City Sightseeing Toronto — Local services in Toronto

I am writing this review because City Sightseeing Toronto have given me their copy and paste response to my complaint and ignored me. Please do not waste your time or money on this bus tour. Being in Toronto for a short time I thought this would be the best way to take in lots of sights, it was however a massive waste of time.

First issue was that the bus was in an awful state of disrepair. It was raining on the day I took the tour and water was leaking through to the lower level. This made the journey cold, damp and uncomfortable with some guests getting a through soaking. I was told by City Sightseeing Toronto:

"Due to most of the buses being open-top, sometimes when it it rains, water can leak to the lower level as there is no way to block the exit from the top floor."

I've been on many bus tours in other cities, some when it's raining and this has not been the case, your buses are in a state of disrepair and hazardous is the issue here.

Secondly there was no live guide on my tour bus. I was told that this was just the case for the bus I was on (it was aimed at multi lingual tourists). No one told me this at the time of the journey so I assumed this was the case for all buses. The audio was awful and regularly out of sync with no indication of what I should be looking at and where. I was told:

"We still have staff members assigned to these buses to sell tickets, answer questions, and ensure the safety of all passengers. When an issue concerning the audio system arises (such as being out of sync), we count on guests to notify staff, so that they can resolve the issue as it is happening. The staff member could have also informed you of when the next bus with a live tour guide would be passing by."

Our staff member departed a few stops after Casa Loma which left us with just the bus driver. Not wanting to distract him and constantly ask about the audio being out of sync, he also tried to operate the audio while driving which was unsafe.

Due to these factors I asked for a refund which I was told I wouldn't be getting. I responded back to City Sightseeing Toronto and my email was ignored. I would have liked to have solved this with them but unfortunately feel compelled to write this review as I am now being ignored and no compensation has been offered.

Such a shame as other bus tours I have been on are great fun with lovely enthusiastic guides and safe buses in a good condition. From reading other review's it looks like I'm not alone in my experience. Please find another way to see Toronto and save your...

My wife and I booked to take the tour on the 2nd of April 2023. It was a gloriously sunny day, albeit about 2°C. We purchased on the premise of an open top bus tour, but to our disappointment they used a filthy double decker closed top bus. We were extremely disappointed having used this company before in many other cities and in an open top bus in worse conditions. We missed out on lots of photo opportunities throughout the tour due to the obstructions of the roof, filthy windows and other people.

The guide was well spoken, knowledgeable and expressed his apologies to us as we were not on an open top bus tour, especially having paid CAD78 (which includes a boat tour which is only seasonal and wasnt on), so two stars for the tour guide.

Tips for tourists: check forecast and message their Facebook page / email to confirm type of bus being used before you book (if its on the day or day before). Our tour was disappointing in the closed top bus and we felt kinda conned. Sit on the left hand side that's where most of the sights seem to be on the route.

Tips for City Sightseeing : I know your T&Cs state you reserve the right to use closed top buses, but when this happens:-

1. Inform folk who have booked this is what will be used so they are not disappointed. Offer refund if customer not happy.

2. Offer a discounted "restricted view" rate if closed top bus is used instead, and not full price. I wouldn't pay a full price ticket for a sporting event, for example, to then be told its RV before entry and by the way, it's still full price.

3. Remove the boat tour from the ticket and reduce overall price if its off season. Or at least give the option of bus tour only and at a reduced rate.

4. Whatever bus is being used, make sure it's clean and tidy. This bus was filthy, inside and out and some of the windows, and ones on the roof were obscured. Some of the aircon vents were faulty and it was at max for full 2h tour, couldn't close mine and had to move seat. Even the seat the guide was on was broken and wouldn't spring back from being fully retracted.

Overall, for the price we paid, severely let down on the Toronto tour (taken April 02 2023), unlike your other City Sightseeing options which are generally...

Having recently taken the hop-on hop-off bus tour in Toronto, I was left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. Here's why the entire trip was monotonous and boring:

Repetitive and Uninspiring Routes The Toronto bus tour takes you through a series of stops that quickly become repetitive and uninspiring. While the route includes the CN Tower, the Distillery District, and the Toronto Islands, the overall experience felt redundant. The lack of variety in attractions made the journey feel like a continuous loop of the same scenery, with nothing truly captivating to look forward to at each stop.

Dull Commentary and Guides The commentary provided on the Toronto tour was dry and uninspired. The guides, though knowledgeable, lacked enthusiasm and failed to bring any excitement to the experience. Their monotone delivery and reliance on scripted facts made it difficult to stay engaged. Unlike other tours where guides share personal anecdotes and lively stories, the Toronto tour felt more like a dull history lecture.

Inconvenient Schedules and Routes The bus schedules in Toronto were inconsistent, leading to long waits and frustration. The infrequency of buses made it challenging to explore the city at a comfortable pace. Additionally, the boat cruise included in the tour, while a nice idea in theory, added little value and felt like an unnecessary addition to an already tedious trip.

Overall Lackluster Atmosphere The atmosphere on the Toronto hop-on hop-off bus tour was lackluster and failed to capture the vibrant spirit of the city. The tour lacked the excitement and energy that one would expect from exploring a multicultural metropolis. Instead, it felt like a slow, monotonous ride through a city that deserved a more dynamic

The Toronto hop-on hop-off bus tour was a monotonous and boring experience. From the repetitive routes and dull commentary to the inconvenient schedules and lackluster atmosphere, the entire trip left much to be desired. While Toronto is a city with much to offer, this tour fails to capture its essence and excitement. If you're looking for a lively and engaging way to explore Toronto, I would recommend seeking...