best bus tour in rome

THE 10 BEST Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours

Hop-on hop-off tours in rome.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. I Love Rome Hop on Hop off Open Bus Tour

2. Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour

3. City Sightseeing Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

4. Get-On Get-Off Bus Tour in Rome + FREE APP

5. Rome: Panoramic sightseeing Bus Tour + City Highlights Audioguide

6. Hop-On Hop-Off 24h Rome River Cruise

7. 24 hours unlimited hop-on-off bus Green-line Audio Tour

8. Discover Rome: Exclusive Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

9. Big Bus Rome Panoramic Night Tour

10. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

11. Maxi Combo Pass Colosseum Vatican and 2 days Hop On Hop Off Tour

12. Official Rome Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

13. Rome: Catacombs Guided Tour with Panoramic Transfer

14. Hop-on-Hop-off Tour of the Castelli Romani from Rome - Tour 1

15. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Vatican Ticket

16. Hop-On Hop-Off Castelli Romani from Rome - Tour 2

17. Rome Hop On Hop Off Open Bus + Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel Tour| Fast Track

18. Rome Hop on Hop off Bus

19. Transfer from Civitavecchia by train with Rome HopOnHopOff Option

20. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Colosseum Ticket

21. ROME : Private Hop on Hop off bus 1 day

22. Rome in a day: Hop on Hop off Open Bus Sightseeing Tour

23. Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Rome with Shuttle to and from Rome Airports

What travelers are saying.

Hop-on Hop-off Buses in Rome

Enjoy 360° views of the Eternal City from the comfort of a bus.

Spend up to three days hopping around Rome on one of the city’s double-decker sightseeing buses. Below is a complete guide to the five different tour bus companies that operate in Rome, so you can find out exactly which option is the best one for you.

What Is A Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

A Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour (ho-ho for short) is a great way to explore a new destination, especially a city as historical and jam-packed full of attractions such as Rome. Ho-Ho bus tours enable you to get on or off their buses as many times as you please and at any of the stops along their routes for the duration of your ticket – which can last up to 72 hours.

The buses follow a looped circuit with stops at many major tourist attractions. Most of them also provide free wifi on the buses, a complimentary app, multi-language assistants, and audio commentary providing information about the history of the sites and landmarks you’ll see.

With five different tour companies to choose from – each offering various ticket options – it can be hard to know which one to pick. To make that choice more manageable, we’ve put together a detailed guide that explains and compares the different tickets so that you can spend more time sightseeing and less time planning.

Big Bus Tours Rome

Big Bus Tours is the largest operator of open-top sightseeing tours and is one of the more popular bus tour operators in Rome. They offer three different ticket options with adult, child (5-15 years of age), and family (2 adults & 2 children) prices for each: the Classic (24 hours), Premium (48 hours), and Deluxe (72 hours). They also provide combo experiences – Classic tickets with entrance to either the Vatican Museums or the Colosseum.

To redeem your ticket, simply show your printed ticket or e-voucher to a staff member aboard the bus. Onboard you’ll be able to enjoy free wifi, and you’ll be provided with complimentary headphones to listen to the informative pre-recorded commentary about the sites of Rome in one of nine different languages.

To make your journey even smoother, don’t forget to download the free mobile app that comes with detailed maps, directions to your nearest Big Bus stop, and real-time tracking of the buses. 

Each ticket also comes with four digitally-guided walking tours in a variety of languages that you can download onto your smartphone and enjoy at your own leisure.

The buses operate from 9:00 am to 6:40 pm and run every 13 minutes. The duration of the tour is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Route Info:

The bus has eight stops within reach of around 40 unmissable Roman landmarks and attractions. You can hop on or off at any of these stops for the duration of your ticket. The stops are:

• Termini Railway Station
• Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
• Circus Maximus
• Piazza Venezia
• Vatican City
• Trevi Fountain / Spanish Steps
• Piazza Barberini

Green Line Tours

Enjoy panoramic views of Rome from the open-top double-decker Green Line bus. Though quite a similar experience to the Big Bus Tours, Green Line has more flexible ticket options, offering a Daily Ticket (allows you as many rides as you want during one day, morning to evening) and a 3 Pass Ticket (allows you to get on and off at three different stops of your choice over the course of one day) as well as the usual 24, 48, and 72 hours tickets.

They also offer a reduced price for youths (13-20 years of age), with children under 12 going free.

Once you’ve booked your ticket, you can present it aboard the bus in either printed or e-voucher format. Each bus is equipped with free wifi, single-use earphones to listen to the audio guides available in 13 different languages, and a multilingual assistant who can answer your questions.

Included in the ticket is a map of the city of Rome and a free app that you can use to monitor your route and learn more about selected points of interest.

Buses run between 9:00 am to 6:30 pm every 10-30 minutes. A complete loop takes approximately one hour and a half.

There are eight stops included in one loop. All of them are close to major sites and attractions.

• Villa Borghese

Gray Line I Love Rome

Gray Line buses are hard to miss because of their hot pink color. They offer the standard 24, 48, and 72-hour tickets, but they also have a selection of cheaper, single-day tickets. They have a choice between a Daily ticket (valid for one day of travel selected at the time of booking – discounted in the afternoon); a 5-hour ticket (valid for 5 hours from first use); and a One Run ticket (valid for one entire bus run, no hop-offs – discounted in the afternoon).

Children between 6 and 11 pay a reduced price.

You can enjoy free wifi onboard, a pre-recorded audio guide available in 13 different languages, and a detailed route map. Both printed tickets and e-vouchers are accepted. Walking tours are available from stops 4, 5, and 6. If you’re interested, ask a staff member on board to reserve you a spot.

Buses run between 8:30 am to 6:50 pm every 15-20 minutes. An entire run takes approximately one hour and a half.

Like its competitors, Gray Line also stops at eight major tourist hotspots.

• Circus Maximus & Mouth of Truth
• Vatican City & Castel Sant’Angelo
• Spanish Steps
• Piazza Barberini & Trevi Fountain

City Sightseeing Roma

City Sightseeing tours are famous worldwide. Their buses have the most ‘classic’ look: red double-decker, and in Rome, decorated with famous Roman sites. They offer Classic (24 hours), Premium (48 hours), and Deluxe (72 hours) tickets that can be used on both the City Sightseeing and Big Bus Tours buses when purchased on their website.

Children (between 5 and 15) pay a reduced price, and they also have a family ticket (2 adults, 2 kids) option available.

Your ticket gives you access to free wifi onboard the bus and an audioguide available in 8 different languages. Don’t forget to download the nifty app that comes with an interactive map featuring real-time updates about the location of the buses. It also contains a digitally-guided walking tour of the city center in 5 languages.

Buses run from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm every 10-30 minutes. An entire run takes approximately one hour and a half.

• Piazza di Spagna

Vatican & Rome Open Bus Service

This bus tour operator offers the most unique route out of the five, its focus being on religious sites. It’s run by the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, a branch of the Vicariate of Rome. Their buses are bright yellow, a color representing the Vatican.

They offer five different ticket options: Daily tickets, 24h, 48h, 72h tickets, or a One Round ticket (non-stop panoramic tour, no hop-offs). Children between the ages of 6 to 17 enjoy a reduced price. An app where you can download your tickets is also available.

Each bus is staffed with multilingual assistants, has free wifi, and provides an audioguide available in eight languages. This bus is also unique because stops scheduled along the itinerary will be on request.

The buses operate from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and run every 45 minutes. The duration of the tour is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

This tour contains 14 different stops, though some are quite close together.

• Vatican City – Castel Sant’Angelo
• San Giovanni dei Fiorentini
• Santa Agnese in Agone – Piazza Navona
• Torre Argentina
• Santa Maria in Ara Coeli
• Santi Apostoli
• Santa Maria degli Angeli
• Termini Station
• Santa Maria Maggiore
• San Giovanni in Laterano
• Colosseum – San Gregorio al Celio
• Circus Maximus – Santa Sabina all’Aventino
• Teatro Marcello – Santa Maria in Campitelli
• Largo Argentina – Santa Maria ad Martyres

All the tour operators, with the exception of Vatican and Rome Open Bus Service, offer very similar bus routes. They follow similar circuits of the historic center and stop near or at most of the major tourist hotspots, including the Colosseum , Vatican City , Circus Maximus , and the Spanish Steps / Trevi Fountain .

The Vatican and Rome Open Bus Service also stops at many major sites, but its main focus is on churches and other religious sites. It’s also the only tour operator that goes to San Giovanni in Laterano Basilica , south of the city center. However, it doesn’t stop at either Piazza di Spagna or the Trevi Fountain.

Most of the buses operate from approximately 9 am to around 6:30-7:00 at night, and run every 10-30 minutes. The Vatican & Rome buses have a shorter schedule, running from 10 am to 4 pm every 45 minutes. Each route takes roughly one hour and a half to complete the entire circuit.

The main stops are at Termini station and the Vatican, which is where most of the operators have staff and their offices.

Tour Offerings 

Is a hop-on hop-off bus tour worth it in rome.

Rome can be a daunting city to visit. With so much to see and do, many visitors to the Eternal City feel like they just didn’t have enough time to see as much as they wanted to. Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours are a great option for first-time visitors who don’t know where to begin or visitors who want to see a lot in a small amount of time.

Rome, however, is also a great city to walk around . For visitors who enjoy taking things slow and getting a feel for the city, tour buses are not the way to go. If you want to have a more authentic and local experience, far from the crowds of tourists, then ho-ho buses may not be the best choice for you.

Hop-on Hop-off buses are a great choice if you want to:

• See a lot of major attractions in a short amount of time.
• Not get lost in the maze that is Rome.
• Make the most of a limited amount of time.
• See the city without dealing with public transport in a foreign language.
• See the city but have mobility issues.
• Enjoy arriving at destinations hassle-free.
• Learn interesting facts and stories about the sites with an audio guide.

Hop-on Hop-off buses are not for you if you want to:

• Avoid crowds of tourists.
• Get to one specific destination quickly.
• See the city early in the morning or later in the evening.
• Immerse yourself in the Italian culture and see the city like a local.
• Walk around.
• See lesser-known attractions and sites.
• Get off the beaten track.

THE 10 BEST Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in Rome, Italy

Hop-on hop-off tours in rome.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour

2. I Love Rome Hop on Hop off Open Bus Tour

3. Get-On Get-Off Bus Tour in Rome + FREE APP

4. Rome: Panoramic sightseeing Bus Tour + City Highlights Audioguide

5. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

6. Discover Rome: Exclusive Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

7. City Sightseeing Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

8. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Colosseum Ticket

9. Official Rome Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

10. Big Bus Rome Panoramic Night Tour

11. Rome Hop On Hop Off Open Bus + Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel Tour| Fast Track

12. Maxi Combo Pass Colosseum Vatican and 2 days Hop On Hop Off Tour

13. Hop-On Hop-Off 24h Rome River Cruise

14. Hop-on-Hop-off Tour of the Castelli Romani from Rome - Tour 1

15. 24 hours unlimited hop-on-off bus Green-line Audio Tour

16. Rome: Catacombs Guided Tour with Panoramic Transfer

17. ROME : Private Hop on Hop off bus 1 day

18. Rome in a day: Hop on Hop off Open Bus Sightseeing Tour

19. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Vatican Ticket

20. Rome Hop on Hop off Bus

21. Hop-On Hop-Off Castelli Romani from Rome - Tour 2

22. Transfer from Civitavecchia by train with Rome HopOnHopOff Option

23. Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Rome with Shuttle to and from Rome Airports

What travellers are saying.

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Rome open top hop-on hop-off tour buses

Make an informed choice - 6 ho-ho bus lines in rome compared.

At the moment there are no less than six hop-on hop-off tour (ho-ho) sightseeing buses operating daily throughout the year in Rome.

Choosing the best hop-on hop-off bus

All of Rome's ho-ho buses at first study offer a very similar product. In terms of coverage and vehicles used they are very similar.

Especially around places like Termini Station and the Vatican there is a very high chance you will be approached by a tout in the street selling one of Rome's hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours.

The last thing you want to be is hustled into a hop-on hop-off tour by a tout that loiters around the main pick-up points or purchase the tour from your hotel or agent pushing the tour paying most commission.

This page attempts to explain the basics so the Rome hop-on hop-off tour you choose is an informed choice.

Comparing Rome hop-on buses   Choosing the right hop-on bus   Basic bus sightseeing route   Big Bus   City Sightseeing   I Love Rome bus   Green Line tour bus   IoBus   Roma Christiana

Comparing hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses in Rome

All the operators use very similar double deck open top buses. Each passenger will get a disposable audio device for commentary along the way with a choice of at minimum 6 languages.

The main stops are at Termini Station and the Vatican, in terms of where the routes start and finish and where most staff are located with some companies having offices. Most buses have their first bus departing Termini around 9am with the last bus leaving at around 5 pm or soon after, in the summer months around 7 pm.

