The Solo Scale:

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Even though you might not like to hear it, your time has limits. That’s true even when you’re on vacation. Often, we can’t spend as long as we want in the cities we go to, and that’s not even touching on the monetary restraints that might come into play. If you’re heading to any major tourist city, your first day might have an open slot in it. Maybe your plans start the day after or you might simply be too tired to plan to do something on your own. You might want to see it all or might know nothing about the city. You might have done your research and have a list, or you may just want to explore. This is where the bus tour comes into play.

Yes, taking a bus tour may be a little cringe-worthy. Is it going to make you look and feel like the stereotypical tourist? Yes. Is it also going to be the best bang for your buck, include transportation around the city, and give you a quick introduction so you can better prepare for what you might want to see more in depth? Also yes.

Even with all that said, I stand behind it: Take the bus tour.

In my experience, hop-on & hop-off bus tours are a great thing to do when you’re brand new to a city. You might not have the lay of the land yet. Maybe you might not have decided what you want to see. Doing the loop once will let you get a taste of the city. If you still have time, you can start to pick and choose your stops to spend more of your time.

• Most of these tourist buses have an interior and then a top-deck that’s fully exposed. The top deck is great for uninterrupted views, but you’re fully exposed. If the weather is looking rainy, bring a poncho. If it’s sunny, don’t forget to wear sunscreen since you’ll be in that sun for a while because of the second tip
  
• Get ready to be patient. You’re at the mercy of traffic flows, which means that you’re going to be moving slowly at rush hour. What might only take a two-hour loop on the promotional materials can turn into hours because of stop lights, traffic, and other delays
  
• Take advantage of the main feature – get off the bus to explore some of the main sights, then wait for the next one to show up. Make sure you check the schedule. Double check what time that last bus arrives or you may end up having to take a taxi or rideshare back into town
  
• That said, don’t be afraid to wander off the beaten path. Many of these cities have metro infrastructure. I also genuinely believe that until you ride the public transit of a city, you haven’t fully done it. Find local shops, bakeries, eat lunch somewhere that isn’t recommended in the guidebook. Pair the super-touristy bus tour with the more wanderlust driven exploration, which will help you to avoid feeling like the clichéd tourist

If you’re ready to jump on a hop-on/hop-off bus tour, check out the itineraries for the city you’re going to. You can typically search for something local and find a reputable company, but some examples are Big Bus, City Sightseeing, or you could check on a site like Viator or TripAdvisor. Search the city you’re going to and you’ll be able to find prices, routes, and maps (which can help you decide on where you might want to hop off!)

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