Budapest Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

There are many ways to get around Budapest. Although much of the city is easily walkable, there are other points of interest away from the center and the tourist bus is an optimal way to reach all of them saving time.

Booking a trip on one of the tourist buses that travel through the city is very simple and there are several options:

The Big Bus buses belong to another tourist bus company that operates in Budapest and that also has free stops during the tour. You can buy, also online, a ticket valid for one, two or three days in the Big Bus tourist bus and during that time you can use the buses at your leisure getting on and off wherever you want or doing the whole tour. If you buy the pass for two or three days you will have services included that will complete your trip.

What is included in the Big Bus Tourist Bus Pass?

Tour

While the red route is designed to get off at the main stops to visit the points of interest and then continue the tour, the blue route and the night route function as a closed tour where the aim is for you to enjoy the ride while listening to audio commentary available in several languages.

Red Route Itinerary

In many European cities you will have seen the red double-decker buses with an open top. They belong to one of the most popular companies for sightseeing bus tours of large cities like Budapest where the distances between different points of interest can be too great to walk.

These buses are based on the "Hop on Hop off" concept. This means that there is a route set in advance with various schedules throughout the day and buying a pass for the Budapest tourist bus: one or two days, you can take the bus at the point you want and get on and off as many times as you want.

This allows you two things mainly: to make a guided tour of the city and move between the different monuments quickly with 360 degree views.

How it works

Choose your pass for 1, 2 or 3 days (you can buy it online). For a supplement, you can add a cruise or a night tour and once you activate your pass you will have 24, 48 or 72 hours to get on and off the bus wherever you want, as many times as you want.

Advantages of this bus

Itinerary of the Yellow Route

Red Route Itinerary

Itinerary of the night tour

Alex's Traveller Tip

Be sure to take advantage of the night tour bus route; it's the best way to see the city lit up.

If what you are looking for from the tourist bus is a guided tour as complete as possible and with which to tour the entire city without having to change routes, this is your best option. The bus works here as a means of transport to cover everything you need to see in Budapest.

The tour lasts three hours, includes an expert guide throughout the tour and you can add an additional one-hour cruise on the Danube. You have several dates and times to choose from and you can book your place online; a voucher will be sent to your email which you can then redeem at the meeting point arranged with your guide to start the tour.

Heroes' Square

It is located at one end of Andrassy Avenue and is one of the most emblematic places in the city. The statues in this square commemorate the seven leaders of the tribes that founded Hungary. The guide will tell you the history of the founding of the city during the tour.

Fishermen's Bastion

You will know it because if you have been in the city for several days you will surely have been recommended its views. From the hill on which it is located you can see an unbeatable view of the city.

Hungarian Parliament

It is the largest building in Hungary and the main guardian of the Danube River. You have to see it both day and night when it is illuminated. Your guide will take advantage of this stop to tell you curiosities and interesting stories about Hungarian politics.

Hungarian State Opera House

One of the fundamental buildings of Budapest representative of the Hungarian architecture of the 19th century. This Renaissance opera house is the second largest theater building not only in Budapest but also in Hungary.

Gellert Hill

If the name sounds familiar it is because you have heard of the Gellert spa, one of the two most famous in the city. You can't leave Budapest without trying the Hungarian bathing experience, but for now admire the views of the city as you pass by this stop.

St. Stephen's Basilica

This church located on the edge of Buda is beautiful on the outside, but inside is a spectacle of mosaic that is worth seeing since in few cities you can visit similar temples.

Great Market Hall

It is the soul of the city: food, souvenirs, clothes ... in the covered market you can buy everything and you can walk around for hours. Your guide will give you some tips to find curiosities and souvenirs, but remember to write down the location to return and enter as soon as you have the opportunity.

If you visit the city in winter

Tourist buses operate all year round and have an indoor and outdoor part and on both you will enjoy panoramic views of the city's surroundings. If you travel to Budapest in winter the freezing temperatures can slow down your walking route, so a good option to save time is the tourist bus.

If you are traveling with children

Children get tired during the city walks and yet the transport in this type of buses distracts them by the views and by its outdoor area totally safe and conditioned.

If you want an overview of the city

As much as visiting specific monuments and museums you get to know the city, taking a walk around it without worrying about anything other than its sights is always a luxury and with the tourist buses you have it available at an affordable price. In addition, this way you can discover places further away from the downtown area that you would not normally visit on your own.

To visit remote places

As an alternative to public transportation, a tourist bus with free stops can be a great solution. Although public transportation works well, it is not always easy to find your way around because the stops do not correspond to the parts of the city that you as a visitor want to see. If you want to get out of the downtown area during your visit, this service is a good option.

To learn more about what you see

When we arrive to a new city, we are amazed by the beauty of its main buildings or the charm of its corners, but many times we don't know their true meaning or the history behind them. This type of service is designed for you to learn what each building in the city means as you visit it from the bus.

Alex's Traveller Tip

Even if you use the free stop option, set aside time to enjoy the city during a tour where you only have to worry about the sights.

There are three main ways to see the city of Budapest while learning about its monuments and sights. One is from the sightseeing bus and the other two are:

Guided walking tour of the city center

By hiring a pass for some of the Budapest sightseeing buses, you can also have access to these two experiences. In the guided walking tour you will be accompanied by a professional guide and he will explain the history of the city from the perspective of someone who lives there and knows its customs and legends beyond historical data that you could find in a travel guide. In this article I have written about 16 Best Day Trips and Tours from Budapest you can read all about guided tours of the city.

Danube River Cruise

The Danube River Cruise, meanwhile, is another popular experience for travelers visiting Budapest and offers a different perspective of the city with audio commentary included in several languages. You will also have the option to complete this experience with dinner or live traditional Hungarian music during the cruise. I have written a guide on Cruises and Boat Rides in Budapest that may interest you if you are thinking of trying this experience.