On Sundays there are often road closures that may affect routes and availability of stops to all operators. Most operators will operate a slightly different route at the weekends to the route during the week.

Most operators will sell you a ticket of 24, 48 or 72 hours duration from the time you start. Big Bus being the exception whose tickets are calendar days. You can board at any stop showing your ticket either paper or on your mobile.

If hop-on hop-off buses are an attractive way for you to get around the sites in Rome, you may also be interested in combined tickets that bundle hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses with public transport passes .

Top of the page

Choosing the right hop-on hop-off bus in rome.

Big Bus is the most complete operator in terms of what is included in your ticket. Big Bus offers a programme of walking tours daily and used to offer a separate service to the south of the city visiting the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, Via Appia Antica and the Baths of Caracalla. Unfortunatley this is not in operation currently. We offer our own exclusive 10% discount code in addition to a 10% discount for booking on-line.

Roma Cristiana is operated by an organ of the Vatican - the tour is orientated towards those with a religious interest and is the only operator that goes out to San Giovanni Basilica south of the city centre.

I Love Rome offers a myriad of cheaper ticket options with restrictions. The cheapest option is for 1 lap of the circuit after 3 pm without getting off the bus (no hop-on hop-off), others include a one calendar day (as opposed to 24-hour) ticket and a 5 hour ticket.

If you do not need a the hop-on, hop off facility and just want to ride the bus one lap of the tour route you can save money by buying one lap tickets without hop-on or hop-off from I Love Rome and Roma Cristiana.

If you have a full day to sightsee you can save money by buying a one calendar day ticket rather than a 24-hour ticket available from I Love Rome, Panoramic and Roma Cristiana.

If you have kids it is worth looking at age bands for child fares, the different operators have significant differences in rules for age bands for children.

Our reference benchmark hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus route

All of Rome's hop-on, hop-off sightseeing operators offer a very similar core bus route, stopping at Rome's must see attractions.

We use the City Sightseeing operator as the reference route. In the text below we highlight if any operator offers anything beyond this core sightseeing bus route..

City Sightseeing reference tour stops

1. Via Marsala (Termini station)

2. Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica)

3. Colosseo (Colosseum and Ancient Rome)

4. Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus)

5. Piazza Venezia (Capitoline Museums, Pantheon)

6. Vaticano (Vatican City)

7. Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain)*

8. Piazza Barberini (for Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese)*

*At weekends the bus skips the Trevi Fountain stop and stops above the Spanish Steps. Walk to Trevi Fountain from Piazza Barberini or Spanish Steps in around 10-15 minutes.

Big Bus Rome tour bus

Route coverage over benchmark route: Coverage similar to City Sightseeing, with separate weekday and weekend routes around Trevi Fountain area. 10 stops

Free walking tours: A programme of free walking tours will take you on informative walking tours of some of the city's most famous landmarks. These walks are exclusively reserved for Big Bus Tours Rome guests and are included free with your Big Bus Tours ticket.

The Panoramic Night Tour: this tour is included as part of the 3-day ticket.

There used to be a Purple Tour - Catacombs Line which included the following: Separate service included in tickets (except 1 day ticket) city centre. Main stops outside the city being the Catacombs & Church of San Sebastiano, Via Appia Antica and the Baths of Caracalla. Unfortunately this route has been removed from the Big Bus Rome options currently.

Ho-ho ticket options: 1, 2 or 3 days. 10% on-line discount + 10% discount code from this web site

Redeeming your ticket: On boarding first bus. Ticket valid any day 6 months from purchase.

Child ticket age-bands: 5-15 years

First departure: 8:30 am - 9 am (Termini Station) depending on season

Last departure: 5-7 pm depending on season

Frequency: Every 10-20 minutes

Audio languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Mandarin, Arabic and Russian.

Other comments: Free Wi-Fi

BIG BUS HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS ROME

• Choice of 3 different fares • Free walking tours • Free Wi-Fi • Audio commentary in 9 languages • 10% online discount

City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus

Tickets: 24, 48 & 72-hour tickets, plus attraction combos (see below)

First departure: 9am (Termini Station)

Last departure: 5pm (Termini Station) 7pm April to October

Frequency: Every 15 minutes

Redeeming your ticket: On boarding first bus. Both printed and electronic vouchers (e-vouchers) accepted. If you travel with a mobile device, simply show your Photo ID and present your e-voucher on your Smartphone or tablet on the day of travel.

Audio languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese

CITY SIGHTSEEING ROME HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS SIGHTSEEING TOUR

• Free Wi-Fi onboard bus • 1-day, 24, 47, or 72-hour tickets • Onboard audio guide in 8 different languages • Mobile free app • Official St. Peter's Basilica audio-guide lasting 1hour and 15 minutes

I Love Rome Panoramic Rome tour bus

The extensive hop-on hop-off Panoramic route comprises nine stops and encompasses must-see attractions all around Rome. The tour is tape-recorded and individual earphones are at your disposal.

Route coverage over benchmark route: Very similar to City Sightseeing, 9 stops

Ho-ho ticket options: As well as the classic 24,48 and 72-hour options there are a myriad of cheaper options. The cheapest option is for 1 lap of the circuit after 3 pm without getting off the bus (no hop-on hop-off), others include a one calendar day (as opposed to 24 hour) ticket and a 5 hour ticket.

Child ticket age-bands: 6-13 years

Frequency/ departures: every 10-15 minutes from 8.30am to 6.40pm April to October, 4.55pm in the winter months.

Audio languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic and Dutch.

I LOVE ROME HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS

• Wi-Fi available • Choice of several departures throughout the day • Audio headset in 13 different languages • Map of route

GreenLine Tours Panoramic tour bus

A budget offering, the service covers all the main sightseeing icons of Rome with 9 stops.

Ho-ho ticket options: 24 and 48-hour tickets. As well as the classic 24 and 48-hour options there is a cheaper one calendar day option.

Child ticket age-bands: 6-12 years

Last departure: 6.30pm (Termini Station)

Audio languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese and Japanese

GREENLINE PANORAMIC HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS, ROME

• Wi-Fi available • 24- or 48-hr ticket options • Recorded commentary • Affordable choice • Ideal for families

The last service to open in 2022, IoBus covers 9 stops, like GreenLine. Stops include all the major stops you'd expect to get on and off at in Rome,such as  the Colosseum , Circus Maximus, Piazza Venezia, the Imperial Forum, and Renaissance Rome.

Ho-ho ticket options: one day, 24, 48 and 72-hour tickets. Family 5-day ticket.

Child ticket age-bands: up to five children travel free. 6-15 years, children pay 50% ticket fares.

Last departure: 6pm (Termini Station)

Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes

Audio languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish, Russian.

IOBUS SIGHTSEEING BUS

• Choose from 1-day, 24 or 48-hr sightseeing bus ticket • Free Wi-Fi on board every bus • Onboard Audio Guide and Earphones • Children's Commentary via app • App and Walking Routes via app

Roma Cristiana tour bus

The Roma Cristiana Tour is the most “different” of the main operators. Roma Cristiana is part of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (ORP), a branch of the Vicariate of Rome, an organ of the Holy See, directly overseen by the Cardinal Vicar to the Pope.

Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi offer a range of specialist tours for pilgrims and reflecting their ownership focus on the needs of the pilgrim.

Roma Cristiana Bus - full details

Route coverage over benchmark route: Roma Cristiana has 14 stops. Operated by an organ of the Vatican the tour is orientated towards those with a religious interest and is the only operator that goes out to San Giovanni Basilica.

Ho-ho ticket options: 24, 48, 72 hour, 1 day and one circuit tickets

Child ticket age-bands: Under 10 free, no child ticket.

Frequency: Every 10-15 minutes

Redeeming your ticket: You need to take the voucher with you and exchange for tickets on boarding the bus.

Audio languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish and Russian

ROMA CHRISTIANA HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS, ROME

• Choice of 1-day, 24, 48 or 72-hr tickets • Children under 10 free of charge • Audio guide included • Free Wi-Fi

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Rome Bus Tours - Hop-on Hop-off tour options and more!

By Elyssa Bernard

May 19, 2022

If you're visiting for the first time, taking one of the Rome bus tours around the city can be a great way to get a lay of the land and spot some famous landmarks right off the bat.

Is this the best way to spend a day in Rome ? Your first day in Rome?

Learn about the ins and outs, the pluses and minuses of taking a Rome bus tour, and whether it's right for you.

Rome bus tours - Everything you need to know

Most of the bus tours in Rome are hop-on-hop-off tours.

On this page we'll cover:

• Overview of the hop-on-hop-off tours in Rome

What route do the bus tours follow?

• What will you see on a Rome bus tour?
• What to expect on a Rome bus tour and how to decide if you should take one
• How much do the hop-on-hop-off bus tours cost?
• How and where to buy tickets for the hop-on-hop-off Rome bus

Tips for making the most of your bus tour in Rome

Are the bus tours in rome accessible, other types of rome bus tours you can take, overview of hop on hop off bus tours in rome.

Taking a hop-on hop-off bus tour can be the perfect way to get an overview of the city, especially those that offer an open air bus tour Rome option.

You can get on and off the bus as often as you like, so you can explore the sights that interest you most at your own pace. All the operators offer bus tours of Rome in English as well as other languages.

This is the most common type of bus tour in Rome and there are many companies offering this tour with pretty much the same itinerary.

So let's talk first about the itinerary of these tours and what you can see from the bus, and what you can see by getting off the bus.

The most common route for Rome Italy hop on hop off bus tours is:

• Start of route - Termini station
• Stop 2: Santa Maria Maggiore
• Stop 3: Colosseum
• Stop 4: Circus Maximus
• Stop 5: Piazza Venezia
• Stop 6: Vatican
• Stop 7: Piazza di Spagna/ Spanish Steps
• Stop 8: Piazza Barberini/Via Veneto

This route takes you to or near most of the major tourist attractions in Rome.

What tourist attractions can you see on a Rome bus tour?

The buses cannot go near some of Rome's must-see sites but they do have stops nearby.

So on the route above, besides the obvious sites listed there, you can also see:

Santa Maria Maggiore stop

Of course, you can (and should!) visit the stunning basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore . If you have time, you could also visit a hidden jewel of a church just around the corner from Santa Maria Maggiore, the basilica of Santa Prassede.

You may also wish to explore the charming Monti neighborhood .

Colosseum and Roman Forum stop

If you actually visit the Colosseum , your ticket includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as well.

You may want to do this as part of your hop-on-hop-off ticket (you can purchase them as a combo), or you can just use the bus tour to get a quick view and then come back later for a complete walking tour of Ancient Rome.

Other sites in the area include the basilica of San Clemente, the Roman Houses at Celio, and the basilica of Saint Peter in Chains where you can see Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses.

Piazza Venezia Stop

Via dei Fori Imperiali, Via del Corso (shopping), Mamertine Prison, Capitoline Museums, and Capitoline Hill

Vatican City

If you stay on the double decker bus, you will glimpse Saint Peter's Basilica . But of course, there is so much to see in Vatican City .

If you decide to get off the bus at the Vatican stop, you can visit Castel Sant'Angelo , the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel , Saint Peter's Square , Saint Peter's Basilica , and Saint Peter's Dome . The bus ticket does not include entrance tickets to any locations, so you will need to purchase these separately, such as those for the Vatican Museums .

Piazza di Spagna/Spanish steps

The Spanish Steps are a must-see tourist attraction by themselves but there is also a lot to see nearby.

Besides being the main shopping area of Rome, you can also visit Piazza del Popolo, Trevi Fountain , the Pantheon , and Piazza Navona .

Piazza Barberini/Via Veneto

From the bus, you can spot Bernini's Triton fountain but if you get off the bus you can easily also visit the famous Capuchin Crypt, the Trevi Fountain , and the Palazzo Barberini museum.

What to expect on a Rome hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour

Most of these buses are open on top but also have a closed lower level.

The tour typically includes an audio guide in a variety of languages.

Some of the companies will also have live guides on the bus who give commentary in multiple languages.

Many of the companies say they offer free wi-fi onboard, but I would not always count on this.

You can board the bus from any of the stops and get on and off as much as you want in the time frame of the ticket you buy. (Often there are options for 24, 48, or 72 hours.)

If you stay on the bus, the entire loop takes around 1 ½ hours.

The ticket will also include a map of the city.

You can generally find discounts online if you book in advance .

Downsides of taking a hop-on-hop-off tour bus in Rome:

Is there a downside? Here are a few issues to be aware of:

• Although they say the buses come every 30 minutes, it may not always be the case and you could find yourself waiting a while for your bus. You may not be able to get on another company's bus and will have to wait for your own company's bus to come.
• The buses can get very crowded, especially in the summer. You may even find that there is no room available and you'll have to wait for the next bus to arrive.
• You may find it difficult to hear the audio guide if you are sitting on top of the bus.
• Some online comments have mentioned that it can be difficult to find the bus stop although I usually see them pretty well when I am walking around Rome.
• The bus routes do not cover all of the city, so for sights like the Appian Way (including the catacombs ), Galleria Borghese , and others further outside of the center, you will need to find an alternative route.

