hop on hop off bus tours rome

THE 10 BEST Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours

Hop-on hop-off tours in rome.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Skip-the-Line Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Chinese (Simplified)
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour

2. I Love Rome Hop on Hop off Open Bus Tour

3. Rome: Panoramic sightseeing Bus Tour + City Highlights Audioguide

4. Get-On Get-Off Bus Tour in Rome + FREE APP

5. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

6. City Sightseeing Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

7. Maxi Combo Pass Colosseum Vatican and 2 days Hop On Hop Off Tour

8. 24 hours unlimited hop-on-off bus Green-line Audio Tour

9. Rome Hop On Hop Off Open Bus + Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel Tour| Fast Track

10. Discover Rome: Exclusive Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

11. Rome: Catacombs Guided Tour with Panoramic Transfer

12. Hop-On Hop-Off 24h Rome River Cruise

13. Hop-on-Hop-off Tour of the Castelli Romani from Rome - Tour 1

14. Rome in a day: Hop on Hop off Open Bus Sightseeing Tour

15. Hop On Hop Off Panoramic Bus Tour of Rome

16. ROME : Private Hop on Hop off bus 1 day

17. Hop-On Hop-Off Castelli Romani from Rome - Tour 2

18. Rome Hop on Hop off Bus

19. Rome: Hop-on-off bus tour -Visit the main attraction of Rome

20. Rome Exclusive Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Open Bus Tickets

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Classic Half-Day Wine Tour in Frascati

Pasta Masterclass and Wine Tour in the Minardi Vineyard

Beautiful day trip to Castelli Romani

Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati

Vatican and Sistine Chapel Semi Private Tour

Pizza Masterclass and Wine Tour in the Minardi Vineyard

Small Group E-bike Experience from Orvieto to Civita with Lunch

Tour of the Agro Pontino by minibus with tasting.

Vatican and Sistine Chapel Skip the Line Ticket with Audio Guide

Pontine Islands cruise aboard Gommone Capelli 900

What travelers are saying.

• Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour
• I Love Rome Hop on Hop off Open Bus Tour
• City Sightseeing Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• 24 hours unlimited hop-on-off bus Green-line Audio Tour
• Rome: Panoramic sightseeing Bus Tour + City Highlights Audioguide
• Vatican City Tour and Tickets
• Bibbo Tours Rome
• Rome Colosseum Tours | Official Guided Tours
• Vatican Tour Tickets
• Wheel Tours - Rome by Golf Cart
• Gray Line - I Love Rome
• Big Bus Tours

Hop-on Hop-off Buses in Rome

Enjoy 360° views of the Eternal City from the comfort of a bus.

Spend up to three days hopping around Rome on one of the city’s double-decker sightseeing buses. Below is a complete guide to the five different tour bus companies that operate in Rome, so you can find out exactly which option is the best one for you.

What Is A Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

A Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour (ho-ho for short) is a great way to explore a new destination, especially a city as historical and jam-packed full of attractions such as Rome. Ho-Ho bus tours enable you to get on or off their buses as many times as you please and at any of the stops along their routes for the duration of your ticket – which can last up to 72 hours.

The buses follow a looped circuit with stops at many major tourist attractions. Most of them also provide free wifi on the buses, a complimentary app, multi-language assistants, and audio commentary providing information about the history of the sites and landmarks you’ll see.

With five different tour companies to choose from – each offering various ticket options – it can be hard to know which one to pick. To make that choice more manageable, we’ve put together a detailed guide that explains and compares the different tickets so that you can spend more time sightseeing and less time planning.

Big Bus Tours Rome

Big Bus Tours is the largest operator of open-top sightseeing tours and is one of the more popular bus tour operators in Rome. They offer three different ticket options with adult, child (5-15 years of age), and family (2 adults & 2 children) prices for each: the Classic (24 hours), Premium (48 hours), and Deluxe (72 hours). They also provide combo experiences – Classic tickets with entrance to either the Vatican Museums or the Colosseum.

To redeem your ticket, simply show your printed ticket or e-voucher to a staff member aboard the bus. Onboard you’ll be able to enjoy free wifi, and you’ll be provided with complimentary headphones to listen to the informative pre-recorded commentary about the sites of Rome in one of nine different languages.

To make your journey even smoother, don’t forget to download the free mobile app that comes with detailed maps, directions to your nearest Big Bus stop, and real-time tracking of the buses. 

Each ticket also comes with four digitally-guided walking tours in a variety of languages that you can download onto your smartphone and enjoy at your own leisure.

The buses operate from 9:00 am to 6:40 pm and run every 13 minutes. The duration of the tour is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Route Info:

The bus has eight stops within reach of around 40 unmissable Roman landmarks and attractions. You can hop on or off at any of these stops for the duration of your ticket. The stops are:

• Termini Railway Station
• Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
• Circus Maximus
• Piazza Venezia
• Vatican City
• Trevi Fountain / Spanish Steps
• Piazza Barberini

Green Line Tours

Enjoy panoramic views of Rome from the open-top double-decker Green Line bus. Though quite a similar experience to the Big Bus Tours, Green Line has more flexible ticket options, offering a Daily Ticket (allows you as many rides as you want during one day, morning to evening) and a 3 Pass Ticket (allows you to get on and off at three different stops of your choice over the course of one day) as well as the usual 24, 48, and 72 hours tickets.

They also offer a reduced price for youths (13-20 years of age), with children under 12 going free.

Once you’ve booked your ticket, you can present it aboard the bus in either printed or e-voucher format. Each bus is equipped with free wifi, single-use earphones to listen to the audio guides available in 13 different languages, and a multilingual assistant who can answer your questions.

Included in the ticket is a map of the city of Rome and a free app that you can use to monitor your route and learn more about selected points of interest.

Buses run between 9:00 am to 6:30 pm every 10-30 minutes. A complete loop takes approximately one hour and a half.

There are eight stops included in one loop. All of them are close to major sites and attractions.

• Villa Borghese

Gray Line I Love Rome

Gray Line buses are hard to miss because of their hot pink color. They offer the standard 24, 48, and 72-hour tickets, but they also have a selection of cheaper, single-day tickets. They have a choice between a Daily ticket (valid for one day of travel selected at the time of booking – discounted in the afternoon); a 5-hour ticket (valid for 5 hours from first use); and a One Run ticket (valid for one entire bus run, no hop-offs – discounted in the afternoon).

Children between 6 and 11 pay a reduced price.

You can enjoy free wifi onboard, a pre-recorded audio guide available in 13 different languages, and a detailed route map. Both printed tickets and e-vouchers are accepted. Walking tours are available from stops 4, 5, and 6. If you’re interested, ask a staff member on board to reserve you a spot.

Buses run between 8:30 am to 6:50 pm every 15-20 minutes. An entire run takes approximately one hour and a half.

Like its competitors, Gray Line also stops at eight major tourist hotspots.

• Circus Maximus & Mouth of Truth
• Vatican City & Castel Sant’Angelo
• Spanish Steps
• Piazza Barberini & Trevi Fountain

City Sightseeing Roma

City Sightseeing tours are famous worldwide. Their buses have the most ‘classic’ look: red double-decker, and in Rome, decorated with famous Roman sites. They offer Classic (24 hours), Premium (48 hours), and Deluxe (72 hours) tickets that can be used on both the City Sightseeing and Big Bus Tours buses when purchased on their website.

Children (between 5 and 15) pay a reduced price, and they also have a family ticket (2 adults, 2 kids) option available.

Your ticket gives you access to free wifi onboard the bus and an audioguide available in 8 different languages. Don’t forget to download the nifty app that comes with an interactive map featuring real-time updates about the location of the buses. It also contains a digitally-guided walking tour of the city center in 5 languages.

Buses run from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm every 10-30 minutes. An entire run takes approximately one hour and a half.

• Piazza di Spagna

Vatican & Rome Open Bus Service

This bus tour operator offers the most unique route out of the five, its focus being on religious sites. It’s run by the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, a branch of the Vicariate of Rome. Their buses are bright yellow, a color representing the Vatican.

They offer five different ticket options: Daily tickets, 24h, 48h, 72h tickets, or a One Round ticket (non-stop panoramic tour, no hop-offs). Children between the ages of 6 to 17 enjoy a reduced price. An app where you can download your tickets is also available.

Each bus is staffed with multilingual assistants, has free wifi, and provides an audioguide available in eight languages. This bus is also unique because stops scheduled along the itinerary will be on request.

The buses operate from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and run every 45 minutes. The duration of the tour is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

This tour contains 14 different stops, though some are quite close together.

• Vatican City – Castel Sant’Angelo
• San Giovanni dei Fiorentini
• Santa Agnese in Agone – Piazza Navona
• Torre Argentina
• Santa Maria in Ara Coeli
• Santi Apostoli
• Santa Maria degli Angeli
• Termini Station
• Santa Maria Maggiore
• San Giovanni in Laterano
• Colosseum – San Gregorio al Celio
• Circus Maximus – Santa Sabina all’Aventino
• Teatro Marcello – Santa Maria in Campitelli
• Largo Argentina – Santa Maria ad Martyres

All the tour operators, with the exception of Vatican and Rome Open Bus Service, offer very similar bus routes. They follow similar circuits of the historic center and stop near or at most of the major tourist hotspots, including the Colosseum , Vatican City , Circus Maximus , and the Spanish Steps / Trevi Fountain .

The Vatican and Rome Open Bus Service also stops at many major sites, but its main focus is on churches and other religious sites. It’s also the only tour operator that goes to San Giovanni in Laterano Basilica , south of the city center. However, it doesn’t stop at either Piazza di Spagna or the Trevi Fountain.

Most of the buses operate from approximately 9 am to around 6:30-7:00 at night, and run every 10-30 minutes. The Vatican & Rome buses have a shorter schedule, running from 10 am to 4 pm every 45 minutes. Each route takes roughly one hour and a half to complete the entire circuit.

The main stops are at Termini station and the Vatican, which is where most of the operators have staff and their offices.

