St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh

Hop on hop off Edinburgh

Edinburgh is full of hills between the Old Town, the New Town and the port of Leith. A hop-on hop-off bus linking them is one of the highest-rated in Europe.

Photo: Andraszy, CC BY-SA 4.0

By Rédaction LocationAutocar · Updated

Routes link the Royal Mile, from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, with the New Town and Calton Hill. The grand pass adds three city tours, and the Royal Edinburgh ticket combines the bus with major royal attractions, including the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith.

Our top pick: Edinburgh: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

Edinburgh bus tickets compared

Most booked

Edinburgh: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

4.6/5 from over 7,900 reviews.

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Top rated

Edinburgh: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Pass with 3 City Tours

4.7/5 from nearly 2,500 reviews.

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Attractions combo

Edinburgh: Royal Attractions with Hop-On Hop-Off

4.7/5 from nearly 3,200 reviews.

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Why book online

  • Free cancellation on most tickets, usually up to 24 hours before
  • Reserved time slot: no queue at the ticket desk
  • Mobile ticket on your phone
  • Reviews from verified travelers

Hills and weather: the Old Town is steep and weather changes quickly. Ride between the castle and Holyrood and walk the downhill stretches in good weather.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Edinburgh hop on hop off bus worth it?

Yes. The City Sightseeing bus has over 7,900 reviews at 4.6/5, and the hills make a bus handy, especially for Holyrood and Leith.

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