# Big Bus Tours: Hop On, Hop Off — Bus Tracking, Tickets & Maps

> Global city tour bus tracking, ticketing, and local attraction guide. (iPhone/iPad app by Big Bus Tours Ltd.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-bus-tours-hop-on-hop-off/id590746945 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Big Bus Tours Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/590746948)
- Category: Travel, Navigation
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 24,421 App Store ratings · 487 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 143 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2013-01-20
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-bus-tours-hop-on-hop-off/id590746945/reviews.md

## What is Big Bus Tours?

Big Bus Tours is your essential travel companion for hop-on hop-off sightseeing aboard our double-decker buses, across more than 25 cities worldwide, including London, Paris and New York. Our free app brings together everything you need to make the most of your visit, from real-time bus tracking to ticket booking, all in one place.

Over 25 Cities Worldwide
Switch easily between cities, with no additional downloads required when you move on to your next destination. Join over four million tourists who explore with us every year.

Real-Time Bus Tracking
See the real-time location and stop arrival times of our Big Buses.

Interactive Maps
View our Big Bus tour routes, stop locations, landmarks and attractions.

Stop Details
Accurate pins on our maps, with supporting location photographs, addresses, descriptions and walking directions from your current location.

Service Alerts
Stay updated on any anticipated changes to service, with further detailed information in the app message inbox.

Attractions Menu
Find the location of all the best local landmarks, attractions, shopping, dining and things to do, complete with interesting facts, visitor information and special offers for selected attractions.

Ticket Booking
Purchase Big Bus tour and attraction tickets quickly and securely, with multiple payment options available.

Download the app for free and start exploring.

## Key features

- Real-time bus tracking
- Interactive city maps
- Detailed stop information
- Attractions menu with facts and offers
- Secure ticket booking
- Service alerts

## Chart rankings

- #161 in Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

## What do users think of Big Bus Tours?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Convenient way to see the city
- 👍 Helpful and friendly staff
- 🚢 Enjoyable boat tours
- 🌆 Great way to get an overview of the city
- 💡 Useful app with route tracking

**Cons**

- 🚌 Infrequent buses and long waits
- 🚧 Buses miss some key stops
- 🥵 Lack of air conditioning on buses
- 🗺️ Inaccurate or outdated app information
- 💰 Overpriced compared to other options

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Real-time bus locations not working
- Ticket issues and problems with redemption

**Most requested features**

- Live bus tracking and ETA information
- More comprehensive route coverage
- Integration with other transportation apps
- Better organization of stops and attractions

## Recent user reviews (10 of 487)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-bus-tours-hop-on-hop-off/id590746945/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Awful map

*2026-08-23, version 6.5.0*

There’s hardly any landmarks labelled on the map and the arrows on the routes are impossible to interpret. Extremely frustrating experience and extremely expensive tickets. Ended up getting some “normal” buses as it was so confusing.

### 1/5 — Worst Tour Ever

*2026-08-09, version 6.4.0*

We’ve taken tours all over the world. This was hands down the worst tour ever. 

It stopped randomly for 15 minutes because the driver needed a drink.  It stopped randomly to pick up people in random places often just 10-15 feet from each other. 

Worst part is we purchased a blue line ticket. The driver told us we were on the right bus, but we weren’t. Never made it to the destinations we really wanted to see. 

Will consider a different company next time.

### 5/5 — BTS Arirang Bus Tour in NY

*2026-08-09, version 6.4.0*

She’s so great !Zizi is a wonderful tour guide I had a remarkable journey :)

### 1/5 — Disgusted

*2026-07-29, version 6.4.0*

We waited two hours yesterday for the bus to come and it never did.   Today we tried to find the bus stop and despite following the directions provided by the web site, could not find the stop so we could start the tour at 1020.
As we are going back to New Zealand today I feel totally ripped off  as we spent money for nothing!

### 3/5 — Operating hours a bit misleading

*2026-07-09, version 6.3.0*

Tour in NYC and London were fine but they could be a bit more clear upfront about how early the hop on, hop off hours run until (NYC it only ran until about 5:30 pm before the buses stopped running the routes, London did not go much later).  They do offer night time tours but this is an entirely separate package.  Suggestion would be to offer some type of combo package.

