City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Kids Go Free
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Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
This Edinburgh city sightseeing tour offers a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus experience with an open-top double-decker bus and audio commentary in multiple languages. Hop on and off at key stops including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, and the Royal Mile. Buses run every 20 minutes with tickets valid for 24 hours from first use, providing flexible sightseeing at your own pace.
- Check off Edinburgh's top sights on a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour
- Cruise around the city and get uninterrupted views from an open-top double-decker bus
- Onboard audio commentary ensures you don’t miss anything
- Explore at your own pace: Hop on and hop where you want
What's Included
- KIDS GO FREE - Up to 3 children travel for free with every full paying adult
- 24 hour hop-on hop-off bus tour
- Multilingual audio commentary in 9 languages + free headphones & kids commentary!
- Vouchers valid for 12 months from travel date selected at check-out
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entry to attractions
Meeting and Pickup
Operating hours
- 03/24/2024 - 03/31/2026
Monday - Sunday : 8:55 AM - 3:55 PM
- 04/01/2026 - 03/31/2027
Monday - Sunday : 8:55 AM - 3:55 PM
Departure Point
- You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.
Itinerary
Venture through Edinburgh with ease on this City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tour. Use your 24-hour pass to board the open-top double-decker bus at any stop. Travel the entire route or hop off at any of the stops to explore further on your own. Get to know the 15th-century capital of Scotland and its dramatic skyline with onboard commentary about the sights.
Edinburgh bus tour highlights include the Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House, the historic Royal Mile, Our Dynamic Earth and much more.
Edinburgh bus tour highlights include the Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House, the historic Royal Mile, Our Dynamic Earth and much more.
Red Route
15 Stops
26 Points of Interest
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
Operating Schedule: First departure from Stop 1 at 8:55am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 3:55pm. Buses run every 20 minutes
1
Waterloo Place
2
Lothian Road
3
Grassmarket
4
Nicolson Square
5
Chambers Street
6
George IV Bridge
7
The Mound
8
St Andrew Square
9
John Knox House
10
Canongate
11
Scottish Parliament
12
Dynamic Earth
13
Abbeyhill Crescent
14
Carlton Terrace Brae
15
Burns Monument
Points of interest passed by on this route
St Giles' Cathedral
Parliament House
Greyfriars Bobby
Scott Monument
National Galleries Scotland: Modern One
Royal Mile
Dynamic Earth
National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two
Calton Hill
Arthur's Seat
Holyrood Park
Church of St John the Evangelist
Edinburgh College of Art
George Heriot's School
Gladstone's Land
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Museum of Edinburgh
John Knox House Museum
Canongate Kirk
Edinburgh Bus Tours
Edinburgh Farmers' Market
City Sightseeing Edinburgh
Grassmarket
National Museum of Scotland
Edinburgh Waverley Station
Edinburgh Castle
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Visit Scotland 5 star award-winning tour and Gold Green Tourism award winner
- First departure from Stop 1 at 8:55am
- Last departure from Stop 1 at 3:55pm
- Buses run every 20 minutes
- Tour duration without hopping off is 70 minutes
- Mobile and printed paper vouchers are both accepted on this tour and can be redeemed at any of the stops along the route
- Vouchers are valid for 12 months from travel date selected at check-out
- Kids go free! Up to 3 kids can travel for free per adult ticket. Child tickets must be added to basket when purchasing tickets. Valid for travel before 31st March 2026
- Saturday 28th March: various streets in the city centre will be closed between 11:15am and 3pm due to an event taking place. Diversions will be in place. Stops 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 will be closed during this time. Stop 12 Dynamic Earth will be served as normal
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.3
based on 2,700 reviews
kazza, Mar 2026
We upgraded out ticket to include all 3 routes.
Enjoyed every route especially Colin's luve commentary on the green route.
Excellent value for money
We always do these tours on our city breaks and once again not disappointed
Highly recommend
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Kazza,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for your recommendation! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed all three routes with City Sightseeing Edinburgh, and especially Colin’s live commentary on the green route. We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to him!
Exploring Edinburgh by bus is a fantastic way to take in the city’s rich history and stunning scenery, and we’re thrilled to know that once again your city break experience lived up to expectations.
We hope to welcome you on board again very soon!
Best regards,
City Sightseeing Team
Sam_F, Mar 2026
This was a really handy way to travel the city, making it easy to get around without wearing your legs out. Seemed to have to wait a long time for the buses but worth it
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Sam,
Thank you very much for your review! We’re really happy to hear that you found our service a convenient way to explore Edinburgh without getting too tired, that’s exactly what we aim for!
