Ever taken a hop-on hop-off (HOHO) bus when traveling around other countries like London, New York, Madrid, or Singapore? These fun, sightseeing buses let passengers easily make their own itineraries and visit top tourist destinations around a certain area, without having to stay with a particular group the whole time.

Riding a HOHO bus can be very useful for tourists who have no idea where to go around a city and want flexible yet convenient access to key landmarks, without having to stick to a fixed itinerary. It’s also particularly useful for those traveling with seniors or kids, who get tired easily when taking normal public transportation like trains or jeeps and get tired when long walks are involved.

Last July 2023, the Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with private stakeholders introduced the first-ever hop-on hop-off bus tour in the country with trips currently available around Makati City and Manila City.

Unlike having to navigate public buses or other forms of transport, these buses offer a hassle-free, seamless, and contactless transport and tour booking system for travelers. It’s really about time we had one here.

Here’s all you need to know about how to book trips on the hop-on hop-off bus in the Philippines, available routes, schedules, and other handy transport tips.

How does the hop-on hop-off bus work?

The Philippines hop-on hop-off bus enables tourists to explore the city’s best spots and activities through designated bus stops. The Department of Tourism-National Capital Region team has curated suggested itineraries for each stop, providing visitors with a range of options.

There’s a dedicated website offering essential information and the bus will have a reloadable EMV-capable card. Users will be able to book tours using the mobile app, which is available for download on Google Play and the App Store.

Upon installing the app, you’re given an option to log in as a guest or sign up. The app lets you browse or explore available tours and you can pick between a Guided Tour or DIY Tour for your chosen route.

The app will allow you to make cashless payments, get GPS-networked bus-arrival monitoring, watch video guides, and get more information on hotels, food, and tourism merchants in the areas you’re visiting.

The app also provides links to download and more information on mobility and banking partners, including Beep, Grab, Angkas, and PayMaya, which international travelers going around Metro Manila will definitely find useful.

As of this writing, the app still has to fix some bugs, as errors still occur when trying to view routes or book tours on the actual app (at least in the Android version).

How much does it cost?

Tourists will be able to buy the passes for the bus tours through the HOHO mobile app for around P1,000 to P2,500 depending on the number of days they plan to use it.

The one-day pass is worth P990, while a two-day pass costs P1,799, and P2,499 for a three-day pass.

While it seems pretty pricey for ordinary Filipino passengers who need to just get around, the rates are pretty standard considering their target market will be international tourists. For comparison, a 24-hour pass on a Taipei Double Decker Sightseeing Bus costs P960 on travel booking platform Klook, while a 24-hour discovery ticket on Big Bus London starts at €40.50 (approx. P2,500) for adults.

What are the routes available?

Currently, there are bus tours available in Makati City and Manila, offering a seamless and contactless transport and tour booking system, with plans in place to expand the project to other key destinations across the country.

Makati City

The bus will bring tourists to some of the best destinations around the vibrant business hub. This includes stops in eight hubs with easy access to galleries, museums, hidden bars and restaurants in Poblacion, parks, and major malls in Makati connected to other major transport lines.

Makati City hop-on hop-off bus stops:

• Glorietta 2
• Washington SyCip Park
• Ayala Triangle
• RCBC Plaza
• Rockwell Center
• Century City
• Museo ng Makati
• Circuit Makati

Passengers can take the bus to get around designated stops within the city to and follow suggested itineraries curated by the DOT-NCR team. They can also avail of private and guided tours (such as free walking tours) for a more immersive experience. The hop-on hop-off bus tour in Makati runs from 10am to 7pm daily.

Manila City

Want to take your balikbayan friends or relatives around historic museums in Intramuros and Manila and go food-tripping around the bustling Binondo district without having to navigate through traffic and worrying where to park your car? The hop-on hop-off Bus Tours in the cultural hub of Manila stops at nine destinations all over the capital city.

Manila City hop-on hop-off bus stops:

• Raja Sulayman
• Robinsons Manila
• Rizal Park / Luneta
• Manila City Hall
• National Museum
• Malacañang Heritage Tours
• Jones Bridge Escolta
• Binondo
• Intramuros

By taking the bus, you can visit the three major National Museums, check out the Clock Tower Museum at Manila City Hall, chow down on street eats in the oldest Chinatown in the world, and enjoy a cultural experience in Intramuros and Fort Santiago.

The hop-on hop-off Manila buses run daily from 1am to 7pm. However, those who want to stop at the Malacañang Palace can only do so at 3pm, so take that into consideration when planning your route for the day.

Another thing. Make sure to check the bus line’s official FB page for schedule changes, as trips can be canceled due to adverse weather conditions for the safety of passengers. The bus is also used for exclusive tours of VIP guests and delegates from other countries, which can impact the regular daily tours.

Where else will there be HOHO buses around Metro Manila?

Makati and Manila aren’t the only destinations in the metro getting HOHO bus tours. Similar bus tours will be rolled out in other key destinations across the country. Based on the official website and app, HOHO buses are “coming soon” to four other key tourism hubs, namely:

• Pasay and Paranaque
• Taguig
• Quezon City
• Pasig, San Juan, and Mandaluyong

On the app, Pasay/Paranaque is labeled as an ‘Entertainment Hub’ and shows a picture of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Other key spots that will probably be part of the route will be Mall of Asia (MOA) and casinos in Pasay.

Taguig is labeled as the ‘Lifestyle Hub’ with numerous restaurants and shopping areas situated around the Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a major leisure and financial district.

Quezon City, described as the ‘Mind Hub’ is home to top educational institutions like the University of the Philippines. You can also find several outdoor parks and spaces like the Quezon Memorial Circle and Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife (PAWB) in this green city.

The cities of Pasig, San Juan, and Mandaluyong are described as the ‘Heart Hub’ with a picture of the Pinaglabanan Shrine and the Saint John the Baptist Parish in San Juan shown on the app and website. We’re guessing the oldest underground reservoir underneath the San Juan Park along with notable churches, museums, and malls in the area like Megamall will be part of the route.

Excited about this new development and for tourism and sightseeing in the Philippines? Stay tuned for more details as new bus hubs are launched in the near future. We can’t wait!