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
Skip the hassle of navigating Rome’s busy streets and piecing together transport with a flexible sightseeing pass that brings top landmarks like Vatican City, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon into one easy route. With the freedom to explore at your own pace and onboard insights to add context, this experience removes planning stress while helping you make the most of your time.
- Multilingual audio commentary with included headphones
- Hop off at Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain
- Flexible 1- to 72-hour tickets, plus night tour option
- Free Wi-Fi and VOX digital walking tour included
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-2 Oct only)
- Free Gelato from "The Gelatist" OR Glass of Prosecco with selected products
- Big Bus Tours app (ticket storage, live tracking and ticket activation)
- 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 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.
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
- Download the Big Bus Tours app to access and activate your ticket, track buses in real time, and board easily using your mobile pass.
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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 2,707 reviews
Lesley_O, May 2026
Not 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!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear you appreciated the regular service and that the tour provided a way to explore the city, including the night experience.
We’re sorry to hear that aspects such as stop locations, audio content, and app functionality did not fully meet your expectations. We understand how important it is to have clear information about landmarks and included benefits, such as the gelato offer, and we regret any confusion or inconvenience caused.
Your comments have been shared with our team as we continue working to improve route coverage, commentary, and overall clarity for our guests. Thank you again for your honest feedback.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Juan_L, May 2026
Check the audio before you take off, the first buss had no audio, but the next bus was great an they explain everything good.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your helpful feedback! We’re sorry to hear the audio was not working on your first bus, but we’re glad you were able to enjoy a better experience on the next one with clear and informative commentary. Your tip about checking the audio before departure is a great one for future guests.
We appreciate you sharing this with us and hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Jeff_B, May 2026
Before 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.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review. We really appreciate your perspective and understand how the distance between stops and walking required can impact the experience, especially for guests with mobility challenges.
We’re sorry to hear that the route and audio commentary did not align with your expectations, and that this made it difficult to fully enjoy the tour as intended. Your feedback highlights how important accessibility and clear, well‑timed narration are, and we have shared your comments with our team as we continue working to improve the experience for all guests.
We’re grateful for your honest and helpful insights, and we thank you for giving Big Bus Tours a try.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Zamafuya_N, May 2026
Super 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!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you found the pickup spots convenient and enjoyed the flexibility of hopping on and off. It’s great to know the tour was an easy and enjoyable way to start your day in Rome. We’re so glad you loved the experience and hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Chris_S, May 2026
We 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.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We’re pleased to hear the tour was a great way to get your bearings in Rome, especially after arriving on a rainy afternoon. That’s exactly what the experience is designed for.
We appreciate your comments regarding the audio timing, as traffic conditions can sometimes affect how closely the narration matches the surroundings. Your feedback has been shared with our team as we continue working to improve this aspect. We’re glad you still enjoyed the experience overall and hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Kristine_G, May 2026
Their 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.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear you found the bus stops difficult to locate and that the directions were not as clear as they should be. We also understand how frustrating it must have been to be redirected and to miss certain stops along the route.
Your comments about stop visibility and route consistency have been shared with our team, as we continue working to improve the experience for all our guests. Thank you for taking the time to let us know.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Jane_S, May 2026
Very easy to use. Although would rather redeem the tickets at any stop instead of specific stops. I would definitely use again.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear you found the tour easy to use and that you would choose to ride with us again. We also appreciate your suggestion about allowing ticket redemption at any stop, as we understand how this could make the experience even more convenient. Your comments have been shared with our team.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
John_c, May 2026
Bus stop was hard to find . But finally found it. Great experience overall lovely to see the sites would recommend to anyone
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you were able to locate the stop in the end and that you had a great experience overall enjoying the sights. We appreciate your note about stop visibility, as making stops easier to find is very important to us. Thank you for your recommendation and we hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Patricia_O, May 2026
Best way to see Rome. Excellent service. Plenty of stops and fantastic places to see. It covered all the tourist attractions.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you found the tour the best way to see Rome and enjoyed the excellent service. It’s great to know the number of stops and the range of attractions helped you explore the city fully. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
MinJoo_N, May 2026
The bus was avconvenient way to travel the city. I would definitely take it again for the future. However, free gelato or drinks were complimentary service to travellers who booked 2-day. Therefore, even if the tour app says the service is included, you have to book a ticket for two days. Be aware!!!!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear you found the bus a convenient way to travel around the city and that you would choose to join us again in the future.
