburgh Castle
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus by the Edinburgh Castle
Greenhouse in Royal Botanic Gardens
Inside the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Yacht Britannia on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Royal Yacht Britannia Bell
Palace of Holyrood House on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Visitors outside Palace of Holyrood House
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Inside Edinburgh Castle
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus by the Edinburgh Castle
Greenhouse in Royal Botanic Gardens
Inside the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Yacht Britannia on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Royal Yacht Britannia Bell
Palace of Holyrood House on The Royal Edinburgh Tour
Visitors outside Palace of Holyrood House
4.4(32)

Royal Attractions Tickets with 3-Route Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

from
£69
Free cancellation

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Instant confirmation
Mobile ticket
Flexible duration
Audio guide
  • Edinburgh's royal sights are yours to see on this 48-hour hop-on, hop-off tour coupled with direct access to 3 popular attractions!
  • Pick from Red, Green, or Blue routes with 15 well-placed stops, and enjoy buses every 10-15 minutes to explore as many times as you fancy.
  • With one pass, explore the Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Yacht Britannia, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse on a royal spree.
  • Relax on double-decker buses with audio guides in different languages or enjoy lively English narration on the green route to jazz up your Edinburgh tour.
  • Witness popular spots – Visit the Scottish Parliament, savor lush greenery at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the iconic Edinburgh Castle.
  • Edinburgh's royal sights are yours to see on this 48-hour hop-on, hop-off tour coupled with direct access to 3 popular attractions!
  • Pick from Red, Green, or Blue routes with 15 well-placed stops, and enjoy buses every 10-15 minutes to explore as many times as you fancy.
  • With one pass, explore the Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Yacht Britannia, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse on a royal spree.
  • Relax on double-decker buses with audio guides in different languages or enjoy lively English narration on the green route to jazz up your Edinburgh tour.
  • Witness popular spots – Visit the Scottish Parliament, savor lush greenery at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the iconic Edinburgh Castle.

Inclusions

  • 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass
  • Access to 3 routes: Red, Green & Blue
  • Entry to Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace of Holyroodhouse
  • Audio guide in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Scottish & Portuguese (Red & Blue routes)
  • Audio guide for Palace of Holyroodhouse
  • English-speaking guide (Green route)
  • Headphones (Blue route)

Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.

You can join the tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.

City Sightseeing tour (Classic red route)

  • First bus: 8:45 am from Waterloo Place
  • Last bus: 5:57 pm from Waterloo Place
  • Frequency: every 10-12 mins
  • Popular stops: Historic Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, Old Town, Royal Mile

Edinburgh tour (Green route)

  • First bus: 8:51am from Waterloo Place
  • Last bus: 5:51pm from Waterloo Place
  • Frequency: every 10-12 mins
  • Popular stops: Georgian New Town, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse

Regal tour (Blue route)

  • First bus: 8:40am from Waterloo Place
  • Last bus: 5:25pm from Waterloo Place
  • Frequency: every 15 mins
  • Popular stops: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace of Holyroodhouse
  • Tip: Don't miss the Honours of Scotland exhibition at Edinburgh Castle, showcasing the oldest Crown jewels in the British Isles!
  • This experience is wheelchair accessible.
  • Mobility scooters are allowed if folded and stored as luggage.
  • Screens are conveniently available on the lower decks of City Sightseeing and Regal route buses.
  • Your guide dogs and pet dogs are welcome aboard.
  • Note that the ticket lets you visit Edinburgh Castle and Royal Yacht Britannia within 48 hours. If you need to visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse outside of that timeframe, your ticket will still be valid.
  • Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult or senior citizen during their visit.
  • The Palace of Holyroodhouse is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday and is open daily from July to September only.
  • The Palace of Holyroodhouse will be closed on Mar 29, May 16-25, June 27 to Jul 5, 2024, and Dec 25 & 26, 2024.
  • The Royal Yacht Britannia is operational on all 7 days of the week.
  • You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off bus tours

Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, charms its visitors with stunning architecture, rich history, and enough cultural festivals to keep you entertained year-round. Think iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Arthur's Seat, all waiting to be explored. Plus, there's a vibrant food and drink scene and world-class museums to fuel your trip.

