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Home / Travel / Kolkata’s iconic Double-Decker buses launched today! Brings Nostalgia back!

The Tourism Department of West Bengal is introducing sightseeing services in two attractive double decker buses covering the Heritage & Cultural Trails of Kolkata through a theme “Unknown Kolkata” followed by a ride on the Ganges in the WBTDCL house boat in the first phase.

It was nearly a century ago in 1926, that the British introduced Kolkata’s iconic Double Decker buses in line with the Red London buses. The first double-decker bus plied between Shyambazar and Kalighat. Along with the trams, the red double-decker buses became a much-loved symbol of Kolkata. It gained popularity and gradually a fleet of crimson double decker busses were introduced which crisscrossed the arterial thoroughfares of the city. 

However, in the 1990s, the Left Front government phased out these buses because the cost of maintenance of the aging fleet was very high compared to the revenue the vehicles generated. But now, three decades later, the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal, is here to reintroduce the iconic double-decker bus on the roads of Kolkata before the Pujas and Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, flagged off the service today. The buses will cover the Heritage and Cultural Trails of Kolkata, followed by a ride on the Ganges to give tourists a wonderful experience of the city. The new swanky white and blue buses will replace the crimson of yesteryears, but Kolkatans will surely get a chance to revisit the past. 

The government wanted to reintroduce double-decker buses as a novel addition to city's transport fleet. The new re-designed ‘hop-on hop-off’ tourist buses have been designed in-house by the State Transport Department. There are no approved double-decker models, since no Indian automobile manufacturer makes them. These buses were manufactured at Bebbco, Jamshedpur, a company that specializes in manufacturing standard buses, goods vehicles and delivery vans. The buses are environment-friendly, diesel-run and are BS IV compliant and fuel efficient. The design has got the final approval from the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) and the final road worthiness certificate has been obtained and now the vehicles are ready to hit the roads. 

Also read : Kolkata’s iconic double decker bus all set to stage a comeback

The new open-top models will be used as sight-seeing buses for tourists. The Double Decker Trail will cover the iconic landmarks of Victoria Memorial, Fort William, St Johns Church, GPO, Old Currency Building, Dalhousie Square (Binoy Badal Dinesh Bag), Great Eastern Hotel, Curzon Park, Town Hall, Treasury Building, Princep Ghat and Lal Dighi among others.

From the 13th to 22nd October the Lok Prasar Shilpi folk music artistes like Bauls,  singers of Jhumur, Bhatiali, Kabigaan and Tarja from the districts of Paschim  Medinipur, Howrah, Nadia, Purba Bardhaman, Jhargram, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Purba Medinipur will perform before the tourists on the bus to entertain them.

These New Double-Decker Buses to be operated by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation as a tourist attraction is a positive step in boosting the Tourism Industry in Bengal. 

Commercial Operations will commence from 23.10.2020 following all Covid safety protocols. The bookings can be made from the WBTDCL website www.wbtdcl.com from 23.10.2020.

• Department of Tourism, West Bengal

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The Bengal Local

Experience Bengal

Kolkata City Tour

• Start Time: 02.00 PM
• End Time: 05.30 PM
• Tariff: Rs.499/- Lower Deck only per person
• Tariff: Rs.649/- Uppe Deck only per person

Reservation Package is Closed Now.

KOLKATA CONNECT BY DOUBLE DECKER BUS

1.30 PM – Reporting at Tourism Centre, Kolkata 2.00 PM – Starting from Tourism Centre, Kolkata Drive Pass – Lalit Great Eastern -> Raj Bhavan -> Curzon Park -> Red Road Crossing -> Akash Bani Bhavan 2.15 PM – St. John’s Church 2.35 PM – Leave from St. John’s Church Drive Pass – Currency Bhaban -> GPO -> RBI -> Writer’s Building -> Tourism Centre -> Park St. -> Maidan -> Fort William -> Red Road -> Babu Ghat 3.05 PM – Eden Gardens ➢ 3.20 PM – Leave Eden Gardens Drive Pass – High Court 3.30 PM – Princep Ghat 4.00 PM – Leave Princep Ghat (towards Victoria Memorial through PTS) 4.15 PM – Victoria Memorial (Tea & Biscuits with biscuits will be served) 5.00 PM – Leave Victoria Memorial • Drop off will be at St John’s Church, Eden Gardens, Princep Ghat, Victoria Memorial.