Tour Offerings 

Is a hop-on hop-off bus tour worth it in rome.

Rome can be a daunting city to visit. With so much to see and do, many visitors to the Eternal City feel like they just didn’t have enough time to see as much as they wanted to. Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours are a great option for first-time visitors who don’t know where to begin or visitors who want to see a lot in a small amount of time.

Rome, however, is also a great city to walk around . For visitors who enjoy taking things slow and getting a feel for the city, tour buses are not the way to go. If you want to have a more authentic and local experience, far from the crowds of tourists, then ho-ho buses may not be the best choice for you.

Hop-on Hop-off buses are a great choice if you want to:

• See a lot of major attractions in a short amount of time.
• Not get lost in the maze that is Rome.
• Make the most of a limited amount of time.
• See the city without dealing with public transport in a foreign language.
• See the city but have mobility issues.
• Enjoy arriving at destinations hassle-free.
• Learn interesting facts and stories about the sites with an audio guide.

Hop-on Hop-off buses are not for you if you want to:

• Avoid crowds of tourists.
• Get to one specific destination quickly.
• See the city early in the morning or later in the evening.
• Immerse yourself in the Italian culture and see the city like a local.
• Walk around.
• See lesser-known attractions and sites.
• Get off the beaten track.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Line Tours The best way to discover Rome

One Ticket, 3 Routes, More Fun! Hop-On Hop-Off Panoramic Rome Bus Tour

Explore Rome at your own pace on our Hop-on Hop-off bus tour  with multiple stops at your own leisure! Plan your day as you want and jumpn on or off our buses at any stops. You can change your itinerary without limits with just one ticket . 

3 Routes, 15 Stops, 16 Languages! 

Experience Rome like never before on our Hop-on Hop-off bus routes . Choose where to start your tour and admire all the best landmarks and top sights of the Eternal City on our Green Route , explore the Italian tastes on our Orange Route , and enjoy off-the-beaten-path sites of Rome on our Blue Route .

We speak your language : audio guides available in 16 languages and multilingual assistance on board.

Green Route Discover Rome

The perfect Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour to explore the Eternal City!

Orange Route Destination Eataly

Treat yourself to an unforgettable food experience!

Blue Route Explore Museums

Enjoy an unforgettable off-the-beaten-path experience!

Explore Rome at 360 degrees and discover all the 'must-sees' of the Eternal City from the top of our double-decker bus. Make your day effortless and enjoyable! Discover Rome is the perfect Hop-on Hop-off bus tour to explore the top landmarks of Rome, jump off to walk through the highlights of the Eternal City.

The Green Route is operational every day and you can board it at any of the following stops: 1A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Check the itinerary and interactive map for the path and track our buses in real time.

Destination Eataly Bus Route Connection

Explore Museums Bus Route Connection

Enjoy your trip to Eataly Market throughout the Testaccio quarter. Live a complete Italian experience walking through the market and discovering a large variety of food and other typical products. Eataly Market is the world's largest Italian food and beverage marketplace with more than 40 locations throughout Italy and the world. Show your barcode at Eataly and take 2 special benefits!

The Orange Route is operational every day with a frequency of every 2 hours . You can board it at any of the following stops: 1B, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.  Check the itinerary and interactive map for the path and track our buses in real time.

Discover Rome Bus Route Connection

With our specially curated route designed for art enthusiasts , this tour unveils the city's artistic heritage at every stop, from the contemporary art of the MAXXI to the greatest classic masterpieces of the Galleria Borghese. We haven't forgotten the little ones! Enjoy a special stop at the city zoo for a fun-filled family adventure.

The Blue Route operates daily during midday hourswith a frequency of every 2 hours . You can board it at any of the following stops: 1B, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 11-bis, 12, 13, 13-bis, 14, 15. Check the itinerary and interactive map for the path and track our buses in real time.

Audio-Guide available in 16 languages:

Hourly ticket.

Enjoy a ride on any of our bus routes as many times for the specified time period since the first validation

Daily Ticket

Enjoy a ride on any of our bus routes as many times in the same day, between morning and evening

3 Pass Ticket

3 Pass Ticket is valid for one day on any of our bus routes and allows you to get on and off at 3 different stops of your choice!

Ticket + Lunch

Enjoy a ride on any of our bus routes as many times for the specified time period since the first validation.

Your ticket is valid from the first boarding on the bus not refundable once tour started.

1A Terminal

Piazza dei Cinquecento (corner Via Cavour) stop info

Piazza dei Cinquecento (corner Via Cavour)

If you are in the Termini Station area, you can start your tour here by boarding the Green route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to visit Termini Station, the pulsating heart of the city where ancient meets modern. Explore iconic monuments in the nearby Piazza della Repubblica, visit the Baths of Diocletian, or take a stroll along Via Nazionale.

Just a few steps away

1B Terminal

Viale Enrico De Nicola stop info

Viale Enrico De Nicola

From here, you can take the Orange route or the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to admire the Fountain of the Naiads that dominates the center of Piazza della Repubblica, visit the incredible Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri or the Palazzo delle Esposizioni and the Church of San Vitale on Via Nazionale.

2 Santa Maria Maggiore

Piazza dell’Esquilino, 12 stop info

Piazza dell’Esquilino, 12

From here, you can board the Green route or the Orange route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to visit the splendid Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, explore the Monti district, and admire the marvelous Moses by Michelangelo in the Church of Saint Peter in Chains.

This stop will also be operated by the Blue route on Sundays and holidays and from 3.30 p.m. on Saturdays and pre-holiday.

3 Colosseum

Via di San Gregorio stop info

Via di San Gregorio

From here, you can board the Green route , the Orange route , and the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to visit some of the most famous landmarks of the city and immerse yourself in the magnificence of Ancient Rome. Walk through history along the Imperial Fora. Visit the interior of the Colosseum and the Colle Oppio Park with the Baths of Trajan and the Domus Aurea, built by Nero one of the most famous Roman emperors.

4 Circus Maximus

Via del Circo Massimo, Belvedere di Romolo e Remo stop info

Via del Circo Massimo, Belvedere di Romolo e Remo

From here, you can board the Green route , the Orange route , and the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to visit the Circus Maximus, the largest amphitheater in Rome, and the Mouth of Truth embedded in the wall of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Immerse yourself in the greenery of the Orange Garden, from where you can admire a spectacular view of St. Peter's Dome. Explore the ancient ruins of the Baths of Caracalla, one of the largest thermal complexes of antiquity.

5 Piazza Venezia

Via del Teatro Marcello (in front of civic numbers 32-34) stop info

Via del Teatro Marcello (in front of civic numbers 32-34)

From here, you can board the Green route , the Orange route , and the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to reach the magnificent Piazza Venezia just a few meters away, with the iconic Vittoriano and the Altar of the Fatherland. Climb the steps to the Capitoline Hill and visit the incredible Capitoline Museums. From here, you can head towards Trastevere, visit the Jewish ghetto, and the famous Campo de' Fiori square.

6 Vatican City

Lungotevere Tor di Nona, n. 7 stop info

Lungotevere Tor di Nona, n. 7

From here, you can board the Green route , the Orange route , and the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to visit Vatican City. Admire the imposing architecture of St. Peter's Basilica with its enormous colonnade embracing the entire square. Enter the Vatican Museums, among the largest and the richest in the world, and visit the splendid Sistine Chapel. Just a few meters from the stop, you can reach Castel Sant'Angelo and Piazza Navona, dominated by the Fountain of the Four Rivers, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture and sculpture by Bernini.

7 Villa Borghese

Via Ludovisi, n. 48 stop info

Via Ludovisi, n. 48

From here, you can board the Green route , the Orange route , and the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to reach the famous Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna with the Barcaccia Fountain. Take a stroll through the most famous shopping streets and make your way to Piazza del Popolo, where you can admire some of Caravaggio's most famous masterpieces in the Cerasi Chapel. From this stop, you can also reach Villa Borghese and visit the Borghese Gallery or the Rome Zoo.

8 Barberini Square

Via Barberini, n. 14 stop info

Via Barberini, n. 14

From here, you can board the Green route , the Orange route , and the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to explore Piazza Barberini and visit Palazzo Barberini, the headquarters of the important National Gallery of Ancient Art. From here, you can reach the Quirinal and admire a breathtakingview of Rome from the square. Head towards Via del Tritone and make your way to the Trevi Fountain, one of the city's most iconic monumental works.

9 Pyramid-Testaccio Quarter

Via della Piramide Cestia stop info

Via della Piramide Cestia

From here, you can board the Orange route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to explore the fascinating Testaccio neighborhood, with the Pyramid of Cestius, the only pyramid in Rome, and the Non-Catholic Cemetery near Porta San Paolo. From this stop, you can also reach the splendid Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, which houses the new Holy Door.

10 Destination Eataly

Piazzale XII Ottobre 1492 stop info

Piazzale XII Ottobre 1492

From here, you can board the Orange route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here for a break at Eataly. Savor the authentic flavors of Italian and Roman cuisine at one of the restaurants or purchase typical products from the Italian enogastronomic tradition. Visit the Garbatella, one of the most popular districts in Rome, rich in history and street art. Reach the Gazometro, a symbol of early 20th-century industrial architecture, and the Centrale Montemartini, a former thermal power plant now converted into a museum where classical and industrial archaeology meet.

11 Borghese Gallery

Via Pinciana, n. 33 stop info

Via Pinciana, n. 33

From here, you can board the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here for a stroll in the magnificent Villa Borghese park, famous for its lush vegetation, beautiful gardens, and picturesque paths. Visit the wonderful Galleria Borghese, a must-see destination for art lovers. The gallery, located within a 17th-century villa, houses an impressive collection of artworks of all kinds, such as Bernini's "The Rape of Proserpina" or Caravaggio's "David with the Head of Goliath."

