City Sightseeing Seattle HOHO Bus and Locks or Harbour Cruise

The useful thing about this Seattle tour is that it links sights spread from the Space Needle and Seattle Center to Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, and Chinatown. I like the flexible 24- or 48-hour pass and the option to pair the bus with either a Locks Cruise or an Elliott Bay harbour cruise.

I also like the English audio and free XR phone app, which add context while you ride. The trade-off is the seasonal bus schedule: in winter, buses come only once an hour, so you’ll need to plan your stops rather than expect frequent rides.

Key points before you go

• The bus takes about 80 minutes for a full loop, with stops near major Seattle sights.
• Choose one cruise option: a two-hour, one-way Locks Cruise or a one-hour harbour cruise.
• The bus runs less often in winter: every 60 minutes from November through mid-April, compared with every 20 minutes at peak summer.
• Use the phone app to follow the bus: a rider found it helpful for checking where the next bus was.
• Pioneer Square has a 1.1-mile self-guided walk about Seattle’s early days.
• The listed price is $94 per person, so the best value comes from using the bus for more than a single loop and making time for the included extras.

A city route that saves your feet

Seattle’s main sights are spread across several neighborhoods, and this route gives you a practical way to connect them without making every transfer on foot. You can ride the whole circuit to get an overview, then hop off where you want more time. The bus pass lasts either 24 or 48 hours, depending on the option you select.

The 80-minute ride is the bus portion, not the full experience if you add a cruise. The Locks Cruise takes about two hours and travels one way; the harbour cruise lasts one hour. Treat the water trip as a separate outing, and leave enough room in your day for it.

The bus includes an English audio guide and headphones. There is also a free English-language XR app that uses your smartphone to show historical photos, images of building interiors, and points of interest as you pass. That can help fill in the gaps between stops, though you’ll need your phone ready to use it.

From Seattle Center to the waterfront

The route begins near the Space Needle and Seattle Center at 8 Broad Street. The listed bus meeting point is 600 Broad Street. Since both addresses are provided for the start area, check with the on-site team when you redeem your voucher so you board at the right place.

Seattle Center is a good place to begin if you want a quick orientation to the city’s best-known modern landmark. The bus stop is near the Space Needle, but admission to attractions is not included. If you plan to go up the tower or visit another attraction, allow extra time and budget for a separate ticket.

Next, the bus serves FRS Clippers and the Edgewater Hotel, then Pier 66 Cruise Terminal. These waterfront stops make the route useful if you’re combining sightseeing with a ferry or cruise-terminal visit. The bus also reaches Pier 55 and Argosy Cruises, a key detail if you have chosen one of the boat options.

The route lists Pier 55 twice, at stops 5 and 15. That gives you another point on the circuit to reach the waterfront cruise area, but don’t assume that a bus ticket alone is a cruise ticket. The cruise you select comes with its own ticketing and timing instructions.

Pioneer Square, Chinatown, and Seattle’s early days

The bus heads inland to Pioneer and Occidental Square, then to the Historic Chinatown Gate and the Panama Hotel and Tea House. These stops bring a different pace from the waterfront and the Space Needle. You can use them to explore an older part of the city rather than simply moving between headline attractions.

The included self-guided walk focuses on the Pioneer Square historic district and Seattle’s early days. It covers 1.1 miles and uses your smartphone to guide you, with images of the places or objects discussed displayed on screen. That adds something more grounded than a quick drive-by: you can leave the bus and spend time on foot, at your own pace.

The walk is self-guided, so it is not a substitute for a live guide who can answer questions. Still, it gives you a clear reason to get off in Pioneer Square, especially if you want a little history built into a day otherwise organized around major sights.

The Chinatown Gate and Panama Hotel and Tea House stops also give you options for a neighborhood visit. The itinerary places these sights close enough to the bus route to make hopping off straightforward, but your time on the ground is your own. Plan your return around the bus schedule, particularly outside summer.

Downtown stops for views, books, and big buildings

The bus continues to the Seattle Sky View Observatory and Seattle Central Library, then the Seattle Convention Center. These stops put you near downtown attractions and major buildings, but admission is not included in the tour price. Check opening hours and entry costs separately if you want to go inside.

The Central Library is a useful stop if architecture interests you, while the Sky View Observatory offers a separate paid way to see the city from above. The tour’s XR app may show images and details as you pass landmarks, but it does not replace entry to the attractions themselves.

The Convention Center stop is also a practical downtown point. Nearby restaurants included in the tour’s discount program include Tidal+ at Hyatt Olive 8, Andare at Hyatt Regency, Qiao Lin Hotpot, and Bistro on Yale Bar at SpringHill Suites. The discounts are 10 percent, so bring the relevant ticket details and confirm the offer when ordering.

Pike Place Market and the route back north

Pike Place Market is one of the route’s most useful stops, at 97 Pike Street. The bus also calls at Pike Brewing Company and the Original Starbucks at Pike Place Market, giving you several nearby ways to shape a stop around food, a drink, or a quick look around.

The route also passes the Seattle Art Museum and returns to Pier 55 and Argosy Cruises before heading north. The Original Starbucks stop is listed at 1903 Pike Place, while the main market stop is at 97 Pike Street. They are separate route points, so check the bus stop locations rather than assuming every Pike Place stop is identical.