Guest may end the tour at Victoria Memorial otherwise at Tourism Centre, Kolkata at 5.30 pm Tour end.

Terms & Conditions 1. Itinerary & Timings are subject to change. 2. WBTDCL reserves the right of cancellation of the tours in case of exigency. 3. Children above 3 years full charges applicable 4. Guide, Bus charges, parking fees and entrance charges are included in the Package. 5. The tourists booking the Ground floor (lower deck) tickets of the Double Decker (Non-AC) bus will be allowed to go to the first floor (upper deck) of the bus when the bus will be stationary at destinations and not otherwise. 6. The tourist booking the first floor (upper deck) of the Kolkata connect tour by Double Decker (Non-AC) bus should take proper protective measures like umbrella, sun screen protection etc as per their convenience as the first floor is roofless. 7. Rs 500/- extra charge is applicable for foreigners for Kolkata Connect tour for Victoria Memorial entry fees.

CANCELLATION RULES: 1. No refund admissible after booking or change of dates. 2. Package is not refundable. 3. No Pre/Postponement allowed.

Registered with Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. Authorised Marketing Agent (AMA) of West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation – WBTDC, &  Benfish-in-Tourism Lodges)

• Sikkim Commerce House, 4/1 Middleton Street, Ground Floor, Kolkata 700071, West Bengal.
• Email ID:  [email protected]
• Website:  www.incredibleindiainfo.org   / www.khorlo.in
• Blog:  www.thebengal local.com / www.bengallocal.in

Regarding Bank deposit please follow instructions as mentioned below:-

Deposit Cheque or Cash  at ICICI Bank Ltd, Middleton Street Branch, Kolkata 700071, Bengal Account Name: KHORLO TOURS & TRAVELS PRIVATE LIMITED Account Number: 355005000049 RTGS / NEFT / IFSC /Code: ICIC0003550

Please check the rules of reservation & cancellation policy before booking. It is mandatory to carry any of the Identity cards (Voter Identity Card / Passport / PAN Card / Driving License / Photo ID card issued by Central / State Govt /Adhar Card). Both these will be examined at the time of check-in.

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13 thoughts on “Kolkata City Tour”

we like to see kolkota city tour on 22.12.17 where to book and how to book please advise, charges, pickup point etc in details regards siddanna d s 9538870257

Please state your arrival details. Do you require airport pick up?

Send a detailed query at [email protected] thanks Nilanjan Basu 9477476376

Sir, We are planning to go for one day Kolkata city tour in the last week of this October. Would you kindly inform the details like where to book, when to book, how to book, what are the charges per person, pick up point, places of visit, etc. With regards Sarala Singh

Hope you have received the mail reply. Please co ordinate with the official who replied you from [email protected]

Hi, I intend to go for one day kolkata city tour on a day tomorrow . Please tell me whom to approach, how to book, pick up point, places to visit and charges etc Regards Shiv

Hi I along with my wife want to see local city Kolkata in one day . suggest please will be it possible to visit in one or two days & please suggest for booking of sight seen traveling date on 11th & 12th May 2022 visit & cost amount to whom it will be deposited in advance

For one or two days you can visit lot of places. Do you love pilgrim spots or happening zones or searching for natural beauty … However these are some places – Dakshineswar Temple, Belur Moth, Waterfront activity at Milennium Jetty. You can visit tourist spots like Victoria Memorial, Cathedral, Writwrs, Princep Ghat, St John’s Church, GPO etc that cover in city tour. You can do the tram ride, horse cart ride, visit local market places, cultural hapenning zones… etc For excursion you can visit Sundarban, Santiniketan, Mayapur etc places

We are one day kolkatta city tour tomorrow. Pl. Consider.

