The Hungarian capital city Budapest is a treasure trove of architectural, cultural and historical delight. This beautiful city offers plenty to see, do and taste — from the numerous museums, thermal baths and ruin bars to the delicious culinary offerings and the unrivaled nightlife. Visitors are spoilt for choice here.

Undoubtedly, one of the best ways to explore the city's many wonders is with a hop-on-hop-off bus tour in Budapest. This option allows you to visit the numerous landmarks and tourist attractions easily and conveniently. You won't have to worry about public transport or taking taxis instead you can focus on seeing the sights.

Read on for your guide to hop-on hop-off bus tours, one of the top options for sightseeing in Budapest.

What are the best Budapest hop-on hop-off bus tours? What are their prices?

Big Bus Tours

Big Bus Tours is the world's largest operator of open-air sightseeing bus tours. Tours are done in open-top double-decker buses that travel across the city.

A hop-on hop-off bus tour in Budapest is a convenient and flexible option. Multiple stops cover the main tourist areas, so you can pick and choose where to get on.

Route

Big Bus Budapest offers one route across the city. The red loop route has 20 stops and will take to you all the must-see landmarks and attractions. The hop-on hop-off stops are located close to numerous landmarks and attractions so there's more to see.

The red route starts at St. Stephen's Basilica, the most sacred Catholic church in Hungary. The next stop is Chain Bridge, the oldest suspension bridge over the Danube, that connects Buda and Pest, the western and eastern sides of Budapest. The bridge is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and is the ideal spot to enjoy some panoramic city views.

At the József Attila Street stop, you can check out some amazing architecture as you explore this very popular street. Stroll down to the busy Deak Ferenc Square, the gateway to the fashion district and one of Budapest’s main social hubs.

No visit to Budapest is complete without a visit to Heroes' Square, the largest and most symbolic square in Budapest. You won't be able to miss the incredible Millenary Monument, a 36-meter-high pillar topped by a golden Archangel Gabriel, holding the Hungarian crown and a cross. This stop is close to many popular attractions like Vajdahunyad Castle, Széchenyi Baths, the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden and the Museum of Fine Arts.

You’ll be able to see two World Heritage Sites on this tour, starting with Andrássy Avenue. Check out some fabulous neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses. And, do some shopping as this is one of Budapest's main shopping streets, and it is lined with cafes, restaurants, theatres, embassies and luxury boutiques.

The second World Heritage Site is Castle Garden, a cultural palace with an ornamental garden. Explore the imposing architecture and take some pictures in the beautiful manicured gardens. Castle Garden is located to the south of the Buda Castle, the next stop on the tour.

Other iconic sites along the route include popular shopping destination Váci Street, the scenic Batthyány Square that is home to the beautiful Church of Saint Anne and Keleti Railway Station. There are also stops at Anantara New York Palace, an elegant and breathtaking café in the city, a traditional synagogue, and the popular Gellért Bath where you can enjoy a relaxing soak.

You’ll have a chance to see Margaret Bridge which offers amazing views of the city, as you make your way to the final stop, Parliament.

Timetable

The tour begins at 9 AM and the last bus is at 6:30 PM. The tour runs for 1.5 hours without stops and buses depart every 10 to 20 minutes. Make the most of your tour and start early in the morning so you’ll have lots of time to explore all the sights.

Tickets

Big Bus Tours offers three different types of tickets:

Discover ticket

This option offers a full day of access to the hop-on hop-off bus services. It includes a Budapest walking tour and a river cruise along the Danube.

Adult tickets cost €36, while children between the ages of 6 and 18 benefit from a reduced rate of €32.40. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs €120.60 saving you €16.20

Essential ticket

This ticket is valid for 2 days and includes one free date change. You’ll also get the river cruise and a walking tour. Adult tickets are €41, a child's ticket costs €36.90 and a family pass costs €137.35.

Explore ticket

This ticket allows three days of access to the hop-off hop-on bus services and includes everything mentioned in the “Essential” ticket. Adult tickets cost €46, children cost €41.40 and a family pass €138.69

City Sightseeing

City Sightseeing is one of the world's leading hop-on-hop-off tour companies. They offer city tours at around 100 locations across six continents. Comprehensive hop-on hop-off tours to all the major landmarks and attractions are done in red open-top double-decker buses.

Route

City Sightseeing Budapest has two routes for their hop-on hop-off tours. The red route goes to all the major landmarks and must-see attractions in Budapest and offers 20 stops.

