Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world, so it has a vast historical and cultural heritage. Enjoying its many treasures on foot can be exhausting, especially in summer. So how can you see everything in a short visit without getting worn out? With the Rome tourist bus!

Before your trip, you can book your ticket online and activate it once you are in the city, when you board the vehicle on the day you want to do the activity. Depending on the option you have chosen (24, 48 or 72 hours), you can use it unlimitedly during the selected time from the time of your first use.

The most economical option

Rome Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Bus Tour

Explore Rome by bus at the best price for 1, 2 or 3 days.

If you want to discover the Eternal City without long walks or the summer heat, with this option you can choose the duration of your ticket (24, 48 or 72 hours). It also includes audio commentary during the tour explaining the most important points of interest.

From £13 at Hellotickets

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The City Sightseeing tourist bus can be used in two ways. On the one hand, you can use it as a means of transport to quickly and easily reach the tourist attractions you wish to visit. With the hop-on hop-off system, you can get off at any stop you like to explore the area at your leisure and then get back on to continue your tour of Rome.

Another interesting option is to do the entire route at least once: this will allow you to discover the city of Rome from a different perspective and enjoy the panoramic views of the landscape while travelling in comfort and listening to the audio guide's commentary on the city's various monuments.

Why I like this option: as well as being the most economical, it is also a flexible option.

Recommended if... you are thinking of booking your tickets for the tourist bus in advance at the best price.

A very interesting option

Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Tour

Discover Rome comfortably and flexibly

With your 24-, 48- or 72-hour ticket on Big Bus, you can explore the Italian capital in comfort, stopping at all the places of interest along the route while discovering the city's history through the recorded commentary.

From £26 at Hellotickets

With the Big Bus tourist bus in Rome, you can hop on and off at all the tourist attractions covered by the route and get back on whenever you want. What's more, while you're on the bus, you can listen to the recorded commentary, which will keep you up to date with all the interesting facts and history of the city.

The buses run from morning until evening, with buses leaving every 20 minutes and covering the city's most important monuments, such as the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and Piazza Venezia, among others. This option also allows you to ride the City Sightseeing Rome and Vatican&Rome Open Buses, as well as the Big Bus.

Why I like this option: it's a very convenient and flexible way to get to know the city and includes many options because you can ride the City Sightseeing Rome and Vatican&Rome Open Bus, as well as Big Bus.

Recommended if... you want to get a general idea of the city and then delve deeper into each of the points of interest and monuments.

With your City Sightseeing bus ticket or on the Big Bus tourist bus in Rome, you can purchase 24-, 48- or 72-hour passes.

Firstly, because I think it's the most practical way to get to know Rome if you don't have much time or if it's your first time visiting the Italian capital, as on board the tourist bus you can admire several of the city's main attractions on a complete tour, such as the Vatican City, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain (one of the most beautiful fountains in Rome), among others.

Secondly, because you can use the bus as a means of transport. It is a very comfortable and fun way to explore Rome, especially if you are travelling with children. They won't get tired walking from one monument to another, as with this tourist bus you can get off at any stop on the route to explore an area and then get back on to continue the tour to the next attraction.

Thirdly, because with the tourist bus you can download the free mobile app that shows you an interactive map with the location of the buses in real time and the waiting time at each stop so you can better plan your route. In addition, this app includes a free walking route, which I think is a great idea if you don't know where to start your visit. Sounds good, right?

The classic double-decker open-top bus in Rome awaits you for a fun, comfortable and dynamic 1 hour and 40 minute tour of the Eternal City.

Stops

Trevi Fountain

The most beautiful Baroque fountain in the world. Its origins date back to 19 BC, although the current monument dates from the 18th century.

It is a wonderful work of art in the open air, attached to the façade of the Palazzo Poli, depicting the god Neptune taming the waters. Legend has it that if you want to return to Rome, you must throw a coin into its waters.

To learn more about the beautiful Trevi Fountain, don't miss the article Trevi Fountain: history, curiosities and what to see near the fountain in Rome.