I would like to join kolkata city tour please let me know the same

I visit Kolkata day tour with 10 person please guide me contact no is 8983811372

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Kolkata Is All Set to Bring Back Their Iconic Double Decker Buses with Open Roofs!

Kolkata has a way of being modern yet still retaining its old world charm. Keeping this tradition alive, the local government is all set to bring back the city’s iconic double-decker buses from the days of yore.

Introduced to the city in 1926, these buses were a common sight on the roads and a huge hit with the locals. The very first route of these buses was between Shyambazar (North Kolkata) and Kalighat (South Kolkata). However, by the early 1990s, the government started phasing them out. Currently the city has the double-decker bus running only in the New Town Eco Park area.

The government is looking to welcome the the old days by procuring 10 of these double-decker buses. Five of these buses will have an open top facility while the other five will be covered. With an intention of using them to promote tourism in the city, the remodelled buses will be fully equipped with features like CCTV, automatic doors, electronic controls, cameras, destination boards, seat belts and fire extinguishers.

While double-decker buses are still functional in other cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kerala and Gujarat, very few are used for tourism purposes. Internationally though, the concept of open buses being used for services such as Hop-On, Hop-Off (HOHO) tours and is quite a popular choice among travellers.

With the government planning to launch their services during Durga Puja this year, it will be an interesting to see the city in its full glory.

What do you think of this initiative? Share your views with the travel community on Tripoto.

Have you taken a tour of your city in double-decker bus ? Tell us all about your experience here.

More Stories For Kolkata

Further Reads

CURRENTLY NOT OPERATIONAL. MORE DETAILS CONTAT WB TOURISM TOLL FREE NO 18002121655

The service going to open post Durga Puja and likey cost Rs. 250 per seat. 

Discription: 

It was nearly a century ago in 1926, that the British introduced Kolkata’s iconic Double Decker buses in line with the Red London buses. The first double-decker bus plied between Shyambazar and Kalighat. Along with the trams, the red double-decker buses became a much-loved symbol of Kolkata. It gained popularity and gradually a fleet of crimson double decker busses were introduced which crisscrossed the arterial thoroughfares of the city. 

The government wanted to reintroduce double-decker buses as a novel addition to city's transport fleet. The new re-designed ‘hop-on hop-off’ tourist buses have been designed in-house by the State Transport Department. There are no approved double-decker models, since no Indian automobile manufacturer makes them. These buses were manufactured at Bebbco, Jamshedpur, a company that specializes in manufacturing standard buses, goods vehicles and delivery vans. The buses are environment-friendly, diesel-run and are BS IV compliant and fuel efficient. The design has got the final approval from the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) and the final road worthiness certificate has been obtained and now the vehicles are ready to hit the roads. 

The new open-top models will be used as sight-seeing buses for tourists. The Double Decker Trail will cover the iconic landmarks of Victoria Memorial, Fort William, St Johns Church, GPO, Old Currency Building, Dalhousie Square (Binoy Badal Dinesh Bag), Great Eastern Hotel, Curzon Park, Town Hall, Treasury Building, Princep Ghat and Lal Dighi among others.

From the 13th to 22nd October the Lok Prasar Shilpi folk music artistes like Bauls,  singers of Jhumur, Bhatiali, Kabigaan and Tarja from the districts of Paschim  Medinipur, Howrah, Nadia, Purba Bardhaman, Jhargram, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Purba Medinipur will perform before the tourists on the bus to entertain them.