Food and drink are not included. The 10 percent discount applies at Pike Brewing Company and Can Can Cabaret, along with other listed restaurants. That can be a small bonus, but it should not drive the decision to buy the pass. The real value is using the bus and chosen cruise to cover more ground.

From the market area, the route goes to the Westin Hotel and Amazon Spheres. These northern downtown stops widen the tour beyond the waterfront and older districts. The Spheres are an eye-catching landmark on the route, but entry to attractions is not part of the ticket.

Choosing between the Locks and harbour cruises

The cruise choice changes the shape of your day. The Locks Cruise is a two-hour, one-way trip that departs daily at 10:30 a.m. from Pier 55. If you select it, show your ticket at the stop to receive separate bus and cruise tickets. One rider specifically found the Locks trip worthwhile, so it is the more appealing pick if the locks themselves are a priority.

The harbour cruise lasts one hour and also departs from Pier 55. You first redeem its voucher at the City Sightseeing stop at 600 Broad Street. A team member provides separate tickets and helps you book an available cruise time. The boat ticket is valid for one cruise and can be used up to five days after you redeem the bus ticket.

That five-day window makes the harbour option more flexible if you don’t want to fit the boat ride into the same day as the bus. Cruise times are provided by local staff when you redeem your voucher, so don’t assume you can simply arrive at Pier 55 at any hour.

The bus and cruise are separate parts of the experience, with separate tickets. If you are deciding between them, consider how much time you have and whether you want the longer Locks trip or the shorter harbour outing. Neither option includes food or drink.

Timing the bus to the season

The timetable matters because the bus frequency changes through the year. From November 1 through April 16, service is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., every 60 minutes. From April 17 through June 26, it runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every 30 minutes, except Memorial Day weekend, May 23 and 24, when it runs until 5 p.m. every 20 minutes.

From June 27 through September 6, buses run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every 20 minutes. From September 7 through October 31, the schedule returns to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every 30 minutes. These seasonal hours make a real difference: winter is better for a planned loop or a few chosen stops, while summer gives you more freedom to hop off and catch another bus sooner.

The bus is near public transportation, and the voucher can be redeemed at any stop along the route. Mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted. The harbour cruise voucher has its own redemption point at 600 Broad Street, so follow that instruction if you select that add-on.

A rider’s practical tip is to download the app and use it to see where the bus is. That is especially helpful on a less frequent schedule. The confirmation is provided at booking, and the voucher can be used on any day within 12 months of the travel date selected at checkout.

Is $94 a fair price?

At $94 per person, this is not a bargain if you only ride the bus once and do not use the cruise or walking tour. The value improves if you use the 24- or 48-hour pass to reach multiple areas, take advantage of the audio and XR features, and add the included cruise option you prefer.

The bus can be particularly useful on a hot day or when you want to limit long walks between Seattle’s spread-out sights. One rider praised the helpful drivers and found the bus an easy way to get around, especially when walking too much would be tiring. That is the strongest practical case for the pass: it is transportation as well as sightseeing.

The experience has a 3.6 rating from eight reviews, a small sample that should not be treated as a firm verdict. The positive points are clear: the bus helps connect city attractions, the service was easy to find, and the experience can be informative. A less positive note was that pre-tour information felt limited, so read the seasonal timetable and cruise redemption instructions carefully before setting out.

The 10 percent restaurant discounts are a modest extra, not a major saving. Food, drinks, hotel pickup, hotel drop-off, and attraction entry are not included. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time; cancellations made later are not refunded.

Who should book the Seattle bus and cruise?

I’d choose this tour if you want a low-effort way to get an overview of Seattle, need help connecting neighborhoods, or would rather save your walking for the places that deserve it. It suits a first visit particularly well, since the route covers the Space Needle area, waterfront, Pioneer Square, Chinatown, downtown, and Pike Place Market.

It is less suited to a tightly packed schedule if you visit during the winter timetable, when an hour between buses can turn a short stop into a long wait. Check the departure pattern before you hop off, and use the app to track the bus. Choose the Locks Cruise if you want the longer water outing, or the harbour cruise if a one-hour trip and flexible use within five days fit your plans better.

FAQ

How long does the bus tour take?

A full bus tour takes about 80 minutes. The cruise takes additional time if you select one.

How long is the hop-on hop-off ticket valid?

You can select either a 24-hour or a 48-hour bus pass.

What are the cruise options?

You can choose a two-hour, one-way Locks Cruise or a one-hour harbour cruise.

Where does the Locks Cruise depart?

The Locks Cruise departs daily at 10:30 a.m. from Pier 55.

Where do I redeem the harbour cruise voucher?

Redeem it at the City Sightseeing Seattle stop at 600 Broad Street. Staff will provide separate bus and cruise tickets and advise you about cruise times.

Can I use the harbour cruise ticket on a different day?

Yes. After you redeem the bus ticket, you can use the harbour cruise ticket for one cruise within five days.

How often do the buses run?

Frequency depends on the season. Buses run every 60 minutes from November 1 through April 16, every 30 minutes during much of spring and fall, and every 20 minutes during peak summer dates.

Is food or attraction admission included?

No. Food, drinks, and entry to attractions are not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.