Edinburgh Big Bus Tour
Description
The Big Bus Tour in Edinburgh offers an exceptional way to discover the Scottish capital, providing a hassle-free experience. You have the flexibility to hop on and off at various stops, allowing you to immerse yourself in the rich history, stunning architecture, and intriguing tales of the city.
Routes, Stops & Timings
This open-top double-decker bus features audio narration in English and operates on two distinct routes. Key stops include the Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Scottish Parliament, National Museum of Scotland, and the Scott Monument. Each location promises a captivating experience.
For detailed information on the routes, stops, and timetable of this sightseeing service, refer to the following:
Ticket Options
During your booking, you'll have the choice of three different ticket options based on how long you wish to explore and which routes you want to take.
The 24-hour ticket grants access to the red line, ideal for a first glance at the city’s highlights.
For those seeking a more extensive exploration, consider the 48-hour ticket, which permits travel on both the red and blue lines.
- Red Line: This primary route navigates through the Old Town and the Georgian New Town, featuring landmarks such as the Castle, Holyroodhouse, Dynamic Earth, and the Scottish Parliament. Operating from March 30 to May 24, 2026, it runs daily from 9 am to 6:05 pm, with buses departing every 15 minutes until 5 pm and every 20 minutes until 6:05 pm. The complete journey lasts 1 hour and 10 minutes. From May 25 to October 25, 2026, this line will also run daily from 9 am to 6:20 pm, with departures every 10 minutes until 5 pm and every 20 minutes until 6:20 pm.
- Blue Line: Covering the northern areas of the city, this route is perfect for exploring the port and Leith neighborhood. Highlights include the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the Robert Burns Monument. The journey typically takes around 55 minutes. From March 30 to October 25, 2026, this route operates daily at hourly intervals between 9:05 am and 6:05 pm.
Please be aware that the timings are subject to change and may vary.
Service Overview
Your ticket is valid for 24 or 48 consecutive hours from the time of first use. Within this period, you can hop on and off freely at any of the designated stops.
Temporary Stop Changes
Starting on Monday, September 7, 2026, the first stop will be relocated to George Street as a result of the closure of Waterloo Place.
What's included
- Unlimited use of the Edinburgh Big Bus for the chosen time
- Recorded commentary in English
- Earphones for each passenger
Cancellation policy
Cancellazione gratuita fino a 24 ore prima (local time)
Accessibility
Most areas are accessible.
Important information
You can see the routes, stops and schedule of the sightseeing bus at the following link:
Your ticket has a validity of 24 or 48 consecutive hours from when it's used for the first time.
Bus Schedules
- Red Line: from March 30 to May 24, 2026, daily departures from 9 am to 6:05 pm, every 15 minutes until 5 pm and every 20 minutes until 6:05 pm. In total, the route lasts 1 hour and 10 minutes. From May 25 to October 25, 2026, daily departures from 9 am to 6:20 pm, every 10 minutes until 5 pm and every 20 minutes until 6:20 pm.
- Blue Line: from March 30 to October 25, 2026, daily departures every hour between 9:05 am and 6:05 pm.
However, these times are flexible and may vary.
Important Info
The Big Bus Tours Edinburgh service may occasionally be affected by traffic disruption. In such cases, some stops may be temporarily closed, frequency may vary or the service may be partially suspended on one or both routes. On rare occasions, it may be completely suspended due to extreme weather conditions or planned and unforeseen events in the city.
As the schedules and frequency may change, we recommend downloading the Big Bus Tours app (available for IOS and Android) for up-to-date information on stops, routes and bus tracking.
- Apple: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/big-bus-tours/id590746945?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigbustours.bbt
Partial Closures
From Monday, September 7, 2026, stop no. 1 will be temporarily moved to George Street due to the closing of Waterloo Place.
Additional Info
Due to weather conditions, in some circumstances the open-top bus may be modified to a bus with a roof to protect passengers.
Help Our Planet!
During this tour, single-use headphones are provided to listen to the audio guides. To avoid waste and help protect the environment, we recommend bringing your own headphones to use.
INFORMATION FOR BBT CSR This product has been booked by Civitatis, please scan the QR code. If necessary, seek authorisation from your supervisor, quoting the short code on this voucher.
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