Rome: Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off Open-Top Sightseeing Tour
Rome, Italy
- 1 hour 40 minutes (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Rome's sights on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, without the constraints that come with a group tour. Choose from different-length passes to suit your vacation needs as you explore the city and its highlights. See landmarks including Vatican City, Circus Maximus, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum. While on board, get further context on the city's history with audio commentary.
- Enjoy the flexibility of getting on and off where you wish
- Don't worry about language barriers; commentary is available in multiple languages
- No need to bringing headphones to hear commentary; these are provided
- Catch up on messages whilst traveling with onboard WiFi
What's Included
- 1-day or 24-, 48- or 72-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour (depending on option selected)
- Digital commentary in multiple languages
- Free Wi-Fi on Board
- Free VOX digital self-guided tour download
- Night tour (72-hour ticket option 10th April-Oct only)
- Real-time bus tracking app
- Free Gelato from "The Gelatist" OR Glass of Prosecco with selected products
- Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Operating hours
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
Departure Point
- You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.
Ticket Redemption Point
Via delle Terme di Diocleziano, 34, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Itinerary
Board the bus for your hop-on, hop-off tour at any of the stops along the route. Exchange your voucher for a ticket that is valid for three, 24, 48, or 72 hours, depending on your schedule and preferences.
Disembark at any point to explore areas that interest you. Spend as much time as you like at any one stop, or skip those that don't interest you. Climb down to explore Vatican City and learn about the history of the Catholic Church, or throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, which legend has it ensures you return to Rome. Sit on the Spanish Steps and sample a local gelato or explore the Pantheon. Disembark to learn about the times of Roman gladiators in the Colosseum or stroll through the ancient Roman Forum.
While on the bus, listen to recorded audio commentary in nine languages through the provided headphones. The recorded narrative gives a comprehensive history of Rome and details its current role as a thriving Italian metropolis.
Each ticket option includes a VOX digital walking tour. Please see the Itinerary section for a full list of stops.
Disembark at any point to explore areas that interest you. Spend as much time as you like at any one stop, or skip those that don't interest you. Climb down to explore Vatican City and learn about the history of the Catholic Church, or throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, which legend has it ensures you return to Rome. Sit on the Spanish Steps and sample a local gelato or explore the Pantheon. Disembark to learn about the times of Roman gladiators in the Colosseum or stroll through the ancient Roman Forum.
While on the bus, listen to recorded audio commentary in nine languages through the provided headphones. The recorded narrative gives a comprehensive history of Rome and details its current role as a thriving Italian metropolis.
Each ticket option includes a VOX digital walking tour. Please see the Itinerary section for a full list of stops.
Red Route
8 Stops
22 Points of Interest
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Operating Schedule: The Hop-on, Hop-off tour runs daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, with buses every 15 minutes and a full loop lasting approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes. Present your e-voucher to Big Bus staff at any stop before boarding, or redeem it at the Big Bus Shop & Info Centre (Via delle Terme di Diocleziano 34), near Stop #1.
1
Rome Termini station
2
Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major
3
Colosseum
4
Circus Maximus
5
Piazza Venezia
6
Vatican Museums
7
Spanish Steps
8
Piazza Barberini
Points of interest passed by on this route
Trevi Fountain
Piazza Venezia
Vatican Museums
Piazza Barberini
Big Bus Tours
Campo De' Fiori
Piazza Navona
Vatican City
National Roman Museum - The Baths of Diocletian
Piazza del Campidoglio
Piazza Venezia / Ancient City
St. Peter's Basilica
Castel Sant'Angelo
Basilica di San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Circo Massimo
Roman Forum
Navona / Pantheon / Campo de’ Fiori
Vatican Museums
Vatican City
St. Peter's Basilica
Spanish Steps
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- 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
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.5
based on 2,608 reviews
Karen_O, Mar 2026
Long waits at some stops as people buying tickets from drivers. Other cities - pay for tickets from street workers. Sometimes audio was after structure.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello Karen! Thank you for your review. While we aim to be the top attraction in major cities, we recognize that a busy environment can occasionally affect our customers' experiences. We're truly sorry to learn that this was your experience during the tour, and we recommend reaching out via our live chat if you're dissatisfied with the service so that one of our dedicated team members can assist you in resolving the issue. You can find us available 24/7 through the chat icon on our app or website. Best regards, Ana at Big Bus Tours.
