[1] The buses pass by main tourist attractions and major landmarks, while a prerecorded audio commentary is provided through headphones in multiple languages giving important facts and information about what is being seen.

Tourists may board and leave the buses within their ticket's time limit at the different bus stops on the circular routes.

In some cities (Moscow, Cape Town, Amsterdam, Boston) a boat tour is available.

[3] In 2015, US officials raised safety concerns about City Sightseeing tours after certain irregularities were discovered and a major crash occurred in San Francisco.

In 1998, Ensignbus revived the name and developed the red livery in the Spanish city of Seville.

It also set up operations in Sydney, Australia, not as a franchise, but directly owned, during this year.

[6][7][8] It also owned the operation in Cambridge and Stratford-upon-Avon, but these were passed to Stagecoach, who also provided normal bus services in that area.

In 2011, Ensignbus sold its 100% ownership of the business to the Spanish franchisee Enrique Ybarra's City Sightseeing Worldwide of Spain.

Sydney, along with several other locations, including Munich, Frankfurt, Perth and Bristol have all left City Sightseeing, and now operate independently.

[12] In November 2015, a City Sightseeing bus injured 20 people in a crash at Union Square, San Francisco.

At a minimum, the franchise operator must use the City Sightseeing red base colour and graffiti style.