Should you take a Rome bus tour?

Given the above pluses and minuses, you may be wondering if the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus is worth it.

One important thing to note is that it's not the same as using the public transport system .

The Rome bus and metro system is considerably cheaper and much more flexible in terms of schedules and routes.

So I would not consider taking the hop-on-hop-off bus as a means to just "get around Rome."

It is meant specifically to be a sightseeing tour with strategic stops that allows the visitor to get between some of the main sites in Rome .

The hop-on-hop-off bus in Rome is for you if...

I recommend a Rome hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour if it's your first time in Rome, whether you have 1 day or a week .

What I would suggest is to stay on the bus for the entire loop so you really get a lay of the land.

This is also a great option if you are jet-lagged, because you don't have to tire yourself out with a walking tour and you can absorb as much as your body and sleepy brain will allow.

Then, the second time around (or the next day), you can get off at any of the stops that interest you and explore more.

Or, if you're done with the bus tour, you can then decide to explore more on your own on foot or take some walking tours.

And, if you have limited time in Rome , this can be a great option to ensure you at least get a glimpse of all of the major sights .

The hop-on-hop-off bus in Rome tour may not be for you if...

If you love walking and want to make your own way, Rome is fairly compact and easy to walk around.

While Rome is actually hillier than you might think (7 hills of Rome!), it's still pretty easy to cover a lot of ground on foot. (Don't forget to wear super comfortable shoes!)

You may also not want to deal with the crowds on the bus or having to wait for the bus to come at the different stops.

Finally, as I mentioned above, if what you're looking for is the best Rome public transportation option , then this is not the bus for you.

Disclosure : If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

How much do the Rome hop-on hop-off tours cost?

Most of the Rome hop-on-hop-off bus tour companies offer various ticket options depending on the number of days you want to use the pass, the age of the passenger (adult vs. child), and any add-ons or bundles you may wish to include.

Typically a 1-day adult ticket costs around 27-30€

Typically children aged 5-15 pay around 13-15 Euros.

I say "usually" and "around" because there are often discounts when you book tickets together, and when you book online in advance.

In most cases, you can purchase 1, 2, and 3-day passes. You can also get family passes.

Often you can add on a tour and/or ticket. See below for more details about bundles.

The best way to book a Rome sightseeing tour

Can you buy your hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour tickets on the bus.

Most bus companies do offer the option to purchase your ticket directly on board or at a kiosk near the stop.

However, keep in mind that during high season the Rome hop-on hop-off tours sell out quickly and you may find there is no room to board.

Can you pay with credit card? Even American Express?

For answers to these and other money-related issues, visit my comprehensive guide about Money in Rome.

Booking your hop-on-hop-off tickets online

If you can plan ahead, the best way to purchase your hop-on-hop-off tickets is by booking online in advance.

First of all, you'll often get a discount this way.

Second of all, as I mentioned above, sometimes in high season, you may find there is no room on board if you just show up.

How to book online and which tour to book

Looking for the best hop-on hop-off bus in Rome?

Some of the top companies to book with include:

• Big Bus tours
• City sightseeing tours
• Gray Line/I love Rome
• Greenline bus tours

You can also visit our partner site Get Your Guide , where you can compare the different hop-on hop-off bus tour companies, including viewing visitor ratings, the hop on bus Rome price, and more details.

There are also some hop-on hop-off bus tours that bundle other things like:

• Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Vatican Museums Guided Tour
• Hop-on Hop-off Bus & Vatican Museums Ticket
• Hop-on-Hop-off Bus & Colosseum Guided Tour
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill Ticket
• Guided Tour of Trastevere & 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
• 24-Hour OMNIA Vatican Card and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
• 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket & Roman Ghetto Tour
• Ghosts and Mysteries Tour & 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
• Go City Explorer Pass - Choose 2 to 7 Attractions

Ready to plan your trip?

The hop-on-hop-off tour of Rome can be fun and interesting if you plan it right.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your tour:

What to wear

Wear comfortable shoes as you may be doing a lot of walking if you get off at any of the stops.

The weather in Rome can be quite hot in the summer , so definitely bring sunscreen and a hat or scarf to cover your head and shoulders.

No matter what season you visit Rome, here are 4 things never to leave at home:

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

Gadgets to bring

I know I don't need to tell you to bring your smartphone and/or camera, but don't forget to also bring a spare battery for your camera, and a charger for your phone.

If you have an e-reader or tablet, consider bringing that as well so you can look up things about the sights you are seeing as you go along.

A water bottle is also a good idea , especially in the summer .

You can always refill it at one of the bus stops, from one of Rome's many drinking fountains - the ideal way to stay cool and hydrated!

Keep your valuables close to you - pickpockets do target tourists on these buses.

Better yet, travel with a pick-pocket-proof backpack.

Visit my page here about staying safe in Rome for more tips.

Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

If you decide to combine the bus tour with some city sightseeing on your own, i.e. you plan to actually get off and on the bus, make sure to have plenty of patience and no major time constraints , as the buses don't always run on schedule.

Yes, but with a caveat.

All the major companies who run the Rome hop-on hop off bus tours state on their websites that 'most' of their buses are accessible .

Most of the buses I see around the city are modern vehicles with wheelchair and step-free access available, but some do appear older.

I would recommend contacting your preferred bus company in advance to check they can accommodate your needs.

If you're looking for a walking tour of Rome, you'll find those on many other pages on this site.

And while this page is mostly about taking the hop-on-hop-off bus in Rome, there are a few other types of bus tours you may find useful/interesting, including trips further afield, like bus tours from Rome to Pompeii :

• Catacombs & Crypts Tour with Roman Aqueducts half-day small-group bus tour
• Civitavecchia Port: Shuttle Bus to and from Vatican City
• Panoramic Bus Tour of Rome from Civitavecchia Port
• Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius Volcano Full-Day Trip
• Day Tour of Villa D'Este & Hadrian's Villa Tivoli
• Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano Day Trip
• Florence and Pisa Full-Day Tour

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Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

Please come over to the private Romewise Facebook group and join in the conversation.

You will often find me there, happy to answer your questions / comments!

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Top attractions and tours

• Colosseum - Don't miss visiting Rome's most iconic monument
• Vatican Museums - This is where the Sistine Chapel is
• Pantheon - Book ahead and skip the line
• Galleria Borghese - You'll need to book ahead for one of Rome's best museums
• Castel Sant'Angelo - See Rome's history through its architecture
• Rome City Pass - A great way to make your Rome visits easier

Disclosure : If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

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Hop On Hop Off Rome - Bus Tours

Rome sightseeing bus tours, ( ) experiences found.

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Experience Rome in Hop On Hop Off Rome Bus Tours

Located on the Tiber River, the city has about 3000 years of history under its belt. With that amount of history, you’re going to need a reliable way to get around the city during your Rome sightseeing tour! And the best thing is that you get dropped off right in front of some of the best attractions while enjoying free walking tours with (the audio guide and commentary) during your vacation. Make your evening with your loved ones special and something extra with the boat ride combo. For flexible sightseeing, you can choose from a variety of ticket options. Save a lot of your money with the Hop-On and Hop-Off Rome bus tour with skip-the-line tickets for both the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum. It’s what to do in the city!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: what is the best time to book a hop-on hop-off rome bus tour.

Rome is crowded all year round. Summer months are incredibly crowded meaning lengthy queues and a lot of humidity. We recommend booking a Rome bus tour just outside of the summer months to explore the ‘Eternal City’ in a laid-back manner.

Q: Where do I exchange my Rome Bus tour voucher or paper ticket?

You can start your Rome tour at any of the designated bus stops. Look for your nearest stop to your hotel, and make sure to check out the route. There may be more than one route on offer, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead of arrival as there may be specific attractions you want to see.

Q: How do I find the list of Rome hop-on hop-off tour routes and stops?

Rome hop-on hop-off bus tours come with a range of options to choose from. You can check the details of relevant stops and route maps in the Product Descriptions and Useful Downloads section before booking with us.

Q: What is the validity of the ticket?

Depending on your travel plans, you can choose from 24 hours, 48 hours, or 72 hours.

Other Hop On Hop Off Destinations

• New York City
• San Francisco
• Washington DC
• Los Angeles
• Johannesburg
• San Antonio
• Reykjavik Iceland
• St-Petersburg
• Benalmadena
• Thessaloniki
• Kristiansand
• BUENOS AIRES
• Hop On Hop Off Bus Offers and Deals

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Hop-On-Hop-Off Rome Bus Tours Comparison

If you're planning to take one of our free Rome walking tours , one of the best ways to determine what you want to see is by taking a bus tour!

In this post, we'll compare and review of all 6 hop-on-hop-off Rome bus tours, including night bus tours , as well as available deals .

Here are the hop-on hop-off tours currently available in Rome:

• City Sightseeing
• Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (ORP)

Each service provides stops at some of the most popular attractions in the city, including the Colosseum , Circus Maximus, the Spanish Steps , the Vatican , and more.

In addition to covering more essential details about these services below, we'll also include helpful tips from locals and travelers who use our Facebook group.

We'll also include a comparison of ticket prices and ratings for each tour, giving you a better idea of which one is worth your time and money.

Disclosure:  We think you should consider  our free tours , but we have also provided other options.

While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the  full text .

HOP-ON-HOP-OFF TOUR

If you're new to the Eternal City, you may want to consider taking a hop-on-hop-off bus tour.

These services will take you to all of the most popular landmarks and sights of Rome, including Termini Station, the Forum, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, and the Vatican.

As you're traveling around the city, tour guides and audio commentary will provide plenty of information about Roman history.

And being hop-on-hop-off services, you can easily sightsee at your own pace.

Most of these bus tours provide free wi-fi and English-speaking drivers to accommodate visitors from around the world.

Tickets range from €16-€43 per person depending on the type of ticket you purchase. 

Some operations are also included for free as a part of a tourist attraction pass or offer deals to cardholders, and we mention this when this applies.

Below is our analysis of Rome's 4 top hop-on-hop-off bus companies. The 4 that are listed below are ordered by how well-reviewed they are. 

Since most of the companies offer very similar routes, we detail the first company, Big Bus, and use it as a reference for the other companies offerings.  

There are actually two more hop-on-hop-off bus companies, Open Tour and Green Line, but their reviews are so poor, we left them off the list completely, so as not to waste you your time or money. 

Big Bus Tours Rome

Big Bus is our recommended choice.

Much like some of their competitors, this company also provides bus tours in several cities across the globe, and you may recognize their rather bland-looking buses.

Big Bus sees itself as the premium hop-on-hop-off bus service.

This well-reviewed company offers 3 different ticket options and routes with adult, child and family prices for each.

They provide pre-recorded audio commentary in 9 different languages and offer free wifi on their buses.

They also offer a smartphone app that you could download to see real-time bus locations to help minimize your time waiting for a bus.

Buses are available daily from 8:30 am - 19:00 (7 pm) with varying frequencies depending on the day and route.

Each ticket also comes with 4 free walking tours , which can be taken in several languages.

Click on the map for a larger interactive map.

Tickets and Route Maps

Get more ticket information or purchase .

1-Day Discover Ticket:

• Adults: €34 on-street | €27.20 online
• Children (5-15): €17 on-street | €13.60 online
• Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): €85 on-street | €68 online
• Free (kids 4 and younger)

2-Day Essential Ticket:

• Adults: €42 on-street | €37.80 online
• Children (5-15): €21 on-street | €18.90 online
• Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): €105 on-street | €94.50 online

3-Day Explore Ticket:

• Adults: €48 on-street | €43.20 online
• Children (5-15): €24 on-street | €21.60 online
• €85 for Family (online)
• Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): €120 on-street | €108 online

Each tour includes stops at sites such as  the Catacombs , Circus Maximus, Piazza Venezia , the Spanish Steps , and even Castel Sant'Angelo .

Here are a few more details to keep in mind:

• Family tickets are good for 2 adults & 2 children
• All tickets include 4 free walking tours.
• All tickets are valid on Big Bus, City Sightseeing, and ORP Buses.
• Essential and Explore tickets include a free date change, meaning that if you can't take your tour when you originally planned, you can change the date and take it on another day.
• The prices above reflect an additional 10% - 20% off when you get your tickets directly from their website.
• Purchase tickets for a lower price online .

NOTE: Big Bus is only offering the red route, and they do not currently offer the night tour.

Stops on the Red Route

The red route is Big Bus's weekday route and includes 8 stops within reach of over 40 attractions , and most of the competition follows this same route (with minor differences).