The City Sightseeing tour starts at the gorgeous St. Stephen’s Basilica and goes on to the beautiful and historic Chain Bridge.

As your bus navigates Budapest’s charming streets, you’ll stop at the magnificent and historic State Opera House, which is one of the city’s most significant art relics and an outstanding example of neo-Renaissance architecture.

At the Astoria stop, can visit a charming cafe, a fancy pub or one of the ruin bars. If you're looking for a magical dining experience, try Anantara New York Palace, an incredible café that offers delicious food in breath-stealing surroundings. See why this popular spot was awarded the Most Beautiful Café award.

Don’t miss a chance to relax and soothe your soul at the Gellért bath, one of the most popular baths still open to visitors. Enjoy a relaxing soak and take in unique columns decorated with mythical creatures and centuries-old sculptures. Or get off at Heroes’ Square and visit the Széchenyi Baths, one of the city’s largest and most luxurious thermal baths. Entry to the bathhouses is not included.

There are also stops at the two World Heritage Sites, including Castle Garden Bazaar, a beautiful cultural palace with amazing manicured gardens. The second World Heritage Site is Andrássy Avenue famous for the fabulous neo-renaissance architecture.

The Citadel stop offers several excellent vantage points to enjoy a picture-perfect view of Budapest's most famous landmarks. Once a fortress that was used to defend the city – now it's a great spot to soak up panoramic city views. Experience Budapest’s many charms from this elevated point.

Additional stops on the tour include József Attila Street, a traditional synagogue, Heroes' Square, the popular districts of Astoria 1 and 2, and the cozy Liszt Ferenc Square which offers great restaurants.

You’ll also have a chance to visit Batthyány Square, Margaret Bridge, Parliament and the Nyugati Railway Station, a major transport hub for subways, trams and buses.

Timetable

The tour starts at 9 AM with the last bus at 6 PM. In the week from Monday to Thursday, buses depart every 15 minutes, and from Friday to Sunday the bus runs every 10 minutes. The tour lasts for 1 hour.

Tickets

City Sightseeing offers three different types of tickets. An audio guide is offered in 16 different languages and free Wi-Fi is offered on board the bus.

Iconic

The iconic ticket allows you to choose between a 24-, 48- or 72-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour. A boat tour and a guided walking tour is included in the ticket. You will also get a coupon booklet with discounts for several attractions.

Adult tickets cost from €36, students and children between the ages of 6 and 18 will pay €28.80, while children aged 5 and under are free. If you would like to book the tour over numerous days it costs €41 for 48 hours or €46 for 72 hours.

Essential

The essential option offers a full day of access to the hop-on hop-off bus tour, a boat tour, and a walking tour. It also includes fast-track tickets to the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Dohány Synagogue so you won’t have to wait in line to enter.

An adult ticket for those aged 18 and older costs €60.

Value

The value ticket includes one full day of access to the hop-on hop-off bus tour, a boat tour and a guided walking tour. An entrance ticket to Széchenyi Spa with locker access and a ticket to the Pálinka Museum is also included.

The value ticket costs €73 per adult.

How do hop-on hop-off bus tours in Budapest work? What do they include?

The main attraction to a hop-on hop-off bus in Budapest is that you can join the tour at any point along the designated routes. You’ll start your journey by going to the bus stop of choice and presenting your ticket. Get on or off at any of the stops included in the timetable. The buses leave every 10 to 15 minutes, so you will never have a long wait.

You will need to indicate a booking date when booking, but tickets are valid even after the date you’ve booked. Double-check with the tour operator the validity of the tickets. Make sure to get to the departure point about 10 minutes before the bus leaves to allow for the passenger boarding process and to get some good seats.

Big Bus Tours often have discounts on offer if you book online directly with them. You can also get a reduced rate when you book a family package for four people. There’s also a free mobile app so you can stay updated with all the routes and bus timetables.

City Sightseeing also offers a host of added extras depending on the ticket option you’ve booked. An onboard audio guide offers commentary in 16 different languages so you’ll be able to learn more about Budapest in the language of your choice. City Sightseeing tickets are valid for a year.

Depending on your operator and ticket option, you may also access a guided walking tour and boat tour along the Danube along with the bus services.

Top tips before you go

Try to start your sightseeing earlier so you can get the most out of your hop-on hop-off Budapest bus ticket.
Do some research and make an itinerary before the tour to ensure you visit all the attractions you plan on seeing.
You'll get some great views on the top deck of the bus, but make sure you put on some sunscreen.

What other sightseeing tours can you do in Budapest?

Hop on Hop off Bus Tours in Budapest