Compare the 24 and 48 hour Big Bus Berlin hop-on hop-off tour options, see the Red and Blue Line stops, and find out what currywurst and boat add-ons include.
24 or 48 hoursFrom 23 EUR·Prices checked: 2026-10-16
The price you see at checkout is the price you pay
The Big Bus Berlin hop-on hop-off tour is the city's best-known open top bus ticket, and for good reason: two routes, over 5,800 reviews, and a 4.4 star average make it the safest default if you only want one ticket for your whole Berlin visit. Fares start from EUR 23 for 24 hours, with a 48 hour option and several add-ons layered on top.
What does the Big Bus Berlin hop-on hop-off tour include?
Every ticket covers either the Red Line, the Blue Line, or both, depending on the option you choose at checkout. The Red Line is the main sightseeing loop, running past Museum Island, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and Gendarmenmarkt. The Blue Line is shorter and heads east from Alexanderplatz to the East Side Gallery. A multilingual audio guide in 14 languages plays on board, and depending on the ticket you pick you can add a currywurst voucher, a 1.5 hour live walking tour covering the Third Reich and Cold War, a live guided Evening Tour, a 2 hour Wall Tour, or a 1 hour Spree river cruise between April and October. Free WiFi and the Big Bus app, which tracks live bus positions, come with every option.
Is the Big Bus Berlin hop-on hop-off tour worth it?
For most first-time visitors, yes. The combination of two routes and a 4.4 star rating across nearly 6,000 reviews means you are getting a tested product rather than a gamble, and the flexibility to hop off at any of the roughly 18 to 20 stops along both lines means you set your own pace. It is less worth it if you only plan to see two or three sights within easy walking distance of each other, in which case paying for individual entry tickets might work out cheaper. If a live guide matters more to you than route coverage, our hop-on hop-off tour with live commentary swaps the recorded audio for a real person.
What will you see on the Big Bus route?
The Red Line's 18 stops form the backbone of a first visit to Berlin: Alexanderplatz and the Rotes Rathaus, Museum Island, Friedrichstrasse, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Hauptbahnhof, the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Bellevue Palace, the Victory Column, Kurfürstendamm, KaDeWe, Lützowplatz, the Kulturforum, Potsdamer Platz, a stretch of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and Gendarmenmarkt. The Blue Line adds Frankfurter Allee, the East Side Gallery and Ostbahnhof for visitors who want to see the longest surviving Wall segment up close. Between the two lines, you cover almost every landmark most guidebooks list for a first Berlin trip.
How much does the Big Bus Berlin ticket cost?
The base 24 hour ticket starts at EUR 23, with 48 hour options and add-on bundles priced higher at checkout. Because GetYourGuide lists several variants of this same product, always check which route access, which add-ons and which duration you are buying before confirming, since the price shown can shift a lot depending on those choices. Prices can change with demand and season, so treat the figure here as a starting point and confirm the live price before you book.
Getting there and where to board
You can join the Red Line at any of its stops, but the most central and easiest to find is Big Bus Stop 1 on Alexanderstrasse, directly opposite the Park Inn Hotel near Alexanderplatz station. Both the Red and Blue Lines depart from here, which makes it the simplest starting point if you are not sure where else to board. Activate your ticket either by scanning it with a crew member or through the Big Bus app, which also lets you track the next bus in real time instead of guessing how long to wait.
Insider tips for riding the Big Bus
Board before 10am if you want a seat on the open top deck during peak season, since the first couple of hours tend to be the quietest. The Wall Tour and Evening Tour only come with 48 hour tickets, so if either interests you, buy the longer option rather than hoping to add it later. If you are traveling with a large dog, note that it will need to stay on the lower deck and wear a muzzle, and if your ticket includes the free souvenir bag, you collect it at Touristic Point on Karl Liebknecht Strasse rather than on the bus itself.
Who should book this tour?