Circus Maximus in Rome

Today, there are hardly any remains of what was once the Circus Maximus, the largest in the city, so you have to imagine what it was like in its heyday. Public games were held here, consisting of horse-drawn chariot races, foot races, equestrian displays and mock battles.

Piazza Venezia

One of the most important squares in Rome, it takes its name from the Palazzo Venezia, the first Renaissance-style building in the city. In the centre of the square stands the national monument to King Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the architects of Italian unification alongside Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

It is considered the largest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome. It dates back to the 4th century AD and legend has it that the Virgin Mary herself appeared to Pope Liberius to give him instructions for its construction. The basilica features a variety of architectural styles that reflect the different stages of Christian art in Rome. It is one of the four major basilicas of Rome and is not to be missed.

The Colosseum

The Colosseum is the emblem of Rome and one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. Almost 2,000 years old, it is the largest amphitheatre built during the Roman Empire and was used for gladiator games, naval battles, animal fights and even executions of prisoners.

Want to see it in person without having to wait in line for hours at the door? Then take a look at the post Colosseum Tickets in Rome!

Piazza Barberini

This is one of Rome's most iconic squares, famous for the Triton and Bee fountains by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Nearby is the Barberini Palace, which houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art.

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

Also known as Piazza Vittorio, it was one of Rome's main food markets. In the centre is a garden where you can see the remains of Alexander's nymphaeum and the so-called Magic Gate, the entrance to the ancient Villa Palombara, which was the residence of the alchemist Massimiliano Palombara.

Vatican City

This is a city-state located in the heart of Rome and the headquarters of the Catholic Church.

There are three essential visits to make here during your trip: St. Peter's Square and Basilica, and the Vatican Museums, where the Sistine Chapel is located.

If you're wondering how to get tickets to see this gem, click on Where to buy tickets for the Vatican or The best guided tours of the Vatican.

Both City Sightseeing Rome and Big Bus Rome operate every day of the week with uninterrupted service from 9:00 a. m. to 6:00 p.m. This schedule is perfect for exploring the city throughout the day, with enough light to enjoy the panoramic views from the top deck of the bus.

Buses run regularly, approximately every 20 minutes, allowing you to hop on and off without long waits.

• Select the date you want to do this activity and the number of people who will be participating. Then select the 24, 48 or 72 hour option. You will be taken to a page where you will be asked for your personal details and an email address.
• Important: please provide a valid email address as you will receive a confirmation email once your booking is complete. Please check that all the information on your booking is correct and keep this email handy as you will need to show it to the tour bus driver when boarding.
• If you are unable to take part in this experience for any reason and would like a full refund, please remember that you must cancel your booking at least 24 hours before the start of the activity. You will find the cancellation instructions in the confirmation email.

Other popular tourist bus options in Rome

In addition to classic hop-on hop-off tourist buses, Rome offers other original and convenient ways to explore the city. Some of these options include night tours or guided visits to lesser-known historical sites, allowing you to discover another side of the Eternal City without sacrificing the comfort of a panoramic bus.

• Night tour in an open-top bus from £18 A 1-hour tour of illuminated Rome, with audio guide and stop for dinner (food not included).
• I Love Rome tourist bus from £16 Pass valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours to hop on and off at the main stops, with multilingual audio guide and Wi-Fi on board.
• Panoramic bus with guided tour of the catacombs from £53 Includes round-trip transfer and skip-the-line entry to the Catacombs of San Callisto or Domitilla, with a specialised guide.

Book a night tour on a panoramic bus

Comparison table of the best tourist buses in Rome

Rome is an open-air museum with lots to offer. Every corner has a fountain, a palace or an ancient monument with a fascinating history. If, after riding the Rome tourist bus, you want to learn more about the Italian capital, its culture, cuisine and customs, I recommend taking a guided tour.

There is a wide variety of tours available, especially in summer: on foot, by bike, during the day, at night, in small groups, in private groups, gastronomic tours... Take a look at the article The best tours of Rome to choose the one you like best.

And if you have time to leave the city during your getaway to Rome, then don't miss out on visiting the surrounding area. There are wonderful places that you will love! Check out the article The best excursions from Rome for some of the coolest options.