If you're looking to explore the Eternal City, there's no better way to do so than with a hop-on hop-off bus in Rome.

The city spreads out far and wide, and the ancient Romans weren't thinking of sightseeing when they built the grand monuments and landmarks. Traveling the city by foot takes a while, whereas a bus tour quickly transports you between destinations and provides you with information along the way.

If your time is limited or you want to save your legs, consider taking a hop-on hop-off bus tour around Rome.

Here's everything you need to know about hop-on hop-off bus tours you can choose from the best sightseeing tours in Rome.

What are the best hop-on hop-off Rome bus tours and their prices?

1 – Big Bus Rome

The Big Bus Rome is one of the major hop-on hop-off buses in the city. It takes you to eight of the most famous sites in the city, and by purchasing a ticket you also get access to four free walking tours.

Route

The Big Bus Rome has just one route which starts at Roma Termini and travels all the way to Barberini Square and the Spanish Steps. Along the way, the bus will stop at all of the main iconic sites that you've journeyed to Italy to see. These include the Colosseum, Circo Massimo and Vatican City.

Timetable

The first bus of the day departs Roma Termini at 9 AM. The service is frequent and runs every 13 minutes. The last bus departs from the terminal at 6:40 PM. The route takes just over 1.5 hours to reach the Spanish Steps and you can hop off at any stop along the way.

Tickets

Classic bus ticket

The classic ticket allows you access to the hop-on hop-off service for one day. You can listen to an audio-guided tour and get access to free walking tours. Usage of the bus is unlimited throughout the day and you'll benefit from free Wi-Fi on board.

Tickets are €30 for adults and €15 for children. Family tickets include two adults and two children, and you can purchase this ticket for €75. If you book online in advance, you'll save 10%.

Premium ticket

The premium ticket has all of the same features as above but you can enjoy the bus service for two days rather than one. The price for this ticket is €34 for adults and €17 for children. A family ticket costs €85 for two adults and two children which saves €17.

You can save a further 10% by booking online ahead of your hop-on hop-off Rome tour.

Deluxe ticket

Deluxe tickets are valid for three days and cost €38 per adult and €19 per child. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs €95. Further discounts are available when pre-booking tickets online.

Classic ticket plus Vatican Museums

This ticket will give you unlimited access to the Big Bus Rome for one day plus skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums. This includes the world-renowned Sistine Chapel, created by Michaelangelo.

This combined ticket is only available on adult ticket purchases and starts from €57.

Classic ticket plus Colosseum

A hop-on hop-off bus in Rome rarely includes entrance to sites, but this combined ticket enables you to see the ancient Colosseum. You'll benefit from fast-track entry, as well as entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Once again, this combined ticket can only be purchased at an adult rate and the prices start at €52.

2 – I Love Rome

Another popular hop-on hop-off bus in Rome is the I Love Rome open-top vehicle. The service features an audio-guided tour in 13 languages to provide you with a deep insight into Rome's history. There are stops at nine well-known landmarks and you can hop on or off at your leisure.

Route

The I Love Rome hop-on hop-off Rome bus route begins at Stazione Termini and visits Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colosseum and Circo Massimo. It also makes stops at Piazza Venezia, Vatican City, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.

Timetable

The bus runs approximately every 15 to 20 minutes daily. The service starts at 8:30 AM and runs until 6:40 PM, taking around two hours to complete the journey. The route ends at the Piazza Barberini and Trevi Fountain.

Tickets

One run ticket

One run tickets include one loop of the route, seeing all of the sites with an audio guide, but don’t include a hop-off service. Adult tickets are purchasable for those over the age of 12 and cost €17. Youth tickets are €12 and are valid for travelers between the age of 6 and 11. Children aged 5 and under travel for free

One run after 3 PM ticket

This ticket is valid for one loop of the route without the hop-off service on buses that depart after 3 PM. Adult tickets are €14 and youths travel for €10.

Daily ticket

Daily tickets are valid for the calendar day that you book a tour. You'll be able to hop on and off as many times as you like, and the service costs €22 for adults. Youth tickets cost €15 and children aged 5 and under travel for free.

Daily ticket after 3 PM

Afternoon tickets are valid for the same calendar day only and include the hop-on hop-off service. You can start using your pass from 3 PM until the service ends for the day at 6:40 PM. Adults will pay €16 and youth tickets cost €11.20.

5-hour ticket

With a five-hour pass, you're able to join the tour at any point in the day and your ticket is valid for five hours from when it's first stamped. The price is €18 for adults and €13 for youths.