Activities Around Kolkata

Kolkata :  A city of love and warmth, sorrow and despair, dreams and hopes, poverty and squalor, grandeur and glory. Calcutta is compelling , effervescent, teeming with life and traditions - a medley of moods, styles, cultures, politics, industry and commerce.More than 300 years ago, Job Charnock, an English tradesman set up a trading post on the banks of the Ganga along the three-village nucleus. Gradually Europeans started setting up business and trade establishments, the moneyed class taking interest in banking and usury. The East India Company steadily encroached into matters of state.The fate of the Nawabi rule was sealed in the Battle of Plassey and the English went ahead to seize power, a grip which loosened only 250 years later when power was transferred from the British Empire to the Indians. 

Visit Jain Temple , Kumartoli , Marble Palace,College Street , Park Street Cemetry , Mother Teresa House, Kali Temple 

Bishnupur :  Bishnupur is a town in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. It’s known for its Hindu temples made from local terracotta, such as the pyramid-shaped Rasmancha, established around 1600. Ornate carvings adorn the walls of Jor Bangla Temple. North, Madan Mohan Temple is decorated with scenes from Hindu legends, including the "Mahabharata." In town, the Bishnupur Museum displays manuscripts and ancient sculptures.

Sundarban Tour :  The most difficult part is to write the home page. Well we have to start somewhere. Since sundarban is what you are looking for, let’s start with it! We are not going to indulge ourselves into the arithmetic of how many animals, birds, reptiles or trees exist there, or that it is one of the biggest mangrove expanses and forms the biggest deltas of the world. You can find all these details in the wikipedia, so it’s no point repeating ourselves once again.

Rather we would like to speak about some of the details which are seldom spoken of.

Sundarban Houseboat :  Because at Sundarban Houseboat, you get to experience nature and tranquillity at its best, along with a hassle-free, comfortable and luxurious stay. Our Premium Houseboats are equipped with the best facilities, offering our visitors a stay, that they can never forget. Our houseboats are designed keeping our visitors’ comfort, solace, and wellbeing as a main priority

Kolkata Zoo & Zoological Garden :  The Zoological Garden, Alipore (also informally called the Alipore Zoo or Calcutta Zoo) is India's oldest formally stated zoological park (as opposed to royal and British menageries) and a big tourist attraction in Kolkata, West Bengal. It has been open as a zoo since 1876, and covers 18.811 ha (46.48 acres). It is probably best known as the home of the now expired Aldabra giant tortoise Adwaita, who was reputed to have been over 250 years old when he died in 2006. It is also home to one of the few captive breeding projects involving the Manipur brow-antlered deer. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Kolkata, it draws huge crowds during the winter season, especially during December and January. The highest attendance till date was on January 1, 2018 with 110,000 visitors.

Vivada Cruise :  Vivada Cruises has a mission to innovate the services in waterways in India and to sail the rough waters and explore new horizons. It is also our aim to achieve excellence in our services that we render with integrity and full sincerity.

Vivada Cruises is the largest inland waterways company in India and has been established in 1966 as Bunkerers to ocean going vessels. The main operations of Vivada Inland Waterways Limited are being controlled from Kolkata - the metropolitan city, which is the main hub for Inland Water transport in National waterways 1 and National Waterways 2. Vivada Inland Waterways Ltd has made a name for itself through the path of Integrity, Innovation and Initiation. You can avail of our services and enjoy a jolly good time partying over the Ganges as well as enjoy the holiday options.

How To Reach :

By Air :  The Nearest Airport is Kolkata Airport

By Rail :  The Nearest Railway Station is Kolkata Chitpur , Kolkata Howrah Junction , Kolkata Santragachi Junction , Kolkata Sealdah , Bidhan Nagar Road , Dakhineswar , Belgharia , Dum Dum Junction

By Road :  There are regular buses from other major cities of the country to Kolkata.

