Important information about Hop-On-Hop-Off tickets
What is a hop-on hop-off bus tour?
Hop-on hop-off tours take you around a city following defined routes. You can get on and off the bus at any of the designated stops to explore all the city has to offer. The stops are located strategically throughout the city, enabling you to move around easily and visit the most popular attractions.
Furthermore, there will either be pre-recorded audio commentary or a live guide on board sharing interesting information about the city’s history, culture and landmarks.
Why is it best to use the hop-on hop-off bus?
If you are unfamiliar with a town or city, we recommend taking one complete circuit and listening to the commentary. You can then decide which places of interest you want to visit, hopping off to see them up-close before hopping back on the bus. You can use the bus as much as you wish during the valid ticket period.
What’s a panoramic tour?
Unlike a hop-on hop-off tour, passengers are not able to get on and off the vehicle for the duration of the tour. Some panoramic tours include planned photo stops, giving you the opportunity to capture the views before continuing the tour loop.
How do boat tours work?
Normally, boat tours are not hop-on hop-off tours; most boat tour tickets are valid for a single use. However, there are some boat tours, such as Amsterdam, Stockholm and Gothenburg, that do allow passengers to hop on and off. Boat tours are weather permitting and the schedule may be subject to change.
Will we get to see all the major attractions?
Our tours are the most comprehensive way to see cities, with bus routes mapped out in such a way that they pass the key places of interest. Whilst we do our best to cover all major attractions and landmarks, this is not guaranteed due to routes stipulated by the local traffic authority. If the route does not take you directly past a particular attraction, the nearest hop-on hop-off stop will be just a short walk away.
What are hop-on hop-off stops?
City Sightseeing tours operate on fixed routes, with carefully selected hop-on hop-off stops that are located as close as possible to popular landmarks. Simply hop off at any of the designated points to visit the city’s places of interest before returning to the same stop or another one close by to continue your bus tour.
Can we join the tour at any stop?
In most of our cities, you can join the tour and redeem your voucher at any stop however, there are some cities where redemption at a particular stop is required. You can find details on redemption both on our product pages or on your voucher.
Will we be able to recognise the stops?
Wherever possible, bus stops will have some sort of signage, however, the vast majority of our bus stops do not have visible signage due to traffic regulations. If bus stops are signalled, the size of the sign will vary from one tour to another.
How often do buses pass by each stop?
The frequency varies from city to city and depending on the day or time of year. The average wait time between buses is 30 minutes. Please refer to the tour page for the latest frequency information but it is always best to check on arrival as times and frequencies are subject to change at any time with little to no notice. Please be aware that the frequency of the buses may vary depending on the traffic conditions.
How many routes and hop-on hop-off stops are there?
The number of routes and stops will vary depending on the tour destination. Furthermore, some tours offer additional routes during the summer season. Please see the specific tour page for more information.
Does one ticket cover all routes in a city?
In most cases, yes, but it depends on the individual product offer. Please refer to the specific tour page to verify the routes included with your ticket.
Can I tell which route each bus is on?
Yes. If there is more than one route in a city, the route will be displayed on a sign on the front of the bus.
Do City Sightseeing buses travel from one city to another?
No. Some cities offer special packages whereby day trips/excursions can be purchased separately to visit nearby towns or attractions; however, these are not included in the basic ticket and vary by destination.
A hop-on hop-off ticket is only valid for a specific city. For example, if you purchase a 2-day ticket in Edinburgh, the ticket is only valid for Edinburgh; you cannot use one day in Edinburgh and another day in Glasgow.
How many town and city tours does City Sightseeing offer?
City Sightseeing operates in over 100 cities worldwide, on five continents. Please refer to the “All Destinations” page for a complete list of our tours.
Will there be commentary?
All tours have commentary, either a live guide and/or pre-recorded audio commentary sharing interesting information about the city’s history, culture and places of interest. Depending on the city, the commentary is available in various languages. Some City Sightseeing destinations also offer kids’ commentary.
What are the most common languages used?
The audio commentary is usually offered in multiple languages which vary depending on the city. English, Spanish, French and German are the most common languages used for the audio commentary. To check which languages are offered in a specific city, please refer to the tour page for more information.
Will I be able to hear the full commentary, no matter where I hop on?
Yes, the tour commentary is associated with the attractions we pass, thus if you stay on for the full circuit, you will hear the whole commentary.
Are the buses wheelchair accessible?
