He would stop the bus in front of a building, start a story and then abruptly say that: "But if you do come for the full tour, You will learn the full story ." What? Please, dont start a story with a single intention of saying we can't know the ending until we come back for your tour. Thats just... no. Otherwise, a fun experience. read more

Banjo Billy's Bus Tours - Starting! - Bus Tours Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

I've done this twice now. Loved each time, and always make my family do it with me when they get into town. It's a great way to Show off boulder and get many laughs in. This is not your average borring tour experience. 10/10 would recommend. I've done during snow in December and August. Snow and sun. Do it! read more

Ahhh I seriously had so much fun on this Magic School Bus ride--I meaaan Banjo Billy's Bus that took some riders and I on a 90-minute tour of Boulder, CO. The inside of the bus is decorated beautifully and you can bring drinks and light bites along for your ride which is an awesome perk. Our driver was really funny and engaging; he narrated as he was driving but also made a few stops along the way to tell us some really awesome (and sometimes creepy) stories specific to each stop. People on the Boulder streets are very familiar with and love this bus (it's been around for 12 years) so we were often greeted with waves/cheers from outside the bus which was a fun way to interact with the locals. Although I have been to Boulder many times, I learned (and saw) so many new and interesting things while on this bus. Apparently there are themed bus tours depending on the season (i.e ghost tours for Halloween) which sounds pretty cool but all in all, this is a perfect way to see CO and definitely a must for locals and visitors alike ! read more

Banjo Billy's Bus Tours - Inside of the bus - Bus Tours Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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This is our second fall in Boulder and our second ghost tour. It's so much fun! This time there was a toddler who started to get fussy about 3/4 through. Not sure why anyone would bring a baby on a 90 minute bus tour but whatever. Our guide Glenn was awesome. We've done the history tour, but since Halloween is our favorite holiday this tour is a must. Kudos. And yes, I recommend getting there early as seats fill up quickly. read more

This was a fun tour! Patrick was out tour guide and did a great job of being informative and fun to listen to. It seems they (the tour guides) have a script they have to stick to, which is good for consistency, but can offer a few more 'punny' jokes than you really want. That being said, the information was great and I learned a lot. I didn't quite know what to expect in terms of the type of history we would be exposed to and depending on the kind of information you care about learning your results may vary. I would have liked to hear a bit more about the areas we drove through, their names, and the types of vibes each had. As someone totally new to Boulder I never knew where we were and would have liked some more local insider information, but again, that's just my preference. We learned a lot about the history and heritage of the town, all of which I didn't know. From how it was founded, to some of the prominent names and places. I feel like we saw and heard a lot in 90 minutes. There is quite a tilt towards ghost stories and people dying (as they tend to do), and I suppose this has helped to inspire and shape the town, so it is probably all quite relevant and topical based on the town itself. We had a full bus, and there was a good selection of folks from all over the world, though most were from the U.S. The bus was right on time, and our tour left and was on schedule the whole way. I feel like I got to know a lot more about Boulder, and probably more than some local knows. I would love to see a 'locals' tour where we hit the popular spots and the off the track spots where good parks are, favorite local eats, funky suburban zones, etc. But I suppose I can use Yelp for that :) All in all I had a really great time and it was a fantastic way to see and hear about Boulder. For the price of $24/ticket I don't see how you can better spend your money for 90 minutes. Again, it's lighthearted and Patrick made sure to keep the stories coming as well as be easy to listen to without sound droll, too loud, or annoying. Just the right balance. Thanks Patrick! read more

A wonderful way to see downtown Boulder! I was visiting my daughter from California and she booked 2 tickets for us. Patrick was our guide and he was awesome! Entertaining and informative! We got to see historic neighborhoods with beautiful homes as well as the Flatirons, My favorite part was watching all the people watching us drive by in awe of this cool bus and waving to us as we hollered YEEHAW back! read more

