Maybe you’re wondering if it’s worth the price to take the Buenos Aires city tour bus, also known as the hop on hop off bus Buenos Aires. You see the yellow and red sightseeing double-deck buses driving through the city, and it’s pretty tempting to sit on the upper deck in the sun. Hop on, hop off, and explore the best of Buenos Aires!
Read also: top 25 things to do in Buenos Aires
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Hop On Hop Off Bus Buenos Aires: Which One to Choose and Where to Get Tickets
There are two companies offering Buenos Aires sightseeing bus tours:
Buenos Aires Bus (Yellow Bus) & GrayLine Argentina (Red Bus)
Both buses operate on a hop-on, hop-off system, meaning you can start your journey at any stop, explore at your own pace, and rejoin the tour whenever you like. No matter which one you take, you’ll pass by major city highlights like Recoleta, Teatro Colón, Avenida de Mayo, Plaza del Congreso, Parque Lezama, La Bombonera Stadium, La Boca, Puente de la Mujer, and the Reserva Ecológica.
Which Hop On Hop Off Bus Should: The 2 lines compared
There are differences between the yellow and red bus routes that can help you decide:
The Yellow Bus (Buenos Aires Bus) is my personal favorite. It runs every 20 minutes, includes Palermo Soho and Plaza Serrano, and offers online tracking, making it easier to plan your time at each stop.
The Red Bus (GrayLine Argentina) runs every 30 minutes and is the best choice if you want to pass by El Monumental (River Plate Stadium).
Both bus routes take around 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete the full circuit.
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Route map of the Hop On Hop Off Bus Lines
To make it easier for you to compare which line to take, I made a map of the two sightseeing bus lines in Buenos Aires. Mostly the routes are the same but starting from Palermo there is a difference. I suggest for travelers staying in Palermo to choose the Yellow Hop on Hop Off bus line
To track the buses live, you need to be connected to the Argentine mobile network. I recommend Holafly eSIM. You get 5% discount via this link.
Where to Buy Tickets for the Hop On Hop Off Bus
If you want to buy a Buenos Aires bus tour hop on hop off ticket, you have two options:
- Buy on the street ticket stands or main offices
- Buy online in advance and receive a QR code ticket via email.
You can buy your tickets online through Buenos Aires Bus or GrayLine Argentina. There are 24-hour and 48-hour tickets, valid from the moment you hop on for the first time.
⚠ Important: If you buy from a third-party website, you’ll need to go to the main office to exchange your mobile pass for a paper ticket. This can be a hassle. Therefore, I recommend buying your tickets online on my website or on the official websites of the companies. Tickets provided via me give you the chance to start your trip at any bus stop.
🔹 For the Yellow Bus (Buenos Aires Bus) – Book your ticket here.
🔹 For the Red Bus (GrayLine Argentina) – Buy your ticket online here.
Office of the Buenos Aires Bus: Av. Córdoba 466, Buenos Aires
Office of the GrayLine Argentina Bus: Av. Santa. Fe 808, Buenos Aires
Where to start and take the Buenos Aires City Tour Bus
The Buenos Aires Tourist busses run daily from 09:00 H to 17:00 H
When you buy tickets online:
If you bought your voucher online, check if you need to exchange your voucher for another at the main office. A very important detail. If you bought your ticket on my website or the official website, you can start your trip at any bus stop.
Buy tickets at the ticket booths
Near famous landmarks, such as the Obelisco, Teatro Colon, Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, etc you will find yellow and red ticket booths of the sightseeing bus companies. Mostly they are located near a bus stop, so you can start directly your trip from there.
Below I give you the link to buy online tickets.
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The Price of Hop On Hop Off Bus Buenos Aires
It depends on your travel style, but it’s a convenient and easy way to discover Buenos Aires:
Buenos Aires Bus (Yellow): USD 40 (24h ticket)
GrayLine Argentina (Red): USD 42.50 (24h ticket)
Both buses offer an audio guide in 10 languages (Spanish, English, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, and Arabic). The seats are plastic but comfortable, and you’ll receive a pair of disposable earphones. The top deck is partially covered, with an open area and an air-conditioned front cabin.
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Final Tips for the Buenos Aires Tour Bus
- Use sunscreen in spring and summer if you sit on the upper deck—it gets hot!
- Take advantage of the hop-on, hop-off system to visit museums and attractions.
- Choose the Yellow Bus if you want to explore Palermo Soho and need better bus frequency with live tracking.
Ready to Book Your Hop On Hop Off Bus in Buenos Aires?
With Secrets of Buenos Aires, you can start your tour directly at any stop—no need to visit an office first! Book now and explore Buenos Aires with ease.
