Sydney and Bondi Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Optional Cruise

Sydney, Australia

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.0

· Christina_B ·

Apr 2026

This is one of the best hop on, hop off bus situations I have had the pleasure of utilizing. The buses are clean. The narrators are clear, easy to hear. They cover a fabulous amount of space. The ease of getting in and out is great. Good locations to hop about. Will suggest and do again when I bring my family.

· Colleen_H ·

Apr 2026

Easy on and off with great views of city highlights. Audio comments were educational and fun to listen to with provided earbuds that plug in to seat in front of you. Brochure with map provided. On board WiFi provided and was easy to use, which showed live arrival times that were accurate for stop drop-off and pick-ups.

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Overview

Join a hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour by double-decker bus to discover the highlights of Sydney and Bondi Beach. Enjoy unobstructed views and recorded onboard commentary as you travel along two routes to top destinations including the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Darling Harbour, and Bondi Beach. Go in-depth wherever you like by hopping off the bus to explore. Experience the city’s most noteworthy attractions at your own pace.

Use the pass as much as you like for either 24 or 48 hours
Enjoy great views from the open-top, double-decker bus
Upgrade for a 1-day Captain Cook hop-on, hop-off harbor cruise pass
Enjoy the structure of a guided tour without a rigid schedule

What's Included

A 24- or 48-hour hop-on, hop-off bus ticket
Pre-recorded commentary in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean
Access to 2 routes covering 23 stops
Free WiFi Onboard
A 1-day Captain Cook Hop-on, Hop-off Harbour Explorer Pass (with selected option)
1.5-Hour Panoramic Night Tour (if option selected)

Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Departure Point

You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.

Itinerary

Sydney's climate makes this open-air double-decker bus tour an ideal sightseeing option. Travel to numerous Sydney highlights, including the historic Rocks district, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Sydney’s CBD (Central Business District). Bondi Beach is a suburb with a popular beach located just east of Sydney’s city center. Enjoy the spacious beach and warm sea, or check out the cafés, restaurants, and shops around town, many with fantastic ocean views.

Hop off the bus to browse the stores in modern shopping areas or admire local institutions such as the bustling Sydney Fish Market. Stretch your legs as you stroll around the Royal Botanic Gardens or take tree-shaded paths through Hyde Park.

Hop aboard the open-top, double-decker bus at any of the 34 conveniently located stops around the city. Enjoy pre-recorded commentary, available in several languages, as you sit back and relax on the full ride. Hop off the bus to explore any given destination at your own pace.

Tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours from first use. Please check the current schedule for operating hours; the bus does not operate 24 hours per day.

Red Route - Sydney City Tour

15 Stops

15 Points of Interest

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Operating Schedule: Operational Hour between 9am - 5pm Frequency every 25-30 minutes Customers are advised to visit the Big Bus website or to download the Big Bus app to see the most up to date bus stop locations and timings. For live bus tracking on the day of travel - please download the Big Bus App in advance of arrival.

Justice and Police Museum

Memory is Creation without End

Hyde Park Barracks

1 Art Gallery Rd

El Alamein Fountain

Bellevue Woolloomooloo

Australian Museum

Central Station

Sydney Seafood School

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour

29B Harbour St

30A Lime St

Hickson Road

12D Hickson Rd

Ribs & Burgers The Rocks

Points of interest passed by on this route

Hyde Park Barracks

Australian Museum

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

Darling Harbour

The Rocks

Bondi Beach

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Sydney Town Hall

Hyde Park

Circular Quay

City Sightseeing Sydney

Madame Tussauds Sydney

Big Bus Sydney

Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck

Blue Route - Bondi Tour

9 Stops

5 Points of Interest

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

Operating Schedule: Operational Hour between 9.30am - 4.45pm Frequency every 30-45 minutes Customers are advised to visit the Big Bus website or to download the Big Bus app to see the most up to date bus stop locations and timings. For live bus tracking on the day of travel - please download the Big Bus App in advance of arrival.

Justice and Police Museum

68 York St

The Intersection Paddington

52 Oxford St

Bondi Beach Police Station

296 Campbell Parade

401 New South Head Rd

Australian Museum

St James Station, Elizabeth St

Points of interest passed by on this route

Paddington Markets

Centennial Park

Bondi Beach

Rose Bay

Double Bay

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
When booking the 24 hour Pass, only the lead passenger name is required for a booking. At time of booking you only need to enter 1 adult to complete your booking
Children aged 2 and under travel free of charge

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.0

based on 2,807 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

City ride.

Julie_M, May 2026

Excellent ride through city. The sound quality of tour was poor. Quality of info from tour was average.

Very good experience

Jovan_L, May 2026

It was pleasant experience. Sharp on time departures, kind and helpfull bus staff, very interesting audio guidance. Warmly recommend

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you had such a pleasant experience, with punctual departures, helpful staff, and interesting audio commentary. Your kind recommendation truly means a lot to us. We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and hope to welcome you on board again soon! Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Good experience

Keith_A, May 2026

Enjoyable experience with friendly staff. We were a little unsure of where to hop on after getting off and walking around that area. We felt the second day allowance should allow off and on option as well where you still have a time allowance from the first day.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear you had an enjoyable experience and found our staff friendly and helpful throughout your tour. We also appreciate your comments regarding bus stop locations and ticket flexibility, as we understand how clearer guidance and additional hop-on, hop-off flexibility could make the experience even more convenient. Your feedback is valuable and will be shared with the team as we continue improving our service. Denis @Big Bus Tours

Always wanted to do this...

