Edinburgh Bus Tours
ENTRY
from £8.50
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
Hop-on hop-off buses round Edinburgh's big sights, with up to three kids going free per adult ticket.
The idea is simple: get on at any stop, get off when something catches your eye, get back on the next bus when you're done. Commentary runs live or recorded depending on the tour, and the CitySightseeing route does a Horrible Histories Kids' Commentary, which is the bit that'll actually keep a bored nine-year-old listening instead of staring at their shoes. Routes take in Edinburgh Zoo, the Playhouse, the Museum of Childhood and the National Museum of Scotland, so you can plan your day off the top deck and just hop off where you fancy.
An individual ticket is £20 for an adult and free for up to three children aged 5 to 15 per paying adult, which is generous if you've got a big family and rubbish if you're travelling with one adult and a coachload of other people's kids. Under-5s ride free too, but only two per paying adult, so double-check the numbers if you're a small army of grandparents and toddlers. Tickets last 24 hours from purchase, and if you book your start date online it stays valid up to six months later, useful if plans change.
If you want to bundle in Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Royal Edinburgh Ticket is £81 for an adult and £43 for a child, running over 48 hours. It's not a small outlay for a family, and there's no refund if you don't get round to visiting one of the attractions, though they'll swap you into the King's Gallery if the Palace happens to be shut. Worth knowing the Palace closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays outside the summer season, so a quick weekday city break can catch you out.
Buses are step-free with two wheelchair spaces and low-floor ramps, and dogs are welcome on board too. There's no faffing with pre-booking for the buses themselves, you just flag the driver down at any stop, though the Royal Edinburgh Ticket needs exchanging for a proper ticket at Waterloo Place first.
Facilities
Need to know
- Wheelchairs
- All tour buses fully accessible with low-floor ramped access and 2 wheelchair spaces
- Dogs
- All dogs welcome on board
- Worth knowing
- Up to 3 children travel free with each adult/senior ticket on any city tour or Grand 24 ticket
- Buses run daily from 9am to 6pm.
- Book your start date online and the ticket stays valid up to six months from then.
- There are screens on the lower decks for deaf and hearing-impaired passengers to follow the commentary.
- A free carer ticket is available on individual tours for those who need support on board.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
An adult individual ticket is £20, with up to three children aged 5 to 15 free per adult. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket, which adds Edinburgh Castle, the Palace and the Royal Yacht Britannia, is £81 for an adult and £43 for a child.
Do we need to book ahead?
Not for the ordinary bus tour, you can just flag a driver down at any stop. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket needs exchanging for your actual ticket at Waterloo Place before you start.
How long does the ticket last?
Individual tickets and the Grand 24 run for 24 hours from when you buy them. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket and Grand 48 run for 48 hours.
Is it OK for a toddler or a buggy?
Buses are low-floor with ramped access, so getting a buggy or wheelchair on board isn't a problem. Under-5s travel free, though only two per paying adult.
What if the Palace of Holyroodhouse is shut when we go?
It closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays outside the 21 May to 14 September stretch. If you've got the Royal Edinburgh Ticket and it's shut, they'll let you into the King's Gallery instead with a guidebook, but that swap doesn't apply on the days both are closed.
Can we get a refund if we skip an attraction?
No, the Royal Edinburgh Ticket doesn't refund unused attraction visits. That's worth factoring in before you buy if you're not sure you'll get round to all three.
Are dogs allowed on board?
All dogs are welcome on the buses.
Can we book a group visit?
Groups of 10 or more get a discount if you pre-book through the sales team, or 15 or more for the Royal Edinburgh Ticket and Airlink. Private hires are also possible.
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