We also appreciate your feedback regarding the waiting times. While our buses run on a regular schedule, traffic and busy periods in the city can sometimes cause delays. That said, we’re glad to know it was still worth it and that you enjoyed the overall experience.
We hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Best regards,
The City Sightseeing Edinburgh Team
Paula_F, Mar 2026
Detailed information, takes you around Edinburgh able to get off bus and explore if you wish and literally hop on another tour bus just wait at the stop you got off , you can go round on tour bus as many times as you would like. Offers for other attractions as well. Headphones provided as you get on the bus. Very easy to set them up and can hear clearly. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Great value for money.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Paula,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your City Sightseeing Edinburgh experience and found our hop-on hop-off tour convenient and easy to explore at your own pace.
We’re glad the headphones and onboard commentary helped you get the most out of your visit.
We really appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another fantastic experience in Edinburgh soon!
Liliane_H, Mar 2026
A perfect way to explore Edinburgh, lots of information in your own language, easy to get on and off
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Lilliane,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with City Sightseeing and found it easy to hop on and off while getting lots of information in your own language.
We hope to welcome you on board again soon for another unforgettable Edinburgh experience!
Adam_F, Mar 2026
Good value with interesting information. Friendly drivers. First bus departs Waverley Place at 08:55. I boarded at 11:30 and hopped on and off on Day one. Ticket is 24 hours so did it in its entirety day 2 (boarding before 11:30). Would recommend
Sherry_S, Mar 2026
I do not recommend this bus service. They do not provide the customer with a physical address to get started. The stops are extremely difficult to find and not well marked. I reached out twice for help with no response. When I requested a refund, it was denied.
JolbinMathew_C, Feb 2026
It was a great experience in Hop on Hop off bus. Very clearly explained by audio recording. Loved it
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review of City Sightseeing Edinburgh! We’re delighted to hear that you had a great experience on our Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus and enjoyed the clear and informative audio commentary.
Our goal is to make exploring Edinburgh easy, flexible, and enjoyable for all ages — and we’re especially pleased you appreciated the recorded explanations. With our route, visitors can discover iconic landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at their own pace.
We’re also proud of our “Kids Go Free” offer, making the Edinburgh bus tour an even better value for families looking to explore the city together.
Thank you for recommending our Hop-On Hop-Off bus — we hope to welcome you on board again soon! 🚍✨
Sabrina_R, Feb 2026
Edinburgh is very walkable but this was an efficient way to get the lay of the land and an overview of the city sites. Be aware there are multiple sightseeing bus services available, so make sure you hop on the correct one. Also, the bus is only operating from 8:55am-5:05pm, so plan accordingly.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very much Sabrina for sharing your experience with City Sightseeing Edinburgh!
You’re absolutely right, Edinburgh is a very walkable city, but our hop-on hop-off bus tour in Edinburgh is a fantastic and efficient way to get an overview of the main sights and truly get the lay of the land before exploring on foot. We’re glad it helped you make the most of your time in the city.
Thank you as well for highlighting the importance of choosing the correct sightseeing service and planning around operating hours. We always recommend checking the timetable in advance and looking out for our clearly branded red buses to ensure a smooth experience.
From the top deck, guests can enjoy panoramic views of landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, the historic Royal Mile and the impressive Palace of Holyroodhouse.
To enhance your visit even further, we recommend adding experiences such as entry to Edinburgh Castle or a combined ticket with Glasgow or London.
We hope to welcome you back on board soon for more unforgettable sightseeing in Edinburgh!
Catherine_K, Jan 2026
Not a lot of history being spoke about on the audio. They could fill it more. Other then a somewhat easy to get around the town, I would skip
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Customer,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. At City Sightseeing, our main goal is to ensure that every customer enjoys an informative and enjoyable sightseeing experience.
We are sorry to hear that the audio commentary did not provide as much historical information as you expected. Your feedback is very valuable, and we will share it with our team to review and improve the content for future tours. We appreciate your honesty, as it helps us enhance the experience for all passengers.
We hope to have the opportunity to provide a more satisfying experience on a future visit, whether in this city or any of the more than 100 cities where we operate.
Kind regards,
Quality Department
Gaylene_H, Jan 2026
What a wonderful service. We extended our booking as we were do impressed with the staff, the information provided and the routes of offer.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Customer,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. At City Sightseeing, our main goal is to ensure that every customer enjoys an exceptional and memorable tour.
