Ride the open-top bus
The best hop-on hop-off buses in Rome
Open-top buses past the Colosseum, St. Peter's, the Spanish Steps and Trevi, 24- to 72-hour tickets and night loops; here are the hop-on hop-off buses in Rome worth booking, with honest advice on waits at the stops, the recorded commentary and the heat on an open top deck.
See our 6 picks
The cheapest hop-on hop-off bus in Rome is a ticket from €15, with an audio guide. Most of our picks start near Termini station and pass the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus and St. Peter's. For the do-it-yourself way, a metro or bus ticket costs €1.50 for 100 minutes; plan it with the map Rome metro riders use.
Our 6 picks for hop-on hop-off buses in Rome
Two day buses, two night tours, then two cheaper day buses with lower ratings. All six have free cancellation; check the cut-off on each listing.
- from €20 per person Our top pick
3 hours to 72 hours
Open-top day bus
3 hours to 72 hours 4.1 (13,418) reviews on GetYourGuide
Big Bus open-top hop-on hop-off
Tickets from 3 hours to 72 hours. Some options add a gelato or a glass of prosecco, and the 72-hour ticket adds a night tour. Its Colosseum stop is closed for now.
Best for First-timers who want options
Check availability: Big Bus open-top hop-on hop-off on GetYourGuide - from €22 per person
With audio guide
Hop-on bus, up to 3 days
1.5 hours–3 days 4.1 (5,262) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hop-on hop-off bus with audio guide
Tickets from 1.5 hours to 3 days, past St. Peter's Square, the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. It includes one run of the Christmas lights night tour.
Best for Visitors staying a few days
Check availability: Hop-on hop-off bus with audio guide on GetYourGuide - from €19 per person
45 minutes
Night bus loop
45 minutes 4.2 (2,861) reviews on GetYourGuide
Open-top night bus, one loop
One 45-minute loop on an open-top double-decker after dark, past the Colosseum and other sights. Recorded commentary in 8 languages.
Best for Evening sightseers
Check availability: Open-top night bus, one loop on GetYourGuide - from €23 per person
1 hour
Panoramic night bus
1 hour 4.1 (1,401) reviews on GetYourGuide
Big Bus panoramic night tour
A 1-hour night tour on an open-top double-decker, past the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia and the Vatican. Audio in 8 languages, headphones included.
Best for Couples on a night out
Check availability: Big Bus panoramic night tour on GetYourGuide - from €15 per person
From €15
Hop-on bus with audio
1.5 hours–1 day 4.0 (19,117) reviews on GetYourGuide
City sightseeing bus with audio guide
The cheapest ticket, with audio in 8 languages and Wi-Fi on the open bus. The Yellow Line is included. It starts on Via Marsala, by Termini. Rated lower than most of our picks.
Best for Budget riders
Check availability: City sightseeing bus with audio guide on GetYourGuide - from €20 per person
24, 48 or 72 hours
Hop-on bus, 3 routes
24, 48 or 72 hours 3.9 (19,423) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hop-on hop-off bus on 3 routes
Full access to three routes for 24, 48 or 72 hours, with live bus tracking and an assistant on board. The listing says buses run about every 20 minutes.
Best for Visitors who want the most routes
Check availability: Hop-on hop-off bus on 3 routes on GetYourGuide
Rome hop-on hop-off buses compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Commentary | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bus open-top hop-on hop-off | €20 per person | 3 hours to 72 hours | Digital, many languages | First-timers who want options | The best-rated day bus on our list: 4.1 from 13,418 reviews, from €20. |
| Hop-on hop-off bus with audio guide | €22 per person | 1.5 hours–3 days | Audio headset | Visitors staying a few days | Long tickets up to 3 days, with 4.1 from 5,262 reviews, from €22. |
| Open-top night bus, one loop | €19 per person | 45 minutes | Recorded, 8 languages | Evening sightseers | The best-rated bus on our list: 4.2 from 2,861 reviews, from €19. |
| Big Bus panoramic night tour | €23 per person | 1 hour | Audio, 8 languages | Couples on a night out | A 1-hour night ride, with 4.1 from 1,401 reviews, from €23. |
| City sightseeing bus with audio guide | €15 per person | 1.5 hours–1 day | Audio, 8 languages | Budget riders | The cheapest day bus, from €15. It is rated 4.0 from 19,117 reviews, lower than most of our picks. |
| Hop-on hop-off bus on 3 routes | €20 per person | 24, 48 or 72 hours | Audio, many languages | Visitors who want the most routes | The most routes on one ticket, from €20. Its rating is 3.9 from 19,423 reviews, the lowest on our list. |
Big Bus open-top hop-on hop-off
€20 per person3 hours to 72 hours 4.1 (13,418)
Details
- Commentary
- Digital, many languages
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want options
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated day bus on our list: 4.1 from 13,418 reviews, from €20.