KOLKATA CONNECT BY DOUBLE DECKER BUS

• 1.30 PM - Reporting at Tourism Centre, Kolkata
• 2.00 PM - Starting from Tourism Centre, Kolkata
• Drive Pass - Lalit Great Eastern -> Raj Bhavan -> Curzon Park -> Red Road Crossing -> Akash Bani Bhavan
• 2.15 PM - St. John’s Church
• 2.35 PM - Leave from St. John’s Church
• Drive Pass – Currency Bhaban -> GPO -> RBI -> Writer’s Building ->Tourism Centre -> Park St. (2.55 pm) -> Maidan -> Fort William -> RedRoad -> Babu Ghat
• 3.05 PM - Eden Gardens
• 3.20 PM – Leave Eden Gardens
• Drive Pass - High Court
• 3.30 PM - Princep Ghat
• 4.00 PM – Leave Princep Ghat (towards Victoria Memorial through PTS)
• 4.15 PM - Victoria Memorial (Tea & Biscuits with biscuits will be served)
• 5.00 PM – Leave Victoria Memorial
• Drop off will be at St John's Church, Eden Gardens, Princep Ghat,Victoria Memorial.
• Tour ends at Victoria Memorial approx. 5pm

TIME 2 PM TO 5.30 PM. Price starts Rs. 599/-  + Service Charges as applicable

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West Bengal plans to bring back Kolkata’s iconic double-decker buses

The Left Front government phased out double-decker buses in the nineties when Jyoti Basu was the chief minister. The government said the cost of maintenance of the aging fleet was very high compared to the revenue the vehicles generated.

The West Bengal government is planning to reintroduce Kolkata’s iconic double-decker buses in the city more than two decades after they were phased out, transport minister Suvendu Adhikari told the state assembly on Wednesday.

Along with the trams, the red double-decker buses became a much-loved symbol of Kolkata after the British introduced them in the city in 1926. The first route connected Shyambazar in the north and Kalighat in the south.

Participating in a question-answer session in the Assembly on Wednesday, Adhikari said that state transport secretary who had visited London recently had submitted a report about reintroducing the buses.

“He has submitted a report. The proposal is under active consideration. We have plans to launch four to five open-top double-decker buses as a pilot project,” he said.

Outside the Assembly the minister refused to divulge details on the routes. “The transport secretary’s report is with the chief minister. She will take the final call and accordingly we will proceed with the plan. All I can say is that we have a positive approach about launching these buses,” Adhikari said.

The then transport minister had claimed that the cost of operation per km of these vehicles each with the capacity to carry 80 passengers, was almost double than that of running ordinary buses.

The idea of reintroducing double-decker buses was again floated in 2013 by the then transport minister Madan Mitra, who wanted to introduce AC double-deckers exclusively for tourists.

“If London and Mumbai can still run double-deckers, why can’t they run again in Kolkata?” Mitra had argued.

• West Bengal

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Ryask Tourism

Ryask Tourism (An ISO 9001 : 2015 Company) Is A Community Based Tourism Provider In India. Recognised by Ministry Of Tourism, Govt Of India.

• Kolkata Local

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Kolkata city tour by double decker bus.

                                          KOLKATA CITY TOUR BY DOUBLE DECKER BUS

DOUBLE DECKER BUS RIDE BY WEST BENGAL TOURISM

Welcome to an unforgettable city tour of Kolkata starting with a ride on Double Decker Bus.

Date of Operation :-

Every Saturday & Sunday 2.00PM to 5.30 PM

Upper Deck (18 Seats) @ Rs.649/- per head (with Tea & Snacks)

Lower Deck (16 Seats) @ Rs. 499/- per head (with Tea & Snacks)

