Best of · SIGHTSEEING BUS TOURS IN THE USA
Guided runs with a driver who talks, rather than a recorded loop you dip in and out of. The 15 below cover the city circuits and the longer half-day tours, with durations and what entry is included.
Use Big Bus New York for a first look at Manhattan from an open-top double-decker. Choose a half-day, 24, 48, or 72-hour ticket, hear commentary in six languages, and hop off near the 9/11 Memorial, Battery Park, Broadway, Museum Mile, and more. The app tracks buses in real time.
“It was great to hear about the city as we drive through each section.”
Use a one-day pass to ride between 18 New Orleans stops, from Jackson Square and Frenchmen Street to the Garden District and WWII Museum. Live guides such as Logan, Steve, Elroy, and Linda add history, humor, and local tips. A full loop takes about 90 minutes.
“The tour guide was so good. Interesting tidbits about New Orleans and had a great sense of humor. You could tell he enjoyed his job.”
Ride an open-top double-decker bus through Midtown, Downtown, and Uptown Manhattan with recorded commentary, live tracking, and flexible hop-on hop-off access. A 24-hour ticket covers Downtown, while 48- and 72-hour options add Uptown, Brooklyn, and self-guided walks.
“My sister and I spent the weekend in NYC, and since it was her first time visiting, we decided to try the hop‑on hop‑off bus tour. It turned out to be such a wonderful experience. We both absolutely loved it. We learned so much about the city—insights and stories we never would have discovered on our own. It truly made our trip even more memorable.”
Use a 1-, 2-, or 3-day pass to tour Washington DC by open-top double-decker bus. Hear recorded commentary while stopping near the White House, Capitol, memorials, museums, Arlington Cemetery, Georgetown, and the Wharf. The app tracks buses, and optional audio tours add Arlington, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown.
“The hop on hop off was great in theory except for when the bus driver stopped at a stop spot and bitched and complained about stuff for 15 to 20 minutes while we were waiting to get to the next stop before it closed. Then the bus driver told us that we had to be back on the bus by 4:15 or we wouldn’t have a way back to our original Location and we saw buses picking up people at 6:00 so we had to pay $118 for the tour and then we had to pay an additional $40 for an Uber to get back when the bus could’ve taken…”
Ride an open-top double-decker through Downtown Las Vegas and along the Strip for about two to three hours. Hear digital commentary in English or Spanish, watch the Bellagio fountains from above, and choose an 8 PM adults-only tour with a drink or a late-night trip with a photo stop at the famous Las Vegas sign.
“Great way to see the strip and other parts of Las Vegas without mingling in the hustle and bustle! Love it”
Ride Big Bus San Francisco’s open-top route past Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Alamo Square, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Use the recorded commentary, live bus tracking, and flexible hop-on, hop-off access to shape your own city tour.
“The driver was great negotiating tight turns and was informative and polite.”
This five-and-a-half-hour Miami tour combines an open-top bus ride with a 90-minute Biscayne Bay cruise. You’ll pass South Beach, downtown, Little Havana, Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and Millionaire’s Row, with free time for food and shopping. Arrive 30 minutes early at Lincoln Road.
“Online reservation was easy and fast. Be there 30min before your departure time. Double decker bus with open top gives opportunity to take good photos. Our driver was very knowledgeable about the city. Second half of the day in the boat was excellent guided tour. Spent time at the bayfront Park at the end of the day. This is the best way to see the city.”
Join Gray Line Tennessee at 108 1st Avenue South for a one-hour Nashville tour on an open-air double-decker bus. A live guide points out more than 100 sights, from Ryman Auditorium and Lower Broadway to Vanderbilt, the Parthenon, and Nissan Stadium. Choose the top deck for broad views or the enclosed lower level in poor weather.
“If you know nothing about Nashville this was a very interesting and informative hour spent seeing some sites and learning some history about this city. Worth the cost. Our tour speaker was very good! It helped us see parts of the town we may not have ever known about or found out on line.”
Ride Big Bus Las Vegas for two hours of nighttime sightseeing, with open-top views of the Strip, Bellagio, Fremont Street, the Stratosphere, and the Welcome sign. Digital commentary explains Vegas history, while the 21+ option includes a welcome drink before departure.
“We really enjoyed this tour. At first, I thought it was gonna be too long, but then we got to the older part of town and that was really interesting to see as well. We went on Halloween and that was a lot of fun.”
See Chicago from an open-top double-decker bus, with stops at Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Museum Campus, Willis Tower, and the Magnificent Mile. Use the app to track buses, listen to recorded commentary, and hop off for museums, parks, river walks, and city views.
“Big bus is not Greyline hop on hop off but did provide a great way to get an overview of Chicago downtown, parks, and museums.”
Use a 24 or 48-hour pass to ride between nine Las Vegas stops, from MGM Grand and the High Roller to the Mob Museum and the famous sign. You get digital audio, live driver commentary, open-air upper-deck views, and optional access to a 7 PM panoramic night tour.
“Not enough stops there were places we would have liked to get off and there was no stop anywhere near there but besides that it was fine I would only book this if you are using it as a driving tour around the strip”
Ride from Bayside Marketplace through downtown Miami and South Beach on a 75 to 90-minute open-top night tour. A live English-speaking guide, personal headphones, and views of the Port of Miami, Lincoln Road, Brickell, and Bayfront Park make this an easy first look at the city after dark.
“Really good tour. Very enjoyable. Guide was very entertaining, and got to see parts of the city i would not have visited on my own”
Travel by air-conditioned luxury bus from Bon’s near Jackson Square through Marigny, Tremé, the Lower 9th Ward, City Park, Uptown, and the Garden District. Your English-speaking guide may be Cynthia, Sean, DJ, John, or another local expert. Expect one cemetery walk, a City Park stop, and time for beignets.
“tour was fantastic, very informative and saw a lot of places we otherwise wouldnt have seen.”
Spend about 90 minutes touring Charleston by air-conditioned minibus, limited to 14 people. Guides such as Neal Cook, Benjamin, Nick, Smitty, and Sean share stories as you pass Rainbow Row, the Battery, St. Michael’s Church, White Point Gardens, and historic homes.
“Very informative. Ver Interesting. Easy to listen to. Fun facts. Kept us entertained. Hit all the best highlights”
Use a 24, 48, or 72-hour Big Bus pass to see Chicago from an open-top double-decker. Ride past Willis Tower, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Museum Campus, and the Magnificent Mile, then hop off to explore. Digital commentary, app tracking, and optional walking tours or an architecture cruise add value.
“Absolutely loved this! So informative and detailed. Lots of buses so weren't waiting long when we got off at stops. Super friendly staff. Such an enjoyable experience”
A loop, an open deck, a night run or a whole day on the coach.
