8 fun things you don’t know about hop on hop off bus tours (but you should!)

Updated: October 1, 2025

You’d think I wouldn’t need an introductory tour of my own hometown. Well, apparently, I did.

Last fall, Jackie and I spent a few days in Glasgow and, let me tell you, it’s changed a lot since I lived there. There’s so many new and exciting things to see, I could have easily spent a TON of time (that I don’t have) researching where to go and what to experience. 

Is a hop on hop off bus tour for you?

The hop-on hop-off bus tour will take only a couple of hours, but holiday time is precious. How do you know that this is a good investment for your vacation? Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you a first-time visitor who wants a quick mental map of the city?
  • The tour will show you how neighborhoods connect so you can plan more efficiently. You’ll find places that deserve a deep dive and also the ones that don’t.
• Are you unsure about local transit or language?
  • The bus tour maps and multilingual audio take the pressure off. You can focus on landmarks and stories instead of ticket machines and route changes.
• Are you looking to fill a couple of hours between arrival and dinner?
  • It’s a perfect fit. Ride one loop, hop off once or twice, and you’ve seen the highlights without overcommitting on a jet-lag day. You arrive at dinner relaxed and oriented.
• Are you on a budget and want maximum value early in the trip?
  • You see more in two hours than most people see in a day. That early context helps you spend the rest of your budget wisely on the places that truly matter to you.

Vacation time is precious. A hop on hop off bus tour gives you a fast, low-effort orientation so the rest of your trip runs smoother. It’s like getting the city’s greatest hits without the stress of figuring out transit on day one.

How an hop on hop off bus tour works

So how does how does hop on hop off work? In the past year, I’ve taken hop on hop off bus tours in Glasgow, Manchester, Barcelona and Edinburgh, and a few years ago in Brussels, Belgium. 

Nowadays, most of them work pretty much the same way. Here’s what happens:

1. Book your ticket (you can do this online with your credit card).
   
2. Check the booking website for the pick up locations and be there on time!
   
3. Get on the double-decker bus and pick up your earbuds/headset near the door. (Some tours have loudspeakers — no earbuds to pick up.)
   
4. Choose your seat in the enclosed lower deck or the enclosed/open parts of the upper deck. 
   
5. Plug in your earbuds/headset and find your preferred language and volume — the audio guide tells you all about landmarks as you drive by.
   
6. If a landmark strikes your fancy, just hop off the bus at the next stop and enjoy it. When you’re done, catch the next hop on hop off bus to continue the tour.
   • Tour companies normally have multiple hop on hop off buses going around the route. Depending on the tour, they’re between 12 and 30 minutes apart. Check the booking web pages for details for the specific tour you’re taking.

Pro tip: Book your ticket online before you land. You skip queues and often pay less. Most passes are valid for 24 hours, so day-one rides can replace a taxi for short hops.

How to choose the right bus

Big cities often have more than one operator. Some offer multiple routes. Here’s how to pick the right fit for you.

• What does the route cover?
  • One loop should hit your must-see sights. Check the full map before you buy.
• How frequent are the buses?
  • Ten to thirty minutes between buses is common. Lower wait times mean more time on the ground.
• What extras are included?
  • Add-ons can lift the value. In Amsterdam, some tickets bundle a canal or river cruise.
• Do they offer an app?
  • If there’s live bus tracking, use it. You can time your hop-offs and avoid standing around.

Pro Tip – Accessibility: Many operators run wheelchair-accessible vehicles on most routes although you would be limited to the first floor of the bus. Ramps and lifts vary by city. Check the route map and stop details before you buy. If you need assistance, message the operator and confirm specific stops.

Why hop on hop off bus tours are a great way to start your vacation

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of kick-starting your vacation with one of these open-air, adventure-on-wheels experiences. 

1 – Hop on hop off bus tours are the ultimate city introduction 

2 – See the city without wearing out your legs (or your wallet)

Let’s face it, exploring a new city can be tiring. For those of us with older knees, these buses offer a respite. 

And if there are hills to walk up and down (like in Edinburgh), you’ll quickly appreciate the curated ride from one landmark to another. Even if you’re young and fit, saving your strength and energy for walking around attractions can be helpful. 

There’s no question that the hop on hop off bus tours allow you to see more of the city than you would on foot – there just wouldn’t be time to see it all. 

And when you consider what you’re getting for the price, it’s a pretty good deal.

Depending on the city, an open top bus tour can range from US$22 to US$46, which is definitely more economical than paying for separate tours or or taxis/ubers to see the same number of attractions.

And here’s a trick:  the bus tour tickets are normally good for 24 hours — if you buy your hop on hop off bus ticket at 10 am, it’s often good till 10 am the next day. This allows you to spend the entire day riding the bus and hopping off/on to see your favourite landmarks.  

I ended up using my bus ticket to get me from one part of the town to another throughout the day since it was already paid for and was cheaper than hiring taxis!