24-hour ticket

The 24-hour tickets allow you to get the most out of your ticket, no matter the time of day you start using your pass. You'll have 24 hours to use the hop-on hop-off bus in Rome from when you first alight. You'll pay €25 for an adult ticket and €16 for a youth ticket.

48-hour ticket

You have unlimited use of the hop-on hop-off service for 48 hours with this ticket. Adults cost €32 and for youths, the price is €20.

72-hour ticket

For those that want to tour Rome for several days, this ticket allows you to roam freely for 72 hours. You can expect to pay €39 per adult and €27 per youth.

3 – I Love Rome Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

Green Line Tours provides another of the most popular hop-on hop-off bus tours in Rome. As well as offering daily journeys through the Eternal City with a multilingual audio guide, you can also experience Rome by night in a magical evening tour.

Route

The journey starts at Roma Termini and follows a similar route to other tour providers. The bus makes stops at Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colosseum, Circus Maximus and Piazza Venezia. You can also hop off at Vatican City, Villa Borghese or Piazza Barberini.

Timetable

A loop of the route takes around 1.5 hours. The buses run every day between the hours of 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM and depart regularly — every 10-30 minutes.

Tickets

Daily ticket

Daily tickets are valid for one calendar day with unlimited stops. Adults aged 21 and over will pay €22. Junior tickets are for children aged 13-20 and cost €14. Children under 13 travel for free.

24-hour ticket

This ticket allows you unlimited access to the bus for 24 hours from your first journey. You'll be able to listen to an audio-guided tour of the city in 13 languages and you can expect to pay €25 for adults. Junior tickets cost €15.

48-hour ticket

This ticket is valid for 48 hours from its first validation and costs €32 for adults. Juniors travel at the discounted rate of €19.

72-hour ticket

Those who want to take their time seeing all the city has to offer will benefit from a 72-hour ticket. This is the most cost-effective way to see the sights slowly on a hop-on hop-off bus tour in Rome. Adult tickets cost €39 and junior tickets are €26.

3 pass

The three pass is valid for one day and allows you to hop off the bus at three different locations of your choice. You'll pay €16 for an adult ticket and €11 for juniors.

Rome by night ticket

Rome by night tours start at 7:15 PM and finish at 10:45 outside the Colosseum. Adult tickets cost €28 and juniors travel for €17.

Bus ticket plus Hard Rock Cafe

You can purchase a combined ticket that includes a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. This is available for daily tickets, as well as 24- or 48-hour passes. Daily tickets cost €33 for adults and €25 for juniors.

With a 24-hour ticket, you can expect to pay €36 per adult and €26 per junior. The 48-hour tickets cost €43 for adults and €30 for juniors.

How do hop-on hop-off bus tours in Rome work? What is included?

No matter which hop-on hop-off bus tour in Rome you choose, they all operate in a similar way. Buses depart from Roma Termini and make eight stops at the most famous monuments in the city.

You can hop on and off the bus at your leisure, and join the tour at whichever stop you like. You'll also have access to an audio guide in several languages. While most tours offer eight or nine languages, some provide guides in up to 13 tongues. These usually include English, German, Spanish, French and Russian among others.

There is normally free Wi-Fi available on board and you'll be provided with a map of the city for your trip. Some bus operators also provide free self-guided walking tours via an app.

Are there any combined tickets including hop-on hop-off bus tours?

Big Bus and skip-the-line to Colosseum

On this hop-on hop-off bus in Rome, you'll reach the Colosseum from your starting point. Here, you can speed past the queues and walk straight into the ancient Roman Site. Once you've discovered the history behind the iconic monument, you can simply jump back on the bus and continue your tour of the city.

Are hop-on hop-off bus tours included in any city passes?

The OMNIA Card includes access to the Roma Cristiana Open Bus Tour for three days. It also offers free entrance to some attractions, including the Vatican Museums and the Vox City Guide app.

Travel tips

Hop-on hop-off bus tours in Rome take place on open-top buses. For this reason, you should be prepared for all weathers and carry an umbrella, as well as a sunhat and sunscreen.
If you are spending several days in the city, consider a 48-hour or 72-hour bus pass. Tickets that cover multiple days include a large discount when compared with single-day tickets.
Get the most out of your Rome hop-on hop-off bus ticket by starting early. Most buses run from around 9 AM and depart regularly throughout the day. Depending on the amount of time you spend exploring the sites, you'll be able to visit several locations during the day.

Hop on Hop off Bus Tours in Rome