Berlin: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Optional River Cruise

26 Stops Across Berlin on a Double-Decker Bus, Stop When You Want

You board a convertible double-decker bus at Hotel Berlin and ride past 26 major landmarks across the city (Checkpoint Charlie, Charlottenburg Palace, the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island) getting off whenever something catches your eye. The 24h or 48h pass lets you explore at your own speed, with audio commentary in 20 languages, and an optional Spree river cruise included. Buses run every 15–20 minutes, so you're never stranded waiting for the next one.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Berlin with hop-on hop-off bus

• Start at main departure point
• Hop on convertible double-decker bus
• Visit Brandenburg Gate
• See Berlin Cathedral
• Stop at Museum Island
• Explore Checkpoint Charlie and Wall Museum
• Visit Gendarmenmarkt square
• View Potsdamer Platz
• See Charlottenburg Palace
• Enjoy audio commentary onboard
• Use ticket valid for 24 hours

The experience

The bus pulls up near Hotel Berlin and you climb the spiral stairs to the open-air deck of a convertible double-decker. Around you, the city spreads out: Potsdamer Platz, the TV Tower, the streets that used to divide East from West. The hop-on hop-off tour runs 26 stops across Berlin, and buses arrive every 15 to 20 minutes, so you're never stuck waiting long if you want to jump off and walk around Checkpoint Charlie or spend an hour inside the Pergamon Museum. Your ticket is valid for either 24 or 48 hours from first use, which means you set the pace, not a fixed itinerary.

The full loop takes about two hours and fifty minutes if you stay on board the whole way, but that's not really the point. Most people get off at Gendarmenmarkt to photograph the square and its three neoclassical buildings, or they hop down at Charlottenburg Palace and skip the bus for an afternoon. The audio commentary plays in 20 languages (you can listen or tune it out), and there's a kids' channel in German and English if you're traveling with younger ones. Unter den Linden, Museum Island, the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Cathedral: they're all on the route, which means you don't have to plan connections or figure out which U-Bahn line goes where.

If you add the optional river cruise, you get an hour on the Spree, which is a different angle on the city: the Reichstag from the water, the government quarter, the old industrial warehouses that are now galleries and restaurants. It's not a separate excursion. It's built into the same ticket, so you can do it whenever you want during your 24 or 48 hours. The buses are wheelchair accessible, and you can bring a stroller or a service animal on board.

What’s included

• Hop-on hop-off bus pass valid for 24 or 48 hours from first use.
• access to all 26 stops across Berlin.
• audio commentary in 20 languages.
• optional 1-hour Spree river cruise.
• kids' channel in German and English on board.

Options for this experience

5 options

24h BestOfBerlin Bus Tour only34 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:00Unrestricted access to the BestOfBerlin City Circle Hop-on Hop-off Tour, valid for 24 hours counted from the first time it is used

HoHo XMAS Special41 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 15:00

48h BestOfBerlin Bus Tour only34 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:00Unrestricted access to the BestOfBerlin City Circle Hop-on Hop-off Tour, valid for 48 hours counted from the first time it is used

See 2 more options

24h BestOfBerlin+ Bus & Boat14 departure times: the first at 10:20, the last at 14:40Unrestricted access to the BestOfBerlin City Circle Hop-on Hop-off Tour, valid for 24 hours, plus a 1-hour river boat cruise, available April to October

48h BestOfBerlin + Boat Tour37 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:0048h BestOfBerlin Bus+Boat Tour: unrestricted access to the BestOfBerlin City Circle Hop-on Hop-off Tour, valid for 2 consecutive days, plus a 1-hour river boat cruise available April to October

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day47 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (7 to 14 years) · Infant (under 7): free

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Swedish and Ukrainian

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by City Circle by BEX

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to see Berlin's main sights without planning routes or buying separate tickets: the 24h or 48h pass and frequent buses mean you control when and where you stop, and the optional river cruise adds a different view of the city without extra booking.

Traveler reviews

3.73★★★★★★★★★★

1,163 verified traveler reviews

5 ★404

4 ★350

3 ★194

2 ★116

1 ★99

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 14 years); Infant (under 7): free.

How often do the buses come?

Every 15 to 20 minutes at each of the 26 stops during operating hours.

How long is the complete loop if I stay on the bus?

About 2 hours and 50 minutes without getting off.

Is the audio commentary included?

Yes. It's available in 20 languages and you can listen or skip it.

Can I use the ticket more than once?

Yes. You can hop on and off as many times as you like within the 24h or 48h window from first use.

What's included in the optional river cruise?

A 1-hour boat ride on the Spree, included in the same ticket if you select that option.

Is it accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes. The buses and nearby transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

Which landmarks are on the route?

Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin Cathedral, Gendarmenmarkt, Museum Island, Potsdamer Platz, Alexanderplatz, Kurfürstendamm, and Unter den Linden, among others.