11BIS Borghese Gallery

Via Pinciana, n. 4 stop info

Via Pinciana, n. 4

From here, you can board the Blue route. If you started your tour from another stop, get off here for a stroll in the magnificent Villa Borghese park, famous for its lush vegetation, beautiful gardens, and picturesque paths. Visit the wonderful Galleria Borghese, a must-see destination for art lovers. The gallery, located within a 17th-century villa, houses an impressive collection of artworks of all kinds, such as Bernini's "The Rape of Proserpina" or Caravaggio's "David with the Head of Goliath."

12 Bioparco/Zoo

Via Mercadante, n. 34-36 (lato Villa Borghese) stop info

Via Mercadante, n. 34-36 (lato Villa Borghese)

From here, you can board the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here for a visit to the renowned Bioparco di Roma, the city's oldest zoo. It is one of the most enchanting and thrilling places in Rome, home to over 1,100 animals of different species. From here, you can venture into a stroll amidst the lush greenery of Villa Borghese and visit the famous Galleria Borghese.

13 Villa Giulia National Etruscan Museum

Piazza Thorvaldsen stop info

Piazza Thorvaldsen

From here, you can board the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here for a walk along Viale delle Belle Arti, where historical buildings, embassies, academies, and museums are located, including the Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia and the National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM).

13BIS Villa Giulia National Etruscan Museum

14 Auditorium Parco della Musica

Via di Coubertin stop info

Via di Coubertin

From here, you can board the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to visit the Auditorium Parco della Musica, the Villaggio Olimpico, one of the symbolic neighborhoods of Rome with its sculptural groups celebrating major sports disciplines, and the Olympic Stadium. Take a stroll in Villa Ada Park, one of the largest public parks in Rome, or visit Villa Glori, where you can admire the Memorial Oak Grove dedicated to the fallen of World War I and the permanent exhibition "Crossing the Threshold," a pathway of contemporary sculpture integrating art and nature.

15 MAXXI Museum

Via Guido Reni, n. 4a stop info

Via Guido Reni, n. 4a

From here, you can board the Blue route . If you started your tour from another stop, get off here to visit the MAXXI, the first national museum dedicated to contemporary art. Take a walk on the Ponte della Musica, dedicated to Armando Trovajoli, one of the greatest Italian composers. Visit the Villaggio Olimpico, one of the symbolic neighborhoods of Rome with its sculptural groups celebrating major sports disciplines, and the Olympic Stadium.

What's included in the price?

Contact us for more information and timetables

Do you have any questions, why visit rome with the hop-on hop-off tour, can i start the hop-on hop-off tour from any stop, is the service guaranteed every day, what is the difference between daily tickets and 24-hours, if i purchase a hourly ticket, do the usage days need to be consecutive, are the discounts on the website applicable even if i purchase the ticket on board, i made an online reservation, do i have to start my hop-on hop-off tour at the indicated time, i haven't received the voucher to present onboard, what can i do, can i change routes with the same ticket, how many languages are available onboard, do i have to return my earphones, is the hop-on hop-off tour available for people with reduced mobility, are pets allowed on the hop-on hop-off bus, do children have special discounts, can i reserve seats on the bus, tour reviews.

Excelentes autobuses. Servicio muy organizado y profesional. Sin duda una excelente manera de recorrer Roma.

Il servizio è ottimo, riesci a vedere molto della città, sono stata tre gg a Roma con mia figlia e siamo riuscite a vedere cose che a piedi in pochi giorni non avremmo potuto osservare. Personale gentile e professionale. Controllano a tutti biglietto, green pass e uso della mascherina! Lo riprenderei sicuramente!

Ottimo servizio, bus puntuali e puliti. Norme covid rispettate e personale a bordo gentile ed educato. Domenica c'era una ragazza di nome Chiara ed è stata veramente disponibile e ci ha fornito delle indicazioni sulla città, insomma una perfetta cicerona. Sicuramente replicheremo

Service status

Panoramic Open Bus Hop-On Hop-Off service  active every day with 3 routes!

For events, demonstrations and daily service operations, please consult the Interactive Map.

Cancellation policy

GRAY LINE – I LOVE ROME HOP ON HOP OFF BUS TOURS

The most comprehensive rome hop on – hop off bus tours , the pink route , i love rome hop on hop off panoramic bus tour.

*The service runs everyday, including Sunday and holidays.

Experience an Hop On Hop Off Panoramic Big Bus Tour to  see the sights of Rome all in one go .

The Gray Line – I Love Rome Panoramic Tour, with an extensive hop-on hop-off route made up of  8 stops at must-see destinations  on the map and landmarks around Rome, it’s the smartest and essential way to visit Rome, which is  brimming   with works of art, breathtaking sights and attractions.

You can also enjoy an  informative and entertaining commentary  which explains Rome’s interesting history and points out significant buildings and landmarks, and with  12 languages available and Audio for Kids  it’s perfect for the international tourist! Hop-on and off at your own pace and fall in love with Rome’s beautiful art, architecture and attractions for  one loop or 24, 48, 72 hours .

Our Pink Buses run daily, approximately every 15 minutes between 8.30 AM and 6.40 PM and the entire loop takes about two hours in good traffic.

Skip the Line Tickets  

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Rome Bus Tours - Hop-on Hop-off tour options and more!

By Elyssa Bernard

May 19, 2022

If you're visiting for the first time, taking one of the Rome bus tours around the city can be a great way to get a lay of the land and spot some famous landmarks right off the bat.

Is this the best way to spend a day in Rome ? Your first day in Rome?

Learn about the ins and outs, the pluses and minuses of taking a Rome bus tour, and whether it's right for you.

Rome bus tours - Everything you need to know

Most of the bus tours in Rome are hop-on-hop-off tours.

On this page we'll cover:

• Overview of the hop-on-hop-off tours in Rome

What route do the bus tours follow?

• What will you see on a Rome bus tour?
• What to expect on a Rome bus tour and how to decide if you should take one
• How much do the hop-on-hop-off bus tours cost?
• How and where to buy tickets for the hop-on-hop-off Rome bus

Tips for making the most of your bus tour in Rome

Are the bus tours in rome accessible, other types of rome bus tours you can take, overview of hop on hop off bus tours in rome.

Taking a hop-on hop-off bus tour can be the perfect way to get an overview of the city, especially those that offer an open air bus tour Rome option.

You can get on and off the bus as often as you like, so you can explore the sights that interest you most at your own pace. All the operators offer bus tours of Rome in English as well as other languages.

This is the most common type of bus tour in Rome and there are many companies offering this tour with pretty much the same itinerary.

So let's talk first about the itinerary of these tours and what you can see from the bus, and what you can see by getting off the bus.

The most common route for Rome Italy hop on hop off bus tours is:

• Start of route - Termini station
• Stop 2: Santa Maria Maggiore
• Stop 3: Colosseum
• Stop 4: Circus Maximus
• Stop 5: Piazza Venezia
• Stop 6: Vatican
• Stop 7: Piazza di Spagna/ Spanish Steps
• Stop 8: Piazza Barberini/Via Veneto

This route takes you to or near most of the major tourist attractions in Rome.

What tourist attractions can you see on a Rome bus tour?

The buses cannot go near some of Rome's must-see sites but they do have stops nearby.

So on the route above, besides the obvious sites listed there, you can also see:

Santa Maria Maggiore stop

Of course, you can (and should!) visit the stunning basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore . If you have time, you could also visit a hidden jewel of a church just around the corner from Santa Maria Maggiore, the basilica of Santa Prassede.

You may also wish to explore the charming Monti neighborhood .

Colosseum and Roman Forum stop

If you actually visit the Colosseum , your ticket includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as well.

You may want to do this as part of your hop-on-hop-off ticket (you can purchase them as a combo), or you can just use the bus tour to get a quick view and then come back later for a complete walking tour of Ancient Rome.

Other sites in the area include the basilica of San Clemente, the Roman Houses at Celio, and the basilica of Saint Peter in Chains where you can see Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses.

Piazza Venezia Stop

Via dei Fori Imperiali, Via del Corso (shopping), Mamertine Prison, Capitoline Museums, and Capitoline Hill

Vatican City

If you stay on the double decker bus, you will glimpse Saint Peter's Basilica . But of course, there is so much to see in Vatican City .

If you decide to get off the bus at the Vatican stop, you can visit Castel Sant'Angelo , the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel , Saint Peter's Square , Saint Peter's Basilica , and Saint Peter's Dome . The bus ticket does not include entrance tickets to any locations, so you will need to purchase these separately, such as those for the Vatican Museums .

Piazza di Spagna/Spanish steps

The Spanish Steps are a must-see tourist attraction by themselves but there is also a lot to see nearby.

Besides being the main shopping area of Rome, you can also visit Piazza del Popolo, Trevi Fountain , the Pantheon , and Piazza Navona .

Piazza Barberini/Via Veneto

From the bus, you can spot Bernini's Triton fountain but if you get off the bus you can easily also visit the famous Capuchin Crypt, the Trevi Fountain , and the Palazzo Barberini museum.

What to expect on a Rome hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour

Most of these buses are open on top but also have a closed lower level.

The tour typically includes an audio guide in a variety of languages.

Some of the companies will also have live guides on the bus who give commentary in multiple languages.

Many of the companies say they offer free wi-fi onboard, but I would not always count on this.

You can board the bus from any of the stops and get on and off as much as you want in the time frame of the ticket you buy. (Often there are options for 24, 48, or 72 hours.)

If you stay on the bus, the entire loop takes around 1 ½ hours.

The ticket will also include a map of the city.

You can generally find discounts online if you book in advance .

Downsides of taking a hop-on-hop-off tour bus in Rome:

Is there a downside? Here are a few issues to be aware of:

• Although they say the buses come every 30 minutes, it may not always be the case and you could find yourself waiting a while for your bus. You may not be able to get on another company's bus and will have to wait for your own company's bus to come.
• The buses can get very crowded, especially in the summer. You may even find that there is no room available and you'll have to wait for the next bus to arrive.
• You may find it difficult to hear the audio guide if you are sitting on top of the bus.
• Some online comments have mentioned that it can be difficult to find the bus stop although I usually see them pretty well when I am walking around Rome.
• The bus routes do not cover all of the city, so for sights like the Appian Way (including the catacombs ), Galleria Borghese , and others further outside of the center, you will need to find an alternative route.

