Sydney city tours
The best hop-on hop-off tours in Sydney
The Big Bus city and Bondi routes, a night tour, guided half-day tours, walking tours and private tours. Here is how they compare, with honest advice on whether the bus is worth the money, which stops each route really makes and getting a refund if plans change.
See our 7 picks
The best hop-on hop-off bus in Sydney is Big Bus, which loops the city and Bondi, from €47 for 24 hours. For a cheaper look with a guide, the 3.5-hour City Highlights bus tour costs from €31. If you like to walk, pick the 2.5-hour City Sights walking tour.
Our 7 picks for Sydney city tours
A hop-on hop-off bus first, then a night tour, guided bus tours, a walk and a private tour. All seven show free cancellation on GetYourGuide.
- from €47 per person Our top pick
City and Bondi
Big Bus
1–2 days 4.4 (3,095) reviews on GetYourGuide
Big Bus hop-on hop-off
An open-top bus ticket for 24 or 48 hours on 2 routes with 23 stops. Add a Captain Cook harbour cruise or the night tour as an option. Wi-Fi on board.
Best for A first day at your own pace
Check availability: Big Bus hop-on hop-off on GetYourGuide -
from €31 per person 3 h 30 min 4.4 (426) reviews on GetYourGuide
City Highlights guided bus tour
A 3.5-hour bus tour with a guide and photo stops, from Hyde Park. It goes to Kings Cross, Bondi Beach and The Gap at Watsons Bay. Plan to be back by about 2:30 pm.
Best for A cheap guided look at the coast
Check availability: City Highlights guided bus tour on GetYourGuide -
from €43 per person 1 h 30 min 4.4 (86) reviews on GetYourGuide
Big Bus panoramic night tour
A 1.5-hour open-top ride at night with a live guide and photo stops at Milsons Point and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. It does not stop to let you off. Until 4 April 2027 it leaves at 7:00 or 7:30 pm.
Best for Couples and an evening out
Check availability: Big Bus panoramic night tour on GetYourGuide -
from €41 per person 2 h 30 min 4.5 (12) reviews on GetYourGuide
City Sights walking tour
A 2.5-hour walk from Circular Quay Wharf 6 past the Opera House, The Rocks, the Botanic Garden, Hyde Park, St Mary's Cathedral and the QVB. Up to 20 people.
Best for Walkers on a budget
Check availability: City Sights walking tour on GetYourGuide - from €93 per person
Up to 10 people
Half-day tour
4 hours 4.5 (338) reviews on GetYourGuide
Half-day city tour with pickup
A 4-hour tour in a small group of up to 10, from the harbour to Bondi Beach, with views from Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Confirm your booking 48 hours before.
Best for A small group with hotel pickup
Check availability: Half-day city tour with pickup on GetYourGuide -
from €154 per person 5.5–6 hours 4.7 (10) reviews on GetYourGuide
Bus to Bondi with a buffet lunch cruise
A 5.5- to 6-hour day: The Rocks and the eastern suburbs by mini-bus, time at Bondi, then a harbour lunch cruise with a buffet and drinks. Pickup from some hotels, no drop-off.
Best for One day with everything, and lunch
Check availability: Bus to Bondi with a buffet lunch cruise on GetYourGuide -
from €273 per person 5 h 30 min 5.0 (1) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private city, harbour and Bondi tour
A 5.5-hour private tour for your group of up to 11, with pickup from your hotel, the airport or the cruise terminal. It visits Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Bondi and Coogee. It has only 1 review so far.
Best for A private group or cruise passengers
Check availability: Private city, harbour and Bondi tour on GetYourGuide
Sydney city tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bus hop-on hop-off | €47 per person | 1–2 days | Up to 24 | Meeting point | A first day at your own pace | The only hop-on hop-off bus here, with 3,095 reviews. |
| City Highlights guided bus tour | €31 per person | 3 h 30 min | Up to 50 | Meeting point | A cheap guided look at the coast | The cheapest guided bus tour here, from €31. |
| Big Bus panoramic night tour | €43 per person | 1 h 30 min | Up to 24 | Meeting point | Couples and an evening out | The city lights from an open top deck. |
| City Sights walking tour | €41 per person | 2 h 30 min | Up to 20 | Meeting point | Walkers on a budget | The only walking tour here, with a guide. |
| Half-day city tour with pickup | €93 per person | 4 hours | Up to 10 | Pickup included | A small group with hotel pickup | Hotel pickup and a group of 10 at most. |
| Bus to Bondi with a buffet lunch cruise | €154 per person | 5.5–6 hours | Not stated | Pickup included | One day with everything, and lunch | Bus, beach and cruise in one booking. |
| Private city, harbour and Bondi tour | €273 per person | 5 h 30 min | Private, up to 11 | Pickup included | A private group or cruise passengers | Your own guide and a route you can change. |
€47 per person1–2 days 4.4 (3,095)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 24
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Who it suits
- A first day at your own pace
- Why we picked it
- The only hop-on hop-off bus here, with 3,095 reviews.
City Highlights guided bus tour
€31 per person3 h 30 min 4.4 (426)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 50
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Who it suits
- A cheap guided look at the coast
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest guided bus tour here, from €31.
€43 per person1 h 30 min 4.4 (86)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 24
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Who it suits
- Couples and an evening out
- Why we picked it
- The city lights from an open top deck.
€41 per person2 h 30 min 4.5 (12)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 20
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Who it suits
- Walkers on a budget
- Why we picked it
- The only walking tour here, with a guide.
Half-day city tour with pickup
€93 per person4 hours 4.5 (338)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 10
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- A small group with hotel pickup
- Why we picked it
- Hotel pickup and a group of 10 at most.