We also appreciate you highlighting the details around the complimentary offers, as these can vary depending on the ticket type. Your note is very helpful for other guests, and we will continue working to make these inclusions as clear as possible.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Tim_H, May 2026
The Rome Tour does not got anywhere near YH the main tourist points like the Trevi Fountain , The Pantheon or the Vatican Museum- also the only stop near the Colosseum was CLOSED so it’s a mile to walk back to it . Bus Stop guides not very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the Rome tour did not fully meet your expectations, particularly regarding the stop closures and access to certain landmarks. We also appreciate your comments about our staff, as this helps us improve the experience we provide. Your feedback has been shared with the local team, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your visit. Denis @Big Bus Tours
Joyce_C, May 2026
The bus was clean but it was a recorded version and not much information lots of music that repeated!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad to hear the bus was clean, and we appreciate your comments about the audio. We’ll share your suggestions regarding the content and music with our team to help improve the experience.
Ioan-Razvan@BigBusTours
Adele_R, May 2026
Very good; hit all of the high points in downtown Rome, commentary was very helpful, as explanations and history of locations between stops were informative.
It would have been helpful to know, in advance or at least at the outset from Termini, that Stop 3 was not operational. This lead to a lengthy walk back from Stop 4 to get to the Colliseum and Palantine Hill which was problematic for people with infirmities.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your detailed feedback. We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed the route and found the commentary informative. We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused by Stop 3 not being operational and understand how this impacted your visit, especially for guests with mobility concerns. Your comments are greatly appreciated and will help us improve communication and planning for future tours.
Ioan-Razvan@BigBusTours
Richard_B, May 2026
Great way to get around. Perfect for anyone having 1 day in Rome. Get on, get off at each stop, see stuff, get back on.
Response from Host, May 2026
So happy to hear you enjoyed exploring Rome with us!
Hop-on, hop-off is definitely the perfect way to make the most of a day in the city, and it’s great that you found it so easy and convenient.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Vlad@BigBusTours
Mirna_V, May 2026
Great experience very informative and informative thanks you very much for a great job. Happy we chose your company.
Response from Host, May 2026
We’re so happy to hear you had such a great experience with us!
It’s wonderful to know you found the tour informative — that’s exactly what we aim for. And thank you for choosing us, it really means a lot!
Hope to welcome you back on board again in the future. Vlad@BigBusTours
Wayne_R, May 2026
We got into Rome and wanted an idea of how to get around the city to view the sites. We choose your bus line and did the entire loop without getting off. A very enjoyable ride and tour to familiarize us to the area.
Response from Host, May 2026
So glad to hear you enjoyed your time in Rome with us!
Doing the full loop is a great way to get a feel for the city, especially when you’ve just arrived. It’s lovely to know the tour helped you get familiar with the area while still being a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Hope you had an amazing stay in Rome and we’d love to welcome you on board again. Vlad@BigBusTours
Brent_S, May 2026
A quick and easy way to see the city and get information along the way without expensive taxi's. Then you can plan your adventures.
Response from Host, May 2026
So glad you found it a convenient way to explore the city!
It’s great to hear the tour helped you get your bearings and plan the rest of your adventures, all while avoiding more expensive options. That’s exactly what we’re here for!
Thanks for sharing your experience, and we hope to see you on board again. Vlad@BigBusTours
Tom_M, May 2026
Would have been 5 stars but several of the headphone jacks were not working on the bus and it’s very important when everything is in a different language
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
We’re really sorry to hear that some of the headphone jacks weren’t working during your tour — we completely understand how important the audio commentary is, especially in a different language.
Your comments have been noted and shared with our team so we can improve the experience going forward. We’re glad you still chose to travel with us and hope to welcome you back on board again. Vlad@BigBusTours
Aaron_H, May 2026
It’s a really good way to get the layout of Rome, we sat on the top though a lot of people wanted to, but it was full up there and they did not get a chance to. We actually got off on stop eight at lunch and walked to the pantheon, which was a great walk.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re delighted to hear the tour helped you get a great overview of Rome and that you enjoyed the experience from the top deck. We understand it can get busy up there, especially during peak times, but we’re glad you were able to make the most of it. It’s wonderful to hear you explored further at stop eight and enjoyed the walk to the Pantheon. Thank you for riding with us and we hope to welcome you back again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Michael_R, May 2026
Rome was a good ride with some good details about sites and city but route is different than Florence and Milan in that they can’t get close to historic sites due to road restrictions
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour in Rome and found the commentary informative. You’re absolutely right that due to road restrictions and the historic layout of the city, our routes cannot always get as close to certain landmarks as in cities like Florence or Milan. We appreciate your understanding and are pleased you still had a positive experience overall. Thank you for riding with us and we hope to welcome you back again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Laura_K, May 2026
Not worth it. Never found the bus. Wasn't where we thought it was going to be. Never even got on the bus. Better to take public bus.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about the difficulty locating the bus, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Your experience helps us improve our directions and service clarity for the future.