Should you take a Rome bus tour?

Given the above pluses and minuses, you may be wondering if the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus is worth it.

One important thing to note is that it's not the same as using the public transport system .

The Rome bus and metro system is considerably cheaper and much more flexible in terms of schedules and routes.

So I would not consider taking the hop-on-hop-off bus as a means to just "get around Rome."

It is meant specifically to be a sightseeing tour with strategic stops that allows the visitor to get between some of the main sites in Rome .

The hop-on-hop-off bus in Rome is for you if...

I recommend a Rome hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour if it's your first time in Rome, whether you have 1 day or a week .

What I would suggest is to stay on the bus for the entire loop so you really get a lay of the land.

This is also a great option if you are jet-lagged, because you don't have to tire yourself out with a walking tour and you can absorb as much as your body and sleepy brain will allow.

Then, the second time around (or the next day), you can get off at any of the stops that interest you and explore more.

Or, if you're done with the bus tour, you can then decide to explore more on your own on foot or take some walking tours.

And, if you have limited time in Rome , this can be a great option to ensure you at least get a glimpse of all of the major sights .

The hop-on-hop-off bus in Rome tour may not be for you if...

If you love walking and want to make your own way, Rome is fairly compact and easy to walk around.

While Rome is actually hillier than you might think (7 hills of Rome!), it's still pretty easy to cover a lot of ground on foot. (Don't forget to wear super comfortable shoes!)

You may also not want to deal with the crowds on the bus or having to wait for the bus to come at the different stops.

Finally, as I mentioned above, if what you're looking for is the best Rome public transportation option , then this is not the bus for you.

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How much do the Rome hop-on hop-off tours cost?

Most of the Rome hop-on-hop-off bus tour companies offer various ticket options depending on the number of days you want to use the pass, the age of the passenger (adult vs. child), and any add-ons or bundles you may wish to include.

Typically a 1-day adult ticket costs around 27-30€

Typically children aged 5-15 pay around 13-15 Euros.

I say "usually" and "around" because there are often discounts when you book tickets together, and when you book online in advance.

In most cases, you can purchase 1, 2, and 3-day passes. You can also get family passes.

Often you can add on a tour and/or ticket. See below for more details about bundles.

The best way to book a Rome sightseeing tour

Can you buy your hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour tickets on the bus.

Most bus companies do offer the option to purchase your ticket directly on board or at a kiosk near the stop.

However, keep in mind that during high season the Rome hop-on hop-off tours sell out quickly and you may find there is no room to board.

Can you pay with credit card? Even American Express?

For answers to these and other money-related issues, visit my comprehensive guide about Money in Rome.

Booking your hop-on-hop-off tickets online

If you can plan ahead, the best way to purchase your hop-on-hop-off tickets is by booking online in advance.

First of all, you'll often get a discount this way.

Second of all, as I mentioned above, sometimes in high season, you may find there is no room on board if you just show up.

How to book online and which tour to book

Looking for the best hop-on hop-off bus in Rome?

Some of the top companies to book with include:

• Big Bus tours
• City sightseeing tours
• Gray Line/I love Rome
• Greenline bus tours

You can also visit our partner site Get Your Guide , where you can compare the different hop-on hop-off bus tour companies, including viewing visitor ratings, the hop on bus Rome price, and more details.

There are also some hop-on hop-off bus tours that bundle other things like:

• Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Vatican Museums Guided Tour
• Hop-on Hop-off Bus & Vatican Museums Ticket
• Hop-on-Hop-off Bus & Colosseum Guided Tour
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill Ticket
• Guided Tour of Trastevere & 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
• Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour Ticket & Eataly Roma Stop
• 24-Hour OMNIA Vatican Card and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
• 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket & Roman Ghetto Tour
• Ghosts and Mysteries Tour & 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
• Go City Explorer Pass - Choose 2 to 7 Attractions

Ready to plan your trip?

The hop-on-hop-off tour of Rome can be fun and interesting if you plan it right.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your tour:

What to wear

Wear comfortable shoes as you may be doing a lot of walking if you get off at any of the stops.

The weather in Rome can be quite hot in the summer , so definitely bring sunscreen and a hat or scarf to cover your head and shoulders.

No matter what season you visit Rome, here are 4 things never to leave at home:

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

Gadgets to bring

I know I don't need to tell you to bring your smartphone and/or camera, but don't forget to also bring a spare battery for your camera, and a charger for your phone.

If you have an e-reader or tablet, consider bringing that as well so you can look up things about the sights you are seeing as you go along.

A water bottle is also a good idea , especially in the summer .

You can always refill it at one of the bus stops, from one of Rome's many drinking fountains - the ideal way to stay cool and hydrated!

Keep your valuables close to you - pickpockets do target tourists on these buses.

Better yet, travel with a pick-pocket-proof backpack.

Visit my page here about staying safe in Rome for more tips.

Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

If you decide to combine the bus tour with some city sightseeing on your own, i.e. you plan to actually get off and on the bus, make sure to have plenty of patience and no major time constraints , as the buses don't always run on schedule.

Yes, but with a caveat.

All the major companies who run the Rome hop-on hop off bus tours state on their websites that 'most' of their buses are accessible .

Most of the buses I see around the city are modern vehicles with wheelchair and step-free access available, but some do appear older.

I would recommend contacting your preferred bus company in advance to check they can accommodate your needs.

If you're looking for a walking tour of Rome, you'll find those on many other pages on this site.

And while this page is mostly about taking the hop-on-hop-off bus in Rome, there are a few other types of bus tours you may find useful/interesting, including trips further afield, like bus tours from Rome to Pompeii :

• Catacombs & Crypts Tour with Roman Aqueducts half-day small-group bus tour
• Civitavecchia Port: Shuttle Bus to and from Vatican City
• Panoramic Bus Tour of Rome from Civitavecchia Port
• Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius Volcano Full-Day Trip
• Day Tour of Villa D'Este & Hadrian's Villa Tivoli
• Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano Day Trip
• Florence and Pisa Full-Day Tour

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Please come over to the private Romewise Facebook group and join in the conversation.

You will often find me there, happy to answer your questions / comments!

You will also meet other Rome lovers and experts, too.

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Top attractions and tours

• Colosseum - Don't miss visiting Rome's most iconic monument
• Vatican Museums - This is where the Sistine Chapel is
• Pantheon - Book ahead and skip the line
• Galleria Borghese - You'll need to book ahead for one of Rome's best museums
• Castel Sant'Angelo - See Rome's history through its architecture
• Rome City Pass - A great way to make your Rome visits easier

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THE 10 BEST Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in Rome, Italy

Hop-on hop-off tours in rome.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Skip-the-Line Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Chinese (Simplified)
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour

2. I Love Rome Hop on Hop off Open Bus Tour

3. Rome: Panoramic sightseeing Bus Tour + City Highlights Audioguide

4. Get-On Get-Off Bus Tour in Rome + FREE APP

5. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

6. City Sightseeing Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

7. Maxi Combo Pass Colosseum Vatican and 2 days Hop On Hop Off Tour

8. 24 hours unlimited hop-on-off bus Green-line Audio Tour

9. Rome Hop On Hop Off Open Bus + Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel Tour| Fast Track

10. Discover Rome: Exclusive Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

11. Rome: Catacombs Guided Tour with Panoramic Transfer

12. Hop-On Hop-Off 24h Rome River Cruise

13. Hop-on-Hop-off Tour of the Castelli Romani from Rome - Tour 1

14. Rome in a day: Hop on Hop off Open Bus Sightseeing Tour

15. Hop On Hop Off Panoramic Bus Tour of Rome

16. ROME : Private Hop on Hop off bus 1 day

17. Hop-On Hop-Off Castelli Romani from Rome - Tour 2

18. Rome Hop on Hop off Bus

19. Rome: Hop-on-off bus tour -Visit the main attraction of Rome

20. Rome Exclusive Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Open Bus Tickets

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Classic Half-Day Wine Tour in Frascati

Pasta Masterclass and Wine Tour in the Minardi Vineyard

Beautiful day trip to Castelli Romani

Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati

Vatican and Sistine Chapel Semi Private Tour

Pizza Masterclass and Wine Tour in the Minardi Vineyard

Small Group E-bike Experience from Orvieto to Civita with Lunch

Tour of the Agro Pontino by minibus with tasting.

Vatican and Sistine Chapel Skip the Line Ticket with Audio Guide

Pontine Islands cruise aboard Gommone Capelli 900

What travellers are saying.

• Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour
• I Love Rome Hop on Hop off Open Bus Tour
• City Sightseeing Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• 24 hours unlimited hop-on-off bus Green-line Audio Tour
• Rome: Panoramic sightseeing Bus Tour + City Highlights Audioguide
• Vatican City Tour and Tickets
• Bibbo Tours Rome
• Rome Colosseum Tours | Official Guided Tours
• Vatican Tour Tickets
• Wheel Tours - Rome by Golf Cart
• Gray Line - I Love Rome
• Big Bus Tours

Hop On Hop Off Bus in Rome

Open air bus tour.

24 or 48hr Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Rome Street Food and Wine Tasting Walking Tour

Explore Rome at your leisure with this hop-on- hop-off ticket valid for 24 or 48-hours. These feature gives you the opportunity to choose your own schedule and spend your time however you desire. Enjoy a small group, walking tour of Rome for a personal and intimate experience that will allow you to discover the culture and heritage of the city. Savor and learn all about Italian food on this guided 3-hour tour and sample a variety of Rome's culinary offerings (included in price).  (read more)

24 or 48hr Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Skip-the-line Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Explore Rome at your leisure with this hop-on- hop-off ticket valid for 24 or 48-hours. These feature gives you the opportunity to choose your own schedule and spend your time however you desire.

