English
English
Route name: City Sightseeing and The Edinburgh tours
Attraction timings: 9:30am to 6pm
Edinburgh City Sightseeing Bus Tours
Routes
Timeline
Map
1
Waterloo Place
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
Calton Hill
1 mins walk
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
6 mins walk
2
St. Andrew Square
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
St. Andrew Square Gardens
2 mins walk
Scott Monument
5 mins walk
3
Lothian Road
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
Usher Hall
2 mins walk
Traverse Theatre
1 mins walk
4
Grassmarket
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
Grassmarket Square
1 mins walk
Victoria Street
6 mins walk
6
Johnston Terrace
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
Johnston Terrace Gardens
8 mins walk
The Hub
7 mins walk
7
Lawnmarket
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
1 mins walk
Writers’ Museum
1 mins walk
8
National Museum of Scotland
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
National Museum of Scotland
Bedlam Theatre
1 mins walk
9
High Street
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
St Giles’ Cathedral
3 mins walk
John Knox House
11
Holyrood
Get direction
3 attractions
Nearby things to do
Palace of Holyroodhouse
1 mins walk
Scottish Parliament Building
Holyrood Park
8 mins walk
12
Our Dynamic Earth
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
Our Dynamic Earth
The Queen’s Gallery
6 mins walk
13
Abbeyhill Crescent
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
Holyrood Abbey
3 mins walk
Lochend Park
13 mins walk
14
Regent Road
Get direction
2 attractions
Nearby things to do
Old Calton Burial Ground
1 mins walk
Nelson Monument
1 mins walk
- Discover the best of Edinburgh on this unlimited 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus tour, giving you maximum convenience.
- Get access to the Red Route, with over 14 stops dotted around the Scottish capital, near all major sights with buses arriving every 10-12mins.
- Learn about the city's iconic attractions through the audio guide available on board and enlighten your kids with the kid's commentary ‘Horrible Histories.’
- The open-top double-decker bus will give you the best views of the city, including Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, the Royal Mile and Johnston Terrace.
- Discover the best of Edinburgh on this unlimited 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus tour, giving you maximum convenience.
- Get access to the Red Route, with over 14 stops dotted around the Scottish capital, near all major sights with buses arriving every 10-12mins.
- Learn about the city's iconic attractions through the audio guide available on board and enlighten your kids with the kid's commentary ‘Horrible Histories.’
- The open-top double-decker bus will give you the best views of the city, including Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, the Royal Mile and Johnston Terrace.
Inclusions
- 24-hour unlimited hop-on hop-off pass
- Access to Red Route
- Audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Russian
- Horrible Histories' kid's commentary
- Headphones
- Free kids' tickets
- Flexible validity for up to 12 months from your selected date
Exclusions
- Entry tickets to attractions
Please click here for the detailed route map and boarding points.
Red Route
- First bus: 8:45am from Waterloo Place
- Last bus: 5:57pm from Waterloo Place
- Frequency: every 10 to 12mins
- Popular stops: Lothian Road, Grassmarket, Lawnmarket & Regent Road
Join the tour at any stop and hop on and off throughout your ticket's duration.
- Tip: Want to take a break from exploring? Savor Scottish cuisine: haggis, fish and chips, and Scotch whiskey by exploring local spots for authentic flavors.
- This experience is wheelchair accessible.
- Wheelchairs must be no larger than 70cm wide, 120cm long, and 135cm high to board the bus. If unsure, contact the service provider.
- Just a heads up, each bus can only accommodate 1 wheelchair at a time. If there is already a passenger in a wheelchair, please wait for the next one.
- Children aged 3 and under travel for free. Child tickets must be added to the cart at the final stage of booking.
- Small and well-behaved dogs allowed onboard.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
- These tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
- Explore Edinburgh's royal history on a 24/48-hour hop-on hop-off tour, riding an open-top double-decker bus for a perfect city view in a flash.
- Enjoy access to 3 different routes each with over 15 convenient stops, and hop on and off as many times as you like.
- Tune into a multilingual audio guide or a live guide's narration of the city's tales on the green route plus, score cool discounts at attractions.
- Pass by must-sees! Glide past the lively Grassmarket, admire the iconic Edinburgh Castle, dive into the National Museum of Scotland's exhibits, and more!
- Explore Edinburgh's royal history on a 24/48-hour hop-on hop-off tour, riding an open-top double-decker bus for a perfect city view in a flash.
- Enjoy access to 3 different routes each with over 15 convenient stops, and hop on and off as many times as you like.
- Tune into a multilingual audio guide or a live guide's narration of the city's tales on the green route plus, score cool discounts at attractions.
- Pass by must-sees! Glide past the lively Grassmarket, admire the iconic Edinburgh Castle, dive into the National Museum of Scotland's exhibits, and more!
Inclusions
- 24/48-hour hop-on hop-off tour of Edinburgh
- Access to 3 routes: City sightseeing tour, Edinburgh tour, Regal tour
- Audio commentary in English, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Scottish, German, Portuguese, Spanish & Chinese (City Sightseeing & Edinburgh tours)
- English-speaking guide (Edinburgh tour)
- Discounts at the Royal Botanic Garden, Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace of Holyroodhouse & more (full list here)
- Headphones (Regal tour)
Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.
You can join the tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.
