A single adult First Bus fare within the Bristol Zone costs £2.60, and an unlimited FirstDay ticket costs £6.80. If you tap a contactless card, First Bus caps what you pay automatically, so you never pay more than the day fare no matter how many trips you take. Here's how the ticketing actually works.
First Bus is the main operator
First Bus runs the majority of commercial bus services across Bristol, Bath and the wider West of England area, including the metrobus services (m1, m2, m3, m3x and m4) and several Park and Ride routes. A handful of smaller operators run specific routes too, but if you're getting the bus in Bristol, it's almost certainly a First Bus service. Fares below are for the Bristol Zone and were current as of January 2026; always check the First Bus website for the latest prices before you travel, since fares are reviewed periodically.
Single fares
| Ticket | Adult | Young Person (16–21) / Student | Children (5–15) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single journey (Bristol Zone) | £2.60 | £2.34 | £1.00 |
Bristol operates a flat single fare, meaning it costs the same wherever you're travelling within the zone, unlike the West of England Zone further out, where fares are based on distance.
Day and week tickets
| Ticket | Adult | Young Person / Student | Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstDay (unlimited travel for one day, including metrobus, excluding Airport Flyer) | £6.80 | £6.10 | £3.40 |
| FirstWeek (unlimited travel for 7 consecutive days) | £28.00 | £25.20 | £14.00 |
| FirstDay Group (up to 5 people, from 9.30am weekdays or all day weekends/holidays) | £13.00 | N/A | N/A |
FirstDay tickets are valid until 4.29am the following day, so a late one covers your journey home. FirstDay Bundles (3, 5, 6, 10, 12 or 20 days of travel spread over a longer period) are also available, but pricing for those is set on the First Bus website rather than fixed here since bundle pricing varies.
Tap on, tap off: the easiest option for occasional riders
If you don't want to think about which ticket to buy, First Bus's Tap On, Tap Off system uses contactless payment (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay) to automatically cap your daily spend. You tap the same card or device every time you board and alight, and the system charges you per trip up to a daily cap that matches the FirstDay price:
- 1 trip: £2.60
- 2 trips: £5.20
- 3 or more trips: £6.80 (capped at the FirstDay price)
There's no need to ask the driver for a ticket, and it works out identical to buying a FirstDay ticket if you end up taking three or more journeys in a day, but cheaper if you only need one or two. It's the simplest option if you're visiting Bristol for the day and don't want to work out fares in advance.
How to pay
- First Bus app: buy tickets in advance as an mTicket and scan when boarding. Useful for planning ahead, including matchday supporter services and some discounted fares.
- Contactless on the bus: pay by card or Apple/Google Pay directly on board, except on metrobus services, which are buy-before-you-board only.
- Cash on the bus: accepted on regular services (not metrobus), though contactless is faster and, via Tap On Tap Off, usually works out the same price or cheaper.
- Travelwest Travelcards: accepted by First Bus and useful if you're combining multiple operators.
- Metrobus iPoints: ticket machines at metrobus stops, since you can't pay the driver on those routes.
Metrobus is different
The m1, m2, m3, m3x and m4 metrobus routes are buy-before-you-board only. You'll need a ticket from the app, an iPoint, or a Travelwest Travelcard before you get on; you can't pay the driver in cash or by card once you're on the bus. The m1 also runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making it the most reliable option for very early or late journeys. See our guide to getting around Bristol for more on how the network fits together.
If you're driving in and switching to the bus
Park and Ride tickets are priced separately from the standard fares above and are usually better value if you're driving into the city. Our dedicated guide to Bristol Park and Ride covers the three sites and how their tickets work, and our parking guide covers city-centre options if you'd rather park centrally.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a single bus fare in Bristol? An adult single within the Bristol Zone costs £2.60. It's a flat fare, so the price is the same regardless of how far you travel within the zone.
How much is a day ticket for Bristol buses? A FirstDay ticket, giving unlimited travel for one day including metrobus (but not the Airport Flyer), costs £6.80 for an adult, £6.10 for young people and students, and £3.40 for children.
Do I need to pre-buy a ticket for the metrobus? Yes. The m1, m2, m3, m3x and m4 metrobus services are buy-before-you-board only. Buy a ticket via the First Bus app, a metrobus iPoint, or a Travelwest Travelcard before boarding.
What is Tap On, Tap Off and is it worth using? It's a contactless payment system that automatically caps your daily bus spend at the FirstDay price. Tap the same card or device on and off each journey. It's worth using if you're not sure how many trips you'll take, since you'll never pay more than the day rate.
Can I use cash on Bristol buses? Yes, on regular First Bus services, but not on the metrobus, which requires a ticket bought before boarding.
How much is a week's bus travel in Bristol? A FirstWeek ticket, for unlimited travel over 7 consecutive days, costs £28 for an adult, £25.20 for young people and students, and £14 for children.