24 or 48hr Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Skip-the-line Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

Explore Rome at your leisure with this hop-on- hop-off ticket valid for 24 or 48-hours. These feature gives you the opportunity to choose your own schedule and spend your time however you desire. Choose among 9:30 am - 10:15 am - 11:00 am - 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Vatican guided group tour. Once at the meeting point you can also choose among several languages, according to the availability: English, Spanish, Russian, German, French and Italian. English: 9:30 am - 11:00 am - 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Spanish: 10:15 am - 3:00 pm (departure time available just on high season)? ? Russian: 10:15 am French: 10:15 am Italian: 11:00 am * Departure times can suffer variation during the season and are subjected to availability  (read more)

24 or 48hr Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Skip-the-line Colosseum

Explore the city on a panoramic hop-on hop-off bus tour with 24 or 48 hour access. Enjoy three short guided walking group tours in the city center and enter in the Colosseum with a guided group tour. You will visit the Colosseum with an expert guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off is not included on this small-group tour.  (read more)

Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Discover the best of Rome with an 8-stop, hop-on hop-off bus tour that covers the highlights of the Eternal City. Choose between a Classic, Premium or Deluxe ticket, and visit quintessential Rome landmarks such as the Colosseum, Pantheon and Circus Maximus, as well as Vatican City. Along the way, listen to recorded commentary about the city, its rich past, and its best-known sights. Each option includes four guided walking tours, and the Deluxe ticket includes a route past the catacombs.  (read more)

Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off with Civitavecchia Roundtrip Transfer

Get the keys to the ?Eternal City? combining the best Bus Tour and an easy roundtrip transfer from Civitavecchia port to the Center of Rome! You will be comfortably picked-up nearby the port and dropped-off in the center of Rome where you will start an unforgettable experience on board of an open-top Big Bus! Discover at your leisure the magical eternal city!  (read more)

Guided City to City Hop-on Hop-off Pass from Rome with 3-Stops

Choose from two different itineraries from Rome, with a 3-stop city to city hop-on, hop-off pass. You'll travel in comfort on an air-conditioned coach that seats up to 55 like-minded travelers. You have the flexibility to choose how many days you stay, your accommodation type, and how you spend your time in each city. The first option is to start from Rome with stops in Tuscany and Florence, then ending in the Swiss Alps. The other option is from Rome with stops in Florence and the Swiss Alps, then ending in Munich. Each route includes live commentary on board by a professional guide.

Panoramic Open Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Discover the beauty of Rome, the Eternal City, in 360 degrees on this hop-on hop-off bus tour with recorded commentary and maps. See the Colosseum, the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and more: your ticket is valid for an unlimited number of 2-hour circuits and individual stops over the period you've bought it for.

Rome Hop-On Hop-Off River Cruise and Optional Bus Tour

Discover Rome with a hop-on hop-off cruise along the Tiber River. An easy and convenient way to experience the Eternal City, this cruise allows you to visit some of Rome?s most noteworthy attractions, including the Colosseum and Vatican City, while offering exceptional views and informative commentary. Upgrade to include a hop-on hop-off bus tour for 360-degree panoramic views as you travel through the heart of the city. The ticket is valid for 24 hours so you can enjoy the wonders of Rome at your own pace.  (read more)

Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour

Let the sights of Rome unfold before you on an open-top, double-decker, hop-on hop-off bus. Climb aboard to admire top Rome attractions including the Vatican City, Colosseum and Trevi Fountain on this comprehensive tour. Enjoy 360-degree views from the open deck and hop on and off as you wish at any of the eight stops. Choose 24 or 48 hours of sightseeing, and if you opt for a 48-hour ticket, upgrade to include entrance to Rome?s showpieces such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.  (read more)

The Omnia Vatican and Rome Pass Including Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Free and Fast Track entry to the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter?s Basilica.? 2 great passes rolled into one: The Roma Pass?allows free entry to 2 out of 5 top attractions plus discounts at 30 further top sights and a travel card. The Omnia Vatican Card allows entry to all top sights in Vatican City plus a 3 day hop on hop off bus tour. Explore Rome and Vatican City at ease with the Rome Card and Omnia Vatican card ? two must-have 3-day sightseeing passes that include entry to selected attractions, discounts and more. Enjoy skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter?s Basilica with the Omnia Card, and use the Rome Card for entry to two out of five possible attractions such as the Colosseum. Other features of the Rome Card include a hop-on hop-off bus ticket, a central Rome travelcard, guidebook and map.  (read more)

• Chattanooga
• Los Angeles
• Miami Beach
• New Orleans
• New York City
• Paso Robles
• Philadelphia
• Salt Lake City
• San Antonio
• San Francisco
• San Luis Obispo
• Santa Monica
• St Augustine
• Washington D.C.
• Quebec City
• Denarau Island
• Marne-la-Vall?e
• Rome (selected)
• George Town
• Mexico City
• Christchurch
• Waiheke Island
• Panama City
• Ponta Delgada
• Johannesburg
• Port Elizabeth
• Stellenbosch
• El Puerto de Santa Mar?a
• Gran Canaria
• Jerez de la Frontera
• San Sebasti?n
• Philipsburg
• Bournemouth
• Newcastle Upon Tyne
• Stratford-upon-Avon
• Ho Chi Minh City

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• Map & Hours

Map, schedule and other Rome bus tour services

Roma City Tour is the official tourist bus service of Rome with a panoramic upper deck that offers the best way of getting to know the city’s most fascinating sights.

• 1 round trip ticket , closed circuit without hop on hop off option so you can visit the most emblematic areas and monuments from the comfort of the Roma City Tour.
• Half Day Ticket with 5 hours durability, usable without time restriction in low season (until March 14) and with the possibility of use from 13h in high season from March 15.
• Ticket 24 hours ticket to get on and off as many times as you wish or require and enjoy the City of Love.
• 48 hours ticket for a maximum enjoyment of all the possibilities of this city with unlimited tours during the service of 2 consecutive days.

Plus, while onboard the Roma City Tour you’ll receive an information brochure with information about the itinerary and about the city.

Map & Information brochure

When you board the bus, you’ll be given a brochure with a plan of the city and details of the routes with a description of the stops.

Hop On Hop Off Rome hours

• We offer an uninterrupted service throughout the year.
• The estimated time for the route is around 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• From March 15th to October the service starts at 8.30am and finishes at 8.30pm (Monday to Sunday). Last departure at 18.45h. Frequency: 10-15 min.
• From November to March 14th the service starts at 8:30 and ends at 19:30 (Monday to Sunday). Last departure at 17:45h. Frequency: 10-15 min. Ticket office at Termini Station: from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

✔ Guaranteed frequency every 10-15 minutes

✔ 12h of guaranteed NON-Stop operation

Pre-recorded audio guide in 12 languages

Each bus has an automatic audio guide system in 12 languages providing information on each point of interest of the trip. All you have to do is plug in the free headphones and enjoy finding out about the city. the available languages are:

⭐ Exclusive new audio commentary for all language audio guides with updated information so you don’t miss a single detail of your visit.

⭐ New “Kids audio guide” with child-friendly content in English and Italian.

Hop-On Hop-Off experience

Let yourself fall in love with Rome with Roma City Tour.

Discover the city with  Roma City Tour  and enjoy the trip with the  Hop-on Hop-off service , with which you will be able to get on and off the bus as many times as you want at any of the 8 stops. Take the most of this service to discover the most important points of interest of the city with City Tour Worldwide.

Aboard our buses you will be able to visit this city in detail.  Roma City Tour  will take you near to the most well-known points of interest, such as the Città del Vaticano, the Fontana di Trevi or the Colisseum.

You can also download  Roma City Tour free mobile app  and have the information with you at all times. 

Bus Tour Rome Services

Roma City Tour boasts a fleet of pink buses with a  panoramic upper deck  affording a unique panoramic view of the city. The lower deck is air-conditioned and all our vehicles are equipped with  anatomical seats  to make your trip more comfortable. 

All our buses are equipped with a  ramp accessing the rear door  and a  space set aside for wheelchairs , a continuous low floor platform and a quick kneeling system that tilts the vehicle to the right.

To ensure a smooth service, all passengers should enter by the front door and exit from the rear. Also, our buses have two sets of stairs linking the two levels: the front one should be used to go up and the rear one to go down.

All our buses feature a free Wi-Fi Internet connection, allowing you to go online as you travel with us.

Sliding roof

In the case of rain, our staff will cover the upper deck so you can continue to enjoy the route, even when the weather turns nasty.

Audio guide in 12 languages

Our pre-recorded audio guide system, available in 12 languages, will provide you with information on the points of interests along our routes and at their stops. Just plug in the headphones and choose your language!

Accessible vehicles

Space designed for persons with reduced mobility

Brochure and app

Brochure and free mobile app designed to improve your hop on hop off experience.

Real time bus location on our App

Get the City Tour Worldwide app to find our buses and trains in real time, locate the stops and find out what’s around you.

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Hop-On-Hop-Off Rome Bus Tours Comparison

If you're planning to take one of our free Rome walking tours , one of the best ways to determine what you want to see is by taking a bus tour!

In this post, we'll compare and review of all 6 hop-on-hop-off Rome bus tours, including night bus tours , as well as available deals .

Here are the hop-on hop-off tours currently available in Rome:

• City Sightseeing
• Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (ORP)

Each service provides stops at some of the most popular attractions in the city, including the Colosseum , Circus Maximus, the Spanish Steps , the Vatican , and more.

In addition to covering more essential details about these services below, we'll also include helpful tips from locals and travelers who use our Facebook group.

We'll also include a comparison of ticket prices and ratings for each tour, giving you a better idea of which one is worth your time and money.

Disclosure:  We think you should consider  our free tours , but we have also provided other options.

While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the  full text .