We’re glad you were able to find an alternative, and we hope to provide you with a smoother experience next time. Denis @Big Bus Tours
Alan_H, May 2026
Be aware many museums are closed on Mondays in Florence. The app is helpful for planning excursions in cities though and a bus pass gives you flexibility.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your helpful feedback! We’re glad to hear the app supported your planning and that the bus pass gave you flexibility while exploring. Your tip about museum closures on Mondays in Florence is a great reminder for future travelers. We appreciate you riding with us and hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Sandy_H, May 2026
Compared to Big Red Bus experiences in other cities, this bus lacked an in-person tour guide, which lessened the enjoyment. Additionally, we were not given a map or earphones.
A good way to get an initial lay-of-the-land, but not very informative.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your experience and understand how the absence of a live guide, along with missing maps or earphones, could impact your enjoyment. We’re glad to hear the tour still helped provide a helpful lay‑of‑the‑land introduction to the city, and your comments about the information level are valuable to us. Feedback like yours helps us continue improving how clearly we communicate inclusions and how we support guests once on board. Thank you for riding with Big Bus Tours, and we hope to have the opportunity to offer you an even more engaging experience in the future.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Susan_M, May 2026
We did a tour of the outside wood the coliseum but then had to wait 3 hours before we got inside. Spent 5 hours on a 3 hour tour
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re sorry to hear that the waiting time to enter the Colosseum was much longer than expected and that the tour extended well beyond the advertised duration. We understand how frustrating it can be to spend so much time waiting, especially when planning your day around a scheduled tour. Entry times at popular attractions can occasionally be affected by crowd levels and on‑site controls, but we truly regret the inconvenience this caused. Your feedback is important to us and has been shared with our team to help ensure clearer expectations and smoother experiences for future guests. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Chris_B, May 2026
Way too far from sights. Doesn’t go both ways and barely any stops. Only thing I would say is it’s reliable
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We’re sorry to hear that the route and stop locations didn’t meet your expectations and felt too far from the main sights for your visit. We understand that route direction and stop frequency are important parts of the hop‑on hop‑off experience. That said, we do appreciate your comment about the service being reliable, and your feedback has been shared with our team as we continue reviewing routes and stop coverage. Thank you for riding with us and for helping us improve the experience for future guests.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Bonnie_B, May 2026
A remarkable way to get oriented to the city’s major attractions and ideas for further investigation. If is also easy and reasonably priced. The commentary is well produced and informative. Friendly and helpful staff. I am very happy we chose Big Bus Tours in Rome for our first day.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for such a wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that the tour was a helpful and enjoyable way to get oriented to Rome’s major attractions and gather ideas for further exploration. It’s great to know you found the experience easy, well priced, and informative, and that our commentary and team made a positive impression. We’re especially pleased Big Bus Tours was part of your first day in Rome, and we truly appreciate you choosing us. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Suzanne_D, May 2026
Easy to use, great way to see the city. The app is nice and the stops get you to all the major sites.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your great feedback! We’re happy to hear you found the tour easy to use and enjoyed exploring the city with us. It’s wonderful to know the app was helpful and that the stops made it convenient to reach all the major sights. We’re glad Big Bus Tours played a part in your visit and hope to welcome you on board again soon.
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Cathy_P, May 2026
I really enjoy the route we took to see a different way to see so many things! Rode two days and knew where to get off and on as I wished! The audio made it a lot better, learned so much!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the route and discovering so many sights from a different perspective. It’s great to know the two‑day pass gave you the freedom to hop on and off whenever it suited you, and that the audio commentary helped you learn so much along the way. We’re so glad you had such a positive experience and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
Melissa_S, May 2026
This was an excellent way to see the sights without doing ALL the walking. We went around first and decided to get off on the second time around. Oh and our driver didn’t say anything about the earphones so make sure to grab a pair when you get on
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re so glad the tour gave you a relaxed and enjoyable way to see the sights and helped you decide where you wanted to explore further. That’s exactly what the hop‑on hop‑off experience is all about. We also appreciate the helpful tip about the earphones, we’ll be sure to remind our team how important it is to point them out when guests board. We’re delighted you enjoyed the ride and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
julia_r, Apr 2026
It was a life saver for Rome. Would never of got around without it. Some stops need to be nearer the attraction though
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear the tour was a real lifesaver during your time in Rome and helped you get around the city with ease. That’s exactly what we aim for. We also appreciate your suggestion about stop locations being closer to certain attractions, comments like yours are very helpful and have been shared with our team. We’re so glad Big Bus Tours made your visit more enjoyable and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours
From $26.07
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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