• Termini Railway Station (starts)
• Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
• Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus)
• Piazza Venezia
• Treve Fountain/Spanish Steps
• Piazza Barberini/Spanish Steps

Stops on the Purple Route (Catacombs and Caracalla Route)

The Purple route mixes a few of the stops from the Red and Blue routes (mostly the southernmost stops) and adds in a couple new stops. 

As the name suggests, the big draw is the Catacombs and Baths of Caracalla , as well as the Appian Way . 

The Purple route is only available on the deluxe ticket, so you could still take the red or blue routes to see the rest of the sights. 

This route runs daily and the total circuit takes 60 minutes (if you don't get off) and buses are supposed to run every 20 min starting at Termini Rail Station. 

There are 10 total stops within reach of dozens of attractions . 

Free Walking Tours

Every Big Bus Ticket includes 4 free walking tours, which are led by Big Bus tour guides. 

Click here for  more detailed descriptions , starting points, and times of each walking tour.

• Vatican and St. Peter's Square 
• Pantheon and Piazza Navona
• Roman Forum and Colosseum
• Barberini Square & Spanish Steps

Reviews of Big Bus Rome

Big Bus Rome has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide ( read the reviews ).

Compared to walking tour companies, this doesn't look great, but for less personable hop-on-hop-off bus tours, this is a high mark. Guests report that their audio commentary is actually very good, providing a lot of useful information about all the landmarks on their route.

Reviewers often note that their ticket prices are very affordable and the equipment they use is first-rate.

Although there are some negative reviews, such as some audio jacks didn't work, they don't indicate many common problems. 

Grayline Tours (I Love Rome)

Grayline, like Big Bus, is an international brand, but in Rome, they have an affiliate "I Love Rome". 

In a city full of bus tours, Gray Line found a way to stand out from the crowd.

The I Love Rome tour takes place on a pink bus, making it easy for their customers to find them.  

Like their competition, GrayLine offers 8 stops, pre-recorded audio tours (in 13 languages), free wifi, and several hop-on, hop-off ticket and attraction tour options. 

Unlike their competition, this company also offers a  single-circuit option  as well as a 1-way ticket .

Guests who just want to ride around and enjoy their tour from the bus can choose to pay for these cheaper options, which do not include the option to hop on and off at their discretion.

They offer even cheaper tickets in the afternoon.

Their buses run daily from 8:30 am - 18:40 (6:40 pm) in the summer and until 16:55 (4:55 pm) in the winter, and depart every 10-15 minutes.  

Ticket Options

Because GrayLine offers several ticket options, it can get confusing. 

Essentially, they offer 2 types of tickets - tickets that let you hop on and hop off at your pleasure and tickets that require you to stay on the bus for the duration. 

Within their hop-on-hop-off ticket options, they also have an array of time options and prices. We explain below. You can also see descriptions of your options here . 

STAY ON THE BUS

1 Complete Circuit (1 lap) 1 hr 45 min

• €17/Adults | €12/Youths | Free for Kids Under 12
• €14/Adults | €10/Youths | Free for Kids - after 13:15 (1:15 pm)

HOP ON AND OFF AT WILL

4-hour Ticket 

• €20 for adults | €14 for Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• hop-on and hop-off as much as you want for up to 5 hours

1 Calendar Day

• €22/Adults | €15/Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• €14/Adults | €10/Children | Free for Kids - after 15:00 (3 pm)
• hop-on and hop-off as much as you want from start to finish in one day

24-Hour Ticket  

• €30/Adults | €16/Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• for example, if you start at 11:00 am on Day 1, you have until 11:00 am on Day 2

48-Hour Ticket  

• €34 for Adults | €20 for Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• same as the 24-hour ticket, but for the 48 hours

72-Hour Ticket

• €38 for Adults | €27 for Children | Free for Kids Under 6
• same as the 24-hour ticket, but for the 72 hours

Adults are 13 and up, children are ages 6-12 and anyone younger is granted free entry. Deals available on all tickets after 3 pm.

Learn more or purchase here .

Grayline Rome Reviews

Gray Line (or I Love Rome) gets mixed reviews, receiving an overall rating of 3 ½ out of 5 stars  on TripAdvisor and 4 out of 5 stars on GetYourGuide ( read the reviews ).

Most guests report that this service was exactly what they were expecting, indicating that they don't over-promise or under-deliver with their itinerary.

Although there are a few complaints about the seating on their bus, most customers agree that Gray Line provides decent transportation and audio commentary. 

City Sightseeing Tours

If this name sounds familiar, that's because City Sightseeing provides services all over the world. 

Their buses are probably the most noticeable and are the classic red, double-decker buses seen throughout the world.

City Sightseeing offers 1, 2 and 3-day hop-on-hop-off tickets as well as tickets that combine their bus with entry to and tours of, for example, the Vatican and the Colosseum. 

Their route is essentially the same as Big Bus with the exception that they do not stop at the Baths of Caracalla or the Catacombs (which is a totally different tour for them).

They offer an audio guide in 8 languages and their buses have wifi.

Buses operate from 9:00 am - 19:00 (7 pm) in the summer and till 17:00 (5 pm) in the winter. 

They do not offer free guided walking tours, but they do have a self-guided audio walking tour app that you could use off the bus. 

This app is also used as a bus locator to help minimize your wait time. 

City Sightseeing is not as well-reviewed as Big Bus, but the devil is in the details.  

Tickets 

Purchase tickets for a lower price online . 

1-Day Ticket:

• €23.40 for Adults (16 and up)
• €11.70 for Children (5-15)
• €58.50 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)
• Free for 4 and under
• Only valid for 1 calendar day

24-Hour Ticket:

• €29.70 for Adults (16 and up)
• €14.40 for Children (5-15)
• €73.80 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)
• Valid for 24 hours from the point of purchase

2-Day Ticket:

• €35.10 for Adults (16 and up)
• €17.10 for Children (5-15)
• €87.30 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)

3-Day Ticket:

• €41.40 for Adults (16 and up)
• €20.70 for Children (5-15)
• €103.50 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)

Purchase tickets online . 

Reviews of City Sightseeing Rome

Unfortunately, although City Sightseeing is very popular in other cities, this service has mixed reviews in Rome, receiving an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor. 

However, they do get a score of 4 out of 5 stars on Get Your Guide ( see the reviews ).

Several guests take issue with the audio tour itself, suggesting that it isn't very useful for travelers, or didn't work.

Other visitors felt that this bus tour does not make enough stops, indicating that they had to walk for a while to reach certain landmarks, or that the buses waited too long at stops. 

With that said, they do have people who like their service. 

As with most hop-on-hop-off bus services, happy customers see this service as a great way to get the lay of the land and to get around from attraction to attraction. 

Vatican & Rome Bus Tours (Roma Cristiana)

This might be the most unique hop-on-hop-off option in Rome.

Vatican & Rome Bus Tours is run by the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (ORP), a branch of the Vicariate of Rome, which is directly overseen by the Cardinal Vicar to the Pope. 

They operate double-decker buses with the yellow color of the Vatican. Their bus tours are free with the purchase of the Vatican tourist card . 

Like City Sightseeing Bus, this outfit has mixed reviews and offers both stay-on-the-bus as well as hop-on-hop-off tickets, with daily, 24, 48, and 72-hour tickets.  

With a total of 11 stops around the city and differs slightly from the usual hop-on, hop-off routes by focusing more on religious locations. 

The 11 is misleading, as some of the stops are really close to each other, but the biggest difference to Big Bus's route is that they have stops at the Pantheon (which is a church), Piazza Navona, and San Giovanni in Laterano (the seat of the Pope). 

They do not stop at either the Spanish Stairs or Trevi Fountain. 

Click on the map for a larger map view.

BEFORE YOU BUY:  This bus tour is included for free with the purchase of the Omnia Vatican tourist card . Read our analysis of this and other tourist passes by clicking the link.

• 24-Hour Ticket Prices: €33/Adults | €15/Youth (6-17)
• 48-Hour Ticket Prices: €39/Adults | €17/Youth (6-17)
• 72-Hour Ticket Prices: €46/Adults | €19/Youth (6-17)

Click here for more information or to purchase .

• Availability: Daily from 9 am - 6 pm
• Children under 9 and disabled visitors travel for FREE
• Free wi-fi included

The Vatican & Rome Bus Tour currently has a score of 3 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor with almost 40% of reviewers rating them with either just 1 or 2 stars.

That said, their reviews on Tiqets are a bit better with an overall score of 3 ½ out of 5 stars ( read reviews here ).

Although ratings like these aren't exactly excellent, most customers agree that this company does a decent job of providing transportation to all of the major sites in Rome.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the audio guide and the ease of finding their bus stops, guests are very torn about this service. 

Green Line Bus Tours

This is one of the newer hop-on hop-off bus tours in Rome, and they're quickly making a name for themselves as a reliable service.

As with their competitors, you can expect this bus tour to take you past some of the most notable sites in the city.

Green Line offers 24, 48, and 72-hour tickets at competitive prices, and at times they might even be one of the most affordable hop-on hop-off bus tours in Rome.

Like everyone else, they also offer audio commentary via headphones while you're on board.

Their tour is currently available in 13 languages: English, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Hindi, Chinese, and Arabic.

Green Line offers 2 routes, but they are mostly the same except for a few minor differences. Across both routes, there are a total of 10 stops, the most notable being Eataly and the Testaccio Quarter.

• 24-Hour Ticket Prices: €29/Adults | €16/Youth (13-20)
• 48-Hour Ticket Prices: €34/Adults | €20/Youth (13-20)
• 72-Hour Ticket Prices: €39/Adults | €26/Youth (13-20)
• Purchase tickets or learn more .
• Availability: Daily from 9 am - 7 pm
• Children under 13 travel for free
• Teens up to the age of 20 are eligible for youth pricing
• This tour is also included with the Rome Turbo Pass .

As of this moment, Green Line has an overall rating of almost 4 out of 5 stars on GetYourGuide ( read reviews here ).

Most of the complaints were pretty common for hop-on hop-off bus tours, with some guests indicating they didn't have enough buses.

Those who loved the service were particularly happy that the buses dropped them off very close to major monuments, and described this as an easy way to get around the city.

IOBUS (Formerly Roma Open Bus )

This is another somewhat new hop-on hop-off bus tour in Rome with competitively low prices and similar services.

Much like Vatican & Rome, they also offer the standard 24-72 hour ticket options in addition one or two cheaper options for half-day or full-day tickets.

While their 24 hour tickets are valid for 24 hours from the moment you start using them, the daily tickets are only valid until the end of the operating day.

Since they are more limited, they are also a bit more affordable.

As with other hop-on hop-off bus tours, Roma Open Bus also makes stops at the most notable sites throughout the city.

They also offer an audio guide you can listen to with headphones on board the bus.

This tour has only one route with 8 stops.

• Afternoon Ticket (After 2 pm): €19/Adults | €10/Children (5-11)
• Daily Ticket (valid til end of the day): €25/Adults | €13/Children (5-11)
• 24-Hour Ticket Prices: €30/Adults | €15/Children (5-11)
• 48-Hour Ticket Prices: €34/Adults | €17/Children (5-11)
• 72-Hour Ticket Prices: €38/Adults | €19/Children (5-11)

Purchase a ticket or learn more now .

• Availability: Daily from 10 am - 5 pm
• Younger guests receive an album of the monuments of Rome and a free backpack!

At the moment, this company only has 22 reviews on Viator, but they currently enjoy an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars ( read reviews here ).

Only one reviewer took issue with this hop-on hop-off bus tour, and it appears that it was due to a simple misunderstanding. Most guests suggest that this is a very reliable service.

One of the most common notes left by reviewers is that Roma Open Bus is very family-friendly, indicating the backpack and album given to kids were a great and unexpected addition.

Rome Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours Compared

If you're curious about the differences in price and service between these hop-on hop-off bus tours, the following section will directly compare the 1, 2, and 3 day tickets from each company and their review scores as well.

Here are a few key takeaways about these Rome hop-on hop-off bus tours:

• While this is technically true, it's worth noting that both Gray Line and Green Line are very competitively priced.
• While Green Line is a local company, Big Bus is world renowned. Even so, if there's a chance to get the same quality of service for cheaper, perhaps it's worth the gamble!
• Given that this company has been folded into Big Bus in many markets, we're actually surprised they are still offering service in Rome. If the reviews are any indication, there's a chance that could happen in Rome as well!

COMBO TICKETS & DEALS

Most of the bus tour companies in Rome provide deals and combo tickets for their services.

In addition to those options, several tourist attraction passes also offer low cost or even free hop-on-hop-off bus tours in addition to skip-the-line tickets at many popular attractions.

These passes work by bundling together popular tours and attractions into one low price, saving you up to 55% off.

They also can save you valuable time by allowing you to skip the ticket queues at select attractions.

Whether you're interested in getting a city pass or you just want to save some money on your ticket, we recommend taking a look at the following deals before making a purchase. 