HOP-ON-HOP-OFF TOUR

If you're new to the Eternal City, you may want to consider taking a hop-on-hop-off bus tour.

These services will take you to all of the most popular landmarks and sights of Rome, including Termini Station, the Forum, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, and the Vatican.

As you're traveling around the city, tour guides and audio commentary will provide plenty of information about Roman history.

And being hop-on-hop-off services, you can easily sightsee at your own pace.

Most of these bus tours provide free wi-fi and English-speaking drivers to accommodate visitors from around the world.

Tickets range from €16-€43 per person depending on the type of ticket you purchase. 

Some operations are also included for free as a part of a tourist attraction pass or offer deals to cardholders, and we mention this when this applies.

Below is our analysis of Rome's 4 top hop-on-hop-off bus companies. The 4 that are listed below are ordered by how well-reviewed they are. 

Since most of the companies offer very similar routes, we detail the first company, Big Bus, and use it as a reference for the other companies offerings.  

There are actually two more hop-on-hop-off bus companies, Open Tour and Green Line, but their reviews are so poor, we left them off the list completely, so as not to waste you your time or money. 

Big Bus Tours Rome

Big Bus is our recommended choice.

Much like some of their competitors, this company also provides bus tours in several cities across the globe, and you may recognize their rather bland-looking buses.

Big Bus sees itself as the premium hop-on-hop-off bus service.

This well-reviewed company offers 3 different ticket options and routes with adult, child and family prices for each.

They provide pre-recorded audio commentary in 9 different languages and offer free wifi on their buses.

They also offer a smartphone app that you could download to see real-time bus locations to help minimize your time waiting for a bus.

Buses are available daily from 8:30 am - 19:00 (7 pm) with varying frequencies depending on the day and route.

Each ticket also comes with 4 free walking tours , which can be taken in several languages.

Click on the map for a larger interactive map.

Tickets and Route Maps

Get more ticket information or purchase .

1-Day Discover Ticket:

• Adults: €34 on-street | €27.20 online
• Children (5-15): €17 on-street | €13.60 online
• Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): €85 on-street | €68 online
• Free (kids 4 and younger)

2-Day Essential Ticket:

• Adults: €42 on-street | €37.80 online
• Children (5-15): €21 on-street | €18.90 online
• Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): €105 on-street | €94.50 online

3-Day Explore Ticket:

• Adults: €48 on-street | €43.20 online
• Children (5-15): €24 on-street | €21.60 online
• €85 for Family (online)
• Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): €120 on-street | €108 online

Each tour includes stops at sites such as  the Catacombs , Circus Maximus, Piazza Venezia , the Spanish Steps , and even Castel Sant'Angelo .

Here are a few more details to keep in mind:

• Family tickets are good for 2 adults & 2 children
• All tickets include 4 free walking tours.
• All tickets are valid on Big Bus, City Sightseeing, and ORP Buses.
• Essential and Explore tickets include a free date change, meaning that if you can't take your tour when you originally planned, you can change the date and take it on another day.
• The prices above reflect an additional 10% - 20% off when you get your tickets directly from their website.
• Purchase tickets for a lower price online .

NOTE: Big Bus is only offering the red route, and they do not currently offer the night tour.

Stops on the Red Route

The red route is Big Bus's weekday route and includes 8 stops within reach of over 40 attractions , and most of the competition follows this same route (with minor differences).

• Termini Railway Station (starts)
• Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
• Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus)
• Piazza Venezia
• Treve Fountain/Spanish Steps
• Piazza Barberini/Spanish Steps

Stops on the Purple Route (Catacombs and Caracalla Route)

The Purple route mixes a few of the stops from the Red and Blue routes (mostly the southernmost stops) and adds in a couple new stops. 

As the name suggests, the big draw is the Catacombs and Baths of Caracalla , as well as the Appian Way . 

The Purple route is only available on the deluxe ticket, so you could still take the red or blue routes to see the rest of the sights. 

This route runs daily and the total circuit takes 60 minutes (if you don't get off) and buses are supposed to run every 20 min starting at Termini Rail Station. 

There are 10 total stops within reach of dozens of attractions . 

Free Walking Tours

Every Big Bus Ticket includes 4 free walking tours, which are led by Big Bus tour guides. 

Click here for  more detailed descriptions , starting points, and times of each walking tour.

• Vatican and St. Peter's Square 
• Pantheon and Piazza Navona
• Roman Forum and Colosseum
• Barberini Square & Spanish Steps

Reviews of Big Bus Rome

Big Bus Rome has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide ( read the reviews ).

Compared to walking tour companies, this doesn't look great, but for less personable hop-on-hop-off bus tours, this is a high mark. Guests report that their audio commentary is actually very good, providing a lot of useful information about all the landmarks on their route.

Reviewers often note that their ticket prices are very affordable and the equipment they use is first-rate.

Although there are some negative reviews, such as some audio jacks didn't work, they don't indicate many common problems. 

Grayline Tours (I Love Rome)

Grayline, like Big Bus, is an international brand, but in Rome, they have an affiliate "I Love Rome". 

In a city full of bus tours, Gray Line found a way to stand out from the crowd.

The I Love Rome tour takes place on a pink bus, making it easy for their customers to find them.  

Like their competition, GrayLine offers 8 stops, pre-recorded audio tours (in 13 languages), free wifi, and several hop-on, hop-off ticket and attraction tour options. 

Unlike their competition, this company also offers a  single-circuit option  as well as a 1-way ticket .

Guests who just want to ride around and enjoy their tour from the bus can choose to pay for these cheaper options, which do not include the option to hop on and off at their discretion.

They offer even cheaper tickets in the afternoon.

Their buses run daily from 8:30 am - 18:40 (6:40 pm) in the summer and until 16:55 (4:55 pm) in the winter, and depart every 10-15 minutes.  

Ticket Options

Because GrayLine offers several ticket options, it can get confusing. 

Essentially, they offer 2 types of tickets - tickets that let you hop on and hop off at your pleasure and tickets that require you to stay on the bus for the duration. 

Within their hop-on-hop-off ticket options, they also have an array of time options and prices. We explain below. You can also see descriptions of your options here . 

STAY ON THE BUS

1 Complete Circuit (1 lap) 1 hr 45 min

• €17/Adults | €12/Youths | Free for Kids Under 12
• €14/Adults | €10/Youths | Free for Kids - after 13:15 (1:15 pm)

HOP ON AND OFF AT WILL

4-hour Ticket 

• €20 for adults | €14 for Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• hop-on and hop-off as much as you want for up to 5 hours

1 Calendar Day

• €22/Adults | €15/Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• €14/Adults | €10/Children | Free for Kids - after 15:00 (3 pm)
• hop-on and hop-off as much as you want from start to finish in one day

24-Hour Ticket  

• €30/Adults | €16/Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• for example, if you start at 11:00 am on Day 1, you have until 11:00 am on Day 2

48-Hour Ticket  

• €34 for Adults | €20 for Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• same as the 24-hour ticket, but for the 48 hours

72-Hour Ticket

• €38 for Adults | €27 for Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• same as the 24-hour ticket, but for the 72 hours

Adults are 13 and up, children are ages 6-12 and anyone younger is granted free entry. Deals available on all tickets after 3 pm.

Learn more or purchase here .

Grayline Rome Reviews

Gray Line (or I Love Rome) gets mixed reviews, receiving an overall rating of 3 ½ out of 5 stars  on TripAdvisor and 4 out of 5 stars on GetYourGuide ( read the reviews ).

Most guests report that this service was exactly what they were expecting, indicating that they don't over-promise or under-deliver with their itinerary.

Although there are a few complaints about the seating on their bus, most customers agree that Gray Line provides decent transportation and audio commentary. 

City Sightseeing Tours

If this name sounds familiar, that's because City Sightseeing provides services all over the world. 

Their buses are probably the most noticeable and are the classic red, double-decker buses seen throughout the world.

City Sightseeing offers 1, 2 and 3-day hop-on-hop-off tickets as well as tickets that combine their bus with entry to and tours of, for example, the Vatican and the Colosseum. 

Their route is essentially the same as Big Bus with the exception that they do not stop at the Baths of Caracalla or the Catacombs (which is a totally different tour for them).

They offer an audio guide in 8 languages and their buses have wifi.

Buses operate from 9:00 am - 19:00 (7 pm) in the summer and till 17:00 (5 pm) in the winter. 

They do not offer free guided walking tours, but they do have a self-guided audio walking tour app that you could use off the bus. 

This app is also used as a bus locator to help minimize your wait time. 

City Sightseeing is not as well-reviewed as Big Bus, but the devil is in the details.  

Tickets 

Purchase tickets for a lower price online . 

1-Day Ticket:

• €23.40 for Adults (16 and up)
• €11.70 for Children (5-15)
• €58.50 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)
• Free for 4 and under
• Only valid for 1 calendar day

24-Hour Ticket:

• €29.70 for Adults (16 and up)
• €14.40 for Children (5-15)
• €73.80 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)
• Valid for 24 hours from the point of purchase

2-Day Ticket:

• €35.10 for Adults (16 and up)
• €17.10 for Children (5-15)
• €87.30 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)

3-Day Ticket:

• €41.40 for Adults (16 and up)
• €20.70 for Children (5-15)
• €103.50 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)

Purchase tickets online . 

Reviews of City Sightseeing Rome

Unfortunately, although City Sightseeing is very popular in other cities, this service has mixed reviews in Rome, receiving an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor. 

However, they do get a score of 4 out of 5 stars on Get Your Guide ( see the reviews ).

Several guests take issue with the audio tour itself, suggesting that it isn't very useful for travelers, or didn't work.

Other visitors felt that this bus tour does not make enough stops, indicating that they had to walk for a while to reach certain landmarks, or that the buses waited too long at stops. 

With that said, they do have people who like their service. 

As with most hop-on-hop-off bus services, happy customers see this service as a great way to get the lay of the land and to get around from attraction to attraction. 

