Rome: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off Open-Top Sightseeing Tour
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 40 minutes
Mobile ticket
Discover the best of Rome along a route with 8 stops and enjoy a hop-on hop-off bus tour covering the highlights of the Eternal City.
Choose from 4 ticket options to suit your schedule. If you're short on time, opt for a one-day ticket. For more flexibility, select a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour pass to explore Rome at your own pace—plus, the 72-hour ticket also includes a panoramic night tour for a magical view of the city after dark.
While aboard, listen to engaging multilingual audio commentary that brings Rome’s history and culture to life.
Hop off whenever you like and enjoy the freedom to explore further with bonus digital self-guided walking tours.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Luggage is not permitted on board for security reasons
The 72-hour ticket includes a panoramic Night Tour (May to October only), which is not hop-on, hop-off
Download the Big Bus Tours app to access and activate your ticket, track buses in real time, and board easily using your mobile pass.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Duration:1 hour 40 minutes
Operating Schedule:The Hop-on, Hop-off tour runs daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, with buses every 15 minutes and a full loop lasting approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes. Download the Big Bus Tours app to track buses in real time, and board easily using your mobile ticket.
Stop 1 - Termini Railway Station - Via Giovanni Giolitti, 32
Stop 2 - Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore - Piazza dell'Esquilino, 14
Stop 3 - Colosseum - Via di San Gregorio - Currently closed (bus stop outside Roman Forum entrance)
Stop 4 - Circus Maximus - Piazzale Ugo La Malfa
Stop 5 - Piazza Venezia - Via di Teatro Marcello
Stop 6 - Vatican - Lungotevere Tor di Nona 7
Stop 7 - Spanish Steps - Via Ludovisi 73
Stop 8 - Barberini - Via Barberini 12
What‘s Included
Digital commentary in multiple languages
Big Bus Tours app (ticket storage, live tracking and ticket activation)
Free VOX digital self-guided tour download
Night tour (72-hour ticket option 10th April-2 Oct only)
Free Wi-Fi on Board
Free Gelato from "The Gelatist" OR Glass of Prosecco with selected products
1-day or 24-, 48- or 72-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour (depending on option selected)
Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
Options
72-Hour & Panoramic Night Tour
Duration: 3 days: Unlimited use valid for 72 hours from the time of first use. One Central Route: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket. Free Night Tour: 60 Minute Panoramic Night Tour (Between April - October 2026) VOX Free Digital Walking Tour: Download Instructions provided when you board the bus. Free Gelato or Fizz: Free Gelato from "The Gelatist" OR Glass of Prosecco
1 Day Hop on Hop off
Duration: 1 day: Unlimited use valid for 1 Day from the time of first use. One Central Route: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket.
3-Hour Hop-on, Hop-off
Duration: 3 hours: Unlimited use valid for 3 hours from the time of first use. One Central Route: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket.
24-Hour & Digital Walking Tour
Duration: 1 day: Unlimited use valid for 24 hours from the time of first use. One Central Route: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket. VOX Free Digital Walking Tour: Download Instructions provided when you board the bus.
48-Hour & Digital Walking Tour
Duration: 2 days: Unlimited use valid for 48 hours from the time of first use. One Central Route: Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off access for the duration of your ticket. Free Gelato: From "The Gelatist" - redemtpion details on the day VOX Free Digital Walking Tour: Download instructions provided when you board the bus.
Reviews
2,715 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Drop Off Sites Few and Far Between
Andrea R,May 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00We had a friend that wasn’t able to walk much and were hoping about this but they don’t drop you off too close to the major sites so it didn’t work well for us. It is better than walking
Dont use them staff rude
leewQ6238TA,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Terrible service, last bus stated as 7pm on ticket got on stop 6 at 6.15pm hoping to do a full lap back to hotel but driver very rude and abrupt kicks everyone off at train station no warning. No help just blanked us all staff the same left us abandoned wrong side of room very poor service.
Average experience
Lesley O,May 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Not enough stops and didn’t even stop at The Colosseum so there’s lots of walking to get to points of interest. The audio is OK but there were places / buildings we passed that weren’t mentioned so we had no idea what they were. Audio is in podcast style and so felt a bit jokey. The night tour was fine but not sure it’s worth paying the extra for as you don’t get close to most landmarks (well any apart from driving past the Colosseum really). Also couldn’t find any of the Gelatists to get our complementary ice creams. The best point is that they run regularly (though the app didnt update very well). I’ve certainly been on better European bus tours!
Skip this tour
carriefW5718RV,May 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Pretty awful experience. The directions for the pick up location provided by email are wrong. Via delle Terme di Diocleziano 34 00184 is not where the bus picks you up — see image vs blue dot where busses actually picked up. None of the street vendors selling tickets at the termini station would give us clear directions. We wasted an hour looking. No audio was provided on the bus. Chaos getting on the bus, and despite being second in line to be sure our party sat together we loaded last. If you buy tickets online, beware this is not an easy tour to find nor what is advertised (no audio).
Hop on hop off
Juan L,May 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Check the audio before you take off, the first buss had no audio, but the next bus was great an they explain everything good.
Not for the mobility challenged person who has limited distance walking
Jeff B,May 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00Before you draw a negative conclusion to my only giving the Big Red Bus 2 stars, it is mainly because of the amount of walking required to get to the "main" attractions from each stop. This is a good option for healthy visitors who can and enjoy walking, but not for those of us who are mobility challenged. I had hoped to ride the bus, listen to the narrative about the places we were passing, and learn our way around the main part of the city, but the narration is automated, and didn't align with the sites. We found it impossible to walk to the sites we wanted to visit, and then be able to walk back to the closest stop to get back on the bus, so our limitations required us to abandon the bus for the taxi service. If you are not mobility challenged, you would probably find this an economical way to get around. Just study where the stops are in reference to where you hope to go before hand.
Convenient and super flexible!
Zamafuya N,May 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Super convenient pick up spots, very flexible hop on and off spots and great tour guiding ease! Loved it, a great to start our day in Rome!
We arrived in Italy late...
Chris S,May 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We arrived in Italy late afternoon on a rainy day. We decided to take the Hop On and Off Bus to help us get our bearings for the upcoming days we would be here. To us it was perfect, however the one negative was that due to traffic the audio part of the tour it was hard to determine what they were talking about sometimes...was 10 minutes in front of you or ten minutes behind you. But overall we enjoyed it.
Their bus stops are not...
Kristine G,May 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00Their bus stops are not clearly marked. People working for the company kept directing us to “walk 2 minutes”. They also skipped stops including the Colosseum.
Have fun and enjoy the ride!
Jane S,May 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Very easy to use. Although would rather redeem the tickets at any stop instead of specific stops. I would definitely use again.
From €22.00
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Operated by Big Bus Tours - Rome