Omnia Vatican & Rome Card

In addition to offering free access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, you'll also receive a 3-day ticket for the Vatican & Rome hop-on-hop-off bus tour.

After the tour is over, you can also use public transportation in Rome with the free 72-hour travel card that is also included with this pass.

These are only a few of the benefits included with the Omnia card, but they are definitely worth noting if you are interested in bus tours.

• Tourist Pass Prices: €149 for Adults | €69 for Children (ages 6-17)
• Omnia Pass lasts for 3 full days
• Includes Vatican & Rome (Roma Cristiana) Bus Tour
• Includes Rome Metro Pass
• Includes Free Entry to Vatican City Landmarks
• Click here for more information . 

Rome City Pass - Turbo Pass

Much like Omnia, the Rome City Pass also provides access to a hop-on-hop-off bus tour.

Unfortunately, in the case of this attraction pass, the included bus tour is only available for one day.

That being said, the price of this pass is much more affordable than the services offered by their competitors.

The Rome City Pass also provides a free metro card allowing you to use public transportation throughout the city.

• Tourist Pass Prices (starting from): €99.90/Adults | €58.90/Teens | €48.90/Children
• The Rome City Pass lasts for either 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days
• Includes Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour
• Includes Rome Airport Transfer
• Free Entry to Top Attractions, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & More
• Click here for additional information .

Rome Metro Card

If you're interested in taking a hop on hop off bus tour, but you don't plan to enter any of the landmarks or museums you'll see along the way, this is an excellent way to save some money.

The Rome Metro Card includes the following services for either 1 or 3 days:

• Rome Public Transport Pass
• Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

Card Prices:

• 1-Day Card: €27/Adults
• 3-Day Card: €39/Adults
• Free for kids 9 and under.

Purchase the Rome Metro Card . (not currently available)

The nice thing about this card is that it includes both a hop on hop off bus tour and unlimited access to public transportation in Rome. 

While bus tours will take you to most of the notable landmarks in the city, using the metro, trams and public buses will make it easier to reach even more destinations.

If you're primarily focused on getting around the city, but you also want to take a hop on hop off bus tour, this is an excellent way to save 25% - 30% off general admission prices.

Big Bus Tours Combo Deal

This company currently has one combo package which includes a classic ticket and admission to the Colosseum.

You'll also have access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, two historic locations right next to this historic attraction.

Best of all, Big Bus actually has a stop right next to the Colosseum, so you won't even have to travel out of the way to take advantage of this deal!

• €52 per person
• Not currently available

City Sightseeing Combo Deals

If you want to do more than just see the sites, City Sightseeing provides a few interesting combo deals that are definitely worth considering.

Each combo package includes their hop-on, hop-off bus tour and admission to notable landmarks in Rome.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel + Bus Tour

• 48-Hour Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour
• Skip-the-Line Admission to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• Combo Pass Prices: €62 for Adults | €38 for Children/Teens | 6 and under are FREE
• Not Currently Available

Maxi Combo Pass

• 48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• Admission to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
• Combo Pass Prices: €82 for Adults | €50 for Children/Teens | 6 and under are FREE
• Not Currently Available.

NIGHT BUS TOURS OF ROME

The only problem with hop-on-hop-off bus tours is that they typically don't run after dark.

Rome is the kind of city that changes after the sun goes down, and a great way to experience illuminated Rome is to take a night tour.

Thankfully, a few of the popular bus tour companies in the area offer their own bus tours at night.

Unlike the services they provide during the day, you will not be allowed to hop on and off at your leisure.

That being said, you will enjoy a completely different experience on these excursions which may be worth the additional cost. 

In addition to their hop-on, and hop-off bus tours, this company also offers a panoramic bus tour after dark. Unlike their other service, this tour only offers limited stops.

After you visit sites such as the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, Circus Maximus, and more, you'll make a stop at Eataly, where you can grab a bite to eat if you're hungry.

This tour is approximately 3 hours in length, and it begins at 7:30 pm. Depending on when you visit Rome, chances are you'll catch the sunset and watch as the lights around the city begin to turn on.

• Ticket Prices: €28 for Adults | €17 for Children | FREE for Infants
• Summer Availability: Thursday - Sunday
• Fall Availability: Saturdays
• Duration: 3 hours
• Hours: 7:30 pm

This is a relatively new service, but so far it has received pretty good reviews with an overall rating of 4 out of 5 on Get Your Guide.

Currently, this is the only night bus tour in Rome. It's also much more affordable than any of the comparable services offered by their competitors.

Although it doesn't include any of the frills you might get from other night bus tours, this is definitely the base line night bus tour you can expect to find in Rome.

Rome by Night - (Gray Line Tours)

Known for its big pink buses, Gray Line also provides a night tour with a professional guide on board to provide valuable information.

As you travel around the city, you'll have the opportunity to see famous landmarks such as the Colosseum and St. Peter's Basilica after dark.

Additionally, you will also enjoy free walking tours of the Trevi Fountain and Trastevere. 

• Ticket Prices: €47 for Adults | €37.60 for Children | FREE for Infants
• Availability: Daily at 8:45 pm (Apr-Oct) and 8 pm (Nov-Mar)
• Duration: 2 hours
• Includes walking tours of Trevi Fountain & Trastevere

Reviews for this night bus tour are very mixed. While some visitors are very pleased with the service, others feel that it's not worth the price of admission.

Some customers described the trip as disorganized and chaotic, but others were very happy with their experience.

Most of the complaints about this outing focus on the amount of foot travel that is required for both walking tours.

With that said, some of you may actually jump at the chance for a little more activity, and this is one excursion that will give it to you.

Couples were far more impressed with this trip than any other audience. 

Romantic Rome - (City Sightseeing)

In addition to offering a full-length bus tour after dark, City Sightseeing also gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a nice meal.

Why worry about missing dinner when it's included in the tour?

Guests will enjoy a welcome drink and appetizers at the restaurant Eataly along with a full buffet dinner at Zodiac .

Although you won't be able to hop on and off whenever you wish, this night tour will give you the opportunity to see all of the major landmarks after the sun sets.

• Ticket Prices: €62/adult | €49/child
• Availability: Daily at 8 pm
• Duration: 2 ½ hours
• Includes appetizers at Eataly and a buffet at Zodiac

Sadly, reviews for this service weren't much better than the overall ratings for City Sightseeing.

Although there were some negative comments, others were very impressed with the night bus tour offered by this company.

Visitors were especially pleased with the opportunity to see major sites in Rome with all of the lights on, creating a lot of wonderful shadows and giving them a completely different look at the historic city.

Tips From Locals and Travelers

If you're still not sure about whether or not to take a hop-on hop-off bus tour in Rome, you're not alone.

A lot of travelers are curious about this service, and especially in this ancient city, there are reasons to consider alternatives.

With that in mind, we've collected some of the more helpful suggestions from users of both our Rome Travel Tips group on Facebook and the Rome & Italy Travel group.

Some travelers find this service quite useful, noting that in the summer, the air conditioning included on these buses is well worth the price of a ticket.

They also found the commentary included to be a great overview, and that really is how these services should be used.

As other members of the group note, this is a useful tour for those who want to get an idea of what you can see and do in Rome.

It's not necessarily the most detailed tour of each site you'll see, but once you're done with the loop, chances are you'll have a better idea of where everything is located and what you want to see a bit closer.

Another nice thing is that the three main companies (Big Bus, City Sightseeing, and ORP) each allow you to use any of their buses while sightseeing.

This ensures that even if Big Bus is running late at a particular stop, you can just find either a City Sightseeing or ORP bus and use them instead.

That all said, it's important to point out that there are a lot of travelers and locals who feel the hop-on hop-off tours in Rome are not worth the cost.

The main reason is because they aren't actually allowed to make stops very close to the main landmarks in the city centre.

This is an absolutely reasonable point to make, because the closest stops to sites such as the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain are actually several blocks away.

The reality is that no matter what you do, you'll probably have to walk a lot while visiting Rome, because it's just not a city that is built for heavy vehicle traffic.

Even so, some travelers who don't recommend these tours note that they at least found it useful for one day, so you might just want to consider getting a 1-day ticket if you're not entirely sure about this outing.

For more advice, make sure to check either our Rome Travel Tips group or the Rome & Italy Travel group on Facebook.

RELATED POSTS

• Rome City Tours
• Things to Do in Rome
• Colosseum Tickets
• How to Visit the Vatican
• Rome Tourist Passes

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Hop on Hop off Rome Bus Tours – Which one Is Best?

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Rome is an exciting and fascinating city, and the best way to see and do everything is often with a hop on hop off bus tour. They can be a fantastic way to travel around with convenience and ease, without the added hassle of working out how to use public transport, or worrying about maps.  Read on to find out more information about some of the best hop on hop off tours in Rome , as well as details about various routes, attraction passes and more.

Ready to get going to Rome? Check out this link to book now a hop on hop off Rome bus tour .

What are the best hop on hop off Rome bus tour companies?

Hop on hop off tours can make exploring a new city much more enjoyable, as you can get straight to the top attractions in Rome, without having to take lengthy connections or deal with any confusing maps. Instead, simply ride the bus and enjoy the scenic views across the city as you travel.

Hop on hop off tours can also provide a more cost effective option, as you don’t need to spend lots of money on private taxis, while still travelling in comfort throughout.

Check out some fantastic options for bus tours in Rome.

1 – Big Bus

Big Bus is one of the most popular and comprehensive bus tour providers in Rome, with a variety of stops all over the city, to make sure you can experience the best of it during your time there.

Big Bus’s Red Route takes you on a hop on hop off tour through the main attractions around Rome, including the Colosseum, the Vatican and more. There are eight stops in total, the busses leave every 11 minutes and the tour runs from 9am to 8pm daily.

• Visit Big Bus official website

2 – City Sightseeing

City Sightseeing provides tourists in Rome with a great value option to get around the city easily, with several stops taking you around the most popular sights around Rome.

City Sightseeing has one main route that goes through Rome, stopping at all of the main highlights, including the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Piazza Venezia. With free WiFi on board, audio guides in 8 languages, walking tours in 5 languages and a free app from the bus tour provider to offer useful information as you travel, making it an ideal option for a short stay in the city.

• Visit City Sightseeing official website

3 – Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (formerly Roma Cristiana)

Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi provides a specialised hop on hop off bus tour in Rome, focusing primarily on more of the religious sights and locations around the city. For travellers interested in exploring Rome’s religious culture, this can be a great choice.

The Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi bus tour has a single route with 14 stops that provide a comprehensive tour of the city. The tour includes an audio guide in eight major languages, and covers all key tourist hotspots, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum, as well as more religious sites, such as the Vatican and the Basilica di San Giovanni.

• Visit Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi official website

4 – I love Rome (Gray Line Rome)

Gray Line provides a comprehensive bus tour of Rome, featuring a wide range of the city’s diverse artistic and cultural attractions. With audio guides available in 12 languages and on board Wi-Fi, it is a convenient and comfortable option to help you explore the city.

Gray Line Rome offers a single route, the so called Pink Route, with 8 stops, covering a range of attractions all across the city, such as Vatican City, the Spanish Steps, the Piazza Venezia shopping areas and more.

• Visit I love Rome official website

How do you find discounted hop on hop off Rome bus tours tickets?

Using a hop on hop off tour can be one of the most enjoyable and fun ways to explore a city like Rome where there is so much to discover. If you look ahead before your travel dates, it’s often possible to get a great deal on ticket prices, with exclusive discounts and special offers available, rather than buying on the bus itself.

Here are some options to help you save money on bus tours:

1- Check out discounted tickets on travel websites

Make sure you check out deals and promotions on travel websites ahead of your trip, as they will often have the best prices around. Check out providers such as Headout or Viator for great packages. It’s also a good idea to check the bus tour provider directly, as they will also feature online exclusive prices.

• Compare discounted Rome bus tours tickets

2 – Book an attractions pass

With such a rich historic and cultural heritage, Rome is a fascinating city, but it can soon add up when trying to visit all of the city’s big attractions.

Luckily, attractions passes are a great way of making your visit more affordable, as they will often include skip the line and fast track entry to key destinations, as well as added benefits such as their own hop on hop off tours.

Here are some of the best attractions passes available around Rome.

The Omnia Pass is one of the most popular tourist passes in Rome, as it provides free entry to a variety of the most popular attractions in the city, including Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. It also includes free entry to the Vatican City Museums and sights around the area, making it much more easier to explore, without having to wait in line.

While the pass does not provide access to a hop on hop off bus tour, you do get a 3 day travel card, which can be used to travel around the main parts of the city.

Visit official website

The Roma Pass is available for 48 or 72 hour options, making it a more versatile choice when trying to decide which attractions pass to pick. The pass provides free entry to a variety of tourist attractions, as well as free access to the public transport system.

You’ll also get discounted entry for over 80 other top events and attractions around the city, and sip the line entrance to a number of the most popular galleries and museums around Rome.

We hope that this page has provided plenty of useful information to help you plan your visit to Rome!

