hop on hop off Rome bus tours

Rome is an exciting and fascinating city, and the best way to see and do everything is often with a hop on hop off bus tour. They can be a fantastic way to travel around with convenience and ease, without the added hassle of working out how to use public transport, or worrying about maps.  Read on to find out more information about some of the best hop on hop off tours in Rome, as well as details about various routes, attraction passes and more.

Ready to get going to Rome? Check out this link to book now a hop on hop off Rome bus tour.

What are the best hop on hop off Rome bus tour companies?

Rome bus tours companies

Hop on hop off tours can make exploring a new city much more enjoyable, as you can get straight to the top attractions in Rome, without having to take lengthy connections or deal with any confusing maps. Instead, simply ride the bus and enjoy the scenic views across the city as you travel.

Hop on hop off tours can also provide a more cost effective option, as you don’t need to spend lots of money on private taxis, while still travelling in comfort throughout.

Check out some fantastic options for bus tours in Rome.

1 – Big Bus

Big Bus is one of the most popular and comprehensive bus tour providers in Rome, with a variety of stops all over the city, to make sure you can experience the best of it during your time there.

Routes

Big Bus’s Red Route takes you on a hop on hop off tour through the main attractions around Rome, including the Colosseum, the Vatican and more. There are eight stops in total, the busses leave every 11 minutes and the tour runs from 9am to 8pm daily.

Tickets

A Discover Ticket includes 24 hours access to the Red route hop on hop off bus tour around Rome, and is a practical and convenient way to get around the city easily. The ticket includes unlimited access to all stops on the route, free walking tours and free onboard Wi-Fi. An adult ticket costs €29,70 and a child ticket costs €14,40. A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children costs €73,80. Discounts may be available online for adult and child tickets.
An Essential Ticket can be a good choice if you are staying in the city for a weekend or longer. This flexible ticket includes 48 hours access to the Red route hop on hop off bus tours, giving you plenty of time to explore the diverse attractions around the city, free walking tours and free onboard Wi-Fi. An adult ticket costs €35,10, and a child ticket is €17,10, with a family ticket available for €87,30.
The flexible Explore Ticket provides 72-hour access to all of Big Bus’s tours around Rome, making it an ideal package when you want to explore the city to its fullest. Use the hop on hop off bus tour as much as you like over the three days, free walking tours and free onboard Wi-Fi included. You’ll also have access to a special Night Tour, for a scenic experience of the city after dark. Adult tickets cost €41,40 and child tickets cost €20,70, with a family ticket for €103,50. Discounts may be available online.
Big Bus also offers a 1-hour panoramic Night Tour that is available from 1 June to 30 October and is priced at €17,10 per person.

2 – City Sightseeing

City Sightseeing provides tourists in Rome with a great value option to get around the city easily, with several stops taking you around the most popular sights around Rome.

Routes

City Sightseeing has one main route that goes through Rome, stopping at all of the main highlights, including the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Piazza Venezia. With free WiFi on board, audio guides in 8 languages, walking tours in 5 languages and a free app from the bus tour provider to offer useful information as you travel, making it an ideal option for a short stay in the city.

Tickets

For a short and low cost trip around the city, City Sightseeing offer a 24 hour day pass for their hop on hop off bus tour around Rome. This provides unlimited access to all stops along the route during the day. An adult ticket costs €29,70 and a child ticket costs €14,40, while children under 5 travel for free.
A 48 hour pass can be a more practical option if you are staying overnight in Rome, and can be used for a longer duration than the 24 hour day pass. An adult ticket costs €35,10 and a child ticket costs €17,10, with children under 5 travelling for free.
For a longer stay in the city, a 72 hour pass can be a convenient and good value choice. Enjoy unlimited use through the routes for the duration of the pass without any restrictions. An adult ticket costs €41,40 and a child ticket is priced at €20,70.

3 – Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (formerly Roma Cristiana)

Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi provides a specialised hop on hop off bus tour in Rome, focusing primarily on more of the religious sights and locations around the city. For travellers interested in exploring Rome’s religious culture, this can be a great choice.

Routes

The Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi bus tour has a single route with 14 stops that provide a comprehensive tour of the city. The tour includes an audio guide in eight major languages, and covers all key tourist hotspots, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum, as well as more religious sites, such as the Vatican and the Basilica di San Giovanni.

