Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, 24-Hour Ticket

A 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket that covers Edinburgh's main sights at your own pace.

Overview

A 24-hour ticket on City Sightseeing's open-top double-decker buses gets you a loop of central Edinburgh with the freedom to get off wherever something catches your eye. The full circuit takes roughly 70 minutes without hopping off, running from a departure point on George Street past St Andrew Square, Lothian Road, the Grassmarket, the Royal Mile stretch of High Street and Canongate, down to Holyrood and Dynamic Earth, then back via Regent Road. Audio commentary plays on board in nine languages, covering the city's history as you ride, from the cramped living conditions of the Old Town to the Georgian order of the New Town.

The practical appeal is flexibility. The ticket lasts a full day rather than a single loop, so one reviewer reported still riding buses until noon the following day. Buses run frequently, and you can break the circuit for Edinburgh Castle, the Grassmarket, the National Museum of Scotland or the Palace of Holyroodhouse, then rejoin later. Entry to attractions is not included, and neither is food, but the stops put you within reach of.

Families are well catered for. Up to three children travel free with each adult ticket, and there is a dedicated Horrible Histories commentary aimed at kids alongside the adult audio. This suits first-time visitors wanting an overview, anyone who prefers not to walk the whole city, and travellers who like setting their own schedule.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Depart from George StreetThe tour starts at 47b George Street, EH2 2HT, listed as Stop GG. This is a temporary departure point while Waterloo Place, the usual Stop 1, is closed for around 11 weeks.
2. New Town and St Andrew SquareThe bus passes St Andrew Square and runs along Lothian Road, giving views of the Georgian New Town with its three main streets and squares.
3. Grassmarket and Old TownThe route passes the Grassmarket, beneath Castle Rock, then travels Johnston Terrace and the Lawnmarket along the Royal Mile. Edinburgh Castle sits above this stretch; entry is extra if you hop off to visit.
4. Chambers Street and High StreetThe bus passes Chambers Street, near the National Museum of Scotland, then continues along High Street past the John Knox House towards Canongate.
5. Holyrood and the east endStops and passes-by include the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Our Dynamic Earth and Abbeyhill, the far end of the loop. Palace entry is not included in the ticket.
6. Return via Regent RoadThe bus comes back to George Street via Regent Road, passing the Burns Monument on the way. A full loop takes approximately 70 minutes.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the day, from how the ticket window works to what the buses do and do not include.

• Timing the ticket. The ticket runs for 24 hours, and one reviewer reported still riding buses until noon the following day after an earlier start. In the main season buses leave the first stop every 7 to 10 minutes, with the first departure at 8:45am and the last at 6pm. Winter service is thinner, roughly every 20 minutes with a last departure in the late afternoon.
• Finding the stops. Reviewers repeatedly mention that stops can be hard to locate, blaming Edinburgh's layout and, in some cases, unclear signage. Allow extra time to find your stop the first time. Note that the departure point has moved temporarily to Stop GG on George Street while Waterloo Place is closed.
• Kids on board. Up to three children travel free with each adult ticket, though child tickets must still be added to your basket when booking. There is a Horrible Histories kids' commentary on the audio system, so children get stories pitched at them rather than the adult history track.
• Comfort and kit. The buses are open-top double-deckers, so dress for Scottish weather and bring a layer even on a bright day. Headphones are provided for the audio guide, and the commentary works well according to multiple reviewers. Smoking and pets are not allowed on board.
• Accessibility. The listing states that all tour buses have full mobility facilities, and there is a subtitled screen downstairs for passengers who are hard of hearing. The audio commentary is available in nine languages.
• Food and attractions. Neither food and drinks nor attraction entry tickets are included, so budget separately for castle or palace admission and meals. Several reviewers note that you can hop off wherever you want to linger and rejoin a later bus to continue.

Common issues. The most consistent complaint in reviews is that stops are not always easy to find, and some travellers would like clearer signage and more up-to-date maps, especially given the temporary move of the departure point to George Street while Waterloo Place is closed. A few reviewers also noted that pickup points can sit a fair distance apart, which matters in poor weather or with limited mobility. Attraction entries and food are not covered by the ticket. One reviewer mentioned an optional upgrade fee of £6 to extend the ticket to 48 hours across three routes.

Questions Before You Book