• Tip: keep in mind that if there’s a separate charge to enter a landmark, it won’t be covered by the tour fee.

(Click thumbnail images for larger versions.). Some of the sights in Glasgow as seen from the hop on hop off bus tour, including the Riverside Museum and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

3 – Get insider info without the homework

The accompanying audio tour (whether recorded or live) gives you the details, the history, and often the back story for every place you see. It’s like having a local friend who knows a ton about the city’s history, culture, and architecture, minus the need for constant Google searches.

In Edinburgh, the memorable story is about medical anatomical research and the “body snatchers”.  

In Barcelona, it was the tale of how the Sagrada Familia Basilica came to be and the 140 years it’s taken to build it (so far). 

In Glasgow, the story to remember was about why so many traffic cones adorn the outdoor historical statues around town (it apparently started one beer-hazed night in the 1980s and has been a Glasgow-proud thing ever since!).

So they don’t just provide a staged historical monologue — they can also cover current happenings.

Every city has its own stories and an appreciation of the history makes visiting the landmarks a richer experience.  

The audio systems on the buses allow you to control volume and language. The quality of the audio was pretty good, at least as good as you’d expect on a public system. There are a number of languages available as you can see from this photo of the control panel on the Barcelona tour. 

Languages offered on the Barcelona tour bus: points if you can name the languages that go with each flag!

• Tip:  we had no trouble, but riders on some hop on hop off bus tours say their audio connections didn’t work. So here’s another reason to arrive early and get on the bus quickly — to check your connection and move to another open seat if there’s an issue (and report it to the tour folks). You don’t want to miss the commentary.

4 – There’s lots to see 

In Glasgow, there were 21 landmarks on the tour and 10 of those had stops if you wanted to hop off.  On the Barcelona tour, there were 19 landmarks.

It’s the same in Manchester, Brussels, and other cities. Everything is on display: the architecture, the history, the culture, the tourist sites, and even some of the idiosyncrasies. 

On our Glasgow tour, we hopped off at the Riverside Museum on the banks of the River Clyde and at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum next to the University of Glasgow. 

We could literally have spent the entire day at either museum, but the point was to get a taste of them and determine whether to spend more of our vacation time there, or on something else.

I took another approach on the Edinburgh bus tour – I stayed on the bus for the entire first loop and then hopped off several times on the second loop once I had a good idea of what I wanted to see. 

You can play it any way you like – tours are typically 2 – 2.5 hours and there’s lots to see during that time.

(Click thumbnail images for larger versions.). Some of the sights in Edinburgh as seen from the hop on hop off bus tour, including Edinburgh Castle, the National Gallery, and Arthur’s Seat (yes, I climbed to the top thanks to some convincing by my cousin!)

5 – Flexibility is key

With hop on hop off bus tours, you’re the boss. Want to explore the art museum a bit longer? Go for it. Fancy a quick bite at that quirky café you just passed? You got it. 

You can hop off the tour bus whenever something catches your eye and hop back on when you’re ready. It’s sightseeing on your terms and you choose how long you want to spend at each place.

You can check the bus routes and have a rough idea of the stops you absolutely want to explore. It’ll help you manage your time and ensure you don’t miss out on anything.

• Tip: One thing to keep in mind:  what time do the buses stop running?  In our case, we were so engrossed in the Kelvingrove exhibits that we almost missed the last bus!
  
• Tip: Times between buses vary from as little as 12 minutes to as much as 30 minutes – so be sure to check with your guide for schedule details.

6 – Dress for the weather

Riding on the open top of a bus is all fun and games until the weather decides to play spoilsport. Rain or extreme sun can dampen the experience, making it less comfortable and, well, less open-air.

A little bit of planning can help you avoid getting caught in less-than-ideal weather conditions. Rain jackets, layered clothing, and maybe even an umbrella might be in your contingency plans.

For example, the Manchester tour was a bit chillier than Glasgow (believe it or not) but I had a sweater on and had brought a light rain jacket as well.  Between the two of them, I was insulated from the cold and wind and still enjoyed my tour.

In Barcelona, on the other hand, I still had my sweater with me but didn’t need it during the day. But in the evening it got a bit chilly and the sweater came in handy and I was glad I’d brought it with me. 

In Edinburgh, it rained all during the first loop of the tour (another reason I didn’t hop off right away), but I’d arrived early enough to get a front row seat under cover on the top deck.  

The point is to know the general weather in the city you’re visiting and be prepared for it.

In Nova Scotia, they say that if you don’t like the weather, just wait for five minutes. In Scotland, the tour bus guide said exactly the same thing.  

So bring a rain jacket, or even an umbrella if rain looks imminent. Also consider dressing in layers so that you can put on and take off based on temperature and wind. In sunnier climates, you may want to consider a hat and some sunscreen.