Banjo Billy's saved the (Sun)day a few weeks ago. I had visitors in town for a long weekend who aren't into copious amounts of physical activity or day drinking. What do you do with people like that? Take them on a historical tour of Boulder, of course. Purchasing tickets online was easy, anyone with a smart phone can do it. $22-23/person isn't so bad if you understand the value of the experience = 90 minutes on a hippie bus where you don't have to do a lot of talking is worth it to me. Sit back, look out the window and learn a little bit. The BB Boulder bus tour picks up guests at Hotel Boulderado, a historical landmark in itself. While you wait to be picked up, have a cocktail at the bar. It's the perfect setting for an afternoon of reveling in the good ol' days. Patrick was our guide and he had just enough Dad jokes to last the entire ride. He also had plenty of informational nuggets about the Boulder area to share with the group. A nice balance of humor & history together under one psychedelic roof. I especially enjoyed the part of the tour where we drove by the Celestial Seasonings field and got a panoramic view of the Boulder area. Even on a cloudy, rainy day it was picturesque. 90 minutes pretty much flew by, which is a good sign. I've done the Denver Banjo Billy tour and enjoyed this experience much more. If someone was looking for a recommendation on a unique activity to partake with out of town guests, this would top my list. read more

This was a super fun history tour of Boulder! As a Boulder resident, We had a great time learning about all historical facts and tales about our town. I'd be interested to check out their brewery tours and ghost tours as well. This is definitely something I would encourage my family to do while visiting from out of town. read more

Banjo Billy's Bus Tours - Banjo Billy! - Bus Tours Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

We had such a great time on the history tour! I was a little bummed out that it happened to be snowing when we had booked our tour, but the windows on the bus kept the inside nice and warm. The snow didn't make a difference as far as comfort, but there were a 1 or 2 things that we couldn't see because of the visibility. The interior is so unique with a huge tapestry on the ceiling and the seats aren't normal bus seats - they are very comfortable! Glen was our guide and he was really funny and kept the tour interesting. I've been living here for 4 years, so before the tour I was kind of doubtful that I'd like it. But I ended up LOVING it! I learned things I had no idea about and left knowing a lot more about my town. Be sure to bring cash to tip your guide! read more

What a treat! Learned a lot about Boulder history with tons of laughs. Patrick is very funny and his driver Patrick got us about safely nd surprisingly comfortably! Highly recommend! read more

Very enjoyable and informative. I took my grandsons on the tour our first day in Boulder. We had a great overview of the town and learned a lot about its history while being entertained by our charming tour guide, Patrick. I highly recommend this trip for anyone who like to know something about where they are or just wants to have some fun!! read more

Banjo Billy's Bus Tours - Bus Tours Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

We decided to check out Banjo Billy's on a whim after seeing the bus around town. We were able to just barely squish in since we hadn't reserved a spot ahead of time. I wouldn't recommend the tour to everyone because the $23.10 (with tax) price tag was a little extreme but we had a good time and learned a lot about Boulder. The guide, Patrick, was easy going and seems to really like his city. He made a lot of puns. Many, many puns. If you've got a couple hours and don't mind throwing down $20+ a person, check it out. Maybe make time for brunch at the Hotel Boulderado beforehand. read more

Highly recommend. Our tour guide combined accurate historical information with very humorous anecdotes and kept us entertained during the entire drive. He even had to change the route on the fly due to a special event and continued to regale us with stories of old Boulder Colorado. Great job. read more

Banjo Billy's Bus Tour is the reason we moved back to Boulder. Totally not kidding. We had moved from Denver to Superior and were enjoying it just fine, but one gorgeous fall day we did the Banjo Billy tour through Boulder, and I can only describe it as magical. The windows were open and the breezes were blowing and people were waving and somehow along the way we learned about Boulder's fun and funky history and got to see the city in a way we hadn't seen it before. We've gotten to do the tour 2 more times, and it's always a lot of fun, but I will say that if Glenn can do your tour, it will be a special treat! read more

Took my wife on a date on the Boulder tour today. Patric, the guide, was great and we had an awesome time! It's very low key, but fun and we learned a lot of things we didn't know about Boulder history. There were also some interesting ghost stories thrown in to boot! Good times. Highly recommend. read more

My Fairview High School reunion committee included an option for alumni to catch this wonderful tour in Boulder, Colorado, August 9-11, 2019! The tour was a LOT of fun, informative, and well-paced! I want to acknowledge the witty and articulate tour guide. At one point, we were in front of Macky Auditorium on the CU campus--the scene of a grisly murder in 1966. (My classmates and I remember all too well what happened!) The guide told the story, minus the details, with tact and respect in front of our family's 7 and 9 year old children! The tour continued showcasing wonderful historical and scenic sites! THANK YOU! read more