Most of our buses are wheelchair accessible. All of our wheelchair spaces accommodate wheelchairs measuring up to 70 cm wide, 120 cm long, and 135 cm high. If your wheelchair is larger than this or you are unsure whether your wheelchair will fit on the bus, please contact us.
Our buses cannot safely accommodate two or more occupied wheelchairs, so if there is already a wheelchair user on the bus that you want to board, unfortunately you’ll need to wait for the next bus. Please ask the driver for assistance if necessary.
Are tours ‘child friendly’?
Yes, all tours are created with children in mind. Furthermore, some tours even offer special child-oriented commentaries (adults can enjoy them too!) or free kids club activity packs.
Do the tour buses offer hotel pick up?
No, however many City Sightseeing stops are near centrally-located hotels.
Are dogs allowed?
Small, well-behaved dogs are allowed depending on the city. Here is a list of some of those cities that permit dogs to hop on board:
All UK cities, Barcelona, Bergen, Berlin,Oslo, San Antonio, Santander(dogs must be in a portable kennel),Seville(dogs must be in a portable kennel)
If you do not see a particular city on this list, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Where can I buy tickets?
You can purchase tickets through this website or in location on the bus or from any of our official ticket vendors.
Can I buy tickets on the bus?
Yes, however not all buses are equipped to accept credit card payments. In this case, you will need to pay in the local currency.
Can I pre-purchase my ticket?
Yes. You can purchase your ticket online through this website, thus saving you time when you arrive at your destination. The majority of our tickets can be redeemed digitally as well so no need to print your ticket in advance, just show on your mobile phone (redemption information will be available on your voucher and/or on the tour page as some tours do require a printed voucher). You can also register for a City Sightseeing account in order to keep all your purchases in one place and get access to exclusive deals and discounts.
If I purchase in advance, do I have to take the tour on a given day?
You have 12 months from the date of purchase, unless otherwise specified, in which to exchange your voucher in your chosen location. Tickets can only be used in the specific location that they were purchased for and are not transferable.
Is the payment platform safe?
Yes. All payments are secure. Our online payment system is completely safe and has encryption security technology (using SSL) to prevent fraud and unauthorized transactions. We never have access to your bank details or card information. We add extra security with 3D Secure Payments meaning you may get a text message from your bank to confirm the payment. If you have questions about privacy, please take a look at our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.
Which payment methods do you accept?
If buying your ticket online, you will be able to pay with major credit cards, such as MasterCard and Visa, and PayPal.
Our website accepts the following payment methods: Alipay, AMEX, Bancontact Card, Carte Bancaire, China Union Pay, Diners, Sofort (sofortüberweisung), Discover, Dotpay, Finish E-Banking, Giropay, iDeal, JCB, MasterCard, Multibanco, PayPal, SEPA, Trustly, Trustpay, Visa.
If you decide to purchase your tickets on arrival in a city, you will be able to pay in the local currency. Most street vendors accept credit card payments, however please be aware that if you are buying your ticket directly on the bus, you will most likely need to pay in cash.
What currencies do you accept?
Online, you can choose between US Dollar, Pound Sterling and Euro. If you purchase in location, you will be charged in the local currency.
I have purchased tickets online but have not received the confirmation email. What should I do?
If you do not receive a confirmation email within a few minutes of finalising the purchase, please check your spam or bulk mail folder just in case the email found its way there. If you do not receive anything, please get in touch with customer support by sending an email to customer@city-sightseeing.com with all relevant information so our team can resolve your inquiry as fast as possible.
Do I need to print my voucher or receipt?
Depending on the city, you may be required to print your voucher to present in destination. However, there are many cities that accept mobile vouchers. Please check the specific tour page to see if you can present an electronic voucher.
How do I redeem my voucher?
Some cities allow you to redeem your voucher with the bus driver or City Sightseeing personnel at any of the hop-on hop-off stops, whereas other cities require you go to a designated stop or ticket office before beginning the tour. If you are required to exchange your voucher in a specific location, the information will be stated both on the tour page and your voucher. Once redeemed, you can hop on at any stop.
Is there a discount for purchasing in advance?
No, there are no special rates for purchasing in advance. However, if you register for a City Sightseeing account, you will get access to special deals and discounts and be able to save all your purchases in one place.
Are there any special rates available for groups?
For groups of 10 or more of the same passenger type, a 10% discount will automatically be applied to the booking during checkout. Please note that we cannot guarantee that the whole party will be able to board and take the tour at the same time. Group discounts are only available for standard hop-on hop-off bus tickets; combination tickets, attractions and pass products are not eligible for group discounts.
