Big Bus Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off City and Britannia Bus Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Hop aboard Scotland’s official open-top tour and discover Edinburgh from the best seats in town! With a combined two-tour ticket, you’ll explore both the Edinburgh City Tour and the Britannia Tour, giving you access to the capital’s most iconic sights.
Hop on and hop off as much as you like to take in incredible landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, National museum of Scotland, Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Palace, Greyfriars Bobby, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the stunning Royal Yacht Britannia (attraction tickets sold separately).
Your ticket is valid for 48 hours, so you can pack in as many sights as you like, all at your own pace. And with our fun and friendly team on hand to help, we’ll make sure your Edinburgh adventure is unforgettable—on board and beyond!
Book now and see the Edinburgh your way, with Bright Bus Tours
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Your ticket, your schedule! Buy in advance and activate when you board
Valid for 48 hours with unlimited hop on- hop off
Mobile ticket
Dog friendly
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Multilingual audio commentary in 9 languages + free headphones
Please note Royal Yacht Britannia attractions tickets are not included.
What To Expect
Duration:1 hour 10 minutes
Operating Schedule:Britannia Tour: First tour departs from Waterloo Place at 09:00 then every hour till 16:00 which is the last tour of the day.
Opposite to Apex Hotel
Stop 208440 East pavement, south of Chambers Street
Stop 207210 west pavement, south of Commercial Street
Duration:1 hour
Operating Schedule:Summer Season May-October: The first tour departs from Waterloo Place at 09:00 and at frequent intervals until the last tour departs at 16:00 Winter Season Nov-Mar: The first tour departs from Waterloo Place at 09:00 and every 15 minutes until the last tour departs at 16:00, finishing at 17:10. *Christmas Day and New Year's Day we are closed* Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, Boxing Day, and 2nd of January special timetable check with the staff on street for times.
Opposite the Apex Hotel
North Side
Next to the Body Snatcher Watch Tower
Options
48 Hour Hop on Hop Tour
Duration: 2 days: Unlimited use valid for 48 hours from time of first use
2 Central Routes: Edinburgh City & Britannia routes. With up to 18 stops over the 2 routes.
Reviews
169 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Plenty to hope on and off for
Keven Z,
Oct 11, 2025
- Viator
3.00This bus got you “close enough to walk” to many sights including Buckingham palace. You couldn’t see the palace on the bus, you had to walk a couple blocks, it was Thursday, the Mall was open i believe. Typically this is my got to first day of any new city so i can identify what i want to see and not. There was good music on the audio, the narrative was very limited. Probably due to traffic patterns may make that tough.
Excellent way to see Edinburgh
mkfineart,
Oct 7, 2025
- Viator
5.00⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent way to see Edinburgh I took the Big Bus Tour in Edinburgh and it was a wonderful experience. The drivers were friendly, accommodating, and clearly enjoyed their work. The recorded tour through the complimentary headphones was informative and easy to follow. Buses came frequently, making it convenient to hop on and off at key sights. As a seasoned traveler, this is always how I get oriented when arriving in a new city—safe, easy, and a great value. Highly recommend.
Great way to get a...
Sarah K,
Sep 26, 2025
- Viator
4.00Great way to get a highlight tour of the city. We sat up top and had great views. We also used the bus later to get to some stops, but in the end found it quicker to just walk. The employees were really helpful. Twice I had schedule glitches that were not their fault, but they accommodated anyway.
Tour not included.
Diane C,
Sep 14, 2025
- Viator
3.00The actual tour was very good. The Viator part was the transportation to the Britannia. The tour was an extra fee.
Really transport only
Marilyn D,
Aug 31, 2025
- Viator
4.00This is for a bus ticket only - misleading as we thought from the name of the tour, it included the tickets to see the royal yacht. Audio was difficult to follow and see landmarks that were being discussed.
Related Experiences
Operated by Bright Bus Tours Hop On Hop Off