Bus to Bondi with a buffet lunch cruise
€154 per person5.5–6 hours 4.7 (10)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- One day with everything, and lunch
- Why we picked it
- Bus, beach and cruise in one booking.
Private city, harbour and Bondi tour
€273 per person5 h 30 min 5.0 (1)
Details
- Group size
- Private, up to 11
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- A private group or cruise passengers
- Why we picked it
- Your own guide and a route you can change.
- All 7 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are “from” prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Is the Sydney hop-on hop-off bus worth it?
Yes, on your first day, if you want the city and Bondi without planning. One ticket covers 2 routes and 23 stops for 24 or 48 hours, from €47.
It is not worth it if you only want the harbour. The centre is small enough to walk, and a ferry from Circular Quay shows you the harbour for an Opal fare.
None of these tours goes as far west as Penrith. For things to do in Penrith Sydney, plan your own day.
Compare the city tours: price, length and reviews
The cheapest guided tour is the City Highlights bus, from €31. The private tour costs the most, from €273 per person.
Tours of Sydney at a glance
Prices are "from" prices on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026.
| Type | Tour | Price | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hop-on hop-off bus | Big Bus | from €47 | 24 or 48 hours | Your own pace |
| Night bus | Big Bus night tour | from €43 | 1.5 hours | City lights |
| Guided bus | City Highlights | from €31 | 3.5 hours | A low price |
| Small group | Half-day city tour | from €93 | 4 hours | Hotel pickup |
| Walking | City Sights walk | from €41 | 2.5 hours | Walkers |
| Private | City, harbour and Bondi | from €273 | 5.5 hours | Your own group |
Guides on Sydney city tours
- Aboriginal culture tours in Sydney
- Sydney bike tours
- Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb
- Sydney Harbour Bridge: walk, Pylon Lookout and views
- Sydney Opera House tour and shows
- The Rocks and Circular Quay
- Royal Botanic Garden and Sydney's best parks
- Sydney history tours: convicts, tunnels and the old gaol
- Sydney solo: things to do on your own
Hop-on hop-off bus: routes and stops
Big Bus runs 2 routes with 23 stops in total. You can start at any stop: show your mobile ticket to a Big Bus staff member there.
Big Bus tours Sydney: the city route and the Bondi route
The City route takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. It leaves every 30 minutes from Stop 1 on George Street at Circular Quay.
The Bondi tour takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. It leaves every 35 to 45 minutes from Stop 1A on Phillip Street.
Night tours and harbour cruise add-ons
The Big Bus night tour is a 1.5-hour ride that does not stop to let you off. It crosses the Harbour Bridge and stops for photos at Milsons Point and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Arrive 15 minutes early.
With the Big Bus ticket, you can add the Captain Cook harbour cruise. It is valid for 1 calendar day, leaves from Circular Quay Wharf 6 and takes about 80 minutes if you stay on. For more boats, see our Sydney harbour cruises guide.
Bondi and the eastern suburbs by bus
The Big Bus Bondi tour is the easy way to the beach. It takes about 1 hour 15 minutes for the loop.
The City Highlights tour goes further, to The Gap at Watsons Bay and Bondi Beach, with a guide. For time on the sand, see our Bondi Beach guide.
Guided bus tours and half-day city tours
A guided tour suits you if you want the stories, not just the ride. You stay with the guide the whole time.
Bus tours of Sydney with a guide
City Highlights is a 3.5-hour bus tour from Hyde Park, from €31. The half-day tour picks you up at your hotel and keeps the group to 10 people. The Bondi and lunch cruise combo fills a whole morning and early afternoon.
Walking tours and how tipping works
A walking tour is the best way to see the centre up close. It also costs less than most bus tours.
To walk on your own, there are lots of free things to do in Sydney, like the walk across the Harbour Bridge.
Which Sydney walking tour to pick
The City Sights walking tour takes 2.5 hours from Circular Quay Wharf 6, from €41. It covers the Opera House, The Rocks, the Botanic Garden and Hyde Park. Tips are up to you: we found no official rule, so we print no amount.
Private city tours
A private tour in Sydney suits a group or a cruise stop. The one we picked takes up to 11 people and picks you up at your hotel, the airport or the cruise terminal.
It costs from €273 per person and lasts 5.5 hours. It has only 1 review so far, so there is little to judge it by.
How to buy tickets and what happens if you do not tap off
Buy tour tickets online and show them on your phone. We found no gate price to compare, so we cannot say if online is cheaper.
On public buses, trains and ferries you pay with an Opal card or a bank card. If you tap on but do not tap off, you pay the highest fare for that trip. Our guide to getting around Sydney explains the fares.
Accessibility and who each tour suits
City Highlights has space for folding wheelchairs and prams, but its buses have no wheelchair lift. The listing says it is not for people with motion sickness.
The Big Bus listing does not say how it handles wheelchairs, so ask Big Bus before you book. The walking tour and the private tour are not for wheelchair users.
Tips for Sydney city tours
If your plans change
All seven picks show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Check the exact cut-off on the booking page before you pay.
Activate the bus ticket at a stop
You activate the Big Bus mobile ticket at any Big Bus stop, with a member of the Big Bus team. Do it at the first stop you use.
Bring sun cover
The Big Bus listing asks you to bring sunglasses, a sun hat and sunscreen. The top deck is open.
Plan the rest of the day
The City Highlights tour says to book your next activity no earlier than 2:30 pm, as traffic can delay it.
Sydney city tours: questions and answers
Is the Sydney hop-on hop-off bus worth it?
Which is the best hop-on hop-off bus in Sydney?
How much is the hop-on hop-off bus in Sydney?
How do I buy hop-on hop-off tickets, and is it cheaper online?
How much should I tip on a free walking tour in Sydney?
What happens if I tap on a Sydney bus but don't tap off?
More Sydney city tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (1), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Sydney editorial team.