Hop-on hop-off bus with audio guide
€22 per person1.5 hours–3 days 4.1 (5,262)
Details
- Commentary
- Audio headset
- Who it suits
- Visitors staying a few days
- Why we picked it
- Long tickets up to 3 days, with 4.1 from 5,262 reviews, from €22.
€19 per person45 minutes 4.2 (2,861)
Details
- Commentary
- Recorded, 8 languages
- Who it suits
- Evening sightseers
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated bus on our list: 4.2 from 2,861 reviews, from €19.
€23 per person1 hour 4.1 (1,401)
Details
- Commentary
- Audio, 8 languages
- Who it suits
- Couples on a night out
- Why we picked it
- A 1-hour night ride, with 4.1 from 1,401 reviews, from €23.
City sightseeing bus with audio guide
€15 per person1.5 hours–1 day 4.0 (19,117)
Details
- Commentary
- Audio, 8 languages
- Who it suits
- Budget riders
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest day bus, from €15. It is rated 4.0 from 19,117 reviews, lower than most of our picks.
Hop-on hop-off bus on 3 routes
€20 per person24, 48 or 72 hours 3.9 (19,423)
Details
- Commentary
- Audio, many languages
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want the most routes
- Why we picked it
- The most routes on one ticket, from €20. Its rating is 3.9 from 19,423 reviews, the lowest on our list.
- None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 6 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
How the Rome hop-on hop-off bus works
You buy a ticket for a set time, such as 24, 48 or 72 hours. You then get on and off at any stop as often as you like.
Most of our picks start near Termini station: on Via Marsala, Via Giovanni Giolitti or Piazza dei Cinquecento. One route lets you start at any of its stops.
The bus passes the big sights, such as the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus and St. Peter's. Entry tickets to the sights are not included.
Big Bus Rome
Two of our picks are run by Big Bus Tours Rome: the open-top day bus and the 1-hour night tour. Both start on Via Giovanni Giolitti.
The day bus says its Colosseum stop (stop 3) is closed until further notice. Use stop 4, Circus Maximus, and walk.
Which is the best hop-on hop-off bus in Rome?
It depends on what you need. For the lowest price, take the €15 ticket. For the most routes, take the 3-route ticket. For the best rating, take the Big Bus day ticket.
For an evening, take a night tour of 45 minutes or 1 hour. Note that every bus on this list rates between 3.9 and 4.2.
Want a guide, not a recording? The best walking tours Rome has are on our tours page.
How long you wait at the stops
How long will you wait for the next bus? Only one of our picks gives a number: buses about every 20 minutes.
Two picks have live bus tracking in an app. Check it before you walk to a stop.
Leave extra time if you have a timed ticket for a sight.
What the ticket includes
The commentary is a recording, not a live guide. You listen in your language with headphones or earphones.
Most tickets add Wi-Fi on board. Some Big Bus options add a gelato or a glass of prosecco, and its 72-hour ticket adds a night tour.
Entry tickets, food and drinks are not included.
Bus or metro?
- €1.50
- BIT ticket, 100 minutes
- €8.50
- Roma 24h ticket
- €22
- Roma 72h ticket
The metro is much cheaper for getting from A to B. A BIT ticket costs €1.50 and lasts 100 minutes. A 24-hour ticket costs €8.50.
You can tap a contactless card at the metro gates and on buses. The tour bus is better for a first look with commentary.
For tickets, routes and passes, see our guide to public transport in Rome.
Rome bus tours at night
Two of our picks are night tours: a 45-minute loop from €19 and a 1-hour tour from €23. Both use open-top double-deckers.
The Big Bus 72-hour ticket also includes a night tour. One day ticket includes one run of the Christmas lights night tour.
Tips before you book a hop-on hop-off bus
Ride early or take a night loop
The top deck is open to the sun. On hot days, ride early or book a night tour.
Bring the original booking
One listing asks you to show the original booking, not a screenshot. Have it ready on your phone.
Check the stops before you go
Routes can change for special events, and one Colosseum stop is closed for now. Check the stop list on the day.
Free cancellation
All six picks have free cancellation. Read the cut-off time on the listing.
Hop-on hop-off buses in Rome: questions and answers
Does Rome have a hop-on hop-off bus?
Where can I buy hop-on hop-off tickets in Rome?
Is the Rome hop-on hop-off bus worth it?
Is the metro cheaper than the hop-on hop-off bus?
More Rome bus tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore ways to see Rome
Sources (2), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Rome editorial team.