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Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Edinburgh Castle is home to the One o'clock Gun, Mons Meg, and the Crown Jewels.
Edinburgh Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours
- 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.
More details
- Grab the ticket offering 24 or 48-hour hop-on hop-off tours and get stunning views of Edinburgh from the open top upper decks.
- Enjoy access to 3 different routes, each with over 12 convenient stops, and hop on and off as many times as you like.
- What's more? Upgrade your tour to include entry tickets to Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannia, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- Tune into the entertaining audio guide in multiple languages for kids narrated by Terry Deary or listen to your live guide and learn all about the city's history.
- Pass by several must-see spots, including Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Scotland, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Inclusions
- 24/48-hour hop-on hop-off tour of Edinburgh
- Access to 3 routes: City Sightseeing, Edinburgh tour, Regal tour
- Entry to Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannia, the Palace of Holyroodhouse (optional)
- Audio commentary in English, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Scottish, German, Portuguese, Spanish & Chinese (City Sightseeing & Edinburgh tours)
- English-speaking guide (Edinburgh tour)
- Children's audio guide by Terry Deary (City Sightseeing tour)
- Free headphones onboard (City Sightseeing & Edinburgh tours)
- Discounts at the Royal Botanic Garden, Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace of Holyroodhouse & more (full list here)
Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.
City Sightseeing tour (classic 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 (across Old Town and Georgian New Town)
- First bus: 9:10am from Waterloo Place
- Last bus: 3:40pm from Waterloo Place
- Frequency: every 10-12 mins
- Popular stops: Georgian New Town, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse
Regal tour (leaving city center to the coast at Newhaven)
- First bus: 9:20am from Waterloo Place
- Last bus: 3:50pm from Waterloo Place
- Frequency: every 15 mins
- Popular stops: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace of Holyroodhouse
Join the tour at any stop and hop on and off throughout your ticket's duration.
- Tip: Don’t forget to grab discounted tickets to iconic food places like Street Pizza 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 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.
More details
Why choose Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off bus tours?
- Visit iconic landmarks: See all of the city’s top attractions from the open-top buses ideal for sightseeing.
- Easy and convenient: Explore the best of the city without worrying about your commute with just one ticket.
- Save money: Hop-on Hop-off bus tours will help you save money as you won’t have to spend on local transport fares to get from one spot to the other.
- Pre-recorded commentary: There are audio guides in many languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Russian, as well as a special kid's commentary to give you information on all the attractions you will visit.
For more information on the special features and inclusion, please check your tickets.
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
Get access to three different routes covering the length and breadth of Edinburgh with just one ticket. You can also upgrade your ticket to include entry to Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht of 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
Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off tour highlights
Edinburgh Castle
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Frequently Asked Questions about Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off bus tours
How much do Hop-on Hop-off buses cost in Edinburgh?
Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus tour ticket prices start at €18. You can also upgrade your tickets to include entry into select Edinburgh attractions at a discounted price.
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.