This ticket suits first-time visitors who want one ticket that covers the whole city, families who like the flexibility of hopping off whenever children get restless, and travelers who plan to spend a full day or two mostly sightseeing rather than museum-hopping. It is less suited to visitors on a tight one-day itinerary focused on just one or two sights, where a direct ticket to that attraction and public transport might be faster and cheaper.
How does the Big Bus tour compare to other Berlin hop-on hop-off options?
Think of this as the broadest, most tested option: two routes, the biggest review base in the city, and the most add-on flexibility. If you would rather have a live guide narrating instead of a recording, look at the live commentary tour. If you want the bus bundled with a river cruise in one purchase, compare the boat cruise combo. And if you are weighing a hop-on hop-off ticket against Berlin's attraction pass, our Berlin WelcomeCard page breaks down when the pass wins instead. For a side by side look at every option on this site, start from the Berlin hop-on hop-off comparison on the homepage.
Big Bus Berlin Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: Route and itinerary
Board at Alexanderplatz and get your bearings
Most riders start at Alexanderplatz, the busiest stop on the Red Line and an easy landmark to find near the TV Tower. Activate your ticket here either through the Big Bus app or by showing your voucher to a crew member, then settle onto the open top deck for the full loop. 📍 Alexanderplatz, Berlin
Hop off for the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag
Around 20 to 25 minutes into the Red Line loop, the bus passes the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag's glass dome. Most visitors spend 45 to 60 minutes here walking between the two, since they sit a short stroll apart and both reward unhurried photos. 📍 Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Walk Checkpoint Charlie and Gendarmenmarkt
Two or three stops later, hop off near the former Checkpoint Charlie border crossing. Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin's most elegant square, is a 5 minute walk away and makes a good coffee break before you flag down the next bus, which usually arrives within 15 minutes. 📍 Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin
Switch lines at Alexanderplatz for the East Side Gallery
Back at Alexanderplatz, change onto the Blue Line, which heads east toward the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall. Budget 30 to 45 minutes to walk the open air gallery at your own pace before catching a bus back. 📍 East Side Gallery, Berlin
Add the Spree river cruise, if you booked it
Between April and October, ticket options with the boat add-on let you swap the view for an hour on the water. The cruise departs near the Red Line route and runs on its own schedule, so plan this as a separate stop rather than squeezing it between bus hops. 📍 Spree River, Berlin
Use a 48 hour ticket for the Evening Tour or Wall Tour
If you upgraded to 48 hours, your second day unlocks a choice: a live guided evening loop with the city lit up, or a 2 hour Wall Tour that traces the former border out to the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse. Pick whichever fits the time you have left. 📍 Berlin Wall Memorial, Bernauer Strasse
Finish on Kurfürstendamm for shopping and dinner
The Red Line's western end lands you on Kurfürstendamm, Berlin's main shopping boulevard, with the KaDeWe department store a short walk away. It is a natural place to end the day before heading back to your hotel. 📍 Kurfürstendamm, Berlin
Does the Big Bus Berlin hop-on hop-off tour include a boat ride?
Only if you choose an option that specifically includes it. The 1 hour Spree river cruise is an add-on available from April to October and runs on its own schedule, separate from the bus.
Can I do the Big Bus Berlin tour in one day?
Yes. The 24 hour ticket covers either one or both routes depending on the option, which is enough to see every major stop if you keep your hop-off time at each sight to around 30 to 45 minutes.
Where do I board the Big Bus in Berlin?
The easiest stop is Big Bus Stop 1 on Alexanderstrasse, opposite the Park Inn Hotel near Alexanderplatz, where both the Red and Blue Lines start.
What is the difference between the Red Line and Blue Line?
The Red Line is the main route covering landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and Checkpoint Charlie. The Blue Line is shorter and runs east from Alexanderplatz to the East Side Gallery.
Is the Big Bus Evening Tour included in the 24 hour ticket?
No. The live guided Evening Tour and the Wall Tour are only available with 48 hour ticket options, so you need the longer ticket to unlock either one.
Are dogs allowed on the Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour?
Yes, it is a pet-friendly tour. Large dogs are required to wear a muzzle and stay on the lower level of the bus.