KOLKATA CONNECT BY DOUBLE DECKER BUS ITINERARY

➢ 1.30 PM - Reporting at Tourism Centre, Kolkata ➢ 2.00 PM - Starting from Tourism Centre, Kolkata ➢ Drive Pass - Lalit Great Eastern -> Raj Bhavan -> Curzon Park -> Red Road Crossing -> Akash Bani Bhavan ➢ 2.15 PM - St. John’s Church ➢ 2.35 PM - Leave from St. John’s Church ➢ Drive Pass – Currency Bhaban -> GPO -> RBI -> Writer’s Building -> Tourism Centre -> Park St. (2.55 pm) -> Maidan -> Fort William -> Red Road -> Babu Ghat ➢ 3.05 PM - Eden Gardens ➢ 3.20 PM – Leave Eden Gardens ➢ Drive Pass - High Court ➢ 3.30 PM - Princep Ghat ➢ 4.00 PM – Leave Princep Ghat (towards Victoria Memorial through PTS) ➢ 4.15 PM - Victoria Memorial (Tea & Biscuits with biscuits will be served) ➢ 5.00 PM – Leave Victoria Memorial • Drop off will be at St John's Church, Eden Gardens, Princep Ghat, Victoria Memorial. • Guest may end the tour at Victoria Memorial otherwise at Tourism Centre, Kolkata at 5.30 pm Tour end.

Terms & Conditions 1. Itinerary & Timings are subject to change. 2. WBTDCL reserves the right of cancellation of the tours in case of exigency. 3. Children above 3 years full charges applicable 4. Guide, Bus charges, parking fees and entrance charges are included in the Package. 5. The tourists booking the Ground floor (lower deck) tickets of the Double Decker (Non-AC) bus will be allowed to go to the first floor (upper deck) of the bus when the bus will be stationary at destinations and not otherwise. 6. The tourist booking the first floor (upper deck) of the Kolkata connect tour by Double Decker (Non-AC) bus should take proper protective measures like umbrella, sun screen protection etc as per their convenience as the first floor is roofless. 7. Rs 500/- extra charge is applicable for foreigners for Kolkata Connect tour for Victoria Memorial entry fees.

*NOTE - NO REFUND APPLICABLE FOR CANCELLATION OF KOLKATA CONNECT BUS TOUR.

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Kolkata: Double-decker buses set to make comeback, this time with open roof

The bus bodies have been designed in-house by transport department and two of these are being readied for service, West Bengal Transport secretary N S Nigam said.

The West Bengal Transport Department is set to reintroduce the iconic double-decker bus on city roads, a senior official said here.

He said that the new double-decker buses will hit the roads in March.

“These will be open roof and if the design is successful, we can look at the options of making more such buses,” he told PTI.

He said that two open roof double-decker buses will be used for tourist services.

“We have to develop them as there is no standard design, we have developed our own design,” Nigam said when asked whether double-decker buses will be introduced for public transportation on city routes.

Nigam said that after the introduction of open roof buses, the transport department will try to develop the design of bodies of these buses more to take the project forward for public transportation.

Double-decker buses had made it to the city roads during the Raj era and the red and white-coloured behemoths had been part of Kolkata ’s public transportation till the mid-1990s, before these were phased out owing to high maintenance costs.

The Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), which is now known as WBTC following the merger of three state transport undertakings, also used to run trailer double-deckers in a few routes, with the most popular being the iconic L-9.

The only city in the country that now has double-decker buses in its public transportation fleet is Mumbai , with transporter BEST plying around 50 of these at present.

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16 Most Scenic Double-Decker Bus Rides in the World (#10 Is a Hidden Gem)

Posted: October 11, 2023 | Last updated: October 11, 2023

When you think of a double-decker bus, your mind may automatically jump to London's famed two-floor, red buses — and rightly so. But there are many other incredible double-decker bus tours, where guests can sit in an open-air top floor worldwide. 

You may not be aware of the fun things you can get up to and the amazing sights you can see on these tours all over the world. So step up your travel game and climb aboard these 16 famous double-decker bus tours from around the world.

Compare the best travel credit cards for nearly free travel

Barcelona Bus Turístic – Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona's Bus Turístic is one of several popular double-decker bus tours in the city that lets riders hop on and hop off at dozens of incredible sites.

