Hop On Hop Off Bus: Worth It?

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We try to make travel easy, which is why this website is full of articles that are perfect for first time visitors. Our goal is to give you a blend of culture, history, food, things to do and things to do so you can create a memorable trip.

Most people would agree tourist attractions are only part of what makes a vacation great. That’s why we have so many city itineraries: We want to help you see the most in a short amount of time. You deserve time for wandering and getting out of town to see more than the capital city.

Hop on hop off: How to see a city in one day

For first-time visitors who want to get a quickie overview of a city’s highlights, there are only a few quick and easy options. Which one you choose is mainly dependent on your budget and how much time you have.

  1. Follow an itinerary you find online or in a guidebook
  2. Hire a tour guide.
  3. Take one of the free layover tours offered at different airports.
  4. Take a hop on/hop off bus tour.
Beefeater in London. Text overlay says s how to see a new city in one day.

How does the hop on hop off bus work?

A HOHO tour bus is usually an open-top, double-decker variety that goes on a set loop around the city. Sometimes, they offer more than one city itinerary. It depends on the size of the city and how spread out the attractions are.

  • You’ll receive a set of earphones when you begin your tour.
  • Find a seat, plug your earphones into the audio box and select your preferred language.
  • Listen to a recording that shares history and interesting facts about the sights you’re passing.
  • When one of the attractions seems interesting, you hop off at the nearest stop to check it out. Afterward, simply return to the stop and hop on the next bus.

That’s how the hop on hop off bus got its name. People call it the HOHO for short.

We think it’s the easiest way to learn about the city and get free transportation to the “must-see” sights, all at one time.

ⓘ TIP: The provided earphones are uncomfortable and don’t fit well. This makes it difficult to understand the narration. If you have a favorite pair of ear buds, bring them along. It will make your tour a lot more enjoyable. Just remember to take them with you every time you hop off!

hop on hop off bus in Singapore

Why take a hop on hop off bus tour?

  • The bus goes to parts of the city you probably wouldn’t have time to see on your own.
  • They often point out sights you may not have known about.
  • The included narration gives you a good overview of the city’s history in a short time.
  • It helps you understand the layout of an unfamiliar city and better gauge distances as you plan the rest of your sightseeing.
  • The route is intended for visitors, so stops are conveniently located near popular tourist locations.
  • The stops are varied and appeal to a variety of interests.
  • You don’t have to figure out the public transportation system.
  • You can sightsee in the wintertime without freezing.

One other consideration is that HOHO tour companies have worked out the best way to see the most important parts of the city in the least amount of time. If you don’t hop off, the entire route takes about 1.5 – 2 hours, traffic permitting.

This saves you a lot of time and effort, especially for those sights that need little more than a drive-by. After all, not everyone cares to climb the Arc de Triomphe or stare at Admiral Nelson’s statue in Trafalgar Square.

ⓘ TIP:  Don’t take a bus tour if the traffic is bad; you’ll waste too much time. Pop into a hotel and ask the concierge for a tourist map; it will show where all the attractions are.

One-day itineraries made easy

These bus tours offer either a taped narration or a live guide. Buses with taped narration offer hookups with multilingual channels while live guides usually give the tour in English.

Tip: If you don’t like the tour guide or sound system, hop off at the next stop and wait for the next bus.

pontoon boat for harbor, included with Singapore hop on hop off ticket

Plan your HOHO experience

How to find a HOHO bus tour:

  • Check the City Sightseeing website.
  • Web search “hop on hop off bus in [whichever city you are visiting]

Tips for taking a hop on hop off bus tour

If a bus tour appeals, here are some tips:

  • Ticket prices vary but are generally competitive for all companies in a city. A rough budget is $30 per ticket, depending on location.
  • Some companies also offer a less expensive night tour, which might be ideal if your time is extremely limited.
  • Two-day tickets usually offer a better value, especially in large cities with multiple routes (north-south, east-west, historic, etc.).
  • Validity: Some tickets are valid for one calendar day while others are good for 24 hours, so check the terms carefully. To get the most value out of a day ticket, we recommend beginning early. On the other hand, if a ticket is good for 24 hours you can begin in the evening.
  • Hours: Be sure to ask when the last bus stops at your stop in the evening. Be prepared to get back to your hotel on your own if you lose track of the time. We got stuck on the other side of Prague when our driver kicked everyone off the bus at 6:00 p.m.
  • Check for bonus opportunities. For example, our Singapore and London tickets included a river cruise in the price of the ticket.

ⓘ TIP: Don’t fancy a city tour? Book a tour through Viator or Get Your Guide. They offer unique experiences for a variety interests.

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Written by Linda

Linda is multilingual and has been to over 50 countries. Her insatiable love of travel, cuisine, and foreign languages inspired her to create As We Saw It, where she documents her trips, shares practical itineraries, and offers insider tips. She’s passionate about helping fellow travelers save time, money, and hassle, and loves to discover new places to explore.

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6 thoughts on “Hop On Hop Off Bus: Worth It?”

  1. Agree, the best way to get an overview of a city in a short time is a tour. Alternatively, if there is one thing you are really interested in you could just focus on that.

  2. You guys are so good at covering a lot of territory in a day. We very seldom go to a city for just one day, but I have to agree that taking a bus tour is the best way to get a feel of the place and find out a lot about it. I think the hop-on-hop-off idea is not even that old. 25-30 years ago there were only bus tours, but they didn’t stop in any place. Or am I wrong?

    • I think you’re right about that, Anda. Growing up outside of NYC, I only knew of the Gray Line bus tours that shuttled tourists around Manhattan. Though to be honest, I never took one, so I can’t be sure….

  3. Totally agree that the hop ons are the best way, even if you have a couple of days.
    When we visit a city I always feel I didn’t see everything I wanted to but have finally reconciled myself to the thought that you can’t see everything!

    • You’re right, Jackie. There are so many things to see and do just around where we live – no wonder some people don’t have passports!

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