(Click thumbnail images for larger versions.). Some of the sights in Barcelona as seen from the hop on hop off bus tour, including Sagrada Familia Basilica, the Torre Agbar, and the Arc de Triomf.

7 – The buses are very clean

A minor point, but more important that you might think.  Compared to some public transportation I’ve been on, these tour buses are very clean and comfortable.  

Tour buses in Europe are generally cleaner and that goes for the trains too! Some of the American public transportation vehicles I’ve been on could take a lesson…

8 – Be early to snag your seat and check your audio

Beat the crowds by catching the first bus of the day. You’ll have a better chance of catching your seat preference AND you’ll have more daylight to hop off and enjoy your favourite tour stops.  

• Being early will also give you time to do a last-minute audio check at your seat.  Plug in your headset and check your audio connection right away (even if the tour’s not started yet, there’s often music playing). Not working? Jump to another open seat and plug in there before they all fill up. 
  
• If you’re upstairs and the bus is not completely full, try to find seats where there’s no one immediately in front of you.  You’ll have a clearer view of the sights of the city. 
  
• Plan where you want to sit: Downstairs under cover? Upstairs out in the open? Comparing notes with Jackie, we both agreed that the upper deck was the place to be, weather permitting. You’re just higher up and have a better view. 

It’s worth getting there early to snag those prime spots, even if fickle weather means you might need that enclosed section.

Bonus tip – Can I take city photos from the bus? 

As a shutterbug, I preferred being upstairs in the open because I didn’t have to worry about shooting through the glass and dealing with reflections. 

Not so great if it’s raining though… on our Edinburgh tour, I eventually surrendered to the weather and just put my camera away till the rain stopped (it’s hard shooting through a rain-streaked windshield!).

When you’re shooting, you’ll find that the landmarks seem to zip by pretty quickly, and it’s difficult adjusting camera settings on the fly. I felt like I was doing dynamic yoga maneuvers trying to twist around fast enough to catch photos of things before they disappeared. 

You can use your smartphone if you have the models with optical zoom (but definitely avoid using digital zoom features as they just make your image less sharp). 

If you’re using a full-size camera, set it to auto or shutter/aperture priority so it adjusts itself quickly and you don’t miss the shot. Most of the time I’m taking these photos simply to remind me of what I’ve seen, and I can use them to help choose what I want to see more of (and take better photos of) later in my vacation! 🙂

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Are hop on hop off bus tours for everyone?

Although I’ve enjoyed every open-top bus tour I’ve been on, I have no illusion that these tours are for everyone. Here are some things to consider if you’re not sure about them:

• Tours stick to the beaten path – These tours tend to cover the most popular, touristy areas. If you’re someone who likes to stray off the grid, this might feel a bit limiting. You might not get to see the under-the-radar spots that give a city its unique flavor.
  
• A little too scripted — For those who crave authentic experiences, a hop-on hop-off tour can sometimes feel a tad scripted. It’s a bit like watching a movie about a city instead of living in it. The spontaneous interactions and serendipitous discoveries that come with wandering a city on your own might be fewer.
  
  But if you treat it as an introduction to the city, with the intent of using your new-found city knowledge to determine where to do further deep-dives into city landmarks, it’s definitely worth the time and money.
  
• Timing can be tricky – While the idea of hopping on and off sounds great, it’s worth noting that buses have schedules. Miss one, and you might be waiting a while for the next. This can eat into your exploring time, especially during peak tourist seasons or in cities where traffic is a headache.
  
  Make sure to note the frequency of the buses and what time they stop running at the end of the day, and then plan your hop-off excursions appropriately. As I mentioned earlier, we almost missed the last bus because of how engrossed we were in the Kelvingrove Art Museum and because we didn’t know the last Glasgow tour bus made the rounds starting at 4:30.
  
  Had we missed it, we’d have been able to find a regular bus, a train, or a taxi to get back to where we needed to go. In Glasgow, as in most European cities, the public transportation system is quite good.
  
  • Tip:  make sure your smartphone is charged up for the day. If you need to find an alternate mode of transport for whatever reason, all that information is on the internet. So there’s no need for you to ever be stuck.

Conclusion: hop on hop off bus tours are fun and useful

Hop-on hop-off bus tours aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay. But they do offer a unique blend of flexibility, convenience, and insight that can be the perfect introduction to a new city. 

These tours can provide a solid foundation for your adventure whether you’re a seasoned traveler or someone who’s just starting to scratch that travel itch.

Reflecting on the entire experience, it’s a solid ten from me. The mix of freedom, accessibility, and insight provided by the hop on hop off bus tour was excellent. 

Would I recommend an open-top bus tour? Absolutely. It’s an introduction and an invitation to explore deeper. Remember, every travel experience is what you make of it and, for anyone looking to really get under the skin of this dynamic city, it’s the perfect start.

We hear from readers who feel more confident navigating a new city after their first loop. If that is you, tell us which stop helped you the most. Your tip might help the next traveler.

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