Audio guides are available in more than a dozen languages (headphones are provided on the bus), and riders can take in everything from La Sagrada Familia to Camp Nou football stadium.

Booking with Bus Turístic on one of your first days in Barcelona can help save money on travel by narrowing down which spots you can devote more time to.

Get expert advice on making more money - sent straight to your inbox.

City Sightseeing Cape Town – Cape Town, South Africa

City Sightseeing’s Cape Town bus tours give passengers access to three different routes, with the hop-on, hop-off buses passing through several major tourist destinations.

Audio tours are available in 15 languages, and the bus loops stop at breathtaking attractions like Table Mountain’s cableway station and the Camps Bay Strip, where riders can check out the stunning beach.

Big Bus Chicago – Chicago, USA

Big Bus is not the only hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus option in the Windy City, but it’s one of the more popular choices.

The tour stops at major attractions throughout the city, like the Chicago Riverwalk, Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), Millennium Park (home of The Bean), and Navy Pier.

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Big Bus Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Big Bus also has an option to explore Dubai on one of their double-decker buses.

Choose from a 24-hour, 48-hour, or five-day hop-on, hop-off ticket and visit the city's stunning landmarks, including Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building), Heritage Village, and Palm Jumeirah.

DoDublin – Dublin, Ireland

DoDublin’s hop-on, hop-off bus tour is one of the most popular in Ireland’s capital city. Riders can book 24- or 48-hour passes and check out several of the city’s famed landmarks.

A tour guide will give riders the low-down as they visit top tourist destinations like Trinity College and the Book of Kells, the Guinness Storehouse, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and more.

Edinburgh Tour – Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh Tour takes passengers on a big, green bus to many of Scotland’s capital city’s most stunning landmarks — from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The tours begin at Waterloo Place and feature a live guide. Passengers are free to hop on and off at any time while their ticket is active or ride for the duration of the tour (about an hour).

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Big Bus Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

Big Bus also offers hop-on, hop-off tours of Hong Kong that hit all the major sites — from Victoria Peak and Lan Kwai Fong to Victoria Harbour.

Riders can listen to pre-recorded commentary (available in 10 languages) and choose a 24-hour, 48-hour, or night tour ticket, which includes a stunning nighttime view of the Kowloon Peninsula.

Big Bus Las Vegas – Las Vegas, USA

Big Bus’s Las Vegas tours take riders to all the major sites — from the Strip and the Bellagio fountains to the Downtown District — in their open-air, two-floor buses.

These hop-on, hop-off tours also feature live guides, so riders can be entertained and educated about the area. Riders can buy 24-hour, 48-hour, or night tour tickets.

The Classic Tour – London, England

Naturally, there are many incredible bus tours in London, home of the famed red double-decker buses. The Classic Tour, which packs riders onto a vintage 1960s double-decker Routemaster, is a fan favorite.

The tours feature hilarious live guides and take riders through the city’s top tourist destinations — from Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

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New York Iconic – New York, USA

There are many hop-on, hop-off bus tour options in New York City, but a relatively lesser known, yet still highly rated, option is the big, orange New York Iconic bus tour.

The company offers different tour options — like a Downtown tour, an Uptown tour, or an All City Express tour (that hits hotspots like Grand Central Station and the Plaza Hotel). Many tours also come with a live guide.

France Tourisme – Paris, France

A two-hour tour where riders can listen to commentary in one of five languages, France Tourisme’s Paris double-decker takes passengers to some of the City of Light’s most stunning landmarks.

Riders will be able to enjoy the beauty of the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and the Louvre Museum — and learn about the city’s rich history while doing so.

I Love Rome – Rome, Italy

I Love Rome’s hop-on, hop-off bus tour takes passengers on a hot pink bus to some of the ancient city’s most popular and stunning landmarks.