Vatican & Rome Bus Tours (Roma Cristiana)

This might be the most unique hop-on-hop-off option in Rome.

Vatican & Rome Bus Tours is run by the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (ORP), a branch of the Vicariate of Rome, which is directly overseen by the Cardinal Vicar to the Pope. 

They operate double-decker buses with the yellow color of the Vatican. Their bus tours are free with the purchase of the Vatican tourist card . 

Like City Sightseeing Bus, this outfit has mixed reviews and offers both stay-on-the-bus as well as hop-on-hop-off tickets, with daily, 24, 48, and 72-hour tickets.  

With a total of 11 stops around the city and differs slightly from the usual hop-on, hop-off routes by focusing more on religious locations. 

The 11 is misleading, as some of the stops are really close to each other, but the biggest difference to Big Bus's route is that they have stops at the Pantheon (which is a church), Piazza Navona, and San Giovanni in Laterano (the seat of the Pope). 

They do not stop at either the Spanish Stairs or Trevi Fountain. 

Click on the map for a larger map view.

BEFORE YOU BUY:  This bus tour is included for free with the purchase of the Omnia Vatican tourist card . Read our analysis of this and other tourist passes by clicking the link.

• 24-Hour Ticket Prices: €33/Adults | €15/Youth (6-17)
• 48-Hour Ticket Prices: €39/Adults | €17/Youth (6-17)
• 72-Hour Ticket Prices: €46/Adults | €19/Youth (6-17)

Click here for more information or to purchase .

• Availability: Daily from 9 am - 6 pm
• Children under 9 and disabled visitors travel for FREE
• Free wi-fi included

The Vatican & Rome Bus Tour currently has a score of 3 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor with almost 40% of reviewers rating them with either just 1 or 2 stars.

That said, their reviews on Tiqets are a bit better with an overall score of 3 ½ out of 5 stars ( read reviews here ).

Although ratings like these aren't exactly excellent, most customers agree that this company does a decent job of providing transportation to all of the major sites in Rome.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the audio guide and the ease of finding their bus stops, guests are very torn about this service. 

Green Line Bus Tours

This is one of the newer hop-on hop-off bus tours in Rome, and they're quickly making a name for themselves as a reliable service.

As with their competitors, you can expect this bus tour to take you past some of the most notable sites in the city.

Green Line offers 24, 48, and 72-hour tickets at competitive prices, and at times they might even be one of the most affordable hop-on hop-off bus tours in Rome.

Like everyone else, they also offer audio commentary via headphones while you're on board.

Their tour is currently available in 13 languages: English, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Hindi, Chinese, and Arabic.

Green Line offers 2 routes, but they are mostly the same except for a few minor differences. Across both routes, there are a total of 10 stops, the most notable being Eataly and the Testaccio Quarter.

• 24-Hour Ticket Prices: €29/Adults | €16/Youth (13-20)
• 48-Hour Ticket Prices: €34/Adults | €20/Youth (13-20)
• 72-Hour Ticket Prices: €39/Adults | €26/Youth (13-20)
• Purchase tickets or learn more .
• Availability: Daily from 9 am - 7 pm
• Children under 13 travel for free
• Teens up to the age of 20 are eligible for youth pricing
• This tour is also included with the Rome Turbo Pass .

As of this moment, Green Line has an overall rating of almost 4 out of 5 stars on GetYourGuide ( read reviews here ).

Most of the complaints were pretty common for hop-on hop-off bus tours, with some guests indicating they didn't have enough buses.

Those who loved the service were particularly happy that the buses dropped them off very close to major monuments, and described this as an easy way to get around the city.

IOBUS (Formerly Roma Open Bus )

This is another somewhat new hop-on hop-off bus tour in Rome with competitively low prices and similar services.

Much like Vatican & Rome, they also offer the standard 24-72 hour ticket options in addition one or two cheaper options for half-day or full-day tickets.

While their 24 hour tickets are valid for 24 hours from the moment you start using them, the daily tickets are only valid until the end of the operating day.

Since they are more limited, they are also a bit more affordable.

As with other hop-on hop-off bus tours, Roma Open Bus also makes stops at the most notable sites throughout the city.

They also offer an audio guide you can listen to with headphones on board the bus.

This tour has only one route with 8 stops.

• Afternoon Ticket (After 2 pm): €19/Adults | €10/Children (5-11)
• Daily Ticket (valid til end of the day): €25/Adults | €13/Children (5-11)
• 24-Hour Ticket Prices: €30/Adults | €15/Children (5-11)
• 48-Hour Ticket Prices: €34/Adults | €17/Children (5-11)
• 72-Hour Ticket Prices: €38/Adults | €19/Children (5-11)

Purchase a ticket or learn more now .

• Availability: Daily from 10 am - 5 pm
• Younger guests receive an album of the monuments of Rome and a free backpack!

At the moment, this company only has 22 reviews on Viator, but they currently enjoy an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars ( read reviews here ).

Only one reviewer took issue with this hop-on hop-off bus tour, and it appears that it was due to a simple misunderstanding. Most guests suggest that this is a very reliable service.

One of the most common notes left by reviewers is that Roma Open Bus is very family-friendly, indicating the backpack and album given to kids were a great and unexpected addition.

Rome Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours Compared

If you're curious about the differences in price and service between these hop-on hop-off bus tours, the following section will directly compare the 1, 2, and 3 day tickets from each company and their review scores as well.

Here are a few key takeaways about these Rome hop-on hop-off bus tours:

• While this is technically true, it's worth noting that both Gray Line and Green Line are very competitively priced.
• While Green Line is a local company, Big Bus is world renowned. Even so, if there's a chance to get the same quality of service for cheaper, perhaps it's worth the gamble!
• Given that this company has been folded into Big Bus in many markets, we're actually surprised they are still offering service in Rome. If the reviews are any indication, there's a chance that could happen in Rome as well!

COMBO TICKETS & DEALS

Most of the bus tour companies in Rome provide deals and combo tickets for their services.

In addition to those options, several tourist attraction passes also offer low cost or even free hop-on-hop-off bus tours in addition to skip-the-line tickets at many popular attractions.

These passes work by bundling together popular tours and attractions into one low price, saving you up to 55% off.

They also can save you valuable time by allowing you to skip the ticket queues at select attractions.

Whether you're interested in getting a city pass or you just want to save some money on your ticket, we recommend taking a look at the following deals before making a purchase. 

Omnia Vatican & Rome Card

In addition to offering free access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, you'll also receive a 3-day ticket for the Vatican & Rome hop-on-hop-off bus tour.

After the tour is over, you can also use public transportation in Rome with the free 72-hour travel card that is also included with this pass.

These are only a few of the benefits included with the Omnia card, but they are definitely worth noting if you are interested in bus tours.

• Tourist Pass Prices: €149 for Adults | €69 for Children (ages 6-17)
• Omnia Pass lasts for 3 full days
• Includes Vatican & Rome (Roma Cristiana) Bus Tour
• Includes Rome Metro Pass
• Includes Free Entry to Vatican City Landmarks
• Click here for more information . 

Rome City Pass - Turbo Pass

Much like Omnia, the Rome City Pass also provides access to a hop-on-hop-off bus tour.

Unfortunately, in the case of this attraction pass, the included bus tour is only available for one day.

That being said, the price of this pass is much more affordable than the services offered by their competitors.

The Rome City Pass also provides a free metro card allowing you to use public transportation throughout the city.

• Tourist Pass Prices (starting from): €99.90/Adults | €58.90/Teens | €48.90/Children
• The Rome City Pass lasts for either 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days
• Includes Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour
• Includes Rome Airport Transfer
• Free Entry to Top Attractions, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & More
• Click here for additional information .

Rome Metro Card

If you're interested in taking a hop on hop off bus tour, but you don't plan to enter any of the landmarks or museums you'll see along the way, this is an excellent way to save some money.

The Rome Metro Card includes the following services for either 1 or 3 days:

• Rome Public Transport Pass
• Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

Card Prices:

• 1-Day Card: €27/Adults
• 3-Day Card: €39/Adults
• Free for kids 9 and under.

Purchase the Rome Metro Card . (not currently available)

The nice thing about this card is that it includes both a hop on hop off bus tour and unlimited access to public transportation in Rome. 

While bus tours will take you to most of the notable landmarks in the city, using the metro, trams and public buses will make it easier to reach even more destinations.

If you're primarily focused on getting around the city, but you also want to take a hop on hop off bus tour, this is an excellent way to save 25% - 30% off general admission prices.

Big Bus Tours Combo Deal

This company currently has one combo package which includes a classic ticket and admission to the Colosseum.

You'll also have access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, two historic locations right next to this historic attraction.

Best of all, Big Bus actually has a stop right next to the Colosseum, so you won't even have to travel out of the way to take advantage of this deal!

• €52 per person
• Not currently available

City Sightseeing Combo Deals

If you want to do more than just see the sites, City Sightseeing provides a few interesting combo deals that are definitely worth considering.

Each combo package includes their hop-on, hop-off bus tour and admission to notable landmarks in Rome.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel + Bus Tour

• 48-Hour Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour
• Skip-the-Line Admission to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• Combo Pass Prices: €62 for Adults | €38 for Children/Teens | 6 and under are FREE
• Not Currently Available

Maxi Combo Pass

• 48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• Admission to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
• Combo Pass Prices: €82 for Adults | €50 for Children/Teens | 6 and under are FREE
• Not Currently Available.

NIGHT BUS TOURS OF ROME

The only problem with hop-on-hop-off bus tours is that they typically don't run after dark.

Rome is the kind of city that changes after the sun goes down, and a great way to experience illuminated Rome is to take a night tour.

Thankfully, a few of the popular bus tour companies in the area offer their own bus tours at night.

Unlike the services they provide during the day, you will not be allowed to hop on and off at your leisure.

That being said, you will enjoy a completely different experience on these excursions which may be worth the additional cost. 

