Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Edinburgh's historic Old Town
- Visit the iconic Edinburgh Castle
- Discover the Royal Mile's vibrant culture
- Enjoy panoramic views from Calton Hill
- Experience the beauty of Holyrood Palace
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Unlimited 24-hour access to the bus tour
- Free entry for children under 5 years old
- Audio commentary in multiple languages
- Food and beverages
Important information
Know before you book
- Children under 5 travel free; no ticket required
- Audio commentary is available in multiple languages
- The tour operates daily; check for any seasonal variations
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring attractions
- Bring a camera to capture the city's stunning views
- Check the bus schedule for the latest operating hours
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Visit Scotland 5 star award-winning tour and Gold Green Tourism award winner
- Until 31st October 2026: First departure from Stop 1 at 8:45am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 6pm. Tour duration: 70 minutes approximately. Frequency: every 7 - 10 minutes
- 1st November 2026 - 20th March 2027: First departure from Stop 1 at 8:55am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 3:55pm. Buses run every 20 minutes. Tour duration: 70 minutes approximately
- 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 2027
- Waterloo Place is closed for approx. 11 weeks and therefore, the new departure point is Stop GG on George Street
- Sunday 11th October due to an event: Stops 9,10,11,13 & 14 will not be served between 12:00pm and 1:00pm
Traveler reviews
great way to see the city
definitely a great way to see the city and the most popular spots. you can get either a 1 day or a 2 day buss pass and I think that alone makes it worth the money. the bus runs from like 9am to 7pm, which is a great length of time. you can plug in some earbuds and listen to an audio tour of the city and the stops on the route.
We had an amazing time...
We had an amazing time visiting all the iconic landmarks in Edinburgh! All the bus drivers were very welcoming and friendly as we boarded, and the location for finding the bus tour was easy to find. We loved the convenience of being able to hop on and hop off the bus whenever we wanted and simply wait for the next bus to arrive. This was our first time visiting Edinburgh and taking a bus tour, and I must say, it was a fantastic way to see the sights of Edinburgh, especially when you're on a tight timeframe. I would absolutely recommend taking the bus tour to anyone visiting Edinburgh. It’s a fantastic and convenient way to see so many of the city's beautiful sights and landmarks. Definitely worth it!
Sightseeing
Loved seeing Edinburgh on this bus!
Poor Tour Operator communication. Good overview.
No response from Tour Operator despite several attempts to understand the “24 hour validity” and meeting location nearest our hotel. Meeting location instructions incorrectly show Waterloo Square. Finally found them at St. Andrew Square. No listing of their stops on the TripAdvisor website so you’re left guessing. Why? They have 3 tours…Red, Green and Blue. Make sure you know which one you’ve reserved. Aboard the bus it’s a good overview of the city. But because of traffic, when bus is stopped you’ll hear a lot of music instead of information. By contrast the Glasgow hop on hop off is much more informative.
Great value for money and customer service
Good value for money, a friend and I visited Edinburgh for a few days and bought a Hop on Hop off red route ticket for 24 hours, which got us to the main places to see along with a city tour audio on a loop. The only problem we had was that the following morning, the Edinburgh marathon caused many stops to be inaccessible due to last-minute road closures during the final few hours of our ticket. Nevertheless, the supervisor extended our ticket, so we had our full time, and the driver (Cole) was exceptionally helpful in getting this sorted.