Big Bus Edinburgh 24 or 48 hour Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
As Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh packs in plenty of historical monuments and cultural destinations—and this hop-on hop-off bus tour provides a thorough introduction to the city’s top sights. Choose a 24- or 48-hour ticket and explore Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks at your own pace, including Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and more. With panoramic open-top views, convenient stops across the city, and the freedom to create your own itinerary, it's an easy way to experience Scotland's capital.
- Choose a 24 or 48-hour hop-on hop-off ticket and explore Edinburgh at your speed
- This hop-on hop-off bus tour offers a flexible and accessible way to explore
- Learn stories about Edinburgh’s landmarks and history as you go
- Upgrade to a selected 48-hour ticket and enjoy access to the Britannia Tour
What's Included
- 24- or 48-hour hop-on, hop-off bus ticket
- Access to City Tour (available with all options)
- Access to Britannia Tour (available on 48-Hour Tour on City & Britannia Routes option only)
- Audio commentary available in 9 languages
- Dog friendly
- Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Start time.9:00 am
Departure Point
- You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.
Ticket Redemption Point
27 Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3BG, UK
Itinerary
Big Bus Edinburgh City Tour (Red Route)
15 Stops
41 Points of Interest
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
Operating Schedule: Summer (May–October): First departure at 09:00 from Stop 1 (Waterloo Place), every every 15minutes till 17:00 then every 20Minutes, last tour at 18:20. Winter (November–March): Departures from 09:00 every 15 minutes, last tour at 16:00. For the latest stop locations, timings, and live bus tracking, visit the Big Bus website or download the Big Bus App before you travel.
1
29 Waterloo Pl
2
St Andrew Square
3
Lothian Road
4
Bread Street
5
The Mound
6
George IV Bridge
7
Grassmarket
8
National Museum of Scotland
9
Canongate Kirk
10
Palace of Holyroodhouse
11
Dynamic Earth
12
Abbeyhill
13
Regent Road
14
Lauriston Place
15
John Knox House
Points of interest passed by on this route
Multrees Walk
Saint Andrew Square
Princes Street
Princes Street and Gardens
Scott Monument
St Cuthbert's Parish Church
Festival Square
Grassmarket
Greyfriars Kirk
Greyfriars Bobby
Museum of Fire
Edinburgh Castle
National Galleries Scotland: Portrait
Usher Hall
Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh Farmers' Market
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Gladstone's Land
Writers' Museum
National Library of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland
Museum of Childhood
John Knox House Museum
The Museum of Edinburgh
The Scottish Parliament
The King's Gallery
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Dynamic Earth
Arthur's Seat
Holyrood Park
Regent Road Park
The Burns Monument
Calton Hill
Nelson Monument
Observatory House
National Monument
Waverley Mall
Edinburgh Waverley Station
Irene Forte Spa, Edinburgh
Melville Monument
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.2
based on 472 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Charlotte_S, Aug 2026
They used to have live guides who knew everything. I know there was a diversion in place but I found the tour hard to follow quite often.
Didn’t start well as the first guy told me the tour started in a different place and I wondered around for an hour eventually finding another stop and getting on at 2, which I was ok with, but after doing the really confusing tour to find where 1 was at the end did annoy me as it really was close to the first guy, but he sent me off in the opposite direction. such a shame as I usually opt for Big Bus if they’re there. I think I may try another company if in Edinburgh again
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello, Charlote!
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are truly sorry to hear about your experience in Edinburgh, especially since you regularly choose Big Bus Tours when you travel.
Getting sent in the wrong direction and wandering for an hour is immensely frustrating, and we apologize for the misdirection and the confusion caused by the route diversions. We hold our staff to high standards for accurate customer guidance, so we are sharing your notes with our local management team to ensure our street staff are fully aligned on route changes.
We truly value your loyalty and hope you will give us another chance to provide the smooth, high-quality experience you usually expect from us. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to us directly at https://www.bigbustours.com/contact-us.
Best regards, Mihaela@BigBusToursTeam
Julee_D, Aug 2026
Easy to find, great way to see Scotland. Close to train station, food, markets. Staff helpful and timely arrivals and departures., I use this on many cities always good.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello Julee! We truly appreciate your feedback. It's wonderful to know that our tours provide an excellent way to explore Scotland. Looking forward to your next visit! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Dee_D, Aug 2026
The stops are close together, be ready and know where you need to get on and off! Beautiful city and the stops are all worthwhile.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello!
