Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus
Routes, Stops & Schedules
This Edinburgh sightseeing bus is an open-top double-decker bus with audio guides in English that has two different routes. Some of the standout stops along the route include Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Scottish Parliament, the National Museum of Scotland or the Scott Monument. Each stop will amaze you!
Below, you can see the routes, stops and schedule of the sightseeing bus:
Bus Lines
When booking, you can choose between 3 types of ticket depending on the time you'd like to spend exploring Edinburgh and the routes that interest you the most.
The 24-hour ticket only gives you access to the red line, perfect for an introduction to the city's top points of interest.
If you'd prefer a more complete experience, you can opt for the 48-hour ticket, which includes access to both the red and blue lines.
- Red Line: This is the main route, covering the Old Town and the Georgian New Town. It passes by essential sights such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse, Dynamic Earth, and the Scottish Parliament.
- From October 27, 2025, to March 29, 2026, it departs daily every 20 minutes between 9 am and 4 pm. The total duration of the route is 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Blue Line: This route covers northern Edinburgh and is ideal if you want to see the port area and the Leith neighborhood. Along the way, you can visit sights like the Royal Yacht Britannia, the former floating residence of Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the Robert Burns Monument.
- This route takes approximately 55 minutes. From October 27, 2025, to March 29, 2026, this route departs daily every hour between 9:05 am and 4:05 pm.
Please note that these times are flexible and may vary.
How It Works
Your ticket has a validity of 24 or 48 consecutive hours from when it's used for the first time. During this time, you can hop on and off as many times as you like at any of its stops. Although a start date is requested at the time of booking, you can use the service for 2 weeks after the date indicated.
More Information
Duration
1 - 2d.
Language
The activity takes place with recorded commentary in English.
Included
Unlimited use of the Edinburgh Big Bus for the chosen time
Recorded commentary in English
Earphones for each passenger
When to book?
You can book up to the tour start time subject to availability. Book now to guarantee your spot.
Type of voucher
Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.
Accessibility
Most areas are accessible.
Sustainability conditions
All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code.
Our providers commit to:
- Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
- Uphold fair employment standards.
- Foster the growth of local communities.
- Preserve the integrity of local culture.
- Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
- Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
- Operate with honesty and transparency.
- Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.
This particular activity contributes as follows:
- No printing of documentation required.
Provider
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Big Bus Tours Gbp
Corporate name: Big Bus Tours Ltd
Pets
Not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
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Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?
A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities.
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Q - How to book?
A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.
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Q - Is a minimum number of participants required?
A - This activity requires a minimum of 1 participants. Should this number not be reached, we'll get in touch with you to offer alternatives.
If you have any other questions please contact us.