Hop on hop off buses are in most major cities – and for good reason. They’re an easy, cheap and quick way to see all the sights.
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
It’s hard to miss hop-on hop-off buses when you visit any major city and easy to let our inner snootiness dismiss them as being ‘a bit touristy’. But sometimes it makes sense to embrace your inner tourist and realise that driving around on a big open-top bus is not only fun, it’s also one of the cheapest, easiest and quickest ways to see a city. Then we can all go back to being high brow traveller types. Vienna is no exception. Some of the most famous buildings can be seen from a hop-on hop-off bus, and if you see one you want to explore more then just jump off and have a look around – simple. Here is a comparison of Vienna hop-on hop-off tours.
Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour
This bright yellow and green bus is easy to spot driving around Vienna and that’s a good thing. You can hop on or off the bus as often as you want at any of the stops, seeing the sights at your own pace, then when you see another bus coming, just jump back on again. There’s a great commentary on the way and three routes to choose from, each taking in a different part of Vienna. The Red Route Admire takes in the sights along the Ring Road, such as the State Opera, Hofburg Palace, the Parliament, and the Burgtheater; the Yellow Route visits the famous Schönbrunn Palace, Schwarzenberg Platz, and Belvedere Palace; the Blue Route heads to the famous Prater area where you can get acquainted with all the masterpieces of the Museum of Applied Arts, Museum of Fine Arts or the Kunsthaus/Hundertwasser Museum. From €31.50.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
Big Bus is a trusted and recognisable brand in hop-on hop-off city tours all over the world. The commentary is always top notch and there’s a lot of thought put into the routes. In Vienna, the Big Bus service has a choice of 24-hour or 48-hour passes, depending on how much time you have, and there is a choice of routes. Discover the sights of Old Vienna and Modern Vienna on the City Route tour, take the Palace Route to visit the Schönbrunn, Hofburg, and Belvedere Palaces. All tickets include a Self-Guided Audio Tour. Highly recommended. From €26.10.
Book at Getyourguide.com
48-hour Hop-On Hop-Off with Guided Walking Tour and River Cruise
This is a great package that allows you to see Vienna in three different ways. It includes a one-day ticket for the city’s Big Bus hop-on hop-off routes, with a double decker travelling between attractions such as Schönbrunn Palace, St Stephen’s Cathedral, and the Belvedere, plus a voucher for a Danube river cruise too. The tour also comes with a free daily guided inner city walking trip, allowing passengers to enjoy the city at a much more sedate pace. All of the tours are packed with excellent historical facts for a great background of the Austrian capital. For the money there is no better way to see Vienna. From €53.10
Book at Viator.com