Thank you so much for the great review and for sharing your tip with fellow travelers! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring the city and that you found all our stops worthwhile. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
Melisa@BigBusTours
Ife_M, Aug 2026
The big bus tour was amazing! The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Edinburgh I absolutely beautiful and it was so fun seeing all of the beautiful infrastructure and monuments. My family and I had a blast! I would definitely recommend big bus tour for your vacation in Scotland!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Ife_M,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you and your family had such a great time exploring beautiful Edinburgh with us.
It's wonderful to know our team helped make your experience memorable. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you onboard again on your next visit to Scotland!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Kim_L, Aug 2026
The big bus was easily identified, the stops are handy & regular. You get earphones to plug in (on the back of the seat in front)& listen to the commentary. Our driver was Taurie( I hope I've spelt that correct)what a lovely guy, very friendly,funny welcoming & great craic. He was our driver the whole day 😁
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello Kim! Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are delighted that you found our buses easy to spot, our stops convenient, and the audio commentary enjoyable. Most of all, thank you for giving a special shout-out to Taurie! He is indeed a fantastic asset to our team, and we are thrilled he brought so much warmth, and great fun to your full day with us. We will definitely pass your kind words along to him. We hope to welcome you back on board with us soon Razvan@BigBusTours
Crystal_W, Aug 2026
It is a great way to see the city in the pouring rain and give our legs a little break. The rain doesn't last long but the rain on the open deck stays on the seats. Bring sometging to wipe the seat off. Although it had an audio tour, I thought I had signed up for the live commentary tour. A great view from the top deck!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi, Crystal!
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the views from the top deck and that the tour gave you a chance to explore the city while giving your legs a well-deserved break.
At the same time, we're sorry to hear that the seats remained wet after the rain and that the tour did not meet your expectations regarding the commentary. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, as your feedback helps us improve both our service and our buses.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on board again in the future for an even better experience. Thank you for choosing Big Bus Tours! Andreea@BigBusTours!
Peggy_B, Jul 2026
Driver was rude. Didn’t give any instructions. Didn’t tell me to get headphones. When I realized I had to go back down from the top to get them, his jerky driving made me fall down the steps. He didn’t ask if I was okay. The stops were off, some skipped and route was reversed. Driver didn’t tell us. I had to ride it for 3 rotations to finally figure out that routes were skipped. Terrible experience. 3 hours!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Peggy! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are truly sorry to hear about your experience and disappointed to learn that it did not meet your expectations.
We sincerely apologize for the issues you encountered, including the lack of guidance when boarding, the driver’s conduct, the difficulties with obtaining headphones, and the confusion regarding the route and stops. We understand how frustrating it must have been to spend so much time trying to navigate the service, especially after experiencing a fall on the stairs.
We take feedback like yours very seriously and would like the opportunity to learn more and improve your experience. Please contact us through the following link so we can investigate this matter further: https://www.bigbustours.com/en/edinburgh/contact-us.
Calin@BigBusTours
Venadell_Z, Jul 2026
Very convenient way of going around and sight seeing through Edinburgh as it is very hilly and has plenty of stairs
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your recommendation! We're delighted to hear that you found the tour a convenient way to explore Edinburgh, especially with all those hills and stairs giving everyone an unexpected workout!
We hope you enjoyed discovering the city with us, and we'd love to welcome you aboard again on your next adventure.
Madalina@BigBusTours
Sarah_S, Jul 2026
first of all.. we were greeted by the best tour operators ever! DEBBIE! There was a lovely gentleman with her but he was attending to other riders but let me tell you.. DEBBIE WAS THEEEE BEST! I mean just listening to her talk with her scottish accent was a treat but her being really passionate about Big Bus and Edinburgh is really what traveling is all about. I always recommend a hop on/ off bus tour bc it’s a great way to see alot of different sites in one city in a short time but meeting debbie and her helpfulness (she fixed my ticket bc the viator app was giving me a hard time!) was top notch. Good job hiring her Big Bus! she deserves a raise! also she has great nails!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Sarah,
What a wonderful review, thank you! We're so happy to hear you had such a great time exploring Edinburgh with us.