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I Love Rome Tourist Bus - 1 Tour (No Hop on-Hop off)

• One Tour ticket valid for a single trip
• 8 stops near the highlights of Rome
• Audio guides available in 12 languages
• New “Kids audio guide” with child-friendly content in English and Italian
• Free WiFi on board
• Reserved space for wheelchairs
• Panoramic views of Rome
• Duration: 1 h 45 min

I Love Rome Tourist Bus Hop on Hop off (Half Day Ticket)

• Hop on Hop off ticket valid for 5 hours
• Hop on and off as many times as you want
• 8 stops near the Rome's highlights

I Love Rome Tourist Bus Hop on Hop off (24/48 h Ticket)

• 24 or 48 hour Hop on Hop off ticket
• 8 stops near Rome's landmarks
• Kids audio guide” with child-friendly content in English and Italian
• Space reserved for wheelchairs
• Panoramic views of the city

format_quote We chose this hop on hop off bus tour for its design and route. It goes through all Rome must see sights and the staff is very helpful. We enjoyed the free Wi-Fi. Highly recommended!

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format_quote Rome City Tour is the perfect way to visit the city. We had a tight schedule and were travelling with our kids. The upper deck has great views and the route is fun and complete.

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About CityTour

Roma City Tour is part of City Tour WorldWide, a brand of Grupo Juliá. It is one of the main tourist transport service operators. With a presence in multiple destinations and countries in the world.

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Hop-On Hop-Off Rome [2024]: Your options, explained!

City Sightseeing vs. Big Bus Tours, what's better in Rome? Which tour bus lines are the most worth it? We dive into the details on the different busses routes and prices, so you can be in the know before you book. Find out what we've found now.

Rome has tons of things to do and sights to see.

From the Vatican City to the Colosseum, the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain, it’s pretty much impossible to be bored! Regardless, you'll want to maximize your commute to make sure you explore all of the things to do in Rome .

If you’re  planning a trip  to Rome, though, you don’t just want to think about  what  you’re going to be doing, but  how  you’re going to be doing it. A hop-on-hop-off bus tour is one way to get around the city—but is it the best option?

I'm all about helping you make the most of your trips, so I put together this helpful guide to hop-on-hop-off buses in Rome. Let’s find your best options to explore Rome now!

What Is a Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour?

A hop-on-hop-off bus tour is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: It’s a bus that drives around the main tourist sights of a particular city, allowing riders to get on and off as they please so they can easily visit the main attractions.

You’ll find hop-on-hop-off bus tours in many cities with lots of tourists, including  Paris , Berlin, Istanbul, and London. The whole concept is loosely based on the classic red double-decker buses that are so famous in London.

As well as providing easy transportation to each tourist sight, most companies that run bus tours like this also include free Wi-Fi, city maps, and audio guides to listen to as you’re driven around.

It’s a great way to learn more about the history and culture of a place while you’re on the move!

Hop-On-Hop-Off Rome Bus Providers

A number of companies offer bus tours in Rome. They’re all based on pretty much the same model, but there are slight variations between each company. Some of the open-top bus tours you’ll see around the city are:

• BigBus Rome
• Grayline Rome  (also known as “I Love Rome”)
• CitySightseeing Rome
• City Tour Roma
• Roma Cristiana , run by Omnia Vatican

Each of these companies runs slightly different tours at slightly different prices. Let's take a dive into them now!

Big Bus Tours Rome

Big Bus Tours Rome is probably the biggest hop-on-hop-off bus company operating in Rome. Tickets range from €15 to €38 if bought directly from a tour operator, or you can receive a discount if you book online in advance of your departure date.

Here's the price and features rundown, but be sure to check the official site linked below as prices do change and fluctuate!

Classic one-day ticket :

1 day Hop on, Hop off bus running on the Red Route

• Adult:  from €27 (Full price from €30)
• Child (aged 5–15): from €13.50 (Full price from €15)
• Family (2 Adults, 2 Children): From €67.50 (Full price from €75)

Premium two-day ticket :

2 day Hop on, Hop off bus running on the Red Route

• Adult:  from €30.60 (Full price from €34)
• Child (aged 5–15): from €15.30 (Full price from €17)
• Family (2 Adults, 2 Children): From €76.50 (Full price from €85)

Deluxe three-day ticket :

3 day Hop on, Hop off bus running on the Red Route

• Adult:  from €34.20 (Full price from €38)
• Child (aged 5–15): from €17.10 (Full price from €19)
• Family (2 Adults, 2 Children): From €85.50 (Full price from €95)

Classic Ticket + Vatican Museums :

1 day Hop on, Hop off bus running on the Red Route, along with skip-the-lines entry to Vatican Museums, including Sistine Chapel.

• Adult:  from €57.00 (Full price from €38)

These ticket prices include flexible ticket options, free walking tours, pre-recorded commentary, free onboard Wi-Fi, and a hop-on-hop-off ticket that will allow you to see seven of the best sights in Rome.

I Love Rome, Grayline Bus

The I Love Rome tour run by Grayline uses bright-pink buses to make it easier for riders to spot their bus while they’re out and about.

Buses run every 30 minutes, and there are a number of ticket options available. Children 12 and under always ride free.

Make sure to check the prices on the official ticketing website as they might fluctuate in availability and prices!

Daily ticket:

• Youth (aged 13–20): €15

24-hour ticket:

• Youth (aged 13–20): €16    

48-hour ticket:

• Youth (aged 13–20): €20

Single ride ticket:

• Youth (aged 13–20): €12

5-hour special ride ticket:

• Youth (aged 13–20): € 13 

These ticket prices include free walking tours, pre-recorded audio, free onboard Wi-Fi, a detailed route map, and a hop-on-hop-off ticket that will allow you to see seven of the best sights in Rome.

Other Rome Bus Operators

Citysightseeing hop-on hop-off tours.

CitySightseeing Rome offers one-day, 24-hour, and 48-hour tickets, ranging from €12 to €32, depending on the length of ticket required and the age of the rider.

You’ll also gain access to a free app, which provides a walking tour, Wi-Fi, an audio guide, and a ticket to take you past seven of Rome’s top sights.

Tickets for City Tour Roma are free for children under 12, and they offer single-run, 24-hour, and 48-hour bus tickets.

Prices range from €15 to €32, and tickets include free Wi-Fi, an audio guide available in 13 languages, access to an app to track the location of buses, and your transportation to seven famous sights.

Roma Cristiana Hop-on Hop-off Tours

Roma Cristiana’s bus tour is included in the price of the Omnia Vatican Card, which costs €69 for a 24-hour ticket or €129 for a 72-hour ticket.

This higher cost also includes tickets to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, as well as entry to a range of other attractions in Rome. You can also buy the bus tour as a standalone ticket for between €12 and €32.

This bus tour has more stops than the other providers, and it has a focus on the important religious sites of the city (though it also stops at the key ancient sites like the Colosseum).

How long does the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus take?

Hop-on-hop-off bus tours can be a great way to see the main sights of a city, particularly if you’re in a hurry.

If you’re planning to stay for a weekend or just a couple of days, it can be a super convenient way to see the city’s main tourist attractions without necessarily having to make a full visit to all of them.

Most of the tourist bus routes in Rome visit 7 sights, plus the train station. A straight-through ride (i.e., a ride where you don’t get off the bus at any point) takes around 90 minutes.

However, if you want to make the most of your tour and get off at each stop, it will probably take much longer—especially if you need to queue up and buy tickets for the main attractions.

Where do the Hop-On-Hop-Off buses stop in Rome?

As mentioned, most of the tour bus companies in Rome stop at seven sights. These are most of the biggest and best-known tourist attractions in the city, so you can feel pretty confident that you won’t be missing out on anything important!

The buses stop close to the following sights:

• Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
• Circus Maximus
• Piazza Venezia and Teatro Marcello
• Vatican City
• Spanish Steps
• Trevi Fountain

The Cristiana Roma buses don’t stop near the Spanish Steps, but they also stop at these locations:

• San Giovanni dei Fiorentini
• Santa Agnese in Agone
• Torre Argentina
• Santi Apostoli
• Santa Maria degli Angeli
• San Giovanni in Laterano
• Santa Maria in Ara Coeli 
• Largo Argentina

What's the best way to tour Rome?

For many people, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour is the best way to tour a city. It’s so convenient to have transport included in a tour, and you can rest assured that you’ll be covering all the biggest attractions in a city.

For others, though, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour misses the point of a city break. Sure, you’ll get to see the sights from the bus and get some information, but you might also feel like you’re rushing around and missing out on the  real  Rome.

If you’re thinking that a hop-on-hop-off bus might not be the right fit for you, Rome also has a great public transport network. We recommend Big Bus Tours for your hop-on hop-off solution because of it's credibility as one of the largest bus operators among major cities in Europe.

Single tickets cost just €1.50, or you can buy one- to three-day tourist tickets, which could help you save money if you’ll be using public transport a few times a day.

The center of Rome is also relatively small, and it’s an easy city to explore on foot. There are  walking tours  available to take you around the city’s highlights, or you can do things the old-fashioned way and simply use a map to find your way around.

Plan Your Trip to Rome!

Taking a hop-on-hop-off bus tour can be a great way to go sightseeing in a new city. Sit back and relax as the bus takes you from sight to sight, and listen to the audio guides to learn more about what it is you’re actually seeing.

Whether you’re just visiting Rome or planning to head elsewhere, you'll want to make sure you're prepared. Give Pilot a try to stay on top of your trip planning game!

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19 Best Tours in Rome

By Maresa Manara and Erica Firpo

Vacation tours can be a divisive topic, particularly for people who feel passionately about exploring a city independently. But the truth of the matter is that exploring it with a local by your side will bring you to parts of it you might never find on your own. And no locals have as many stories to tell their city as the Romans. You'll find the most intellectual and personable tour guides to take you around vineyards, through olive groves, on vespa rides, through film studios, food markets, cemeteries, medieval churches, and the most iconic ancient sites. Without further delay, these are our picks for the very best Rome tours.

Click the link to read our complete Rome travel guide.

City Wonders: Ostia Antica Half-Day Tour from Rome Arrow

Ostia Antica is a historic seaside village an hour from Rome and these half-day tours of the coastal archaeological site are well-planned. Groups visit Ostia’s amphitheater, temples, historic baths, and ancient market. Guides seem to have real passion for the subject, talking visitors through the entire tour, peppering their commentary with anecdotes and fun facts. This is a slam-dunk for true history buffs who want to get deeper into the greater Rome area.

Elizabeth Lev: Rome's Historical Center, An All-You-Can-See Smorgasbord of Art Arrow

Elizabeth Lev is something else. Rome is her city, and this tour is her work of art. She has an incredible way of engaging with the history, the art, the monuments, and the stories. You'll find yourself wanting to spend all your time with her. The tour explores the ancient, medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque art periods; and it visits sites like 13th century frescos above the church of Santa Cecilia and art collections behind the facades of the Spada palace. You'll be wowed by all of the layers of the city and how it feels like Rome has been hitting a string of never-ending home runs since antiquity.

Elizabeth Lev: Borrowed but Never Baroque, Bernini & 17th Century Rome Arrow

This tour of Elizabeth Lev's meets up outside the beautiful Piazza della Repubblica . Our group was tiny, but Liz will accommodate larger private groups. She is both an incredible academic brain and a witty storyteller. And her tour shows of the dramatic  range of Baroque art and architecture within Rome. This tour is great for anyone who wants a deep dive into the city's Baroque history, and anyone who wants to appreciate Rome in an experience that's not quite in the guide books.

LivItaly Tours: Vespa Sidecar Tour Arrow

The Vespa Sidecar tour is entirely private and can be customized for return visitors who may have already seen the highlights. It is not, though, a show-up-when-you-want activity. It can be organized for up to six participants, but you'll only be in a group if you choose to be. My tour was perfect because it was just me and the driver/guide Luca.  As a licensed guide, he knows his history, is easy to understand, and is very friendly. He always has a plan, but is quick to change it at the first request. We talked Rome and food and went to all the right places, from big names to more under the radar finds. 

Lindsey Tramuta

Lauren Burvill

Kristi Kellogg

Sarah James

Rome 500 Experience: The 7 Hidden Gems of Rome Tour in an Antique FIAT 500 Arrow

There's a lot of reasons to sign up for this tour through greater Rome, not least is that you get to drive yourself with the top down in a vintage Fiat 500. Another nice perk: Rome's traffic is seriously easier to deal with when traveling in convoy (the group can have up to 50 cars in it). And, as you will get your own car to drive, it can feel like a private tour, although groups are also organized by language, so communication shouldn't be a problem for anyone.  But most importantly, you just look so much better behind the wheel of a classic Italian car.