City Sightseeing tour (Classic red route)
- First bus: 8:45 am from Waterloo Place
- Last bus: 5:57 pm from Waterloo Place
- Frequency: every 10-12 mins
- Popular stops: Historic Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, Old Town, Royal Mile
Edinburgh tour (Green route)
- First bus: 8:51am from Waterloo Place
- Last bus: 5:51pm from Waterloo Place
- Frequency: every 10-12 mins
- Popular stops: Georgian New Town, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse
Regal tour (Blue route)
- First bus: 8:40am from Waterloo Place
- Last bus: 5:25pm from Waterloo Place
- Frequency: every 15 mins
- Popular stops: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Tip: Don’t forget to grab discounted tickets to iconic food places like Street Burger by Gordon Ramsay, Hard Rock Cafe, and Bread Street Kitchen & Bar.
- This experience is wheelchair accessible.
- Mobility scooters are allowed if folded and stored as luggage.
- Low-floor ramps are available for easy access.
- Screens are conveniently available on the lower decks of City Sightseeing and Regal route buses.
- Your guide dogs and pet dogs are welcome aboard.
- Great news! If you're traveling with children aged 15 and under, they can hop on board for free with the 24-hour ticket.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Why choose the Edinburgh City Sightseeing tours?
Comprehensive coverage
Explore iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Holyrood Palace, offering a thorough overview of the city's history and culture.
Flexibility
With hop-on hop-off access, you can explore at your own pace, getting on and off at any stop along the route.
Informative audio guide
Enjoy informative and entertaining audio guides are available in multiple languages for both kids and adults, providing fascinating insights into Edinburgh's rich heritage.
Discounts and offers
Your ticket includes access to popular attractions and restaurants at discounted rates, helping you save money and make the most of your Edinburgh experience.
Panoramic views
Open-top buses offer breathtaking views of Edinburgh's skyline, historic architecture, and natural beauty.
Edinburgh City Sightseeing routes, stops and maps
City Sightseeing Tour
This classic route showcases Edinburgh's rich history, featuring major attractions like Holyrood Palace and the National Museum.
- First stop: Waterloo Place
- Timings: 8:45am to 5:57pm
- Frequency: Every 10-12 minutes
- Number of stops: 8
- Full loop duration: 1 hour
Edinburgh Tour
Focused on the Old Town, this tour showcases the city's medieval architecture, historic sites, and scenic views.
- First stop: Waterloo Place
- Timings: 8:50am to 6pm
- Frequency: Every 10-12 minutes
- Number of stops: 9
- Full loop duration: 1 hour
Regal Tour
Explore Edinburgh's royal connections with stops at Holyrood Palace, the Royal Yacht Britannia, and other regal landmarks.
- First stop: Waterloo Place
- Timings: 8:40am to 5:25pm
- Frequency: Every 15 minutes
- Number of stops: 9
- Full loop duration: 1 hour
Highlights of your Edinburgh City Sightseeing tour
Edinburgh Castle
Read more
Suggested Edinburgh City Sightseeing Itineraries
Edinburgh in 1 day/24 hours
Edinburgh in 2 days/48 hours
If you have just one day in Edinburgh, combine the City Sightseeing Tour, The Edinburgh Tour, and The Regal Tour to explore top attractions.
- Start at Edinburgh Castle for panoramic city views.
- Visit the National Museum of Scotland and explore its rich collections.
- Hop off at the Royal Yacht Britannia to learn about royal history.
- Explore the picturesque Royal Mile and its historic landmarks.
- Stop at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official Scottish residence.
- End the day at the vibrant Princes Street Gardens for shopping and dining.
Day 1: City Sightseeing Tour
Spend two days exploring Edinburgh's top attractions with City Sightseeing's hop-on hop-off tours, focusing on the City Sightseeing Tour on Day 1 and The Edinburgh and Regal tours on Day 2.
- Start at Waverley Bridge and hop off at Edinburgh Castle for stunning views
- Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament Building
- Explore the Royal Mile and stop at Greyfriars Bobby
- Visit the National Museum of Scotland and the Grassmarket
- End the day with a stroll through the Georgian New Town
Day 2: The Edinburgh and Regal Tours
Spend two days exploring Edinburgh's top attractions with City Sightseeing's hop-on hop-off tours, focusing on the City Sightseeing Tour on Day 1 and The Edinburgh and Regal tours on Day 2.
- Begin at Waverley Bridge and head to Holyrood Park for views of Arthur's Seat
- Visit the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith
- Explore the Royal Botanic Garden and the Royal Yacht Britannia
- Return to the city center and visit the National Galleries of Scotland
- End the day at Princes Street Gardens for shopping and dining.
Edinburgh City Sightseeing: FAQ's
How do City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses work in Edinburgh?
Buses allow you to board and alight at various stops, providing a flexible way to explore key attractions.
What is included in a Edinburgh City Sightseeing Tour ticket?
The ticket includes unlimited rides on the tour buses, audio commentary in multiple languages, access to various sightseeing routes, entry to popular attractions, and discounts at iconic landmarks and restaurants.
How often are the Edinburgh City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses?
Buses run every 10-15 minutes.
How many Edinburgh City Sightseeing routes are there?
There are three main routes: City Sightseeing Tour, The Edinburgh Tour, and The Regal Tour, each covering different areas of the city.
Are there audio guides on the Edinburgh City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tours?
Yes, audio guides are available in multiple languages for both kids and adults, providing informative commentary on the city’s landmarks and history.
Are the Edinburgh City Sightseeing bus tours accessibility-friendly?
Yes, the tours are accessibility-friendly, with buses equipped to accommodate those with mobility needs.
How long is my ticket valid for?
Tickets are typically valid for 24 or 48 hours from the time of first use, depending on the ticket purchased.