Russell_S, Mar 2026
Thr bus is great goes by and stops at all the important spots you need to see dont take cabs cost to much.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Russell_S. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear that the tour was a great way to easily explore the greatest sights of Rome. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
Bernice_S, Mar 2026
It was a great experience. We saw a few Roman sites from the bus, which was helpful.
The talkie talkie guide was good too explaining about the Roman sites. The bus stops were well placed but there could have been one between no. 6 & the piazza de poopoo.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Bernice_S. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear that you had a great experience with us in Rome, and that the tour provided a great way to easily explore the history of this beautiful and ancient city. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
Pat_G, Mar 2026
So a lot of the earphone jacks were broken. Luckily the front two chairs actually not even the front. Luckily I was able to get a front chair and the chair in vacuum me. One of the jacks were working. Also, at some of the stops they weighed a bit too long and in the recording of the next site would go on so it wasn't in sync with the travel. However, if you do want to see all the sites in Rome, this is a great way to do it.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Pat. Thank you for your review. We're sorry that the audio system wasn't working on one of our buses, and understand the impact this can have on your tour. We've made efforts to upgrade our tech across our global fleets, and we'd love the chance to welcome you aboard and share a new city with you one day soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Rachel_P, Mar 2026
I live a hop on hop off bus you get to see all the sites and there is time for photos so I will always do this tour in a city break
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Rachel. We truly appreciate your kind review. It's great to hear that you were able to see all the sites you wished for and took some pictures. We can't wait to welcome you back soon! Warm regards, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Diane_F, Mar 2026
Employees were all nice. Headphones not great. Need more info on start times, minutes between stops.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello Diane. Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you had a good tour with us and appreciate your feedback. You can find all the information needed on our website or app. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Cynthia_Y, Mar 2026
Got off at stop 8 wanted to get back on and said e only had tickets for ice cream but it was the long ticket they gave us and at the bottom said tickets to be in bugs. Bought for 48 hours good thing I had my original printed copy or they wanted us to pay again. Kept telling ice cream ice cream. Told them I did not want ice cream!! Very bad
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello Cynthia! We appreciate your feedback. We're sorry to learn that you encountered some problems with your tickets, but we're glad to know it has been sorted out. Whenever you need assistance, feel free to reach out to us through chat or email. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
alan_r, Mar 2026
We were not given any ear buds or maps on boarding so had no commentary it appears you have to find them yourself
Also understand you have to exit the bus to see sights like Spanish steps and Trevii fountain they are not visible from the bus
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Alan. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm sorry to hear that our route didn't quite meet your expectations. Just to clarify, you can collect the ear buds when you board the bus. If you need a map, don't hesitate to ask one of our staff members. Have a fantastic day! Regards, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
KIMBERLY_D, Mar 2026
At least three stops, the driver would talk with co workers for 10 to 15 minutes when no new riders were boarding bus. My ticket was for three hours tours, so the total time the driver was talking with co workers deceased my time left on my 3 hour tour. Sometimes the recorded tour narrator was nsyc with the actual attraction the bus was driving by.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi KIMBERLY. Thank you for your review. We're sorry that the audio system wasn't working on one of our buses, and understand the impact this can have on your tour. We've made efforts to upgrade our tech across our global fleets. You can always contact us via live chat or email and we will be more than happy to assist you. We'd love the chance to welcome you aboard and share a new city with you one day soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Evangaline_H, Mar 2026
Good experience! I felt the places it dropped you off where in a decent radius to the sights and they had good pick up times
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello Evangaline! We truly appreciate your review. It's wonderful to know that you had a great experience and enjoyed the views. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Wendy_B, Mar 2026
Fabulous from start to finish very interesting and relaxing. A must on your travel list of things to do.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hey Wendy! Thanks a lot for your review. We're so glad to hear you had a fantastic tour with us. Hope to see you again soon! Warm regards, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Nigel_C, Mar 2026
