Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus
The Edinburgh sightseeing bus is a very comfortable way to get around the Scottish capital, which is full of hills and inclines.
Buying a 24 or 48-hour ticket, you can hop on and off as many times as you like on the different routes and stop at the most emblematic monuments and attractions.
In addition, some routes include an audio guide in English and other languages, which narrates the history and curiosities of the city as you travel between stops.
Highlights of this attraction
- You can choose between three routes, which take you to discover three very different parts of the city: the Old Town, the New Town and the neighbourhoods further away from the centre.
- It stops very close to such iconic attractions as Edinburgh Castle, at the top of the steep Royal Mile.
- But it also stops at places a little further out of the centre that are also very worthwhile, such as the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.
- You can go up and down as many times as you like.
- On a fine day, you can enjoy enchanting views of the city from the open-air upper floor.
Tickets
Royal Edinburgh Ticket holders
The Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus is included in the Royal Edinburgh Ticket.
- It includes the premium version of the ticket, called Grand 48, which allows you to ride the 3 routes of the sightseeing bus as many times as you want for 48 hours.
- When you activate your pass at the first Edinburgh Bus Tours stop (until 30 November 2026, Stop GG on George Street, opposite the Assembly Rooms, because of roadworks; from 1 December, Waterloo Place), you will be given a 48-hour unlimited ticket.
- Two of the tours include an audio guide in English and other languages, while the third has live narration in English.
- The various bus routes stop at the other attractions included in the Royal Edinburgh Ticket: Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Ticket for the tourist bus
If you don't buy the Royal Edinburgh Ticket, another option is to buy a ticket for the Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus separately.
In that case, you will have to choose whether you want it to include only one route or all 3, and whether you want the ticket to be valid for 24 or 48 hours.
How to get to the Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus
All 3 Edinburgh Bus Tours routes start at Stop 1. Until 30 November 2026, roadworks close Waterloo Place, so Stop 1 is Stop GG on George Street, opposite the Assembly Rooms, and Royal Edinburgh Ticket holders can ride any tour bus to get there. From 1 December, Stop 1 is back at 19 Waterloo Place (EH1 3BG), a few minutes' walk from Princes St and Calton Hill.
Once there, you will be given a ticket valid for 48 hours and you will be able to board the tourist bus routes at the stop of your choice in the city.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a ticket in advance for the tourist bus?
If you have the Royal Edinburgh Ticket, you don't have to: just turn up at the first stop on the routes (until 30 November 2026, Stop GG on George Street, opposite the Assembly Rooms, because of roadworks; from 1 December, Waterloo Place) during opening hours and they'll give you your ticket there and then.
If you don't have the pass, we do recommend buying your ticket in advance on the official Edinburgh Bus Tours website, as it's cheaper than buying it in person.
How many routes does the Edinburgh sightseeing bus have?
It has 3 different tours: the City Sightseeing Edinburgh (which focuses on the Old Town), the Edinburgh Tour (which also includes the New Town) and the Regal Tour (which takes you further afield to places such as Leith and the Royal Yacht Britannia).
What is the timetable for the tourist bus?
They change a lot throughout the year and in winter they are shorter, so we recommend you always check them on the official website.
Frequency at stops is usually every 15 minutes, but is reduced to every 30 minutes in winter (November - March).
Can I get on at any stop?
Yes, once you have your ticket, you can hop on and off at any tourist bus stop.
Does the tourist bus have an English speaking guide?
Two of the tours offer audio guides in English and other languages (headphones are provided), while the remaining tour has live narration in English.