City Sightseeing Seattle: HOHO Bus Tour + Locks Cruise

Seattle clicks fast when you start with the views. This City Sightseeing Seattle HOHO combo pairs a flexible hop-on hop-off bus with a 2-hour one-way Locks Cruise, so you get both skyline icons and time on the water without overplanning. You’ll pass major sights like Pike Place Market, Chinatown, the Space Needle, and Seattle Central Library, plus you can add the included Pioneer Square audio walk.

I especially like the way the bus ticket gives you true flexibility: 24 or 48 hours, 17 stops, and departures every 30 minutes. The second big win is the included cruise from Pier 55, a nice change of pace from city streets.

One possible drawback: the bus loop itself is about 80 minutes, so if you only ride once and never hop off, you’ll feel like you rushed the best parts.

Key points at a glance

• 17 convenient stops cover the big-name sights and several “worth a stop” neighborhoods
• 24 or 48-hour ticket means you can pace your day instead of cramming it
• 2-hour one-way Locks Cruise from Pier 55 adds a calmer, scenic break
• Audio-guided walking tour in Pioneer Square is built in (1.1 miles)
• Upper-deck views make landmarks easier to place, especially downtown waterfront areas
• Saturday routing note can affect where one stop lands near 6th & Lenora

How the HOHO bus + Locks Cruise actually works

Think of this as two layers of sightseeing on one ticket: a hop-on hop-off bus for getting your bearings fast, plus a one-way Locks Cruise for a different kind of Seattle.

The bus runs a route with 17 stops across town. Each loop takes around 80 minutes, and buses run about every 30 minutes. That timing matters because you’re not trapped on the clock. If you hop off at Pike Place Market, you can wait for the next bus and keep moving without stressing that you missed your only departure.

Your ticket also covers an audio-guided walk in Pioneer Square, which pairs well with the bus drops around downtown. Even if you don’t do every stop, you’ll still get an efficient overview of Seattle’s most visited areas.

The cruise is scheduled separately. It departs daily at 10:30am from Pier 55 and is described as a 2-hour one-way cruise. The operator hands you separate tickets for the bus and the cruise after you show your ticket at the stop.

Planning your day around the 10:30am cruise

If you want the cruise, build your day backwards from it. The cruise leaves at 10:30am every day from Pier 55, so you’ll likely want to be near downtown by late morning anyway.

Bus service starts at 10:00am from Stop 1 and the last departure from Stop 1 is 4:00pm. That gives you a clean window to do at least a couple of bus rides or to hop off, wander, and get back on later.

Here’s a practical way to use your time:

• If you’re doing the cruise, treat it as your mid-morning anchor.
• After the cruise, use the bus to hit things that are easier by daylight: Space Needle-area stops, Pike Place Market, Chinatown, and the Seattle Central Library area.
• Save the Pioneer Square audio walk for after you’ve already seen the downtown skyline from the bus. The walk makes more sense when you’ve got the streets in your head.

One more thing I’d keep in mind: each bus loop is about 80 minutes, so don’t assume you’ll see every stop in one ride. The value is in selective hops.

Seattle waterfront moments: Pier 66, Pier 55, and the Great Wheel area

This route gives you repeated chances to connect with the water. You’ll hit spots like Pier 66 Cruise Terminal, Pier 55 & Argosy Cruises, and you’ll end up at Pier 55 for the cruise meeting point.

What I like about the waterfront here is how it changes the tempo. Downtown on foot can feel fast and crowded. From the bus, you get quick photo angles. On the cruise, you get a slower, more spacious view that helps everything else feel less overwhelming.

The highlights also call out the Great Wheel, which is one of those Seattle landmarks that reads instantly even if you’re just catching it from the street. The bus route places you near the action so you can decide if you want to spend time there beyond photos. (Entry to attractions isn’t included, so treat the Great Wheel as a view-and-decide stop unless you plan separate tickets.)

If you’re traveling with people who get tired of constant walking, the water stops are a good compromise: you can stand, look, and reposition without committing to a long hike.

Space Needle and the Seattle Centre area: the classic “first wow” stops

The bus starts at Space Needle & Seattle Centre (Stop 1). Even if you don’t go up to a specific venue, this area is where Seattle’s iconography is most concentrated, and the bus angle helps you orient quickly.

