Hop-on hop-off bus routes
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket includes 48 hours on all three routes of Edinburgh Bus Tours. Here are the routes, the stops for the three attractions and the timetable.
from £81
Get the Royal Edinburgh Ticket- 48 hours on three routes
- Start at Stop GG, George Street
Table of Contents
The three routes at a glance
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is sold by Edinburgh Bus Tours, part of Lothian Buses, and gives you 48 consecutive hours on all three of their city routes. Each route is a loop; you can join at any stop and hop off wherever you like.
| Route | Character | Loop | Frequency (29 March to 31 October 2026) | Frequency (1 November 2026 to 20 March 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Tour | Old Town and New Town with live English commentary by a local guide | about 65 minutes | every 20 minutes, 08:50-17:50 | every 30 minutes, 09:00-16:00 |
| City Sightseeing | The classic red route with recorded commentary in nine languages and a children's track | about 75 minutes | every 12 minutes, 08:45-18:00 | every 20 minutes, 08:55-15:55 |
| Regal Tour | The scenic route north via the Royal Botanic Garden to Leith, Newhaven and Dean Village, commentary in nine languages | about 80 minutes | every 20 minutes, 08:40-17:20 | every 30 minutes, 09:10-15:40 |
Which stop for which attraction
| Attraction | Stop | Routes |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Castle | Lawnmarket, then a short walk up the Royal Mile to the Esplanade | City Sightseeing, Edinburgh Tour |
| Palace of Holyroodhouse | Our Dynamic Earth, two minutes from the Palace gate | City Sightseeing, Edinburgh Tour, Regal Tour |
| Royal Yacht Britannia | Ocean Terminal, Leith - the yacht is berthed behind the shopping centre | Regal Tour only |
Together the three routes serve 41 stops. Beyond the three royal sights they pass the National Museum of Scotland, Grassmarket, Calton Hill, the Royal Botanic Garden and the Shore in Leith - all reachable on the same ticket.
Starting point and the 48-hour rule
All tours start at Stop GG on George Street, opposite the Assembly Rooms in the New Town (EH2 2HT). This is also where you exchange your voucher for the Royal Edinburgh Ticket and where your Castle time slot is reserved. Until 30 November 2026 the tours do not serve the former starting point Waterloo Place because of roadworks.
The 48 hours run from your first ride on any of the routes, not from the day of purchase. A good rhythm: redeem the voucher in the morning of day one, take the Castle slot for the same morning, ride City Sightseeing down the Royal Mile to the Palace in the afternoon and give day two to the Regal Tour and Britannia in Leith.
What the bus alone would cost
Bought on its own, the Grand 48 - the 48-hour ticket for all three routes - costs £ 27.90 online for adults, £ 13.95 for children aged 5 to 15 and £ 26.10 for seniors from 60. In the Royal Edinburgh Ticket the bus is bundled with the three attractions; the full calculation is on the page Is it worth it?.
Questions about the bus
Start, validity and stops at a glance. All answers are on the FAQ page.
Where do the tours start? +
At Stop GG on George Street, opposite the Assembly Rooms (EH2 2HT). Until 30 November 2026 the tours do not serve the former starting point Waterloo Place because of roadworks. You can also board at any other stop.
How are the 48 hours counted? +
From your first bus ride, for 48 consecutive hours on all three routes. Redeem the voucher in the morning of day one and you have two full days of travel.
Which route goes to Britannia? +
Only the Regal Tour goes to Leith and stops at Ocean Terminal, where the Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed. The Castle and the Palace are served by all three routes.
Three routes, three royal sights, one ticket
Get the Royal Edinburgh Ticket - 48 hours of hop-on hop-off travel plus the Castle, the Palace and Britannia.