Not as good as usual. The Colosseum stop has been removed meaning a walk from Circus Maximus. It’s about 15mins ok provided you’re not disabled. The operator told us it was temporary however the old stop is now a cycle lane. We should have been made aware. To be honest if we had know we would have used a taxi. The app or the leaflets do not reflect this so we only knew when the bus went right passed the stop. Quite poor.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Nigel. Thank you for your review. We're sorry that the diversions impacted your trip. As we tend to operate in big cities, occasionally impromptu protests or road closures can lead to us having to adapt our usual routes. We update information on temporary detours or stop closures on our Service Information page, available on our website and app, or alternatively you can talk to our helpful Live Chat team, available 24/7, to help best plan your day. We hope to see you on a Big Bus Tour again soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Elena_T, Feb 2026
This is a great way to travel the outskirts of Rome. You can conveniently hop on or off at any stop. You can’t be in a rush while doing this because sometimes the bus stops for 7 minutes before leaving again.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Elena! Thank you for your feedback. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed a convenient tour with us. Looking forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
David_F, Feb 2026
Brilliant tour bus bringing you everywhere to see ancient Rome. Example, colosseum, roman forum and temples.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello David. Thank you for your lovely review. We are happy to hear that you had a brilliant tour with us. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Dawn_L, Feb 2026
It was a great way to see all the things we had already seen on foot! We spent many hours looking around but the overview was really helpful
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello Dawn. Thank you for your review. We're thrilled to know that our tours provided a fantastic way to experience everything you’ve already explored on foot. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
David_F, Feb 2026
Brilliant experience with alot of historical info.
My favourite part was driving by the colostrum and circus maximus
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi David. Thank you for your lovely review. We are happy to hear that you had a brilliant experience with us in Rome. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Margsret_M, Feb 2026
The bus goes by but does not stop at the Coluseum. We had a 15 minute walk from the Red Bus stop to the Vatican. 10 minute walk from the stop to the Trevie Fountain. We took this hop on hop off tour as my husband has some mobility issues so he struggled to walk so far.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello Margsret! We appreciate your feedback. We're sorry to learn that your tours were affected by the closure of the Colosseum stop. We regularly update our service information page on the website with the latest news about our tours. Please feel free to reach out to us through live chat or email, and our team will gladly help you. Wishing you a wonderful day! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Laurie_M, Feb 2026
It's a nice way to see Rome. However, stop number 3 (Roman Forum) was temporarily closed and not mentioned to us. When we came out if the Roman Forum we had quite the walk ahead of us to stop number 4 (Circus Maximus). We are seniors and my husband wears leg braces. The walk was more than one mile.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Laurie_M, thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you did not know about the stop closure and had to walk. We hope to have the chance to welcome you on bard again and make your experience more enjoyable! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Melinda_K, Feb 2026
The Big Bus is a decent way to get a high-level view of Rome, and for a winter trip (Jan/Feb), there’s no need to book in advance—they won't sell out, and you’ll likely save money buying on the day. We found that a half-day or full-day was more than enough time.
Operations were generally fine, though we did have to swap seats on one bus to find a radio jack that actually worked. However, my main gripe is the app. It is abysmally designed; you can’t even see a simple list of all the stops. We had to cross-reference the app with Google and Apple Maps just to figure out where we were going. It’s a helpful tour, but be prepared to do your own navigating!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Melinda_K, thanks for your review. We're sorry that you encountered some issues with the live tracking app and list of stops - sounds frustrating! We've been working hard to improve it and are pleased to show off more accurate ETAs and route maps across all cities. We look forward to welcoming you aboard another tour the next time you're travelling - we're confident you'll notice the difference! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Fredya_M, Feb 2026
This is a great experience if you don’t have a lot of time and want to just see the city and snap pics from the bus.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Fredya! Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Jeannine_L, Feb 2026
I went to 2 spots and waited for a long time and no bus passed
I travel to Europe all the time and take the hop on hop off bus. This was the first time I had a bad experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Jeannine_L. Thank you for your honest feedback. We regret to learn that your experience with us did not meet your expectations. As you can appreciate, wait times are primarily influenced by traffic conditions across the city. We strive to provide an excellent sightseeing experience, even during peak periods. We hope to welcoming you back soon! Warm regards, Razvan from Big Bus Tours
LESLEY_H, Feb 2026
Really good way to get around and see all the sights of this wonderful city. Definitely recommend this!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi LESLEY_H, we really appreciate your feedback. We are thrilled that you had such an amazing experience with us. Thank you for recommendation. We hope to have you aboard again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Natasha_J, Jan 2026
Had such a nice time! The hop-on-hop-off bus tour is great! Highly recommend.
