This Big Bus Tour of Edinburgh is the best way to explore the Scottish capital without a hitch. You can hop on and off at any of its stops to enjoy its historical streets, its majestic buildings, and its fascinating legends.
Routes, Stops & Schedules
This Edinburgh Big 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, and 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 must-see spots such as the Castle, Holyroodhouse, Dynamic Earth, and the Scottish Parliament. From March 30 to May 24, 2026, it runs daily from 9 am to 6:05 pm, with departures every 15 minutes until 5 pm and every 20 minutes until 6:05 pm. The full route takes 1 hour 10 minutes. From May 25 to October 25, 2026, it runs 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: This route covers the north of Edinburgh and is ideal if you want to explore the port area and the surroundings of the Leith neighborhood. Along the way, you'll pass by highlights such as the Royal Yacht Britannia, former floating residence of Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the Robert Burns Monument. The full route takes approximately 55 minutes. From March 30 to October 25, 2026, this route runs daily with hourly departures between 9:05 am and 6:05 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.
Partial Closures
From Monday, September 7, 2026, stop no. 1 will be temporarily moved to George Street due to the closing of Waterloo Place.