We are thrilled to hear that you were so impressed with our staff, the information provided, and the routes that you chose to extend your booking. Feedback like yours motivates our team to continue delivering high-quality service and enjoyable experiences for all our passengers.
We look forward to welcoming you again in this city or in any of the more than 100 cities where we operate.
Kind regards,
Quality Department
Juliana_V, Jan 2026
It’s good as the usual bus tours where you can make your own itinerary, we just found it to be a bit short route.
Emma_P, Jan 2026
Very good experience, very easy to find, driver very friendly, great audio tour, a good was to see Edinburgh.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review, Emma!
We’re delighted to hear that you had a very good experience in Edinburgh, found the stops easy to locate, and enjoyed the friendly driver and audio tour. It’s wonderful to know you could see the city in such a pleasant way.
We hope to welcome you back on City Sightseeing Edinburgh soon!
Wellyn_S, Dec 2025
Very interesting, very flexible and the driver had a kind smile and that’s big credit❤️ we are happy
Angelique_J, Dec 2025
Fab experience in Edinburgh the drivers of the city sightseeing were simply amazing, really friendly, good spirit, helpful and knowledgeable. My children and I had the best time going through the various sights. Thank you very much for a lovely break in your amazing city
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Dear Customer,
We would like to thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. At City Sightseeing, our main goal is to ensure that every guest enjoys an exceptional service.
We are delighted to hear that you and your children had a fabulous time exploring Edinburgh and that our drivers were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Your feedback is very valuable to us and reflects our commitment to providing memorable experiences for every traveler.
The effort and dedication of our staff are fundamental in creating unforgettable moments at every destination. We would be thrilled to welcome you again in any of the more than 100 cities where we operate.
King regards,
Quality Department
Aletha_S, Dec 2025
Not enough time…they said the ticket is 24 hour but at the end of the day is a one time use only! I always use The big Bus i thought that was I book …
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Dear Customer,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations.
We would like to clarify that the ticket is valid for 24 hours within the operating hours of the service, during which customers may hop on and hop off the bus at any stop. The experience may differ depending on the time of day the ticket is first activated and the service schedule.
We appreciate your comments and thank you for taking the time to share your experience, as this feedback helps us continue to improve our communication and services.
King regards,
Quality department
Amy_N, Dec 2025
A fab thing to do especially with our children, helped explore the city and rest their legs in hilly edinburgh, the commentary was informative and everyone learnt something new! Fab offer of kids go free made it excellent value for money.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much Amy!
We’re thrilled to hear that you and your children enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with us. It’s wonderful to know that the commentary was informative and that everyone learned something new. We’re also glad you appreciated our “kids go free” offer; it’s great to make family adventures both fun and excellent value!
We hope to welcome you and your family again soon on board!
Amy_M, Nov 2025
What a great way to see the city and learn the history! The option to hear it in different languages is also great.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Amy,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed seeing Edinburgh and learning about its history on our tour.
We’re also glad that you appreciated the multilingual audio options; we want everyone to enjoy the city in the way that suits them best.
We hope to welcome you back soon for another fantastic City Sightseeing Edinburgh experience!
Kind regards,
City Sightseeing Edinburgh Team
Sonia_L, Nov 2025
This was a very short tour. Better go to the toyrist office and check out different city buses that cover more ground.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Sonia,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that you felt the tour was too short. Our goal is always to provide an enjoyable overview of Edinburgh, but we understand that some guests prefer longer or more comprehensive routes.
We appreciate your suggestion and will keep it in mind as we continue to improve our services. We hope you might consider giving us another try in the future to explore more of the city with City Sightseeing Edinburgh.
Kind regards,
City Sightseeing Edinburgh Team
Stephen_H, Nov 2025
Windows fog up easily in the rain and cold. Scott was great on the Edinbyrg live tour. Drivers great on all three. Great way to embrace the city. We did red, green and blue route.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi,
Thank you so much for your review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed exploring Edinburgh on all three routes — red, green, and blue — and that Scott made your live tour experience so enjoyable.
We also appreciate your feedback about the windows fogging up in the cold and rain; we’ll keep looking for ways to improve comfort in all weather conditions.
We hope to welcome you back soon for another fantastic City Sightseeing Edinburgh experience!
Kind regards,
City Sightseeing Edinburgh Team
Gillian_v, Nov 2025
Incredible experience and a great way to get around Edinburgh. I suggest going on the bus first so that you can decide where you want to go.
