A Comprehensive Tour Of Budapest With Big Bus

The Big Bus Tour of Budapest is a hop-on, hop-off bus tour that offers a flexible and scenic way to explore the city. The tour includes pre-recorded commentary in multiple languages, providing insights into the history and culture of Budapest. The tour covers various landmarks and attractions, such as Heroes' Square, the Parliament building, St. Stephen's Basilica, the Chain Bridge, and Castle Hill. The frequency of buses varies between 10 to 20 minutes, and the tour operates from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased for 1, 2, or 3 days, with prices starting at €32.40 for adults and offering discounts for children and families. The tour also includes additional features like a Danube River cruise and guided walking tours.

Tour duration and frequency

The Big Bus Tour of Budapest offers 1-, 2-, or 3-day tickets for its hop-on, hop-off bus tours. The tour route includes 20 stops and takes 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. Buses run from 9 am to 5 pm, with the first bus departing at 9 am and the last full round starting at 5 pm. The frequency of buses is every 10 to 20 minutes.

The tour route covers many of the city's landmarks and attractions, including Heroes' Square, the Hungarian Parliament Building, St. Stephen's Basilica, the Chain Bridge, and Castle Hill. The ticket also includes a 1-hour river cruise on the Danube and guided walking tours.

The hop-on, hop-off format allows passengers to create their own sightseeing plan and explore the city at their own pace. Passengers can stay on the bus for the full loop or get off at any of the well-placed stops to further explore the landmarks and attractions.

The Big Bus Tours mobile app provides real-time bus tracking, detailed maps, and information on landmarks, attractions, shopping, and dining options.

Ticket types and pricing

Big Bus Tours offers 1-, 2-, or 3-day tickets for their hop-on, hop-off bus tours in Budapest. The price of a 1-day ticket starts from €32.40 for adults, €32.40 for children, and €108.54 for a family. A 2-day ticket starts from €36.90 for adults, €33.21 for children, and €123.62 for a family. Lastly, a 3-day ticket starts from €41.40 for adults, €37.26 for children, and €138.69 for a family.

The hop-on, hop-off bus tour allows passengers to board and disembark at any of the designated stops as many times as they wish. The tour includes pre-recorded commentary in 16 languages, a 1-hour river cruise on the Danube, and guided walking tours. The bus tour route covers many of Budapest's famous attractions, including Heroes' Square, the Hungarian Parliament Building, St. Stephen's Basilica, the Chain Bridge, and Castle Hill.

The bus tour ticket can be purchased online, from Big Bus Information Centers, or at most Budapest hotels.

Notable landmarks

Heroes' Square

The tour offers panoramic views of the spectacular Heroes' Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest squares in the city.

Andrassy Avenue

Elegant Andrassy Avenue is another highlight of the tour, with its wide boulevard and beautiful architecture.

The Hungarian Parliament Building

The magnificent Parliament building, located on the banks of the Danube River, is a must-see for visitors to Budapest.

Margaret Island

Margaret Island, a small island in the middle of the Danube, is a popular recreational area with parks, gardens, and sporting facilities.

The Old Castle District

The Castle District, located on the Buda side of the city, is a historic neighbourhood known for its medieval architecture and stunning views of the city.

St. Stephen's Basilica

St. Stephen's Basilica is one of the most important religious buildings in Hungary and offers breathtaking views of the city from its dome.

The Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge, which connects the Buda and Pest sides of the city, is a iconic symbol of Budapest and offers stunning views of the Danube.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace, located on Castle Hill, was once the residence of the Hungarian kings and is now home to several museums and art galleries.

In addition to these landmarks, the Big Bus Tour also passes by other notable sites such as the Hungarian State Opera House, Buda Castle, the Szechenyi Baths, and the Great Market Hall. The tour provides a comprehensive overview of the city, allowing visitors to hop on and off at their leisure to explore the landmarks and attractions that interest them the most.

Additional features

The Big Bus Tour of Budapest offers a range of additional features to enhance your sightseeing experience. Here is a detailed overview of these features:

• Hop-on, Hop-off Flexibility: The hop-on, hop-off feature allows you to create your own sightseeing itinerary. You can choose to remain on the bus for the full loop or get off at any of the well-placed stops to explore further. This flexibility ensures you can explore the city at your own pace.
• Comprehensive Route: The tour covers a comprehensive route, ensuring you see all the must-see landmarks and attractions. This includes iconic locations such as Heroes' Square, the Parliament building, St. Stephen's Basilica, the Chain Bridge, and Castle Hill.
• Pre-recorded Commentary: The tour offers pre-recorded commentary in multiple languages. This commentary blends facts, fun, and fascinating insights about the city and its landmarks, providing a true taste of Budapest's history and culture.
• Walking Tours: The tour includes free walking tours led by knowledgeable guides. These tours take you to both sides of the city, allowing you to explore areas not accessible by bus and discover hidden gems.
• Danube Cruise: A cruise along the Danube River is included in the ticket, offering a unique perspective of the city. You'll get stunning views of landmarks such as the Parliament Building, Chain Bridge, and Royal Palace.
• Night Tour: The night tour allows you to see the city's famous landmarks illuminated in the evening. It's the perfect opportunity to capture breathtaking photos of Budapest after dark.
• Mobile App: The free Big Bus Tours mobile app is a handy tool for your trip. It provides real-time bus tracking, detailed maps, and information about landmarks, attractions, shopping, and dining options. It's like having a pocket-sized sightseeing guide!
• Language Options: The tour offers a wide range of language options for the commentary. You can choose from 16 different languages, ensuring an inclusive experience for visitors from all over the world.
• Frequency and Timing: The buses operate frequently, with a 10-20 minute frequency, ensuring you don't have to wait too long at any stop. The tour operates daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, giving you ample time to explore.

Reviews

Big Bus Tours in Budapest has received mixed reviews. On Tripadvisor, the tour has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars from 1,933 reviews.

Positive reviews highlight the convenience and flexibility of the hop-on, hop-off format, which allows riders to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time. Several reviewers also praised the inclusion of a boat tour and a walking tour with the bus ticket, as well as the availability of multiple languages for the audio guide.

However, there were also negative reviews, with some riders reporting long wait times for buses, issues with the app, and feeling that the night tour was too similar to the daytime route.

"One of the better HOHO tours. I've tried many hop-on hop-off tours in many cities around the world. Some are not value for money, and some are even a waste of time, but this one in Budapest was OK. The Deluxe Ticket gets you three days, plus a walking tour, boat tour and night tour. The red route was best, but the castle route (using much smaller buses) was full meaning that you had to wait for several buses to pass before you could get on. We even ended up walking part of the tour so that we didn't waste any time."

"This bus tour is well worth the money. Would have rated a five but [there was an] experience with one of the employees [that] is reflected in [the] rating. But overall this bus tour is great. You get to see all the top attractions in a short period of time. I had one day to knock out all of the must-sees in Budapest. And this tour allowed me to do so. Don’t think twice, do it."

"Nice Bus Tour Recommended to Everyone. We didn’t plan much before our trip, so we just booked a bus tour! It was better than what I expected. We bought a package of Budapest and Vienna. We were happy we did that. Traveling in winter could make you sick if you stayed outdoors for too long. Staying on Big Tour buses can let you stay in a warm place while seeing different places! The narratives are great too, we learned a lot from listening to them."

"Don't even think about it. I have to say it again. Don't waste your time and money. My wife and I saw the bus after 20 minutes' wait; but the bus did not stop. Anyway, we got on one in the morning. Another unpleasant experience in the evening. We had waited for 38 minutes and had to give up because it was just hot outside. It costs €22 a day. We should have taken a taxi by paying that much."

"Great way to see and learn about Budapest! There are 3 companies offering hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour buses. We went for the Big Bus as it was recommended by a member of reception at our hotel. The app is great—you buy your ticket online and then have the facility to live-track where the buses are. It also gives you detailed info about points of interest all around the route. You are given earbud headphones for audio commentary and select your language at your seat. Our ticket was for 2 days (£21 each) and included the river boat tour (we went at night, highly recommend) and walking tour. You’ll find reps and info leaflets with maps at most of the bus stops. Staff we met were friendly and very helpful. Highly recommended!"

Big Bus Tours also received reviews on Viator, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 1,723 reviews. Here is a selection of individual reviews:

"A great way to see the city! A great way to see all the city and work out where everything is. You’re able to get on and get off whenever. Commentary is good. A real bonus is the short cruise on the Danube."

"Pretty good but some long walks needed. First check the price, it's only £8 more for 48 hours rather than 24 and the 24hr is BS as it doesn't start until 9 am and finishes at 6 pm. The best thing about this trip is the included boat ride on the river despite having to walk 1/4 mile from the bus to the jetty. There are plenty of buses and it was never crowded."

"Great experience on the... Great experience on the hop-on hop-off bus staff very helpful. Would recommend to a friend and very easy to navigate."

"The Big Bus Delivered! Exactly as advertised. Buses came more frequently than advertised - never waited more than 5 minutes. English narration was adequate. Buses were in good condition. Premium services boat, tours, etc. were as described."

"Awful experience, never again. Awful experience. App is horrible. Really difficult to find bus stops. If it rains, the experience is even worse; you go standing. They changed us from a full covered roof to an open one during the rain. The audio guide was bad too. I don't recommend it for Budapest at least."

Frequently asked questions