bus tours in edinburgh

DYNAMIC EARTH

The royal mile, palace of holyroodhouse, the edinburgh dungeon, views of edinburgh, johnnie walker princes street, the national museum of scotland, edinburgh castle, greyfriars bobby.

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24 March 2024 – 29 June 2024 0851 - 1751 Every 12 Minutes

30 June 2024 – 7 September 2024 0850 - 1800 Every 10 Minutes

8 September 2024 – 2 November 2024 0851 - 1751 Every 12 Minutes

3 November 2024 – 5 April 2025 0910 - 11540 Every 30 Minutes

Edinburgh Bus Tours operates all year round daily

The full tour lasts around 70 minutes. Please note timetables are subject to change.

Route Map of The Edinburgh Tour

You can join this tour at any bus stop, and hop-on hop-off for the duration of your ticket.

LIVE TOUR TIMES

Download the Edinburgh Bus Tours App for live bus times, information on discounts and attractions. Available free for iPhone and Android

Get directions to Waterloo Place

The Edinburgh Tour features a live guide in English.

Tour Description

Explore Edinburgh's city centre with one of our tour guides. Take in the spectacular buildings including Edinburgh Castle, the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Accessibility

All of our tour buses have ramped access.

A Class 2 mobility scooter is welcome on board if a wheelchair accessible space is available. Please note that legally wheelchair users have priority over the use of these spaces. Alternatively, Mobility Scooters can be folded and stored as luggage.

Dogs, including assistance dogs, are welcome on all of our tour buses.

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Edinburgh Bus Tours

Explore the capital city of Scotland with Bright Bus Tours — the brightest way to see Edinburgh. Our Edinburgh bus tours cover the city’s most extraordinary sights, including the Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Castle, and Arthur’s Seat.

Our Bus Tours in Edinburgh

Book a big bus tour of Edinburgh with Bright Bus Tours — the official hop-on, hop-off Edinburgh sightseeing bus in Scotland. You’ll benefit from easily accessible Edinburgh bus tour stops located at the city’s top sights and affordable tickets. Take in all of the incredible attractions the city has to offer with a knowledgeable tour guide and bus driver.

From insider secrets to city sightseeing with tons of free time to explore and learn about Scottish history, an Edinburgh bus tour ticket offers the best value way to explore. There’s no need to try and navigate the city all on your own or worry about parking – we efficiently take you through the best stops so you can focus on taking it all in. Explore the Royal Yacht Britannia, stroll through relaxing gardens, and marvel at world-class art! Edinburgh has it all. 

The Britannia Tour

Immerse yourself in history and royalty with our Britannia bus tour of Edinburgh. Take a look at some of the best attractions you can look forward to on our Edinburgh tours by bus.

Royal Yacht Britannia 

Our Edinburgh bus tours wouldn’t be complete without the crown of our hop-on, hop-off trip. You’ll be amazed to learn from a Bright Bus tour guide that the Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the top attractions in the UK.

As you step off at stop 5 of our bus tours from Edinburgh, you’ll be walking the same steps that tons of famous figures, like Nelson Mandela, have walked. You can even explore Queen Elizabeth’s favourite room!

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art holds one of Edinburgh’s most incredible selections of contemporary artworks. With our open-top bus tour in Edinburgh, you’ll hop off at stop number 9 and admire a sculpted garden and a gallery boasting incredible modern and avant-garde displays.

Newhaven Harbour

At stop number 4 from our tourist bus in Edinburgh, you’ll discover a small harbour once used to fish and build ships. All the way back in the 1400s, King Hames III and IV had impressive ships built here! Now, you can dine here in style when you hop off our Edinburgh tour bus. You can even check out the Armada Stone, a famous bronze plaque rumoured to pay homage to the Spanish Armada.

Stockbridge

Coming in at stop number 8 from our bus tours in Edinburgh, Scotland is Stockbridge, one of the most charming villages near the city centre. Soak up the atmosphere, sample some artisan food, or buy a few craft items as mementoes. Stop by one of the many quaint coffee shops for a quick break from the Edinburgh bustle before heading to Circus Lane for some postcard-worthy snaps!

Royal Botanic Garden

Our hop-on, hop-off Britannia bus tour stop 3 takes you to the Royal Botanic Garden, a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Established in the 17th century, The Botanics, as the locals call it, is home to one of the world’s largest and most diverse plant collections! Enjoy a peaceful stroll or grab a bite at the café.

Join our daily tours and discover the most picture-perfect and intriguing places in Edinburgh. 