### 1/5 — Missing a state

*2026-07-01, version 6.3.0*

Bought a ticket for a tour of Philadelphia but the app doesn’t have the state as an option. Confused how I was able to get a ticket but the app doesn’t have the state listed.

### 1/5 — Kidnapped by the BIG Bus

*2026-06-20, version 6.2.1*

It was about 4:00 p.m. when we boarded the last BIG Bus of the day, hoping to travel to Harrods and then walk back to our hotel after 6:00 p.m.
Without any explanation, the driver suddenly slowed down and stopped the bus. Another company employee boarded and asked where we were headed. After we told him, he instructed us to leave our bus and board the one ahead, assuring us it would take us to our destination.
We followed his instructions, although there were very few seats available on the second bus. Once aboard, it quickly became clear that something was wrong. The route had apparently been reversed, and the driver was no longer following the advertised route. None of the passengers knew what was happening or where we were being taken.
Passengers were pulling up maps and comparing them to the route shown on the website, trying to figure out what was going on. It eventually became apparent that the employee who had boarded our original bus was attempting to reorganize passengers onto buses that would supposedly get them closest to their final destinations before service ended. Unfortunately, the driver of our bus appeared to have different instructions than what had been promised to customers.
The result was complete confusion. Passengers on the upper deck were shouting questions to the driver. Elderly passengers were distressed and trying to determine where to get off before being taken too far off course. Families with young children were scrambling to figure out how to get back to their intended destinations before it got dark.
The whole situation was poorly managed. I do not blame the driver, as it seems he believed passengers had already been informed about the changes. My criticism is directed at the coordinator who failed to properly communicate what was happening.
I understand that employees want to finish their shifts and go home, but there should be some respect for the tourists who paid for your service. Clear communication would have prevented confusion, frustration, and unnecessary stress for everyone involved.

### 3/5 — Melhorias

*2026-06-20*

A melhor experiência é ter o serviço de áudio direto no app, sem a necessidade de um app terceiro e o pior precisando do QRcode para abrir Pop Guide o que não existe quando você compra o ticket direto pelo app.

### 1/5 — Useless

*2026-06-17, version 6.2.1*

Doesn’t cover cities like Philadelphia where it is operated as a franchise. When booking it tells you to download the app and then you cannot move to any other city.

### 3/5 — Routes not accurate

*2026-06-14, version 6.2.1*

We waited at a stop and saw the bus coming our way and then it diverted. Someone then  unrelated to the company informed us Big Bus wasn’t stopping at this particular stop today.  It was diverting. Would have been a huge help if app showed that stop closed for the day.

## Frequently asked questions about Big Bus Tours

### What does the Big Bus Tours app do?

The app serves as a global travel companion for exploring cities. It offers real-time bus tracking, interactive maps of tour routes and attractions, detailed stop information, and a menu of local landmarks and things to do. You can also purchase tour and attraction tickets directly through the app.

### What are the key features of the Big Bus Tours app?

Key features include real-time bus tracking to see bus locations and arrival times, interactive maps displaying routes and attractions, detailed stop information with walking directions, a comprehensive attractions menu with facts and offers, and secure ticket booking for tours and attractions. It also provides service alerts for any changes.

### Is the Big Bus Tours app free to use?

Yes, the app is free to download and use. While the app itself is free, users will need to purchase tickets for Big Bus tours and attractions through the app to utilize the services.

### What cities does the Big Bus Tours app cover?

The app covers over 20 cities worldwide. You can easily switch between cities within the app without needing to download separate applications for each location, making it convenient for multi-city travel.

### How can I use the app to plan my sightseeing?

You can use the interactive maps to see tour routes, stop locations, and nearby landmarks. The attractions menu provides details on local points of interest, dining, and shopping, along with interesting facts and visitor information. Real-time bus tracking helps you plan your journey between stops efficiently.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 6.5.0 — 2026-08-14

This update includes general improvements to keep your journey smooth.

### 6.4.0 — 2026-07-22

This update includes general improvements to keep your journey smooth.

### 6.3.0 — 2026-06-23

This update includes general improvements to keep your journey smooth.

### 6.2.1 — 2026-05-27

This update includes general improvements to keep your journey smooth.

### 6.2.0 — 2026-05-18

This update includes general improvements to keep your journey smooth.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*