And Debbie certainly made an impression! We're delighted to hear how welcoming, passionate, and helpful she was, especially when the app decided to put up a fight. We'll make sure your lovely comments are shared with Debbie and our Edinburgh team. Great nails included!
Thank you for choosing Big Bus and for recommending us. We hope to welcome you aboard again for another city adventure soon!
Madalina@BigBusTours
Susan_S, Jul 2026
It takes over an hour to go all the way around. It's a good way to see where everything is but it is time consuming. If you wanted to turn Edinburgh Castle and then go to Holly Road it would take you an hour to get there in an hour to get back. It's too bad they don't have a bus just to go up and down the Royal mile.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Susan,
Thank you for your review. We're glad to hear the tour helped you get an overview of Edinburgh and its attractions.
As Edinburgh's city center can be busy and traffic levels vary throughout the day, journey times between stops can sometimes be longer than expected. We appreciate your feedback on the route and will be sure to share it with the local team.
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
arpit_s, Jul 2026
Good overview of the city, be mindful of the weather. Can be clubbed with passes. Highly recommended as day 1 experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We're pleased to hear you enjoyed the city overview and found the tour a great way to start your visit. We appreciate your helpful tip about checking the weather and are glad you found the pass options convenient. We hope to welcome you on another Big Bus Tours experience soon! Daniel@BigBusTours
Mary_J, Jun 2026
We booked so we could ride the red and blue routes as we had tickets for the Royal Yacht Britannia . It worked out well so we made our reservations and also made it back to the downtown area.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Mary_J. Thank you for your valuable feedback! We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed our bus tour, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back on board in the future. Best regards, Razvan @BigBusTours
Anastasia_S, Jun 2026
Overall positive experience. Equipment worked well. Commentary was good, but could have used more. Easy way to see the highlights of a city.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We’re glad to hear that you had an overall positive experience and that you found the equipment easy to use. It’s also great to know the tour helped you see the highlights of the city in a convenient way.
We also appreciate your comment regarding the commentary because your feedback is very valuable, and we will certainly take it into account as we continue to improve our service. We hope to see you again soon for more adventures! Calin@BigBusTours
Lisa_C, Jun 2026
Great experience to see the city and decide where to get off and explore. Very helpful employees at every stop helping answer your questions. Very friendly people and the audio was very informative.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted you had a great experience exploring the city and found our team helpful and friendly throughout. It’s great to hear the audio added to your visit as well!
Raul@BigBusTours
Jason_G, May 2026
Totally worth it. Very well done. Perfectly timed. 10:00-12:15, as scheduled. Then we spent three more hours at the castle. Ricky was a great personality, full of history and fun stories. I highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you found the experience totally worth it and that everything ran smoothly and on schedule. It’s great to know you were able to enjoy extra time exploring the castle afterward as well.
Ricky will be especially happy to hear your kind words—he truly loves sharing his knowledge and stories, and we’re glad his personality made your visit even more memorable.
We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another fantastic experience in the future! Alex @ Big Bus Tours
Iris_P, May 2026
Very nice views of the castles and prince street also like the hop on hop off options able to visit different places
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful views of the castles and Prince Street. It truly is a stunning area with so much to take in.
It’s also great to know that the hop-on, hop-off option added value to your visit and gave you the flexibility to explore different locations at your own pace. That freedom is something we’re proud to offer, so it’s wonderful to hear it enhanced your overall experience.
We really appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again soon for another memorable visit! Alex @ Big Bus Tours
maureen_t, May 2026
It is very informative and we had a lovely day to sit on top. The hop on hop off system is a good way to cover a lot of distance when your visit is only a day or so . Well worth it
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re delighted to hear you found the tour informative and enjoyed a lovely day on the top deck. The hop-on hop-off option is indeed a great way to see a lot in a short time, and we’re so glad you found it worthwhile.
Florin @ BigBusTours
Catherine_S, May 2026
Please book the castle prior to doing the tour during high season. Bus ticket doesn't give you automatic entry.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for the helpful tip! We appreciate you pointing out the importance of booking castle entries in advance during peak season, as they are not included with the bus ticket. This is great advice for future travelers to plan ahead and make the most of their visit.
