I’m American and I trust the easy way to get around major European cities to see the best landmarks – but the British laugh at me

VISITING a big city for the first time can be overwhelming – especially if you have a long list of must-see places.

Fortunately, most major cities offer an easy and relatively inexpensive way to get around.

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I have visited London, England, four different times, both for work and pleasure.

The history and architecture are two of my favorite aspects of this beautiful city.

So one of my favorite ways to explore the best and biggest sites is to hop aboard a hop-on-hop-off bus.

My British co-workers laughed when they learned that I had once again chosen to pay for the double-decker tourist bus.

But I firmly believe it’s the best way to get as much sightseeing as possible – especially if you have limited time and want to cover miles of the city.

On my most recent trip, I only had about four hours of sightseeing with a friend who had never been to London.

Naturally, we ended up getting on a hop-on-hop-off bus, buying a ticket and traveling the entire circuit.

We used our time wisely, opting to get off the bus at Big Ben to take some photos and stretch our legs before hopping back on board and continuing the journey back to our hotel.

We check out all the biggest landmarks including Big Ben and Parliament, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.

It happened to be a beautiful day so we had the opportunity to sit on the upper level and enjoy the sun and breeze.

But even if it’s raining, buses are a great way to explore the city on a budget.

Several different companies run hop-on hop-off tours, so you can take your pick.

Big Bus Tours, London City Tours, City Sightseeing and Golden Tours are some of the best-known operators.

We chose the Toot Bus, less known but more ecological.

Most, if not all, of these companies offer guided tours and free headphones to follow along as the bus travels the city streets.

I chose to listen to the commentary on this tour and was enchanted by the humor and historical facts I learned along the way.

Typically, you can choose between a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour hop-on hop-off pass.

Most companies offer packages that include a hop-on hop-off bus pass, a boat cruise on the River Thames and an evening city tour.

Some even offer discounts or included entry to attractions like the London Eye or the Tower of London.

You can expect to pay around $40 minimum for a 24-hour ticket, which is what we paid when we boarded the Toot bus.

If you buy a ticket in advance, you can save some money.

Discounts are also available if you search online.

Alternatively, you can opt for a different double-decker bus for a fraction of the price.

Local buses will take you around London with fares starting at $2.

You can sit on the upper level of the bus for better views and another way to tour.

I have found these buses useful when traveling to see shows in the West End, further away from my hotel.

It was another efficient yet exciting way to get around and see more of the city.

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