First-time visitors who want an efficient orientation before exploring alone.
city tours IrelandMe tour notes
City Sightseeing Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
See Dublin your way with 24, 48 or 72-hour hop-on hop-off access across 30+ stops, open-top views, audio in 8 languages, and free walking tour included.
From €34 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration2 hours
PriceFrom €34
Rating4.0 from 2,422 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
What stands out about this one
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
If you want to see all the major Dublin landmarks without spending half your trip working out bus routes or walking distances, this is the practical choice. You pick up a 24, 48, or 72-hour pass, hop on the open-top double-decker, and loop around 30+ stops covering every significant landmark in the city. Jump off wherever you want, take your time, and get back on when you're ready.
The route covers the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin Castle, the Ha'penny Bridge, Phoenix Park, and Kilmainham Gaol, along with practically everywhere else you'd put on a Dublin list. Being up on the open top deck makes a real difference - you get a perspective on the city's Georgian rooflines and riverside that you simply don't get at street level, and it's a much better angle for photography.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
The best time to do the full loop without stopping is your first morning in Dublin. Staying on for the whole circuit gives you a brilliant overview of how the city is laid out - where the quays run, which neighbourhoods sit where, how far Phoenix Park actually is from the centre. After that loop, you'll have a much clearer sense of where you want to go back and explore properly.
How the experience works
The audio guide runs in 8 languages, so you can follow Dublin's history as the bus moves through it. What makes this particularly worth the price is what comes bundled in alongside the bus access. Depending on which ticket tier you choose, you get a free walking tour, entry to the Irish Whiskey Museum or World of Illusions, a sightseeing bike tour on the 72-hour ticket, and discounts at restaurants and pubs along the route. If you're travelling with kids, one child aged 4 to 12 travels free with every two paying adults.
What the price covers
- Unlimited hop-on hop-off bus access for 24, 48, or 72 hours
- Audio commentary in 8 languages
- Free walking tour
- Entry to Irish Whiskey Museum or World of Illusions (48 and 72-hour tickets)
- Sightseeing bike tour (72-hour ticket only)
- One free child ticket (aged 4 to 12) per two paying adults
- Various restaurant and pub discounts along the route
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks unless specified
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Local tips that make the day better
The stop at Kilmainham Gaol is worth more time than most people give it. The gaol tour runs separately and takes around an hour, but it's one of the most historically significant sites in Ireland - the leaders of the 1916 Rising were imprisoned and executed here. Book your gaol tour slot in advance, as it fills up quickly, and use the hop-on hop-off to get there rather than trying to walk it from the city centre.
Phoenix Park is the size of a small town and deserves at least 90 minutes if the weather is decent. It's home to the President of Ireland's official residence, the Irish War Memorial, a herd of fallow deer, and the Dublin Zoo, all within one enormous green space. Most visitors underestimate it and only stay 20 minutes - don't make that mistake.
If you're doing the 72-hour ticket and picking up the bike tour, try to fit that in on day two rather than cramming everything into day one. The bike tour covers the city centre from a completely different angle and doubles as a good orientation for anything you want to revisit on foot.
For the open-top deck in Dublin, sit on the right-hand side heading away from the city centre and the left-hand side coming back toward it. You'll catch the river views and the best angles on Christ Church and Dublin Castle from those positions.
Good to know before booking
- The full loop takes approximately 2 hours if you stay on the bus the whole way
- Buses run daily all year round except Christmas Day
- The top deck is open air, so bring a jacket or rain gear just in case
- The route is wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all ages and fitness levels
Make more of the area
- Guinness Storehouse Self-Guided Tour - seven floors of brewing history at the home of Ireland's most famous stout, with a pint at the Gravity Bar to finish.
- Kilmainham Gaol Museum Tour - one of the best-preserved Victorian gaols in Europe and the site where the 1916 leaders were executed.
- Dublin Literary Pub Crawl - actor-guides bring Joyce, Beckett and Behan to life in the pubs that shaped Irish literary history.
Questions before you book
How long is City Sightseeing Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour?
The published duration is 2 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does City Sightseeing Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour cost?
The listed starting price is From €34. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €34 · 2 hours Check dates & prices ↗
