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Hop-on Hop-off Bus in Dublin

Three operators, prices from €34, routes and journey times 2026 compared - plus the cheaper alternative with the Leap Card. Everything for your decision.

A red Big Bus hop-on hop-off double-decker parked outside the neoclassical General Post Office on O'Connell Street in Dublin.
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Three operators at a glance

In 2026, three major operators share Dublin's hop-on hop-off market, all running with no noticeable gaps in service:

  • DoDublin (green buses): Part of Dublin Bus, the city's transport operator, since 1988. Drivers are Dublin Bus staff trained by Fáilte Ireland and offer live or recorded commentary in nine languages, including German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian, Irish and English, depending on the departure.
  • City Sightseeing Dublin (red buses): Part of the international City Sightseeing network and an independent competitor, separate from Dublin Bus. Commentary here is recorded only, but available in eight languages.
  • Big Bus Tours (Red Route): The third major double-decker operator, with an audio guide in seven languages plus an English-speaking live guide on board.

The real difference lies less in the route than in the commentary: DoDublin is the only operator that runs live guides throughout - which is why the operator advertises having the most five-star reviews worldwide among hop-on hop-off tours. There's barely any other classic double-decker competition beyond these three; niche formats such as the Vintage Tea Bus with afternoon tea are more of an experience than an actual city tour.

Routes and stops

All three operators call at the same major sights - the loops overlap heavily, simply because Dublin's highlights sit close together.

DoDublin and City Sightseeing run a main route through the centre with stops including the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College (Book of Kells), Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo, Kilmainham Gaol, the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, St Patrick's Cathedral, Temple Bar and Dublin Castle. The exact number of stops on the green route isn't entirely consistent - sources put it anywhere between roughly 25 and over 30.

Big Bus operates, according to its own current information, a single route in 2026: the Red Route, with 25 stops from Upper O'Connell Street to the Guinness Storehouse. It passes Samuel Beckett Bridge, Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St Patrick's Cathedral, Phoenix Park and the zoo, the Old Jameson Distillery, Christ Church Cathedral, Kilmainham Gaol and the National Gallery of Ireland, among others. An earlier second (blue) route out to the suburbs no longer appears on the operator's current site - so don't rely on the tourist bus for destinations such as Glasnevin Cemetery or Croke Park.

A full loop without getting off takes around one hour 45 minutes with DoDublin and City Sightseeing. That's useful for getting your bearings early on, before hopping off at the stops that interest you most.

Departure times and frequency

Buses run frequently during the day, so waiting times at stops stay manageable:

  • DoDublin: First departure at 09:00 from Stop 1, last departure at 18:00. Frequency is every 20 to 30 minutes, dropping to every 20 minutes in the core window between roughly 10:00 and 16:00. Seasonally, service ends around 17:00 in winter and around 18:00 in summer.
  • Big Bus: First departure at 09:00 from Stop 1 (Upper O'Connell Street), last departure at 17:00, buses every 20 to 30 minutes.

Practical tip: start with one of the first buses of the day. You'll have the whole day ahead of you, won't need to rush at any sight, and stand a better chance of an open seat on the upper deck. In light drizzle, with the right clothing, you'll often have the top deck almost to yourself.

Prices 2026 compared

Tickets run in 24, 48 and 72-hour tiers, each starting from first activation on the bus. On all three operators, one child under 15 travels free per paying adult.

DoDublin / City Sightseeing (green and red brand):

  • 24 hours: Adult €34, child (6-14) €14, student (15+) €32, senior (65+) €32
  • 48 hours: Adult €39, child €19, student €37, senior €37
  • 72 hours: Adult €44, child €24, student €42, senior €42

Every one of these tickets includes free admission to the Little Museum of Dublin in 2026 - a nice bonus, since many other attractions charge separately.

Big Bus Tours:

  • 24 hours (Discover): Adult from €35 (full price €37)
  • 48 hours (Essential): €41 (full price €44), includes Night Tour
  • 72 hours (Explore): €67 (full price €74), includes Night Tour and Wicklow Mountains Tour

With Big Bus, children up to 15 travel free per paying adult, and infants up to 4 always travel free. There's no reliably separate 2026 pricing for City Sightseeing as an independent operator, since the DoDublin and City Sightseeing brands overlap heavily online.

What costs extra?

A common misunderstanding: the bus ticket gets you to the sights, but doesn't cover their admission. You'll pay separately for the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol, EPIC, the Teeling or Jameson distilleries, and the Book of Kells at Trinity College.

Free to visit, on the other hand, are the public spaces along the route - Phoenix Park, St Stephen's Green and Temple Bar - as well as the Little Museum of Dublin, which is included in the bus ticket. If you're planning to see several paid attractions anyway, it's worth checking whether a combined pass pays off: the Dublin Pass already includes the hop-on hop-off tour, along with free admission to numerous sights.

The cheaper alternative - Leap Card

If it's mainly the journey you're after, rather than the audio guide and the double-decker, public transport is significantly cheaper. With the TFI Leap Card, a 90-minute journey within the Dublin City zone costs just €2 - including transfers between bus, the Luas tram and DART/commuter rail.

Even simpler for short trips is the Leap Visitor Card, with unlimited travel on Dublin Bus, Luas and DART (Zone 1):

  • 1 day: €8
  • 3 days: €18
  • 7 days: €24

That's dramatically cheaper than a hop-on hop-off ticket - but without commentary, an open top deck, or a sightseeing loop. In honest terms: the tourist bus is worth it if you want a narrated city tour with a live or audio guide and enjoy the open-air view. If you just want flexible transport, you're better off with the Leap Card. Full details are in our guides to the Leap Card and getting around Dublin; for other guided formats, see our overview of tours and day trips.

Frequently asked questions

Which hop-on hop-off operator is best in Dublin?+
For live commentary on board, DoDublin (green buses) is the top pick - the operator is part of Dublin Bus, uses guides trained by Fáilte Ireland, and scores 4.5 out of 5 stars in guest reviews. If you can do without a live guide, City Sightseeing (red buses) or Big Bus are often a little cheaper.
How much does a hop-on hop-off ticket cost in Dublin in 2026?+
With DoDublin, an adult pays €34 for 24 hours, €39 for 48 hours and €44 for 72 hours. Big Bus starts at €35 for 24 hours. One child under 15 travels free per paying adult.
Is the hop-on hop-off bus worth it, or is the Leap Card enough?+
It depends what you're after. The Leap Visitor Card costs just €8 a day and gets you anywhere on public transport - but without an audio guide, a double-decker, or a sightseeing loop. If you value the commentary and the open-top upper deck, the tourist bus is the right call; if you just want a cheap way from A to B, take the Leap Card.
How long does a full loop take?+
The DoDublin and City Sightseeing loop takes around one hour 45 minutes without getting off. Tickets run from first activation on the bus for 24, 48 or 72 hours, leaving plenty of time for several stops.