Darren_C, May 2026

Always wanted to do this but never managed to find the time. Totally awesome trip travelled both directions around the CBD area and also out to bondi beach.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We’re so glad you finally got the chance to experience the tour and that you had such an awesome time exploring both the CBD and beautiful Bondi Beach with us. It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed travelling across the city from different perspectives. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on board again for another adventure soon! Denis @Big Bus Tours

Wonderful experience!!

Kit_M, May 2026

Awesome experience in Sydney! Started with Amalah (sp?) who assisted us at stop one of the red route, and provided valuable information on the blue route as well as the harbor cruise which we also booked. The entire experience was so worth it and our guide shared awesome history with us! We thought the city itself was fabulous and would love to return. The harbour tour is a great added enhancement, and one I suggest guests purchase.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear you had such an awesome experience in Sydney and that Amalah made such a great impression by helping you get started and sharing useful tips. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the tour, the history shared by your guide, and the addition of the harbor cruise. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are so glad Big Bus Tours helped make your visit memorable. We hope to welcome you back on board again for another great adventure! Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Good Experience, Expect to Wait

Michael_W, Apr 2026

Good experience getting a layout and some history of the city. Got off at a stop for lunch and took 1:30 for next bus. Drivers did a great job maneuvering the city. Buses were packed with many people having to wait for the next one.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re glad to hear the tour helped you get a good layout of the city and learn more about its history, and it’s wonderful to know our drivers did a great job navigating busy streets. We appreciate your comments about wait times and higher demand, especially during popular hours, as this helps us continue improving our service. Thank you for riding with us, and we hope you still enjoyed exploring the city with Big Bus Tours. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Not worth the money - uncoordinated lines.

jayne_r, Apr 2026

The buses do not coordinate so when I got off the red line the blue had just gone and there was a 40 minute wait for the next leaving me without time to take the blue line and missing a significant part of the tour.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re sorry to hear that the connection between the Red and Blue lines didn’t work out as smoothly as expected and that the wait time impacted your ability to complete the full tour. We understand how frustrating that can be when you’re trying to make the most of your time in the city. Your feedback is very helpful and has been shared with our team as we continue looking at ways to improve line coordination and timing. We truly appreciate you choosing Big Bus Tours and hope to welcome you back for an even more seamless experience in the future. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Great way to see the city.

Deborah_L, Apr 2026

The bus is location is close to public transportation to the bus stops. Great way to tour the city of Sydney.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re glad to hear you found the bus stops conveniently located near public transportation and that the tour was a great way for you to experience Sydney. It’s wonderful to know Big Bus Tours helped you explore the city with ease. We hope you had a fantastic time and would be delighted to welcome you on board again. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Great way to spend a day or two!

Brad_D, Apr 2026

We love these buses and they’re always fun and easy to Hop On And Hop Off. You learn and enjoy a lot on the stops that you want to explore.👍😊👍

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear how much you enjoy our hop‑on hop‑off buses and how easy and fun they make exploring the city. It’s great to know you enjoyed learning along the way and taking time to explore the stops that interested you most. We truly appreciate your enthusiasm and hope to welcome you on board again soon! 😊👍 Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Great way to get a lay of the land

Christina_B, Apr 2026

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Christina_B, thank you for the wonderful review. We are happy that you had such a positive experience. Thank you for recommendation. We look forward to your next visit! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours

Friends

Kenneth_B, Apr 2026

Need to have at least three hours of time for each of the red and blue bus routes due to the wait time for the bus to arrive and traffic slowing down the bus. Also download a map of the bus routes so you know where the bus stops are located. We went on a weekday and there was only one bus running so it took 45 minutes before the bus arrived. Suggest calling the bus service number to find out the estimated time for the bus arrival at the stop you are at. We did enjoy the sites that we saw and the narrative was good.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed and helpful feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the sights and found the audio commentary informative. We appreciate your tips about allowing enough time for each route and using maps or contacting our team to plan ahead, especially when traffic or reduced frequency can affect arrival times. Your insights are valuable for both us and future guests, and we’re grateful you highlighted what worked well for you. Thank you for choosing Big Bus Tours, and we hope to welcome you on board again for an even smoother experience. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Loved this

Chari_L, Apr 2026

Best hop on and off I have been on Lots to see and explore Bus stopped and slowed down in the right places loved it

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Chari_L, thank you for the wonderful review. We are happy that you had such a positive experience. We look forward to your next visit! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours

Great way to see the city you’re visiting

Karen_T, Apr 2026

Easy to book and fun to use. As a solo traveling female I felt safe and the driver and reps were very helpful. The bus stop signs could be a little larger and easier to see, especially from down the block both ways and from across the street.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Karen_T, thank you for the wonderful review. We are happy that you had such a positive experience with our staff. We'll pass further your suggestion. We look forward to your next visit! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours

So easy to hop on and hop...

susan_g, Apr 2026

So easy to hop on and hop off. Saw the entire city and visited some amazing sites! Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi susan_g, thank you for the wonderful review. We are happy that you had such a positive experience. Thank you for recommendation. We look forward to your next visit! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours

More than expected.

