Booking choice: The Big Bus hop-on hop-off, from $56 per person. Check dates Tour details
Big Bus sells a hop-on hop-off ticket valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The guided tours, from Vantigo's VW bus to the Gray Line coach, run a set loop with a live guide in two to four hours.
Neither is better for everyone. The answer depends on your time, your budget and how much you want to explore on foot.
The quick answer
Choose the hop-on hop-off bus if you want the lowest price, a full day or more at your own pace, or step-free access. Choose a guided tour if you want a live guide, a small group and the main viewpoints in a few hours. The guided tours here rate 4.2 to 5.0; the Big Bus rates 4.1.
How do hop-on hop-off and guided tours compare?
The hop-on hop-off bus wins on price, time and flexibility; the guided tours win on commentary, group size and ratings.
| Big Bus hop-on hop-off | Guided VW bus (Vantigo) | |
|---|---|---|
| From | $56 | $103 |
| Time | 24, 48 or 72 hours | About 3 hours |
| Commentary | Recorded audio with earbuds | Live guide |
| Group | Large open-top double-decker | At most 7 guests |
| Stops | 18 Red Route stops, stay as long as you like | 5 photo stops of 5 to 10 minutes |
| Rating | 4.1 (4,768) | 5.0 (836) |
| Wheelchair | Accessible, call ahead | Not accessible |
How does the Big Bus hop-on hop-off work?
You start at any stop and ride the Red Route, which has 18 stops and runs about every 15 minutes from 10 AM to 5 PM.
A full loop takes about 2.5 hours if you stay on board. The Yellow Route adds five stops around the Painted Ladies and Haight-Ashbury, every two hours from 11 AM. The Big Bus app stores your ticket and shows the buses live.
Want a whole day at your own pace? The 24-hour ticket is the cheapest tour here.
Check dates for the Big Bus hop-on hop-offWhy is the hop-on hop-off bus rated lower?
Its 4.1 average from 4,768 reviews means a real mix of experiences, while the small guided tours sit at 4.9 to 5.0.
Recent five-star reviewers praise the convenience, the clean buses and the audio. The low scores on the listing repeat the same few complaints: waits of 25 to 45 minutes for a bus, stops that are hard to find once you leave stop 1, earbuds or audio that cut out, and a loop that only runs one way.
Two habits help. Board at the first stop, and keep the Big Bus app open to see where the next bus is.
What does a guided tour give you that the big bus does not?
A live guide who answers questions, a small group, and a route that links the viewpoints in one go.
Several VW tour guests mention guides taking photos for them, playing music and giving restaurant tips. The trade-off is that you cannot stay longer at a stop.
Prefer a live guide? Five photo stops and at most seven guests in three hours.
Explore the Vantigo VW bus tour Tour detailsDoes either tour cross the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Big Bus listing shows the Golden Gate Bridge as a Red Route stop; the Gray Line coach tour is the one here whose listing says it crosses the bridge.
One Big Bus guest wrote that crossing the bridge was the highlight. The current route map is on the Big Bus website. Vantigo makes a 10-minute photo stop at the bridge.
Which is better for travelers with limited mobility?
The Big Bus: it is listed as wheelchair accessible if you call ahead, while the VW buses and vans are not.
Children 3 to 12 also pay a lower Big Bus rate, and infants ride on laps.
Can you do both?
Yes, and some guests do: one Love Tour guest rode the big bus in the morning and the Love Tour later, and felt they saw the smaller streets as well.
For a one-day plan that mixes a guided tour with your own exploring, see one day in San Francisco.
Small streets after the big bus? The Love Tour takes two hours.
Check dates for the Love TourWhich should you book?
The hop-on hop-off bus for a budget, a long stay or step-free access; a guided tour for a short stay and a live story.
Not sure which guided tour? Compare them in VW bus tours compared.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Big Bus commentary live?
No. The listing describes digital audio commentary with souvenir earbuds.
How often does the hop-on hop-off bus run?
The Red Route runs about every 15 minutes from 10 AM to 5 PM; the Yellow Route every two hours from 11 AM.
Is the hop-on hop-off bus worth it?
For a full day at your own pace on a budget, often yes. Its 4.1 rating means experiences are mixed, so read recent reviews first.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Open-Top Tour
- 24, 48 or 72-hour ticket; Red Route 10 AM to 5 PM, about every 15 minutes
- Digital audio commentary with earbuds; Big Bus app with live tracking
- 48 h adds a sunset tour and digital Chinatown walk; 72 h also adds a bay cruise
San Francisco City Tour by Vintage VW Bus
- Live guide and commentary on San Francisco history
- Vintage Volkswagen bus, maximum 7 travelers
- Stops: Coit Tower, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks, Painted Ladies
Gray Line San Francisco Grand City Tour
A classic coach tour over the bridge to Vista Point
