Big Bus Philadelphia FAQ

For most first-time visitors it is worth it, mainly because the Blue Route ties the Independence Visitor Center, the National Constitution Center, City Hall and the Parkway museums into one ride. The bus earns its place when the sights are spread out and you want a seat between stops. If you only plan the historic core, walking may suit you better, but the bus still gives a clear overview of the city.

A full loop of the Blue Route takes about 90 minutes without getting off. The loop is the short part of the day, and most of your time goes into the stops you choose. A morning with two or three stops is a realistic plan for most visitors.

Liberty Bell Center is about 150 metres from the Visitor Center stop, President's House about 100 metres and Independence National Historical Park about 200 metres. Carpenters' Hall and the Visitor Center stop are about 400 metres apart, and Benjamin Franklin's Grave is about 100 metres from the Constitution Center stop. Betsy Ross House is about 400 metres from that same Constitution Center stop, and Reading Terminal Market is about 250 metres from the Chinatown stop.

Christ Church and Elfreth's Alley have no stop close by, so the bus will not drop you at their doors. Both sit among the old streets near Independence Hall, which you can reach on foot from the sights around the Visitor Center. Treat them as part of a walk rather than a bus stop.

Stop 1 at 6th and Market Streets is the natural first join for the historic sights, and you can also join at other stops such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Joining near the Parkway suits anyone whose main goal is the museum end of the city. Check the ticket page for how boarding works at each stop.

The Liberty Bell area, LOVE Park and the Rocky Steps let children stretch their legs between stretches on the bus. Check the ticket page for age rules before you book.

Yes, a separate panoramic night tour is listed, and it stops only at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Night tours are one of the kinds of tour sold by the hop-on hop-off products in the city. Look at the ticket page to confirm what the night tour covers before you compare it with a daytime ticket.

Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for sitting on the open top deck. Midsummer can be hot and busy around Independence Hall, so an early start helps. Winter rides are possible, but the upper deck is cold, so pack a warm layer.

Walking gives you more time inside the historic district, where many sights sit within a short stroll of each other. The bus is better for reaching the Parkway museums and the Rocky Steps without the walk. Many visitors do both, walking the historic core and riding for the longer hops.

Accessibility details for the vehicles are not something to assume from a general description, so check the ticket page before you book. Older riders often find the hop-on hop-off format useful because they can pick a few stops instead of walking between them. Confirm any mobility needs on the ticket page first.

How the days are counted and when a ticket runs out is set out in the product terms. Read those terms on the ticket page before comparing prices across products.

Yes. The sights around Independence Hall form a cluster that can be combined in one half-day on foot, including Liberty Bell Center, Independence National Historical Park, Reading Terminal Market and Elfreth's Alley. Pair that walk with the bus for the Parkway end, which is too far to reach comfortably on foot from the historic core.