Deborah_W, Apr 2026

My tour guide was amazing and also gave us a history of music and played some awesome songs. The whole tour was more than I ever expected.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Deborah_W, thank you for the wonderful review. We are happy that you had such a positive experience with our tour guide. We look forward to your next visit! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours

Good for seeing the city

Donna_Z, Apr 2026

The blue bus is less frequent than the red bus. We waited over an hour for the blue bus, while 2 red buses went by.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Donna_Z, thank you for the wonderful review. Indeed, the blue bus is less frequent than the red one. We are happy that you had a positive experience with us. We look forward to your next visit! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours

Good value

Glen_W, Apr 2026

Has 15 stops - .more if you are on both red and blue routes. Covers alot of attractions. Well worth the price!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Glen_W, thank you for the wonderful review. We are happy that you had a positive experience with us. We look forward to your next visit! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours

Buses were few and far...

Carol_K, Apr 2026

Buses were few and far between…. They were so full they couldn’t stop to pick people up. In some cases it was hard to find the bus stop … the picture on the app is useless. People ride the bus like a tour bus and never get off. We wanted to go to Bondi Beach and by the time we got a bus it was too late in the day to even get off the bus for fear the next bus would be full.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re sorry to hear that bus availability, crowding, and difficulty locating stops impacted your plans, particularly your visit to Bondi Beach. We understand how disappointing it can feel when buses are busy and timing becomes tight. Your feedback about stop visibility and the app imagery is especially helpful and has been shared with our team as we continue working to improve clarity and capacity during peak periods. We truly appreciate your comments and are glad you still had the opportunity to see the city with us. Thank you for choosing Big Bus Tours, and we hope to welcome you back for a smoother and more relaxed experience in the future. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Needs new recording

Tammy_W, Apr 2026

I enjoyed the ride. The recorded message was not in sync with the ride and on the blue did not appear to work. We heard nothing for most of the trip.

Great experience! It’s...

Mark_P, Apr 2026

Great experience! It’s the best way to see and learn about the sites in Sydney. The bus was fun and open!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Mark_P. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that your time with us was great. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.

A Bus was always...

Tina_C, Apr 2026

A Bus was always available, when we were ready to move to the next sight seeing experience. Very happy

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Tina_C. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that you enjoyed the time spent with us in Sydney. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.

Great way to see sydney

Lesley_B, Apr 2026

Great commentary. Lovely clean buses. I didn't have wifi so couldn't get the app. Maps should show approx times for the puck up / drop off

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Lesley_B. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that the tour was a great way to discover Sydney. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.

Fun Day in Sydney

Colleen_H, Apr 2026

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Colleen_H. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that the tour was enjoyable and fun. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.

Highly recommend!

Carol_C, Apr 2026

I would definitely recommend this tour. It was a wonderful way to get familiar with the city and filled with information.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Carol_C. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that your experience in Sydney was great. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.

Not the best

christine_j, Apr 2026

Long waits for buses. Despite having ‘real time’ bus finder on the app, this wasn’t that accurate. Long times between buses. I think there was only x2 buses each line! So waiting over an hour if you wanted to do each stop. I’ve done this in loads of coyotes and this is the worst experience. Commentry wasn’t great, repetitive on both routes. Loads of music, very few facts. Had to look things I seen, on google.

Good way to see sights if your time is limited.

Valentina_L, Apr 2026

Good way to see the sights in a short amount of time. The routes were as described and a good amount of Sydney history was shared. The audio was decent for this type of excursion, though it did contain a lot of repetitive filler. Realistically, the drivers are challenged with daily business traffic and road conditions so running on schedule is not likely going to happen. The team did try to communicate changes and sudden changes or breaks of drivers. Set realistic expectations and you'll likely be satisfied.

Great way to see Sydney...

Beth_F, Apr 2026

Great way to see Sydney in a day and learn about the city. Ride up top for the best experience. It was a beautiful day to be out

Waste of money

mclaughlincaroline66, Apr 2026

Stood waiting for an hour in the sweltering heat with no shade at one of the main starting points at Central. There were all 4 buses all in the same area with no thought about combining two buses and relocating one to the other side of the city where there were no buses for over an hour. I only had 4 hours to explore and this lack of organisation meant I only got to get off at one stop. There needs to be more buses for a city the size of Sydney and in the school holidays tour. A very expensive mistake to make.

Great experience

LoriM, Apr 2026

We had a great experience on the Bondi Hop on/Hop off! The driver was friendly and helpful and the earbuds and commentary were clear and informational.

Red and Blue= Sydney for You

Paul_O, Apr 2026

Great narration and orientation to Sydney. Easy to transfer between red and blue lines. Frequent stops for Hop off opportunities. A bit difficult to take a lot of photos as the streets are very heavily tree lined.