Top Bike Rental & Tours: Ancient Appian Way, Catacombs, and Aqueducts Park Tour Arrow

This tour will take the better part of your day (it's six hours start to finish). But going by bike to these outer city sites —the old Appian Way via the ancient aqueduct—is the easiest and most entertaining way to see them. Plus you won't want to cut out early: it ends with wine and some nibbles in Caffarella Park, which is so expansive it feels like you're in the countryside even though it's smack in the middle of the greater city. Bikes feel brand new and the confidence of the tour guides will put any nervous riders at ease.

Rome Tram Tracks Tour Arrow

This tour is a rocking dance  party on a vintage tram that rumbles through Rome. It lasts two hours, during which you'll cut up the dance floor, drink, and cheer as you roll past some of Rome's most iconic sites . This is really an evening activity for those who don't just want to go get dinner somewhere in town. The greatest part, however, may have been how the senior citizens on our ride managed to upstage all the thirty- and forty-year olds on the dance floor.

Casa Mia Tours: Rome Cinema & Food Arrow

Rome has a rich history of cinema, and while you could take any tour with any guide, there is nothing quite like seeing its cinematic history with Eleonora Baldwin, Cinecittà Studios veteran and granddaughter of famed director Vittorio de Sica, four-time Academy Award winner and father of Italian cinema. This tour is both Rome's history and Eleonora's story, and she is so passionate that it will make you want to spend all day with her, and all night watching films. There are only three requirements—a pair of comfy shoes, an empty stomach, and a reservation.

Non-Catholic Cemetery Tour Arrow

You should always visit the truly Roman neighborhood of Testaccio when in Rome, but this tour of its historic non-Catholic Cemetery gives you reason to stay in the area after you've hit its prime trattorias. It's a beautiful, unusually tranquil space, filled with bougainvillea and museum-worthy sculptures in the middle of the city. The informative guides will school you on the cemetery's 400-year history as you amble past the tombstones of Keats, Percy Shelly, and other famous expats.

Context Travel: Fall and Rise of Rome Arrow

This historical tour starts at a medieval church in San Clemente and ends at the church of SS. Giovanni e Paolo. Its chronology spans from the Roman Empire's fall to the Renaissance's beginnings. The guide Philip was total pro. He's an archaeologist with a great sense of humor and passion for every site. He knew exactly what to show me and could even point out where to stand so I had the best understanding of the sights. People who enjoy Roman, religious, and art histories will  love this tour. It's also a great opportunity for people who have already seen the main tourist attractions to see some gems off the beaten path.

The Roman Guy: Cocktail Bars in Rome, Evening Walking Tour Arrow

This English-speaking tour will take you to some of Rome's most popular bars, including Trastevere's Freni e Frizioni , with stop offs to major attractions along the way. Plus, company founders Sean and Brandon are always quick to offer tips on the best spots for gelato or pizza in the city as you pass by for that next negroni. It’s actually a fantastic way to experience life in Rome with locals—far more relaxing that spending time trying to avoid tourist traps. 

Katie Parla: Vineyard Visit to Cantina Ribelà Arrow

Sommelier Maurizio di Franco meets you at your hotel and accompanies you via hired car to Cantina Ribelà while enchanting you with a bit of Lazio history and winemaking background on Ribelà. Maurizio is a certificated sommelier, and it doesn't hurt that he's also super charming. His love of wine is contagious, he tells great stories, and his patience is wonderful. At the winery you'll be struck be the natural beauty of the landscape, close as it is to a city as big as Rome. 

LivItaly Tours: Virtual Reality Tour of the Colosseum and Domus Aurea Arrow

Imagine if you could physically see the sites, monuments, and reference points that tour guides bring up when ushering you around a city as ancient as Rome. This virtual reality tour lets you, by creating enhanced versions of the way the Eternal City appeared during the days of the empire, all visible through the glasses you'll wear as you make your way through the Roman Forum and Colosseum .

Vatican Museums: “Out of Hours” Guided Tour, Good Morning Vatican Museums Arrow

There is nothing like opening the doors to an empty Sistine Chapel . The exclusive private Out of Hours Good Morning Vatican tour must be booked months in advance and is subject to permission of the Vatican. You will be greeted by Vatican personnel and escorted through the complex by the Clavigero, holder of the 300 keys of the Vatican Museums. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it does begin quite early in the morning. At 6 a.m. you and no more than 19 others will accompany the Clavigero to open the doors of the Vatican Museums.  

Johnny Madge: Olive Oil Tours Arrow

You'll have to trek well outside the city (close to an hour) to reach the olive groves in the Sabina country, but it's well worth the trip. Johnny Madge is an olive oil authority , judging competitions all over the world and this is his backyard. He clearly loves it, and that love is contagious. Tourees will learn to distinguish extra virgin olive oil from everything else and importantly that you do not drizzle oil on your food. You pour it. This  is best for foodies who want to get out of the city and deep dive in Roman food. 

Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini: Multimedia Tour Arrow

The Domus Romane are ancient Roman villas and other structures, abandoned in antiquity, filled in with debris, and inadvertently used as foundations for Palazzo Valentini, a Renaissance palace turned government office building. They are now underground, obscured by buildings and pavement just beside Piazza Venezia. On this tour, in situ multimedia renderings recreate an Imperial Rome domus, as well as some aspects of Roman life. The guides are actual archaeologists, and the fact-checked audio is delivered cleanly. These language-specific multimedia tours are popular though, and must be booked in advance.

Tavole Romane Food Tours: The Rome Food Walking Tour Arrow

Think of Tavole Romane, the food-and-wine-focused walking tour of Rome, as getting access to the little black book of those who know the city's food scene best. Owners Gabriele and Silvia customize the tours based on the interests of each intimate group, which could mean wine bars in Trastevere or an aperitivo-heavy hop through the centro storico, led by somms, chefs, or another tapped in member of Rome's food scene.

Latteria Studio: Market to Table Arrow

This market tour and cooking class began with a wonderful walk through the market to Latteria Studios, a functional cooking studio and photo set. Alice, Rachel, and Carla, who head up the activities, are real professionals. They know everyone at the market, and they know all about food. Sitting at the table at the end of day fosters a real sense of community with what may have been a group of strangers from different countries and continents. You'll immerse yourself in Rome and make new friends at the same time. 

Cinecittà Studios: VIP Tour Arrow

This is your chance to see the studio that was once home to Fellini and Leone. It's still a working studio though, so you'll need to follow the guide's itinerary to the letter. She will know about Cinecittà though: its history, and its film productions, and its famous alumni. Also, Cinecittà owns every set that was built on the lot. Master artisans created them all—ancient Rome, a 1940s submarine, and fantastical, imagined worlds. They perfectly accurate to their settings, as well as pristinely preserved.

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I've been a tour guide in Rome for 16 years. Here are 5 tourist attractions that are worth it and 5 you can skip.

Posted: May 28, 2024 | Last updated: May 28, 2024

• After 16 years of working as a tour guide in Rome , I've figured out the best attractions.
• I always recommend visiting the Park of the Aqueducts and the  Ostia Antica archeological site.
• But I think the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Mouth of Truth attractions are overcrowded. 

Rome is pretty crowded — the city welcomed a record-breaking 35 million tourists in 2023. Any gorgeous photos you see of breathtaking and empty piazzas were likely taken long before most people have woken up.

As a seasoned Roman tour guide for the past 16 years, I would never say certain attractions have no merit. But after years of interacting with travelers , I understand that people want alternatives.

Luckily, Rome has priceless art and artifacts around every corner.

Here are five popular attractions that are worth visiting, and five you might want to skip.

The Capitoline Museums offer plenty of art and archeological finds.

Located on Capitoline Hill, the Capitoline Museums offer a treasure trove of ancient Roman art and artifacts.

Despite their historical significance as some of the oldest public museums in the world , they're often overlooked by tourists.

The well-curated collections include masterpieces by renowned artists like Michelangelo and Caravaggio, ancient bronzes, and frescoes. It's a must-visit for any art enthusiast seeking a quieter, more intimate experience.

Don't miss the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano.

As one of Rome's four major basilicas, San Giovanni in Laterano (also known as the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran) boasts a stunning display of baroque architecture and intricate frescoes.

It may not be as famous as some of Rome's other churches, but its grandeur and historical importance as the oldest papal basilica in the city make it a hidden gem worth exploring.

The Park of the Aqueducts is beautiful and full of history.

Escape the crowds and stagnant air of the city center and venture into a tranquil Park of the Aqueducts (Parco degli Acquedotti).

Here, you'll see towering arches of 11 aqueducts that once carried water to the heart of ancient Rome. It's a perfect spot for a leisurely stroll on the ancient Latin Road or a picnic away from the crowds.

The attraction also offers a unique perspective on the ingenuity of Roman engineering.

There's incredible art in the Basilica of Sant’Agostino.

Art lovers shouldn't miss the exquisite "Madonna dei Pellegrini" housed within the Cavalletti Chapel at Basilica di Sant'Agostino in Campo Marzio.

The dramatic interplay of light and shadow in Caravaggio's painting comes alive in the serene church, providing a captivating glimpse into the artist's unparalleled talent and revolutionary style.

A Roman vacation isn't complete without a trip to Ostia Antica.

Step back in time and explore the remarkably well-preserved ruins of Ostia Antica, Rome's ancient seaport.

The archaeological site offers a quieter and less time-consuming alternative to the crowds of Pompeii a little farther south. Visitors can wander through ancient streets, houses, and Roman theaters in a more peaceful setting than the Roman Forum.

Plus, you can enjoy a seafood lunch overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea after your visit .

On the other hand, the Vatican Museums are overcrowded.

Although the Vatican Museums are undeniably home to some of the world's most renowned art collections, they're almost always swarming with tourists.

The crowds and long queues can detract from your overall experience. In peak season , the Vatican easily sees 20,000 to 30,000 visitors a day.

It's virtually impossible to admire the art as you're shuttled through each gallery until everyone spills into the Sistine Chapel . Even the bathroom lines can be a 30-minute wait.

Unless you are willing to spend a lot of money on an official tour before the museums are open to the public or visit in the offseason , you should consider alternative attractions.

You can get a good view of the Colosseum without going inside.

As iconic as it may be, the Colosseum can be overwhelming, particularly during peak tourist seasons .

Its historical significance is undeniable, but exploring the ancient amphitheater can be a challenge among the swarms of visitors.

Acquiring tickets is also tricky. We often have to time our online purchases perfectly, refreshing the page in 10-minute intervals. Tickets sell out quickly and are sometimes resold by large companies.

Consider alternative viewpoints or guided tours for a more personalized experience. I also like taking in the exterior around 9 a.m. or in the evening when it lights up.

Walking the Appian Way might be a letdown.

The Appian Way is significant in Roman history as the oldest and most important road. But its appeal may be lost on the average tourist.

Nowadays, there are loads of bike and bus tours to the Catacombs along the road — making it crowded — and public transport there is difficult.

I suggest visiting the Park of the Aqueducts instead. It's an easy metro ride from Termini Station and offers a glimpse into what the Roman countryside would've been like.

Everyone wants a photo in front of the Trevi Fountain — and that's the problem.

Although undeniably one of Rome's most famous landmarks , the Trevi Fountain is often teeming with tourists jostling for the perfect selfie.

The sheer volume of visitors can detract from the fountain's beauty and significance, making it challenging to appreciate it in peace.

If you insist on throwing a coin in, go as early in the morning as possible — otherwise, it's a zoo.

I wouldn't wait in line for the Mouth of Truth.

Made famous by its appearance in classic films like "Roman Holiday," the Mouth of Truth may not live up to the hype for many visitors.

According to medieval legend, the stone mask will bite off the hand of any liar who enters its mouth, which has made it popular with tourists.

But the brief photo opportunity doesn't justify the long queues. Plus, it was probably just used as a drain cover in the Temple of Hercules.

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20 Best Things to Do in Rome, According to Locals

From picnicking in the shadow of ancient aqueducts to sipping cocktails at the hottest new rooftop bar, these are the best things to do in Rome.

Laura Itzkowitz is a freelance writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributing digital editor in 2015 and going freelance in 2016. She has also held positions as a contributing editor at The Points Guy and the NYC cities editor at DuJour Magazine. In addition to Travel + Leisure , her writing has appeared in Architectural Digest , Surface Magazine , Brooklyn Magazine , T Magazine , The Wall Street Journal , Vogue, GQ, Departures, Afar, Fodor's, Town & Country , Condé Nast Traveler , Robb Report , Hemispheres, and others. When she's not jetsetting around Italy and beyond, she can be found in Rome, enjoying some cacio e pepe or relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. Originally from the Boston area, Laura moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and translation at Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in French from Smith College. * 10+ years of experience writing and editing * Co-wrote "New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants," an award-winning guide to New York City's speakeasy scene published by Jonglez Editions in 2015 * Contributed to "Fodor's Brooklyn," published by Penguin Random House in 2015, which won silver in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition * Contributed an essay to "Epic Hikes of Europe," published by Lonely Planet in 2021 * Updated the 2022 edition of "Fodor's Essential Italy"

© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images

When planning a trip to Rome, first-time visitors usually want to check the Colosseum and the Vatican off their lists, throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, and indulge in heaping plates of pasta, pizza, and gelato. And while those things are all worth doing, there’s so much more to do in the Eternal City.