Was so easy to find and get about the city, seen all the sights and things around Rome and I was surprised how good it was and cheap too!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Natasha_J,
We really appreciate your feedback! It means a lot to us to know that our guests enjoy their time on our tours. We make sure that our staff gets constant training to make sure you have the best time! We hope that we will see you again riding with us in the future! Best wishes. Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Robert_B, Jan 2026
Great way to get an overview of the City. Very useful historical information supplied on route. Definitely worth a trip.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Robert! Thank you for your review. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your tours with us. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Sarah_W, Jan 2026
The price was great; however, several of the headset ports did not work so some of us missed the dialogue. We also felt they could have included more history instead of music. It was a good way to get around town on a rainy day, but be aware that the Vatican stop does not take you very close nor in plain sight of the Vatican.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello Sarah! Thanks a lot for your review. Big Bus Tours is proud to offer our outstanding audio experiences, which we have improved and implemented in most of our cities, with the final few to be added soon. We’re confident you’ll appreciate the audio guide on your next adventure, so be sure to catch another Big Bus Tour the next time you’re traveling. Warm regards, Ana from Big Bus Tours!
Susan_S, Dec 2025
Good way to familiarize oneself with the city as a first time visitor although it was often difficult to see from the bus and audio was not the best
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Susan! We appreciate your review. Big Bus Tours are proud of our best-in-class audio experiences, which we have revamped and rolled out to the majority of our cities, with the last few to follow soon. We're confident you'll enjoy the audio guide on your next trip., so be sure to jump on another Big Bus Tour the next time you're travelling. Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
LeeLian_N, Dec 2025
website said 9am, got there, sign board said 9.49 and bus arrived at 10.10. Delayed and plus other operators were cheaper and had more frequent buses
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hello LeeLian! We appreciate your review. We're sorry that the wait times affected your experience. Since we primarily operate in larger cities, there are times when traffic can be challenging. We suggest utilizing the Live Tracking feature on our app to assist you in planning your route for the day. We look forward to welcoming you back on a Big Bus Tour soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Suzy_A, Dec 2025
Not worth at all!! Don’t waste your time and money!! The driver does not point out sights or monuments or talk at all!!! And we did not find out until the end that there are headphones!!! Plus finding the bus was a zoo as we were redirected 5 times!! A total waste! And initially they offered a refund but then changed their minds. Which is odd considering they can see we have booked 5 more tours!!!!!!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Suzy! Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear that you did not enjoyed your tours. We'd recommend taking advantage of our Fully Flexible ticketing, which gives you the freedom to change your experience to a better-suited date - simply hop on a live chat 24/7 with one of our team and they'll be happy to help. See you next time, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Yasmine_K, Dec 2025
Good to do as the start of your holiday here. Gives you an overview of the places you can visit besides the main attractions the bus goes to.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Yasmine_K!
We're thrilled to hear that you considered our tour a fantastic beginning to your holiday, providing you with a wonderful overview of Rome and the attractions you wish to explore. Thank you for your amazing review; we look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Megan_O, Dec 2025
Took a while for check in. Hard to find the stops to begin with. Once you took the bus it became easier. Most bus stops are a walk from the things to see.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Megan! We appreciate your review. You can always check our website or app to find the bus stops on the route. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
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