Tickets

There are various options to purchase tickets, including online, directly from the driver while onboard the bus, from ticket sellers located at Bournemouth Pier Approach, or at any of the Tourist Information Centres. Moreover, our Bus and Boat Combination tickets provide you with a 24-hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus ticket, along with a boat cruise of your preference at a specified time. Commencing from 2023, we are pleased to offer a complimentary 15-minute Beryl taster in addition to your bus ticket.

Bus Stops

For your convenience City Sightseeing Bournemouth provides 25 sightseeing stops at some of Bournemouth & Poole’s most interesting places. Westbourne, Canford Cliffs, Sandbanks, Poole Park, Poole Quay & Poole Old Town. The first and last stop of the tour is at Bournemouth Pier, with a variety of main and request stops in between, but you can join the tour at any stop on route just hail the driver as the bus is approaching.

Morning Feeder Bus

For the convenience of visitors arriving by coach or train, we pick up from Bournemouth Coach and Train Station and for those who are staying in hotels on the East Cliff , we pick up at the Suncliff Hotel, Carlton Hotel and the Russell Cotes Museum bus stops on the East Overcliff Drive, then head down to Bournemouth Pier ready for the first two trips of the day, we will not be returning here after these times. See timetable here: timetable

Timings

The daily service operates during the season, with the initial bus departure from Bournemouth Pier at 10am and the final departure at 5pm. From Poole Quay, the first bus departs at 11am and the last bus leaves at 6pm. Opting for a complete round-trip tour on the bus takes approximately an hour and a half, with a brief ten-minute stopover at Poole Quay. View our timetable
You can select from various cruise times, which are listed below the calendar on the right-hand side of this page.

Where to find the boat

To board your cruise, disembark at Bus stop 18 located at Poole Quay, in front of the Poole Quay Hotel. Facing the harbour, turn right and make your way towards the blue City Cruises Kiosk. From there, follow the directions to reach the designated departure point. You can follow the signs to locate your boat or seek assistance from the ground staff if needed. Please note that queuing up at the blue kiosk is unnecessary as your ticket is already valid for travel.

The tour takes about 45 minutes from Bournemouth Pier to Poole Quay with the sightseeing bus, please make sure you are early enough to catch your cruise allowing time to walk over and queue to board your cruise
See more information about bus and boat on our Bus and Boat Overview page.

Poole Harbour & Islands Circular Cruise

Take in fantastic views from our open deck as you pass picturesque Brownsea Island, Sandbanks Peninsula, Studland Bay and more. With live commentary from our Captain you're guaranteed to not miss a thing. You can also enjoy the lower saloon lounge area that includes booth seating and a fully licensed bar. A great way to sit back and relax with friends and family. Your trip on the sea will be a 70-minute boat cruise around the picturesque Poole Harbour, allowing you to take in the stunning views of the surrounding area. Additionally, you will be treated to live commentary by your captain throughout the cruise, providing you with interesting facts and history about the area. Lastly, we offer a fully licensed bar onboard, giving you the chance to enjoy a refreshing beverage while you take in the sights. With all these features included, we are confident that you will have a memorable experience with us. Passengers can't disembark and embark at Brownsea Island. The cruise goes around Brownsea Island and won't stop at Brownsea Island.

FREE 15 minute Beryl taster

Beryl run a bike share scheme across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, also including e-bikes and e-scooters. They are a great way to explore beyond our bus route and so we have teamed up with Beryl to offer all of our passengers 15 Beryl minutes FREE so you can give it a try. You can get the promo code from the driver or our ticket sellers, download the Beryl app, enter your unique code and away you go. Read more here: City Sightseeing Bournemouth Bus and Bike Combo

More

Both the bus and the boat welcome dogs as long as they are well behaved and kept on a lead; however, there is a £2 fee applicable for dogs on the boat.
While the buses are accessible for wheelchairs, regrettably, the boats are not.
If Poole Quay is shut for traffic, you will need to use the alternative bus stop, see details here: Poole Quay Alternative Bus Stop