The route also includes Seattle Sky View Observatory (Stop 9). If you’re the type who likes a high view and doesn’t mind adding an attraction purchase, this is a logical place to check it out. Since entry is not included, plan on paying separately if you decide to go inside.

My take: the Space Needle and observatory stops work best early in your sightseeing day. You’ll see the waterfront direction and downtown layout in relation to the rest of the city, which makes later neighborhoods feel easier to navigate.

Also, because it’s a double-decker bus, upper-deck seating generally makes landmark spotting less of a hunt. You’re not crouching behind other riders to see a sign.

Chinatown and Pike Place Market: short walks, big payoff

This is the part of Seattle most people come for, and the route hits it directly.

You have Pike Place Market (Stop 12) and the Original Starbucks at Pike Place Market (Stop 16). That’s two separate stops, which is helpful. You can use the market as your main event and treat the Starbucks stop as an easy add-on if it fits your timing.

For neighborhood flavor, there’s Historic Chinatown Gate (Stop 7). Chinatown around the downtown edge is compact enough to feel walkable once you’re there. The bus drop makes it easy to step out, take a few photos, and browse without planning a whole transit route.

I also like that the route includes Panama Hotel & Tea House (Stop 8). Even if you don’t go inside, the name gives you a clue that this isn’t just a modern strip. It’s the kind of detail that makes your day feel real, not just like a list of photo targets.

For more variety, you’ll pass by spots like Pike Brewing Company (Stop 13). Again, entry isn’t included, but it’s a convenient “snack or drink” decision point when you’re choosing where to pause.

Pioneer Square: getting beyond the bus stop with the audio walk

The bus route includes Pioneer & Occidental Square (Stop 6). This is a key place to get off because the included walking tour is built around the Pioneer Square Historic District.

The walk is 1.1 miles, and it’s guided by smartphone audio. You’ll explore early-days Seattle with audio and visual prompts on your screen. That format matters: you’re not squinting at plaques trying to guess what you’re looking at. Images appear on your phone as you move along.

Here’s the practical advantage: the bus gives you the big picture. The audio walk gives you the why behind the buildings and streets you just saw from above. It turns an area people sometimes treat as a quick photo stop into a place you actually understand.

If you’re short on time, you can still use this as a structured mini-walk. If you have more time, combine it with one or two bus hops nearby for meals or breaks.

The Seattle art and library stops that make downtown feel livable

Between the market, waterfront, and Chinatown, you also get downtown cultural landmarks, and that’s where the route feels like more than a tourist conveyor belt.

You’ll find Seattle Central Library (Stop 10) and Seattle Art Museum (Stop 14) on the list of stops. There’s also the Seattle Convention Centre (Stop 11), plus Occidental Park is connected to the Pioneer & Occidental Square area.

These aren’t only “look from the sidewalk” stops. They’re useful for pacing. If your legs are tired from hopping off and walking around markets and waterfronts, you can use these stops as a breather. Even a short pause on the plaza area helps reset your day.

And the library is especially handy for families and solo travelers who want a place to sit, take a break, and get out of the sun or rain without committing to a long attraction visit. Entry fees still aren’t included, but the stop itself is a strong rest point.

From Pier 55 to the locks: why the cruise is the standout value

The cruise is described as a 2-hour one-way Locks Cruise and it departs from Pier 55. That’s the key line that sets this package apart from “bus only” tours.

A cruise does three things well:

1. It gives you views you can’t easily copy from the street.
2. It breaks up the day so you don’t feel like you’re always on the move.
3. It helps you see the city’s layout from a different angle, which makes later sightseeing click.

It’s also included in the same ticket price as the hop-on hop-off bus and the audio walking tour, which is where the value starts to make sense. If you were planning to do a sightseeing cruise anyway, this bundle reduces the add-on costs and decision fatigue.

The only consideration is that you must plan around that fixed departure time at 10:30am. If your schedule is chaos, the cruise might force you to organize the rest of the day. But once you do, it acts like an easy centerpiece.

Price and value: is $109 reasonable for this package?