Maybe you’re wondering if it’s worth the price to take the Buenos Aires city tour bus also known as the hop on hop off bus Buenos Aires. You see the yellow and red double-deck buses driving in the city and it is pretty tempting to sit on the upper deck in the sun. Hop on hop off!
I will be arriving at the cruise port but I will have 2 luggage with me. Am I allowed to bring them up the bus/
Hi Lionel, hand luggage should be possible to take with you.
I absolutely love the hop-on-hop-off bus experience in Buenos Aires! It’s such a fantastic way to explore the city’s vibrant culture and rich history at your own pace. I’ve had the pleasure of taking this tour myself, and it was a memorable adventure.
Hi Glen,
Thanks for this helpful Web Seite.
2 questions:
1) How much is a private Tour just for one day?
2) If we go with the yellow bus and buy the Tickets online, can we hop on everywher when we want to Start the Tour, or do we have to go to the Main Office first to get an official Ticket?
Hi Leon, a private tour depends on how long you want to have the tour. Mostly its around 3 hours. But if you want to have a private guided tour? Please contact me at info@secretsofbuenosaires.com 🙂
ABout the bus, you need to watch out for what the ticket mentions. For example on Get Your Guide you need to go to the head office to get the tickets after all. You can also book tickets directly on their website. Easier.
We are arriving at the cruise terminal Where can we book and catch the hop on hop off buses
Hi Sheila, you can book your hop on hop off tickets on my website: https://dev.secretsofbuenosaires.com/tour/hop-on-hop-off-bus-buenos-aires/
With the voucher, you can go directly on the bus. There is a bus stand in the cruise port and they take you to the nearest first stop.
Hello Glenn
Thank you for your website.
I am trying to find maps and a list of stops the Hop On Hop Off buses in Buenos Aires.
Is there anywhere you can suggest?
Thank you
Bernie
Hi Bernie, I tried to create the map on my website because of the same reason. The maps you find on Google are outdated. The only thing they have are paper maps. But don’t have them right now with me :-/
Hi Glenn
This is Rakesh Shah from Atlanta, GA, USA. My wife and I will be in Buenos Aires 12 PM May 16 to 2 PM May 18.
Can you help us plan the itinerary to use our time best while we are in your beautiful city?
Hi Rakesh, thanks for visiting my website. I can recommend a private guide for two days to get the most out of your stay if you prefer?:-)
We are very disappointed. We bought the tickets and had to wait more than 1h to get in the bus. Next stop we had no possibility anymore to get in the bus. So we can’t recommend the busses
I will arrive AEP airport around noon time and like to take the tour bus in afternoon. Any way I can get on the tour bus from airport?
If I analyzed the map well there is no stop at the airport. It passes there but doesn’t stop.
Hi Glenn, I am a portena living in the US. My son and his bride are visiting BsAs next week. They asked me to prepare an itinerary for them. I am a bit at a loss because I know where I want them to visit but I don’t know how to design a schedule. Of course the Hop on Hop off is an important first step.
Any comments you can offer me? They’ll be staying in Belgrano.
My email is verabiro@comcast.net Thanks a lot for all your help.
Vera Biro
Hi Vera! Great that you contact me. I suggest downloading my phone app (available on Google Play and Apple Store). In the left menu you find day plannings 😀
Hi Glenn,
Thank you for the information. Can we purchase tickets from bus driver or somebody at the Teatro Collon stop? Can they accept cash payment? We are going to be in the city only one full day. Which line would you suggest to see the most? Thank you.
Roman
Hi Roman, you can buy tickets at the stand near the Obelisco. Normally cash and card payments are accepted. Both lines are more or less equal. The red line goes a bit further to the stadium of River Plate.
Hi Glen,
FYI it looks like the prices have terribly increased as it is now 6000AR$ for 24h and 7000AR$ for 48h.
Prices found on the official website.
Is it normal ?
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Alex, Still with 100% inflation in Argentina… this is a big price increase. I updated the page. Thanks for letting me know.
Hi
How do you recommend to purchase the bus tickets online? I tried and its saying my card is invalid, and its an Americancard. Not sure what I am doing wrong.
Hi Christina, did you book online on the official website? Otherwise, Get Your Guide works too.
heyy editor,
wat een mooie website!! dank voor uw tips.
Ik zat naast je in het vliegtuig op weg naar BA. had natuurlijk even je whats app moeten vragen voor meer tips, maar natuurlijk vergeten…. mogelijk kan ik op deze manier nog met je in contact komen?
Groetjes Antoinet uit Nederland.