Tickets

The Classic ticket is valid for 24 hours and is a practical and low-cost way of travelling throughout Rome using the Onmia Vatican&Rome Open Bus service. The ticket includes access to all stops, to be used as often as you like during the day. An adult ticket costs €28,05, a child ticket is priced at €13,60 children under 5 travel for free.
This ticket valid for 48 hours provides you with plenty of time to explore Rome at your leisure, with access to the Onmia Vatican&Rome Open Bus service over two calendar days. This can be a great money-saving option if you are staying for a few days in the city and want to explore at a more comfortable pace. An adult ticket costs €33,15, a child ticket costs €16,15 and children under 5 travel for free.
The Deluxe ticket is valid for 72 hours and is perfectly suitable if you are spending a more extended period of time in Rome. Just as the Classic and Premium ticket, this ticket provides you with a multilingual audio-guide and multilingial staff on board. The adult ticket is priced at €39,10 while a child ticket can be purchased for €19,55. Chilödren under the age of 5 travel free.

4 – I love Rome (Gray Line Rome)

Gray Line provides a comprehensive bus tour of Rome, featuring a wide range of the city’s diverse artistic and cultural attractions. With audio guides available in 12 languages and on board Wi-Fi, it is a convenient and comfortable option to help you explore the city.

Routes

Gray Line Rome offers a single route, the so called Pink Route, with 8 stops, covering a range of attractions all across the city, such as Vatican City, the Spanish Steps, the Piazza Venezia shopping areas and more.

Tickets

A one day ticket provides access to the hop on hop off bus tour for one calendar day, making it a great choice to see an overview of Rome easily, if you are visiting for a short time only. Adult tickets cost €22 and a youth ticket for ages 6 to 12 costs €15. Children under 5 can travel for free but a ticket must still be booked for travel.
For an overnight stay in the city, a 24-hour bus ticket might be ideal, providing a more cost-effective option to explore and travel around. An adult ticket costs €30 and a youth ticket costs €16.
A 48-hour bus ticket can be a useful choice when staying a little longer in the city, but the ticket must be used with the 48 hour period from when it is first activated, and cannot be suspended. An adult ticket costs €34 and a youth ticket costs €20.
A 72-hour ticket can provide the most cost-effective and best value option, especially if you are staying in Rome for a few days. With access to all stops for the duration of the ticket, it allows you to travel at ease and with confidence. An adult ticket is priced at €38 and a youth ticket costs €27.

How do you find discounted hop on hop off Rome bus tours tickets?

discounted hop on hop off Rome bus tours tickets

Using a hop on hop off tour can be one of the most enjoyable and fun ways to explore a city like Rome where there is so much to discover. If you look ahead before your travel dates, it’s often possible to get a great deal on ticket prices, with exclusive discounts and special offers available, rather than buying on the bus itself.

Here are some options to help you save money on bus tours:

1- Check out discounted tickets on travel websites

bus tours travel websites

Make sure you check out deals and promotions on travel websites ahead of your trip, as they will often have the best prices around. Check out providers such as Headout or Viator for great packages. It’s also a good idea to check the bus tour provider directly, as they will also feature online exclusive prices.

2 – Book an attractions pass

book a city pass

With such a rich historic and cultural heritage, Rome is a fascinating city, but it can soon add up when trying to visit all of the city’s big attractions.

Luckily, attractions passes are a great way of making your visit more affordable, as they will often include skip the line and fast track entry to key destinations, as well as added benefits such as their own hop on hop off tours.

Here are some of the best attractions passes available around Rome.

Omnia Pass

The Omnia Pass is one of the most popular tourist passes in Rome, as it provides free entry to a variety of the most popular attractions in the city, including Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. It also includes free entry to the Vatican City Museums and sights around the area, making it much more easier to explore, without having to wait in line.

While the pass does not provide access to a hop on hop off bus tour, you do get a 3 day travel card, which can be used to travel around the main parts of the city.

Visit official website

Roma Pass

The Roma Pass is available for 48 or 72 hour options, making it a more versatile choice when trying to decide which attractions pass to pick. The pass provides free entry to a variety of tourist attractions, as well as free access to the public transport system.

You’ll also get discounted entry for over 80 other top events and attractions around the city, and sip the line entrance to a number of the most popular galleries and museums around Rome.

Visit official website

We hope that this page has provided plenty of useful information to help you plan your visit to Rome!

Guillaume Picard
Born in Paris, Guillaume Picard has spent years immersing himself in diverse cultures, living everywhere from Asia's hubs like Singapore and Bali, to European destinations such as Portugal and Italy. Now, as the CMO of TourScanner, he's at the helm of a platform that echoes his passion for travel. Guillaume oversees the content, particularly the blog, offering readers firsthand insights and tales from his global escapades.