Brighton bus pass & fares
Day tickets, single fares, the app, and how they compare to the tour ticket.
Getting around Brighton
Brighton's centre is walkable, but the sights string out along the coast from Hove in the west to the Marina in the east. Here is how to move between them without a car, and when each option is the right call.
Written with Oliver Bennett, Brighton sightseeing specialist
Short answer
Brighton's centre is walkable, so the pier, the Lanes, North Laine and the beach are easy on foot. For the sights spread along the coast, use the buses: a Brighton & Hove day pass costs around £6, or the open-top hop-on hop-off tour gives you the same reach plus commentary and attraction discounts. Leave the car if you can, because parking is expensive and scarce.
Is Brighton walkable?
Yes, central Brighton is very walkable. The pier, the Lanes, North Laine, the Pavilion and the beach all sit within a fifteen-minute stroll of each other. The catch is the coast: Hove to the west and the Marina to the east are a long walk, so most visitors mix walking in the centre with a bus or two for the ends.
The town slopes gently down to the sea, so the walk from the station to the pier is downhill and easy, about ten minutes. Where legs give out is along the front, where the interesting bits are strung a mile or more apart. That is exactly the gap the buses fill.
Your options, compared
| Option | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | The compact centre: pier, Lanes, North Laine, beach |
| Day bus pass (citySAVER) | About £6 app, £6.80 cash | Budget travel to every sight on normal buses |
| Open-top hop-on hop-off tour | From $20, 1 or 2 days | First-timers wanting views, commentary and attraction discounts |
| Taxi / rideshare | Metered | Late nights, luggage, or the Marina in a hurry |
| Driving | Pricey parking | Rarely worth it in the centre; see the parking guide |
The nuance most people miss: the tour ticket is a day bus pass, because it also covers the normal Brighton & Hove network. So the real choice is whether the open-top and the commentary are worth the step up from the plain £6 pass. Our full comparison lays it out.
Plan the practical side
Where to park in Brighton
The honest guide to parking, and why the bus often beats it.
London to Brighton by train
Times, fares and the first move once you step off at Brighton Station.
The easy all-day option
If you would rather not think about routes and fares, the hop-on hop-off tour is the one-ticket answer: it reaches every sight, works on the city buses too, and you ride up top.
Viator Badge of Excellence
Best for first-time visitors, families and short stays
City Sightseeing Brighton Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
- Open-top double-decker on a 12-stop Red Route, from Palace Pier to Brighton Marina, about a 50-minute full loop
- Hop on and off all day; choose a 1-day or 2-day ticket that also covers Brighton & Hove city buses
- Recorded commentary in 7 languages with free headphones, plus 30% off SEA LIFE and 15% off the Royal Pavilion
From $20 per adult, shown for your date and currency on Viator
Check live availability & prices on Viator →
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Ratings are the operator's current Viator and Tripadvisor figures; check the listing for today's price.
Getting around Brighton: common questions
Is Brighton walkable?
The centre is, yes. The pier, the Lanes, North Laine, the Pavilion and the beach are all within a fifteen-minute walk. For the coast ends, Hove and the Marina, most people take a bus rather than walk the full mile or more.
Do I need a car in Brighton?
No, and it is usually easier without one. Parking is expensive and scarce, while the centre is walkable and the buses reach everything else. See the parking guide for the honest picture.
What is the cheapest way to get around Brighton?
Walking in the centre, then a Brighton & Hove day pass at around £6 for the coast and the outlying sights. The tour ticket costs more but bundles the open top, commentary and attraction discounts.
Does the bus tour ticket work on normal buses?
Yes. A City Sightseeing Brighton ticket gives unlimited travel on Brighton & Hove city buses for its validity, so it doubles as a day pass on top of the tour loop.