Florin @ BigBusTours
Vicki_B, May 2026
Some current road/street construction has the route altered, but manages to cover everything listed covered.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that despite the temporary road and street changes, you were still able to enjoy a full overview of the sights included on the route.
We appreciate your understanding as adjustments are sometimes needed, and we’re pleased the experience still covered the highlights. We hope you had a great time and look forward to welcoming you on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Sarah_R, May 2026
The guid was very funny and interactive. It was a lot of fun. Learned a lot of the city and the castle stories!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the fun and interactive experience, and that the stories about the city and castle made the tour even more memorable. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you on board again soon! Denis @Big Bus Tours
Cynthia_G, May 2026
Wonderful experience! It was nice to be able to get an overview of the city and then go to wherever wanted to spend extra time.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed getting an overview of the city before exploring your favourite spots in more detail. That’s exactly the kind of flexible and enjoyable experience we hope to create for our guests. We truly appreciate you choosing Big Bus Tours and hope to welcome you on board again for another adventure soon! Denis @Big Bus Tours
Amanda_S, May 2026
Easy to find bus and hop on and off when you like. Also very informative about Edinburgh. Would highly recommend
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you found the tour easy to use and informative, and that it helped you explore Edinburgh with ease. Your recommendation truly means a lot to us. We’re so glad you enjoyed the experience and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
PatriciaG, Apr 2026
It’s well worth it to get your bearings around Edinburg and see the main sites and neighbourhoods from the bus.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi PatriciaG. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that the tour was the perfect way to explore Edinburgh. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
audrey_W, Dec 2025
All day hop on hop off, a great way to get around the city. I do wish they used a live guide and not an audio recording though, I didn’t know what was being pointed out most of the time
Response from Host, Dec 2025
audrey_W thank you so much for your 5-star rating and for sharing your thoughts! We’re glad you enjoyed using the Hop-On Hop-Off service to explore the city. We appreciate your suggestion regarding live guides — currently, our tours include audio commentary to provide flexibility for all guests. Your feedback is valuable, and we’ll make sure to share it with our team for future improvements. Cheers! Gabriel - Big Bus Tours
Margaret_T, Nov 2025
The recorded narrative was pretty good. It would have been helpful to mention the # of the site to match the map. It ends at four. Don’t get too busy and miss the last bus!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Margaret_T,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! It really helps us to improve our services. We are happy to know that you enjoyed your afternoon with us! Knowing that our guests have a great time on our tours is incredibly important to us. We recommend using the Live Tracking feature in our app to assist you in planning your route for the day. We look forward to seeing you back on a bus soon! Best wishes. Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Skye_F, Oct 2025
Really liked how there’s the option to listen to commentary on the bus while’s it’s driving round to give you information about each area and stop alone the way.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Skye_F,
Thank you for your feedback! It means a lot to us to know that our guests enjoy their time on our tours. We offer regular training to our staff, to make sure you always receive a 5* service. We hope to see you again in the future! Best wishes. Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Ronald_N, Oct 2025
Drivers were friendly and patient. Buses were very clean and timely. Would have preferred an actual person instead of the recording for the narrative.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Ronald!
We are genuinely delighted to hear that you had an amazing experience on the Edinburgh tour, thanks to the drivers and the cleanliness of the bus. We have also taken note of your preference for the commentary. We look forward to seeing you again soon, and thank you for your review!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Sheila_N, Oct 2025
What a great way to see the city. We rode the whole route first then decided where to hop off and on again
Great friendly driver and other staff
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Sheila!
We are thrilled to hear that your Edinburgh tour was an excellent way to explore the city with the help of the route and friendly staff. Thank you for sharing your review, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Susan_W, Sep 2025
The tour covered the city center. Audio was very informative. Great to do on our first day. We got a good feel for the city.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Susan, thank you for your feedback! We're delighted to know that you enjoyed our Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off tour. We can't wait to welcome you back on board soon. Best, Alice w/Big Bus Tours
Susan_T, Sep 2025
The bus drivers are amazing, they navigate the narrow streets with expertise! Lots of popular stops. The staff were also great!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Susan, we are thrilled to learn that you had a wonderful time on our tour and that you were impressed by our bus drivers, who skilfully maneuverer through the narrow streets. We can't wait to welcome you back on board again soon. Thank you, Alice w/Big Bus Tours
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