At $109 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Seattle. But it may be one of the more efficient ways to see Seattle without booking a pile of separate tours.

Here’s what you’re paying for:

• A 24 or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus with stops near major sights
• A 2-hour one-way Locks Cruise
• An included audio-guided walking tour in Pioneer Square
• Audio guidance in English

What isn’t included is also important: entry to attractions, plus food and drink, and there’s no hotel pickup/drop-off. So if you plan to pay for multiple attractions anyway, this ticket won’t cover those costs.

My value takeaway: this works best when you use it the way it’s designed. If you treat it as a full-day-and-a-bit plan—bus rides, multiple stops, the cruise, and at least part of the Pioneer Square walk—then $109 starts to look like a sensible deal. If you only want one or two quick stops and you skip the cruise, you may feel like you didn’t get your money’s worth.

Practical tips to avoid time-wasting on busy Seattle days

A few small details can make a big difference with hop-on hop-off tours.

• Boarding: you can join the bus at any stop along the route. That reduces stress if your day starts elsewhere.
• Vouchers: mobile and printed vouchers are both accepted, and you can redeem them at any of the stops.
• Cruise tickets: you’ll show your ticket at the stop and get separate tickets for the bus and cruise.
• Timing: buses run about every 30 minutes, but the loop still takes around 80 minutes, so hop strategically.
• Pioneer Square walk: the audio tour is 1.1 miles and uses a smartphone with images displayed as you go. Bring a charged phone.
• Saturday routing note: every Saturday this summer, Stop 18 will be located by the Via 6 building on the west corner of 6th & Lenora (right side of the street). It’s only a factor if you’re trying to meet the bus at that exact stop.

Also, simple rules: pets and smoking aren’t allowed. Plan for weather too; Seattle can change its mind quickly.

Who should book this HOHO + Locks Cruise combo

I’d point you toward this tour if you:

• Want flexibility across a day or two without building a route from scratch
• Like seeing the big icons quickly, then spending time where you actually care
• Plan to do a sightseeing cruise and want it folded into a single ticket
• Enjoy audio-guided walking tours and don’t mind using your phone

You might skip it if you:

• Only want one neighborhood and will walk everything from a hotel
• Don’t want to coordinate a fixed cruise departure at 10:30am
• Have no interest in Pioneer Square and don’t plan to hop off beyond a couple of stops

Should you book City Sightseeing Seattle?

If you want an efficient Seattle plan that mixes skyline views, market energy, neighborhood texture, and a real change of pace with the Locks Cruise, I think this is a strong booking. The smartest move is to treat the bus as your positioning tool, use the Pike Place Market + Chinatown stops as anchor moments, and make the Pier 55 cruise your mid-morning centerpiece.

If you’re the type who will actually hop off more than once, and you’re okay paying separately for attraction entry, $109 can feel like good value. If you’re unsure you’ll use all parts of the bundle, consider whether you truly want the cruise and the Pioneer Square audio walk, because that’s where the package earns its keep.

FAQ

What is included in the City Sightseeing Seattle ticket?

The ticket includes a 24 or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour, a 2-hour one-way Locks Cruise, and an audio-guided walking tour in the Pioneer Square historic district (with English audio).

How long is the bus tour loop?

The tour duration is listed as 80 minutes per loop.

How often do buses run?

Buses depart every 30 minutes.

Where do I start the bus tour?

You can join the bus tour at any of the stops along the route. The first departure from Stop 1 is at 10am, and the last departure from Stop 1 is at 4pm.

Where and when does the Locks Cruise depart?

The Locks Cruise departs every day at 10:30am from Pier 55.

How long is the Locks Cruise?

The Locks Cruise is described as a 2-hour one-way cruise.

Where does the audio walking tour take place?

The audio-guided walking tour takes place in the Pioneer Square historic district, with a total distance of 1.1 miles.

What language is the audio in?

The audio guide is included in English.

What is the meeting point for the cruise?

The Locks Cruise meeting point is Pier 55. You’ll show your ticket there and receive separate tickets for the bus and the cruise.

Are attractions or entry fees included?

No. Entry to attractions is not included, and the ticket does not include food and drink.