Dublin: Open-Top Bus Hop-On Hop-Off & Walking Tour

Dublin's 25 Stops on a Red Bus: Your Way, Your Pace

You board a red open-top bus and choose your own route through Dublin's 25 main attractions—hop off at Trinity College, the National Gallery, or Jameson Distillery, then rejoin when ready. Live commentary in English explains what you're seeing; recorded versions in 7 other languages are available. Your 24 or 48-hour pass includes a free guided walking tour, one free child per adult, and real-time bus tracking via the app. Perfect if you're docking in Dublin and want to cover the city without arranging separate transport or tickets.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Board Red Route bus at O'Connell Street
• Listen to live and recorded commentary
• Hop off at stops to explore landmarks
• Visit attractions like Guinness Storehouse
• Explore Temple Bar and Dublin Castle
• Rejoin bus at any stop
• Enjoy unlimited hop-on hop-off for 90 minutes

The Experience

"You'll see more of Dublin standing on that top deck than you would walking for three days," one of the drivers told us as we climbed aboard. And he wasn't wrong. The red open-top buses run a fixed route through 25 stops—from O'Connell Street down to Phoenix Park, past the Guinness Storehouse, through Temple Bar, and up to Jameson Distillery—but the whole point is you don't have to stay on. Hop off at Trinity College Dublin or the National Gallery of Ireland, spend an hour inside, then catch the next bus when you're ready. They come through every 20 to 30 minutes, so you're never stuck waiting long.

The live commentary on the red route is in English, but you can switch to recorded versions in seven other languages if you need them. Most people keep it on—the guides point out things you'd miss otherwise, like the story behind the Molly Malone statue or why Christ Church Cathedral leans the way it does. If you've got a 24-hour ticket, you can cover the whole loop in a day and still have time to duck into Kilmainham Gaol or the Irish Whiskey Museum. With 48 hours, you can actually breathe and not feel rushed between stops. The app lets you track where the buses are in real time, so you're not guessing when the next one arrives.

One thing that matters if you're coming off a cruise ship: this tour is built for that. You get your ticket activated on your phone, you board with the mobile pass, and the timing works because you're not dependent on arranging your own transport or buying separate museum tickets. The free guided walking tour comes with most tickets too, which covers ground the bus can't reach—the smaller streets, the quieter corners. And if you're traveling with kids, one child rides free with every adult, which takes the sting out of the price.

Download the Big Bus Tours app before you board. It's not fancy, but it works—you activate your ticket on it, track the buses live, and you don't have to fumble with a paper pass. Wheelchair users can board, and the buses are accessible. If you're traveling with a stroller, that's fine too. The whole system is designed so you show up, get on, and start exploring without having to plan every stop in advance.

What’s included

• Unlimited hop-on hop-off access for 24 or 48 hours.
• live commentary in English on the red route and recorded commentary in 8 languages.
• free guided walking tour with selected tickets.
• one free child per paying adult.
• Big Bus Tours app for ticket storage, live bus tracking, and mobile boarding.
• access to 25 designated stops across Dublin including Trinity College Dublin, National Gallery of Ireland, Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, Phoenix Park, and Kilmainham Gaol.
• wheelchair accessible buses and transportation options.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Big Bus Tours Dublin

Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving by cruise ship and want to see Dublin's main attractions without arranging separate transport, museum tickets, or a fixed itinerary—the hop-on hop-off system and frequent buses mean you control the pace and can spend as long as you want at each stop.

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Top questions

How often do the buses run?

Buses pass through each stop every 20 to 30 minutes, so you won't wait long to rejoin the tour after exploring a stop.

Can I get on and off as many times as I want?

Yes. With your 24 or 48-hour ticket, you can hop on and off at any of the 25 stops as many times as you wish within your ticket validity.

Is there a guide on the bus?

The red route has live commentary in English from someone on board. Recorded commentary in 8 languages total is also available if you prefer.

What's included in the ticket?

Unlimited hop-on hop-off for 24 or 48 hours, live or recorded commentary, a free guided walking tour with selected tickets, and one free child per paying adult. The Big Bus Tours app is included for ticket storage and live bus tracking.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the buses are wheelchair accessible and transportation options are available for those who need them.

Do I need to book stops in advance?

No. You can hop off at any of the 25 stops whenever you choose. The bus schedule is fixed, so you can plan as you go.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

How do I activate my ticket?

Download the Big Bus Tours app, activate your ticket on your phone, and board using your mobile pass. You can also track buses in real time through the app.