The City Tour

Our City Tour is a great way to learn about the history and culture of Edinburgh. Our bus tours in Edinburgh cover some incredible spots like the historic Old Town, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Waterloo Place, and more! Here are a few of the stand-out spots we’ll visit.

Edinburgh Castle

Learn about the city’s royal history with a stop at Edinburgh Castle – stop 8 on our City Tour. Stroll through some of the oldest halls in the city, explore the Great Hall and the chapel, and listen out for the sound of the One o’clock Gun! You can even stop at Edinburgh’s castle for a meal if you’re getting hungry along the way on our bus tours in Edinburgh, Scotland.

St Andrew Square

Immerse yourself in some peaceful greenery at St Andrew Square! Stop 2 on our City Tour gives you access to one of the most beautiful garden squares in the city, home to the Melville Monument. Stop for a coffee or indulge in a meal to fuel up for the day. You can also explore nearby George Street, one of Scotland’s main shopping streets.

Johnston Terrace

Stop 13 on our open-top bus in Edinburgh is Johnston Terrace, a stunning old section of town that will blow your mind! You can enjoy a variety of attractions here, from the Whisky Experience to the Granny Green Steps. One of the most iconic town sights on the tour, the King’s wall carving, can be found here. A lot of visitors also enjoy checking out the Cannonball House, the Celtic Chapel, and the old Edinburgh town wall.

The National Museum of Scotland

If you’re a history buff, get off at stop 9 of our hop-on, hop-off Edinburgh bus tours for the National Museum of Scotland. The museum takes city sightseeing in the Old Town to a whole new level, from learning about old animal habitats and admiring vintage fashion trends to getting afternoon tea or learning about cultural diversity in Scotland’s capital.

Edinburgh Bus Tours – FAQs

Have a few questions about our Edinburgh bus tours? Take a look at our frequently asked questions below.

How long do Edinburgh bus tours last?

We wish your Edinburgh tour could last forever! However, if you’re going for the city Edinburgh tour, the journey will take around an hour and ten minutes. For the Britannia Edinburgh Tour, the journey will be an hour and a half. You’re free to hop on and hop off our city centre Edinburgh tour all day if you want, whether it’s at the start from Waterloo Place or elsewhere!

How often do buses stop during an Edinburgh tour?

Both of our Edinburgh bus tours start at Waterloo Place and depart at 10 and 15-minute intervals. You can hop on and off at any of our stops, just check our routes before planning your adventure!

What time do Edinburgh bus tours end?

The last of our Edinburgh bus tours will leave at 4 pm and last the full duration of the adventure. Make sure to book an Edinburgh tour ticket in advance so you don’t miss out on our captivating routes!

What is a two-tour combo ticket?

With a two-tour combo ticket, you can access the world of our incredible Edinburgh routes in 48 hours! The ticket will give you access to both our Britannia and city tours over 48 hours, meaning you can take your time enjoying Edinburgh’s landmarks and attractions without rushing through them. If you don’t have as much time to spend on our tour buses in Edinburgh, you can also opt for a single ticket, which is valid for 24 hours.

Do you still have a few more questions about our Edinburgh bus tours? Get in touch with the friendly team at Bright Bus Tours and we’ll be happy to help!

Get in touch

Bright Bus Tours: The Edinburgh Tour Bus for Affordable Adventures

Bright Bus Tours has been championing city sightseeing in Edinburgh since 2019. We understand that it’s not just about the famous attractions and sights; it’s about the incredible journey along the way. 

Other than our awesome bus tours in Edinburgh, we also provide the cheapest and fastest way to get from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre with our convenient Bright Bus Airport Express . Our tour buses connect you directly to our hop-on, hop-off Scotland bus tours.

Our dedication to your city tour experience earned us a 5-star rating for customer service and a 4-star rating in quality assurance from Visit Scotland. A hop-on, hop-off open bus tour in Edinburgh isn’t just about city sightseeing; we also provide insider secrets and tips to provide you with a local experience of the city. 

Bright Bus Tours is the brightest and most affordable way to take a city tour in Edinburgh. Here are a few benefits of taking in the sights with us:

• A fun alternative to exploring the city on foot
• Cost-effective airport transfers
• Partnership discounts
• Two-ticket discount options
• Student ticket discounts
• Accessible tour buses
• Dogs allowed on tour
• Private tour options

Our Edinburgh sightseeing tours are the best way to experience Scotland’s capital city on a budget. Book an Edinburgh bus tour with Bright Bus Tours today!