Are there any special rates available for children/students/seniors?
Yes. Please refer to the page of a specific tour to see the special rates for children, students and senior citizens. Additionally, infants ride for free on all of our tours. Some of our tours also have family tickets which offer great value for money when travelling as a group/family.
What is the duration of the tour?
The tours vary depending on the city and/or route. Refer to the specific tour page for more information.
What are the start and finish times of the tours?
Tour schedules vary by city. Most tours start around 10 a.m. and finish around 6 p.m. and many cities also have summer and winter schedules. Refer to the specific tour page to verify the operating times. Please note that the schedules may be subject to change.
Do all tours operate year-round?
No. The operational season varies from city to city. Some cities have tours year-round, however, other cities do not have tours in the winter. Please verify the seasonality on the specific tour pages.
Do tours operate on Sundays?
No. The operational season varies from city to city. Some cities have tours year-round, however, other cities do not have tours in the winter. Please verify the seasonality and availability on the specific tour pages or ask us by using the chat feature.
How do I know if there are any changes to the tour or route?
If there are changes to a tour or route, they will be announced on the City Sightseeing Worldwide social media pages, as well as the specific tour pages on this website. You can also reach out to us to find out all relevant information via the chat feature on the website.
What are the different ticket types available?
Not all cities offer the same ticket types; below is a summary of the different tickets available. Once redeemed, each ticket is valid for a certain period of time. Please confirm the validity when purchasing a combination ticket.
24-hour ticket: These tickets are valid for 24 hours starting from when you hop on. For example, if you hop on at 3 p.m., the ticket is valid until 3 p.m. the following day.
48-hour ticket: These tickets follow the same principle as the 24-hour ticket. These tickets are valid for 48 consecutive hours.
72-hour ticket: 72-hour tickets are valid for 72 consecutive hours.
1-day ticket: The 1-day ticket is valid for the duration for the entirety of one calendar day. It is not based on when you hop on. It is valid from the time service begins until the time service ends on the day of use.
2-day ticket: The 2-day ticket needs to be used on two consecutive days and is valid during service operating hours.
3-day ticket: The 3-day ticket is valid from the time service begins until the time service ends for three consecutive days.
What is the difference between a 24-hour ticket and a 1-day ticket?
A 24-hour ticket is valid for 24 hours starting from the time you first hop on. For example, if you hop on at 3 p.m., your ticket is valid until 3 p.m. the following day. The 1-day ticket is valid for the duration of one calendar day, regardless of when you hop on. It is valid from the time service begins until the time service ends on the day of use.
Can 2-day and 48-hour tickets be used on two separate days in the week?
No. The 2-day ticket is valid for two consecutive days, regardless of the time you hop on for the first time. The 48-hour ticket is valid for 48-consecutive hours from the time you hop on for the first time.
Some combination tickets do allow you to split the days on which you take the tour. If this is the case, the information will be clearly stated on your voucher.
Can I cancel my tickets?
Your hop-on hop-off ticket can be cancelled for up to three months after the date you bought it or the selected travel date if you were asked to choose one when you purchased it. For example, if you bought your ticket on June 1st 2021, it could be cancelled until August 31st 2021.
If you request a refund after having exchanged the voucher for a ticket, you will not be entitled to a refund.
The cancellation policy for a combination tickets depends on the individual product. A combination ticket is a ticket that includes a hop-on hop-off bus and/or boat tour, as well as an entry ticket to a local attraction or tour (which could be a boat tour). Please check the cancellation policy on the individual product page.
Attractions can be cancelled depending on the cancellation policy stipulated by each attraction. City Sightseeing is not responsible if an attraction does not give refunds if a customer is not able to use the ticket. Please check an attraction’s cancellation policy before making the request to City Sightseeing.
Can I use a City Sightseeing vehicle for a special event?
Yes. Please contact customer service by sending an email to customer@city-sightseeing.com. Please include relevant information, such as location, number of passengers and type of event. Our team will be more than happy to help you.
How do “kids go free” tickets work?
Sometimes, we have offers that mean kids can travel free when adult tickets are bought. If you see one of these offers, please read the information carefully because sometimes you still need to add child tickets to your basket, even though they are free. In other cases, kids don’t need tickets, in which case this will be stated clearly on the specific product page. Another thing to bear in mind is that there might be a maximum number of free child tickets, for each adult ticket bought, so please check this carefully too.