The open-air bus stops at the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, Vatican City, and more. And with buses running every 15 to 20 minutes, passengers can spend as long as they like at each stop.

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Big Bus San Francisco – San Francisco, USA

Big Bus San Francisco offers several options for tour enthusiasts visiting the Bay Area.

They offer the classic 1- and 2-day hop-on, hop-off tours (which hit the city’s hot spots), options to add a visit to Alcatraz into the ticket price, or a wine tour that takes riders to several Napa Valley wineries.

FunVee – Singapore

Those looking for a fun weekend excursion in Singapore should consider the FunVee bus tour, which offers incredible views of Singapore’s skyline.

The double-decker bus tour runs on Saturdays and Sundays and takes riders past stunning sites like Sri Mariamman Temple, Merlion Park, Marina Bay Sands, and Gardens by the Bay.

Big Bus Sydney – Sydney, Australia

Big Bus also offers several packages for riders in Sydney. Each tour covers the city’s most well-known landmarks — like Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House, and Bondi Beach.

Some packages include extra excursions, like a pass for the company’s hop-on, hop-off harbor cruise, or admission to attractions like the Sydney Tower Eye.

City Sightseeing Toronto – Toronto, Canada

City Sightseeing offers a great Toronto double-decker bus tour where riders can hop off at more than a dozen prime locations throughout the city.

The bus stops at sites like the Royal Ontario Museum, the famed CN Tower, Queen’s Park, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and more. Consider booking your bus tour with a travel credit card to earn travel rewards while you explore.

Bottom line

A city bus tour is a smart way to get your bearings when visiting somewhere new since you’re paying for transportation to many top tourist destinations in one shot.

The great thing about many of these tours — aside from the very flexible hop-on, hop-off options — is that they’re one of the best smart travel hacks that can save you money. 

Visit one of the tours on this list next time you're visiting one of these terrific locations worldwide. 

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Megabus owner coach usa files for bankruptcy as ridership fails to recover from pandemic.

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Coach USA, the operator of Megabus and other commuter bus lines in the US and Canada, filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware late Tuesday, seeking to sell its assets and shed debt incurred in an ill-timed 2019 private equity buyout.

Coach, the largest privately-owned bus company in the US, was acquired by private equity firm Variant Equity Advisors for $270 million, mostly using debt that is still on the company’s books.

Coach quickly ran into trouble servicing its debt, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused bus ridership to decline by 90% from 2019 to 2020, according to documents filed in Wilmington, Del., bankruptcy court.

While ridership levels have rebounded somewhat since the lows of 2020, they were still only 45% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, and Coach has faced higher interest rates and increased costs for basic needs like employee retention and fuel, Coach said in its court filings.

Coach CEO Derrick Waters said that buses will continue to run as normal during the company’s bankruptcy.

“Our top priority remains safely carrying the millions of passengers who choose our buses each year and working closely with our valued contract customers and transportation agency partners,” Waters said in a statement.

Coach entered Chapter 11 with $197.8 million in debt, including $37 million due on a pandemic relief loan under the Coronavirus Aid Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act , and at least $134 million in other unpaid obligations, including trade debts.

Coach USA operates in 27 locations in the US and Canada, with 2,700 employees and 2,070 buses operating. The company operates several other bus brands in addition to Coach, including Megabus, Dillon’s Bus Company, and Go Van Galder.

Coach entered bankruptcy with three sale agreements in place, each of which is subject to higher and better offers. Those sale agreements cover 16 of Coach’s 25 business lines, and they would preserve jobs for about 2,100 Coach employees, according to court documents.

Renco Group, a private investment company, would acquire the majority of Coach’s assets in exchange for taking on $130 million of company debt and certain union contracts.

Avalon Transportation would buy bus lines in Atlanta, Georgia and Western states, as well as specialized tour bus divisions operated by Coach, for $14.8 million, and ABC Buses would buy a fleet of 143 double-decker buses for $2.3 million, according to court documents.

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