In addition to their hop-on, and hop-off bus tours, this company also offers a panoramic bus tour after dark. Unlike their other service, this tour only offers limited stops.

After you visit sites such as the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, Circus Maximus, and more, you'll make a stop at Eataly, where you can grab a bite to eat if you're hungry.

This tour is approximately 3 hours in length, and it begins at 7:30 pm. Depending on when you visit Rome, chances are you'll catch the sunset and watch as the lights around the city begin to turn on.

• Ticket Prices: €28 for Adults | €17 for Children | FREE for Infants
• Summer Availability: Thursday - Sunday
• Fall Availability: Saturdays
• Duration: 3 hours
• Hours: 7:30 pm

This is a relatively new service, but so far it has received pretty good reviews with an overall rating of 4 out of 5 on Get Your Guide.

Currently, this is the only night bus tour in Rome. It's also much more affordable than any of the comparable services offered by their competitors.

Although it doesn't include any of the frills you might get from other night bus tours, this is definitely the base line night bus tour you can expect to find in Rome.

Rome by Night - (Gray Line Tours)

Known for its big pink buses, Gray Line also provides a night tour with a professional guide on board to provide valuable information.

As you travel around the city, you'll have the opportunity to see famous landmarks such as the Colosseum and St. Peter's Basilica after dark.

Additionally, you will also enjoy free walking tours of the Trevi Fountain and Trastevere. 

• Ticket Prices: €47 for Adults | €37.60 for Children | FREE for Infants
• Availability: Daily at 8:45 pm (Apr-Oct) and 8 pm (Nov-Mar)
• Duration: 2 hours
• Includes walking tours of Trevi Fountain & Trastevere

Reviews for this night bus tour are very mixed. While some visitors are very pleased with the service, others feel that it's not worth the price of admission.

Some customers described the trip as disorganized and chaotic, but others were very happy with their experience.

Most of the complaints about this outing focus on the amount of foot travel that is required for both walking tours.

With that said, some of you may actually jump at the chance for a little more activity, and this is one excursion that will give it to you.

Couples were far more impressed with this trip than any other audience. 

Romantic Rome - (City Sightseeing)

In addition to offering a full-length bus tour after dark, City Sightseeing also gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a nice meal.

Why worry about missing dinner when it's included in the tour?

Guests will enjoy a welcome drink and appetizers at the restaurant Eataly along with a full buffet dinner at Zodiac .

Although you won't be able to hop on and off whenever you wish, this night tour will give you the opportunity to see all of the major landmarks after the sun sets.

• Ticket Prices: €62/adult | €49/child
• Availability: Daily at 8 pm
• Duration: 2 ½ hours
• Includes appetizers at Eataly and a buffet at Zodiac

Sadly, reviews for this service weren't much better than the overall ratings for City Sightseeing.

Although there were some negative comments, others were very impressed with the night bus tour offered by this company.

Visitors were especially pleased with the opportunity to see major sites in Rome with all of the lights on, creating a lot of wonderful shadows and giving them a completely different look at the historic city.

Tips From Locals and Travelers

If you're still not sure about whether or not to take a hop-on hop-off bus tour in Rome, you're not alone.

A lot of travelers are curious about this service, and especially in this ancient city, there are reasons to consider alternatives.

With that in mind, we've collected some of the more helpful suggestions from users of both our Rome Travel Tips group on Facebook and the Rome & Italy Travel group.

Some travelers find this service quite useful, noting that in the summer, the air conditioning included on these buses is well worth the price of a ticket.

They also found the commentary included to be a great overview, and that really is how these services should be used.

As other members of the group note, this is a useful tour for those who want to get an idea of what you can see and do in Rome.

It's not necessarily the most detailed tour of each site you'll see, but once you're done with the loop, chances are you'll have a better idea of where everything is located and what you want to see a bit closer.

Another nice thing is that the three main companies (Big Bus, City Sightseeing, and ORP) each allow you to use any of their buses while sightseeing.

This ensures that even if Big Bus is running late at a particular stop, you can just find either a City Sightseeing or ORP bus and use them instead.

That all said, it's important to point out that there are a lot of travelers and locals who feel the hop-on hop-off tours in Rome are not worth the cost.

The main reason is because they aren't actually allowed to make stops very close to the main landmarks in the city centre.

This is an absolutely reasonable point to make, because the closest stops to sites such as the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain are actually several blocks away.

The reality is that no matter what you do, you'll probably have to walk a lot while visiting Rome, because it's just not a city that is built for heavy vehicle traffic.

Even so, some travelers who don't recommend these tours note that they at least found it useful for one day, so you might just want to consider getting a 1-day ticket if you're not entirely sure about this outing.

For more advice, make sure to check either our Rome Travel Tips group or the Rome & Italy Travel group on Facebook.

RELATED POSTS

• Rome City Tours
• Things to Do in Rome
• Colosseum Tickets
• How to Visit the Vatican
• Rome Tourist Passes

And much, much more

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Gray Line I Love Rome: Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus

Activity schedule, key highlights.

• Inclusions & Exclusions

Daily 

24 hours // 48 hours // 72 hours // Half Day // 1 Day // One Run

You can choose your preferred option

• Meeting Point Just hop on to the bus from any of the stops. The favored stops are  Termini Station  (stop1), Santa Maria Maggiore  and Colosseum 

You can hop off at any of the stops

• Discover the Eternal City with this budget-friendly hop-on hop-off tour
• Explore the city’s biggest attractions, from the Capitoline Hill to Colosseum
• Enjoy a convenient sightseeing experience with strategically located stops
• Savour an immersive experience with audio commentary and free WiFi on-board
• Define your own travel experience with our range of validity options
• Both smartphones and paper vouchers accepted!

See the best of Rome with this hop-on, hop-off bus tour that gets you up close with the city’s most important monuments and cultural venues aboard the distinctive pink  ‘I Love Rome’ buses. Informative audio guides are available on the bus, illustrating the unique history behind Rome’s famous monuments and attractions for a truly immersive experience. 

Your I Love Rome Hop-On, Hop-Off ticket comes with a range of validity options which means, no matter what your schedule or how much time you have, we have the perfect ticket for you!

• 24/48/72 hours : Validity starts from the time you first board the bus
• 1 Day Ticket (Daily): Valid only for the calendar day of travel selected at the time of booking
• Half Day Ticket:  Valid only for the calendar day of travel selected at the time of booking for 4 hours of use from the time of the first stamping .
• One Run Ticket: The ticket includes a single loop run around the city at any time of the day (one run only; no hop off)

STOPS COVERED

• Stazione Termini
• Santa Maria Maggiore
• Colosseum Archaeological Area
• Circo Massimo - The Mouth of Truth
• Piazza Venezia - Shopping Area
• Vatican City, Sistine Chapel & Castel Sant'Angelo
• Spanish Steps
• Piazza Barberini and Trevi Fountain

… and more!

About the Supplier: I Love Rome is a part of Gray Line Rome and are known for their distinct pink hop-on, hop-off buses. Fulfilling the globetrotting dreams of wide-eyed travellers for over a 100 years, Gray Line is one of the leading travel and tours services in the world.

• Hop-On, Hop-Off or Panoramic Bus Ticket (as per option chosen)
• Free Walking Tours available (ask our staff onboard)
• Audio headset guide in 12 languages (Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Arabic)
• Kids Audio Commentary in 2 languages (English, Italian)
• FREE WiFi onboard
• Entrance fees to attractions

Useful downloads

Please note.

Voucher information: You can show your voucher on your smartphone (But if you’d rather print a copy – that’s fine too!

Wheelchair accessibility:  No

Rome is a functioning city and weather, traffic and events may occasionally cause disruption. 

Timings and stops are subject to change. The updated map will be available on the bus.

Rome is a busy city, especially during special events, summer holidays and at weekends. Traffic congestion and road closures -may cause delays, reduced frequency and changes to the route. We’ll do we all we can to provide a smooth and frequent service.

Customer Reviews

Back jongkwan.

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All online, very easy and cheaper than other companies . . .

Neat operation that works effectively - easy to get on and commentary accurate as one passes the sites of interest.

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Romantic Rome – The Ancient City of Love

Romancing in the past The post Romantic Rome – The Ancient City of Love appeared first on The Guidebook - isango! .

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Hop on/Hop off Bus

Hop on /hop off bus tour.

The hop on/hop off double decker bus tour of Rome allows you to view Rome at your own pace. Choose the top deck for a new perspective of Rome or the bottom if it looks like rain. Wherever you choose to sit rest assured you will have a comfortable seat and a running commentary which will inform you of the importance of the many attractions that make up the eternal city. Hop of wherever you want for a photos and a closer look and then when your ready to continue your tour just hop on the next bus. Its that easy and convenient.

You can begin your journey at any stop you choose, including Rome’s main Train Station, Termini

Visitor Highlights and Bus stops

• Termini Train Station, easy to get to with public underground and bus.
• The Colosseum where the gladiators fought.
• The Circus Maximus where the chariot races were run.
• Piazza Venezia and the Jewish Ghetto.
• Vatican and Castle St Angelo.
• Spanish Steps
• Trevi Fountain

Travel Tips

• Always make sure to wear comfortable shoes. This doesn’t mean the shoes can’t be stylish but keep in mind that when you get off the bus you will be walking on cobblestone streets, marble and uneven pavement.
• Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and also keep in mind that for any entrance to the Pantheon or a church shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women.
• Make sure you are charged. Nothing is worse than your phone or camera running out of battery in the middle of a tour. Bring an external charger just in case.
• Set aside time for your tour and book in advance. You can purchase a 24hour or 72hour ticket.

Know Before You Go

Safety measures:

• Face masks covering the nose and mouth are required to board the bus.
• Social distancing measures will be enforced.

What to Bring

• Tour voucher (downloaded or printed)
• Clothing that is weather appropriate
• Comfortable shoes
• Water (bottles can be refilled at the many public fountains)

Getting There

A downloadable map will be sent to you so that you can choose where you would like to begin your journey.