But Edinburgh can be a bit of a maze, especially for first-timers. That's where Edinburgh's hop-on hop-off bus tours come in handy. These buses are your golden ticket to seeing all the city's must-see sights. Just hop on, hop off wherever you want to explore further, and hop back on when you're ready to move on – all with one convenient ticket! Read on to learn how these tours can make your Edinburgh trip amazing.

Why choose Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off bus tours

Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off
  • Landmark city tour: Edinburgh's a stunner – castles, cobblestone streets, and history everywhere you turn. These open-top buses take you right by all the must-see sights. Think Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and tons more – all without breaking a sweat (or getting lost)!
  • Effortless exploring: Forget stressing about bus schedules and fares. With one ticket, you can hop on and off all day, exploring at your own pace. See something cool? Just hop off, have a look around, then hop back on when you're ready to move on. 
  • Save some money: Exploring a new city can add up quickly. Hop-on hop-off buses can actually help you save money on local transport fares, letting you see more for less.
  • Insider info on the go: Many tours offer pre-recorded commentary in tons of languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Russian, giving you the lowdown on all the sights you pass. There's even a special kid's commentary to keep the little ones entertained!

Double-check your ticket to see what special features and inclusions are included in your tour. Some might even have cool extras like walking tours or discounts at attractions!

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off tour timetable

*Please note that the bus schedule mentioned below is subject to slight variations.

City Sightseeing
3-route Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off bus

Climb aboard a City Sightseeing bus and cruise past all the must-see sights and Edinburgh's greatest hits in style, like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and even Johnston Terrace.

TIMINGS
8:45am - 5:57pm (from Waterloo Place)
FREQUENCY
Every 10 to 12 minutes
DURATION
1 hour

30+ attractions covered

City Sightseeing Bus

Three routes with just one ticket? With a hop-on hop-off bus tour, you can conquer every inch of Edinburgh – from the historic city center to hidden gems off the beaten path. Some routes even offer ticket upgrades that include entrance to iconic spots like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

TIMINGS
8:45am - 5:57pm (Citysightseeing); 9:10am - 3:40pm (Edinburgh Tour); 9:20am - 3:50pm (Regal Tour)
FREQUENCY
Every 10 to 12 minutes (Citysightseeing); Every 10 to 12 minutes (Edinburgh Tour); Every 15 minutes (Regal Tour)
DURATION
1 hour (Citysightseeing); 70 minutes (Edinburgh Tour); 80 minutes (Regal Tour)

40+ attractions covered

City Sightseeing Bus

Visitor tips and guidelines

  • Different tours offer different things. Some might not cover all the routes, while others might include cool extras like a boat cruise or a walking tour. Do your research and pick the ticket that's perfect for you!
  • Every hop-on hop-off bus has a different route map, so plan your trip accordingly. Figure out which stops you want to explore further beforehand and see what cool sights are nearby.
  • If you want to spend time at an attraction, make sure you know the tour's schedule and when the next bus will arrive. The last thing you want is to miss your ride!
  • Many attractions sell tickets online. Do yourself a favor and grab them beforehand – nobody likes waiting in line!
  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are Edinburgh's busiest days. Traffic jams between 2pm and 7pm are no joke, so plan your exploring accordingly.
  • Consider taking a full loop on the bus first, without hopping off. This gives you a great overview of the city and helps you decide where you want to spend more time later.  on or off the bus. It may seem like this defeats the purpose of a “hop-on hop-off” tour, but this way you can get an overview of Edinburgh with a good seat and view for the entire trip.

Frequently Asked Questions about Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off bus tours

How do these buses work?

Hop-on Hop-off buses allow you to get on and leave the bus at any of the designated stops to see the major city landmarks whenever you want.

How frequent are the buses?

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off buses run from morning to evening and usually arrive at a frequency of 15 minutes. For exact timings, check your tickets.

Are there audio guides on the bus tours?

Yes, there are audio guides available for adults in multiple languages on the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Russian.

Are the bus tours accessibility-friendly?

Yes, Edinburgh’s Hop-on Hop-off bus tours are accessible to wheelchair users.