We had high hopes for this tour, given the reviews and the desire to do something a little outside the box. First, let me say, that the staff was very accommodating when we had a snafu with our reservation. They allowed us to reschedule - which we recognize, they did not have to do. The tour itself is interesting. The issue is the seating. I had read a prior review where someone complained about the seating - and thought it must have just been from some crotchity elder person. But, unfortunately, my healthy 57-year old husband and 22-year old daughter had the same experience. The bus filled quickly and we were the last ones on even though we got on the bus 10 minutes before the tour started. The four of us got the last four seats....two of us sat on a bench seat with no back....the only seats on the bus without a back. Not ideal for an hour and a half long tour , but we made do. My husband and daughter were seated in the only seat facing backwards - right behind the driver. The first issue - they couldn't see a thing as people's heads were in front of the windows. The second issue - the seat back juts forward at the top - pushing their top shoulders, neck and head forward. By the time we got off the bus, they both had such terrible headaches that it ruined the rest of their/our day. Suggestion if you are going to go: Get their early to ensure you don't get the last four seats. If these are the only seats left - don't bother going. You will not enjoy. Suggestion to the owner - it's an easy fix. Add a back to the backless seat/s. And...sell two fewer tickets per tour - as no one should be seating behind the driver. This isn't the first complaint received about this issue. read more

What a fun way to explore historic Boulder, CO. The bus is so quirky and Patrick, our guide was informative, funny, and very nice, bad jokes and all. It's a great tour for visitors to Boulder or locals to enjoy a great time. read more

Our family reunion group rented out the Banjo Billy bus on a Monday morning to check out Boulder. The bus was very comfortable with eclectic, cushy furniture. The driver was very accommodating, picking us up at the Millennium Hotel. After the tour, he dropped half of us of downtown and the other half at our hotel. What a fun way to learn about Boulder history and folklore! read more

I had such a great time on Banjo Billy's! I did grow up in Boulder and so I'd always seen the busses driving around but never got the chance to take the tour. Our guide Patrick did a great job of catering to both local and out of towners, and I ended up learning a lot about the beautiful city of Boulder, CO. Would recommend this tour in a second. read more

So awesome!!! I did this tour with my boyfriend's mom and we had a blast! Our tour guide Patrick was fun and very informative! I felt like I learned a lot of history but had a great time doing it. I would definitely recommend this tour to someone, really fun! read more

This was a fun tour. We were looking for something fun to do for Halloween and this tour was perfect! Patrick gave us a great tour of the haunts of Boulder. read more

Poorly ventilated bus with uncomfortable seats in the middle of the summer. Lots of stories about deaths, little interesting history

Super super fun. Patrick is a great tour guide. I got a history lesson and had some great laughs all from the comfort of a couch in a bus.

Normally I am not a fan of touristy things and had to be talked into the Banjo Bill's Bus Tour. We went up to Boulder for the day and had lunch and took the tour. We were picked up at the Boulderado Hotel in an incredible shabby looking converted school bus. The inside had been gutted and sported shabby chairs and couches that turned out to be surprisingly comfortable. The drive introduced himself and explained the horn was not a typical horn but would make a barking sound to greet a dog, a clucking chicken sound and several others. He didn't mention the wolf whistle the previous reviewer complained about. Guess they got rid of it. Anyway we were driven all over lovely Boulder and learned more than I can remember about the interesting history of Boulder and its past and present quirky inhabitants and architecture. Driver was funny and knew his stuff. I wish the tour had been longer. Now we are curious to try out the banjo Billy's Denver tours. We did end up going on the Denver tour yesterday( 10/ 4 / 15). It was fun and very informative and I would recommend it to anyone interested in knowing a bit more about Denver. read more

We had such a fun time filled with many laughs from our very funny tour guide, Patrick Lyons. We had to laugh as soon as we entered the bus as the devour was so Boulder/Hippie! There were real chairs and loves eats instead of real bus seats all with different fabric and colors. There was a disco ball on the ceiling made of colored fuzzy balls. Patrick took the time before the tour to speak individually to each guest group to get to know us. At the end of the tour he shared with us his other admirable job as a math teacher for special needs kids. If you get Patrick for your tour guide, tip him well as he made us laugh and treated us right!! We had a great time read more