O London, you fair capital upon the Thames, be not cocksure, for one day all your marvels shall be met by those of holy Jerusalem – especially those fancy double-decker buses.

Yes, most things in Israel could stand a touch of improvement, but one service that is nearly beyond reproach is the comprehensive country and city bus network controlled almost entirely, in one of the few examples of a monopoly done right, by the Egged company. Egged's modern, spacious buses will take you anywhere you need to go in Jerusalem – including the Grand Tour itself.

Egged Line 99, a route plied by an eye-catching, fire-engine-red, double-decker city bus, is the thorough tourist's dream, a panoptic voyage 'round the city from the unique vantage point of the bus's upper deck. Audio narration is provided via headphones in eight languages (English, Hebrew, Arabic, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Russian).

A day excursion ticket, available on the bus for 65 NIS (56 NIS for children), allows you to embark and disembark as many times during the day as you see fit, providing ample opportunity for further exploration of sites that pique your interest.

The bus stops are, in order: the Central Bus Station; Machane Yehuda; Davidka Square; the Leonardo Jerusalem; the Grand Court Hotel; Givat Hatachmoshet (Ammunition Hill); the Regency Hotel; Hadassah Mount Scopus; Mount Scopus; the Augusta Victoria Hospital; Lions Gate; City of David; Dung Gate; Mount Zion; Jaffa Gate; Kikar Safra; the King David Hotel; Khan Theatre; Haas Promenade; Malcha Mall; Biblical Zoo; Herzl Museum; Yad Vashem; Hebrew University at Givat Ram; Science Museum; Israel Museum and Bible Lands Museum; the Knesset; and the Supreme Court. A complete circle of the city takes roughly an hour and 45 minutes; a schedule of bus times can be picked up on the bus or at your hotel.

Click here to book tickets now for Egged Line 99, or click here to learn more.