We accidentally left our backpack on the bus and we found it safe and secure at the station the next day.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much Gillian!
We’re thrilled to hear that you had an incredible experience and enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with us. It’s great to know our advice about planning your route was helpful. We’re also glad your backpack was found safe and secure; our team always tries to make sure belongings are returned safely.
We hope to welcome you back on board again soon for another City Sightseeing adventure!
Christine_S, Nov 2025
The audio information is very good and the stops give access to the main visitor attractions. Drivers were friendly and helpful.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your feedback!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the audio information and found the stops convenient for visiting the main attractions. We’ll also pass on your kind words to our drivers; they’ll be very happy to hear it!
We hope to see you again soon on another City Sightseeing tour in Edinburgh.
Maura_M, Nov 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed the hop on hop off experience in the city of Edinburgh. It was a great way to get the lay of the land and to see the whole city. I went around all stops before getting off just to see everything first. I would highly recommend this tour option for anyone visiting Edinburgh for the first time.
I was challenged finding where to catch the hop on and hop off, so it’s best to ask a local or a hotel concierge as there are many different stops in different locations
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Maura! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Hop On Hop Off tour and had the chance to see all of Edinburgh. It’s great to know you’d recommend it to other first-time visitors.
We also appreciate your tip about asking a local or concierge for directions; this is very helpful for future passengers. We hope to welcome you on board again soon to explore more of the city with City Sightseeing!
Alison_L, Nov 2025
With buses running every 20 minutes it was easy to travel. My husband and I travelled with our two year old grandson. We only had a short time in Edinburgh so it was a good way to see more than we could in foot
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much, Alison! We’re delighted to hear that our Edinburgh tour helped you make the most of your time in the city. It’s wonderful that you and your family, including your little grandson, could enjoy the sights comfortably. We hope to welcome you again soon for another City Sightseeing adventure!
cos871, Nov 2025
Hop on Hop off is the best way to get an overview of any city. The Edinburgh tour was excellent. Great narration and good route. The bus driver was very helpful.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you very much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Edinburgh tour, the narration, and the route.
We hope to welcome you on board again soon for another City Sightseeing experience!
David_K, Nov 2025
Great way to see the city! Travel to many spots of interest while listening to recorded tales of history about Edinburgh. All the staff were delightful and friendly and very welcoming. Get on, go to your local destination and get back on!!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much, David! 🚌✨
We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with us and loved the stories about the city’s fascinating history. 🏰
Our team will be so happy to know their warm welcome made your experience even better!
We hope to see you again soon on board City Sightseeing Edinburgh for another unforgettable ride! 🔴🎧
Kasia_G, Oct 2025
run to the front of the bus uncomfortbsle headphones because they kept falling out of my esrs very kind workers
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Kasia,
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that our team made a positive impression with their kindness. 😊
We’re sorry about the discomfort with the headphones — we’ll make sure to review this so future guests can enjoy a more comfortable experience.
We hope to see you again soon on board City Sightseeing Edinburgh! 🚍❤️
Jeanne_L, Oct 2025
Very good service. Sights were amazing. Staff was very friendly. Our favorite was Holyrood Palace and we loved every minute
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Customer,
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering the city with City Sightseeing and that our team’s friendliness and the amazing sights — especially Holyrood Palace — made your visit memorable.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again very soon in one of our more than 100 destinations around the world.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing!
Best regards,
Quality Department
krushnamandap, Oct 2025
We really enjoyed the sightseeing tour of the city of Edinburgh. It virtually covers all the points of city’s important landmarks.
Debbie_B, Oct 2025
I love Hop On Hop off buses, particularly on my first day in a city; they are a great way to get a "lay of the land". This HOHO has very helpful staff at all stops and the automated guided tour is very clear and easy to understand.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Customer,
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your opinion with us.
We are glad to hear that you were able to experience the fun of discovering a new city aboard our service. We are pleased to hear that you found our service excellent and that you enjoyed your visit to the city.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again very soon in one of our more than 100 destinations.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing!
Best regards,
Quality Department
Rodney_H, Oct 2025
Great way to get an overview of Edinburgh! Love Hop On Hop Off! Also you can hop off and on to your favorite spots for 24 hrs.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Customer,
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your opinion with us.
We are glad to hear that you were able to experience the fun of discovering a new city aboard our service. We are pleased to hear that you found our service excellent and that you enjoyed your visit to the city.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again very soon in one of our more than 100 destinations.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing!
Best regards,
Quality Department
From $26.98
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Kids Go Free
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