Edinburgh Big Bus Tour
Description
The Big Bus Tour in Edinburgh offers an excellent opportunity to discover the heart of Scotland's capital effortlessly. This experience allows you to hop on and off at various designated stops, allowing you to delve into its historical avenues, magnificent architecture, and intriguing tales.
Routes, Stops & Timetables
This open-top double-decker bus features audio guides in English and operates two distinct routes. Key stops on this journey include Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Scottish Parliament, the National Museum of Scotland, and the Scott Monument. Each location promises to leave a lasting impression!
You can find details regarding the routes, stops, and schedules of the sightseeing bus below:
Bus Options
Upon booking, you will have the choice between three ticket types, depending on how long you wish to explore Edinburgh and which routes pique your interest the most.
The 24-hour ticket provides access exclusively to the red line, making it ideal for a quick overview of the city’s highlights.
For a more comprehensive exploration, the 48-hour ticket allows access to both the red and blue lines.
- Red Line: This primary route traverses the Old Town and the Georgian New Town. You will pass by major attractions such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse, Dynamic Earth, and the Scottish Parliament.
- From October 27, 2025, to March 29, 2026, buses run every 20 minutes from 9 am to 4 pm. The total journey time is about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Blue Line: Covering northern Edinburgh, this route offers a glimpse of the port area and the Leith neighborhood. It features sights like the Royal Yacht Britannia, once a floating home for Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the Robert Burns Monument.
- This route lasts approximately 55 minutes. From October 27, 2025, to March 29, 2026, departures occur hourly from 9:05 am to 4:05 pm.
Please be aware that these times may be subject to change.
Operational Details
Your ticket is valid for 24 or 48 consecutive hours from the moment you first use it. Throughout this period, you have the flexibility to hop on and off as frequently as you wish at any of the stops. Although a start date is required during the booking process, the service can be utilized for 2 weeks after the planned date.
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.
Although a start date is requested at the time of booking, you can use the service for 2 weeks after the date indicated. If you would like to change the date, please contact Civitatis Customer Services.
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. 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
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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