Just consider that aside from the Vatican, Rome is home to more than 900 churches — and many of them contain precious works of art. And the Colosseum is just one of many archeological sites where you can learn more about the Roman Empire. But Rome is far from stuck in the past, and some of the best things to do include seeing modern and contemporary art exhibitions, admiring 1930s architecture, spotting street art, and checking out the city’s swanky new hotels.

Of course, Romans are passionate about food and wine, and everyone has their favorite places for pizza, pasta, gelato, coffee, wine, and cocktails. In fact, it would be easy to plan a whole trip to Rome around meals and aperitivos. You could start your day with a cappuccino at an old-school café, twirl spaghetti carbonara, sip an Aperol spritz at a rooftop bar, eat award-winning pizza, and sample some of the city’s most unusual gelato flavors all in a day.

Having lived in Rome for nearly five years and having visited many times before that, I’ve tried to take advantage of every chance I can get to visit the best museums and archeological sites, explore under-the-radar neighborhoods, peek inside aristocratic palaces, see masterpieces inside churches, and eat my way across the city. But don’t take it from me — I’ve also tapped a couple of in-the-know locals who run some of Rome’s best tour companies for their recommendations. Read on for the 20 best things to do in Rome.

Visit archeological sites beyond the Colosseum.

Tomás Guardia Bencomo/Getty Images

As an archeologist and CEO of the luxury tour company Roma Experience , Elisa Valeria Bove knows all the best archeological sites in and around Rome. Her personal favorite? The Appia Antica and Quintili’s Villa , which is found along the ancient Roman road. “Once called the 'road of fire', for me it is the road of wonders,” she says, calling it “the most romantic and imposing archeological site of Rome.” About a half-hour drive outside the center of Rome, these sites draw only a tiny fraction of the amount of people that crowd the Colosseum, so visiting them is a much more relaxed experience.

Embrace the coffee culture.

piola666/Getty Images

“Every Italian has their neighborhood bar, and Retrobottega is mine,” says Annie Ojile, who runs the Vespa tour company Scooteroma and has been living in Rome for more than 15 years. “I like to have a cold coffee, especially in the summer months, so I’ve fallen in love with espresso tonic, which is espresso on ice with tonic water. It’s fabulous and refreshing.”

For an old-school Italian coffee bar, Bove recommends La Tazza d’Oro near the Pantheon, which opened in 1944 and still roasts its own beans. “In the summer you can have an amazing coffee granita with whipped cream — exactly what’s needed during a tour,” she says.

See artistic treasures at the world’s oldest museum.

Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure

While the Vatican Museums may be more famous, the Capitoline Museums atop the Capitoline Hill are actually the oldest museum in the world. “Crossing each room, you have a clear idea of the grandiosity of the Roman civilization, from the monarchy, passing through the republic and imperial eras,” says Bove, calling it “the evolution of Rome in one museum — a trip within a trip.” Don’t miss the incredible panoramas of the Roman Forum.

Try the quartet of Roman pastas.

Photo by Rafa Elias/Getty Images

The most classic Roman pastas are essentially variations of the same recipe. Cacio e pepe is made with just pecorino and pepper. Add guanciale (pork cheek) and you’ve got la gricia . Add an egg to la gricia and you’ve got carbonara . Substitute tomato sauce for the egg and you’ve got amatriciana . Try them all at a quintessentially Roman restaurant like Da Enzo al 29 , Checco Er Carettiere , or Salumeria Roscioli and decide which one is your favorite.

Picnic in the shadow of ancient aqueducts.

TFILM/Getty Images

On sunny days — especially weekends and public holidays — locals love to pack a picnic or pop into a deli to grab a sandwich and head out to one of the city’s green, leafy parks. While the most famous and centrally located park is the Villa Borghese, the Parco degli Acquedotti is a local favorite — and you can reach it on the metro. “A stroll here is stepping into the past, a perfect place for a picnic, to run or cycle,” says Bove. “The owners of this spot are the aqueducts: six of the 11 of the ancient city of Rome can be admired in this charming location.”

Shop for local souvenirs.

Courtesy of Booktique

Skip the ubiquitous shops selling cheap souvenirs made elsewhere and support small local businesses instead. “What I love about Booktique is that the owners’ history is with books and museum shops and they have a way to present all their treasures in a very interesting, cheeky, chic way,” says Ojile. “I buy every single gift there, and I’m not exaggerating at all. I also buy myself many gifts there — candles, hand soap, art for my house, canvas bags.” Booktique has two locations near the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

Find all the Caravaggios in Rome.

Michelangelo Merisi (better known as Caravaggio) was one of the masters of Baroque painting. He was particularly known for using a technique called chiaroscuro , which is essentially the dramatic contrast between light and dark. There are about 25 of his works in Rome, many of which can be seen in museums such as Galleria Borghese , Palazzo Barberini , and the aforementioned Capitoline Museums, as well as churches like San Luigi dei Francesi, Santa Maria del Popolo, and Sant’Agostino. You could go on a treasure hunt looking for them all.

Stroll down Via Margutta, the artists’ street.

adisa/Getty Images

Tucked away between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo, the charming, cobblestoned Via Margutta is known as the artists’ street because historically, it was a hub for artists, including Picasso, and there are still many art galleries there today. Bove calls it, “A peaceful place in the heart of Rome, just a few minutes from the crowded Spanish Steps, to get lost in the magnificent art galleries and discover the painters of Via Margutta.”

Via Margutta also has some fascinating cinematic history. Famed filmmaker Federico Fellini lived on this street (there’s a plaque on his building) and part of "Roman Holiday" starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck was filmed in the same apartment complex where Picasso lived. For a unique souvenir, stop by La Bottega del Marmoraro , where artisan Sandro Fiorentino still carves marble plaques by hand — many with witty phrases.

Visit a winery on the outskirts of the city.

Courtesy of Tenuta di Fiorano

Did you know there are vineyards and wineries on the edges of Rome? Bove’s favorite, Tenuta di Fiorano , is owned by Prince Alessandrojacopo Boncompagni Ludovisi. “It doesn’t happen every day that a prince welcomes you in his estate like an old friend,” she remarks. “I always admired the will he has to respect the history of his family and the territory where he decided to plant his vineyard, creating one of the excellences of Italy.”

Try unusual gelato flavors.

krblokhin/Getty Images

There are plenty of excellent gelaterias all over the city, but to taste some unusual flavors, you have to go to Torcè . “They have these unusual flavors like black sesame. I tried their tomato gelato, which is excellent with mozzarella. Torcè has done phenomenal things,” says Bove. In addition to their award-winning Majani chocolate gelato, they make savory flavors like gorgonzola, carbonara, and cacio e pepe.

Go street art hunting.

Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

“Street art has an expiration date — you never know how long the piece is going to last — so it’s always fun to go find new pieces,” says Ojile. “I just love gliding over the cobblestones on my cherry red wheels and making random stops when I find new or revisit old pieces of street art.” Ojile recommends exploring neighborhoods like Testaccio, Ostiense, and Garbatella, where there’s a proliferation of murals and paste art. You can also see some cool street art in San Lorenzo and Pigneto, which are two of the city’s most up-and-coming neighborhoods.

See an ancient monument and modern art at the Ara Pacis.

Photo Beto/Getty Images

“The year after I moved to Rome, they started building the Ara Pacis and I will always remember that there was this big scandal because it was the first new piece of architecture to be built in the historic center since Mussolini’s era,” Ojile recalls. The sleek, white building was designed by Richard Meier to house the ancient Altar of Peace built for Emperor Augustus. Upstairs you can see the ancient altar, while the lower level shows rotating exhibitions dedicated to modern art, design, cinema, or photography. “Now I live five minutes from it and they have really stellar photography shows and exhibitions and I absolutely love it. I go to every show,” Ojile says.

Peek inside aristocratic palaces.

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Want to see how Roman nobility lived? A handful of aristocratic palaces have been opened up as museums, allowing visitors to glimpse at their incredible art collections and opulent décor. Palazzo Colonna , which was a filming location for "Roman Holiday," is open on Friday and Saturday mornings. Palazzo Doria Pamphilj , meanwhile, has a gorgeous hall of mirrors inspired by the one at Versailles. Villa Farnesina in Trastevere contains breathtaking frescoes by Raphael.

Have an aperitivo at a rooftop bar.

At the end of the day, there are few experiences as magical as sipping a drink while watching the sunset over the city’s terracotta rooftops. Luckily Rome has plenty of rooftop bars to choose from. Bove’s pick is Otivm Roof Bar overlooking the Capitoline Hill, while Ojile raves about Terrazza Flores above El Porteño, a chic Argentinian restaurant. “This is where you’ll find me this summer soaking in the gorgeous views and sipping on my Porteño cocktail,” she says.

Try one of the city’s new wave of pizzerias.

Courtesy of Seu Pizza Illuminati

Pizza never went out of style, but lately there are more and more pizzerias upping the ante with creative offerings and top-notch quality. Rome has 10 pizzerias ranked among the best in Italy by the judges at Top 50 Pizza. Among the top are Seu Pizza Illuminati in Trastevere, which serves gourmet Neapolitan-style pizza by Pier Daniele Seu; 180 Grammi in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Centocelle, where pizzaiolo Jacopo Mercuro makes thin-crust Roman pizza with all kinds of creative toppings; and Sbanco , where the dough is somewhere in between Neapolitan and Roman style and the fritti (fried appetizers) are divine.

Sip cutting-edge cocktails at Drink Kong.

Courtesy of Drink Kong

For Ojile, a perfect night out starts with dinner in Monti at a restaurant like Rocco or La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali and ends at Drink Kong , which is ranked as one of the world’s 50 best bars. “It’s like an ‘80s dreamland with amazing cocktails,” she notes. The aesthetic is inspired by Japanese film noir and the wildly creative drinks are dreamt up by Irish-Italian bartender Patrick Pistolesi, who has been a fixture on the city’s nightlife scene for decades.

Book a stay at a luxury hotel.

Courtesy of Bulgari Hotel Roma

Rome is having a hospitality renaissance , with one luxe five-star hotel opening after the next. Some of the buzziest recent openings include It List hotel the Six Senses Rome , a sleek, modern hotel for wellness and sustainability-minded travelers; the Bulgari Hotel Rome , known for its gorgeous design and restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito; the Rome Edition , which occupies a Rationalist building near Via Veneto and has a restaurant by the team behind cult-favorite spot Pianostrada (also on the It List); and Anantara Palazzo Naiadi , which has a cool rooftop restaurant and a gourmet restaurant on the ground floor.

Venture out to EUR.

Pino Pacifico/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The neighborhood known as EUR on the southern edge of Rome is a must-see destination for fans of 1930s and ‘40s Rationalist architecture. Mussolini built the neighborhood for the Esposizione Universale Romana of 1942, which never took place because of the Second World War. The most alluring building, architecturally speaking, is the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (better known as the Colosseo Quadrato, or Square Colosseum), which now houses Fendi’s headquarters. EUR is also home to an amusement park called Luneur Park , the Nuvola Convention Center , and a location of Torcè.

See the Cinecittà Film Studios.

Gianmarco Dettori/Getty Images

Rome was once known as “Hollywood on the Tiber” because so many movies were filmed here. While some were filmed on location, many were shot at Cinecittà Studios , which is still an active filming studio. Part of it is open to visitors, including several exhibitions dedicated to film history (there’s one all about Fellini). You can visit the exhibitions on your own or sign up for a guided tour to learn more about the studio’s history and see the set of HBO’s Rome .

Sample wine at an enoteca.

Cavan Images/Getty Images

An enoteca is essentially just a wine bar, but they can range from simple and spartan to classy, elegant affairs. They usually have a wide selection of bottles and often a good variety of wines by the glass. Some just have small bites like meat and cheese boards, while others have full menus. For the best enoteca in Rome, Bove recommends Achilli al Parlamento , saying they have “an incredible selection of wine labels at cost price. If you are a lover of great wines, you can’t skip this place.”

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written by Joanne Owen

updated 04.06.2024

So, here’s the thing. Though undeniably romantic, Rome is also very, very hectic. Even crossing the road can feel akin to undertaking a gladiatorial challenge, and its labyrinthine historic areas can be confusing to navigate. All of which means, it can feel like it might take an eternity to get to grips with getting around the Eternal City. I learned this the hard way during my first trip to the city. For example, getting lost in Trastevere ahead of meeting some Roman mates for lunch wasn’t my finest hour. To save you from making the same mistakes, read on to find how I navigated Rome like a pro (eventually).

Pre-trip preparation

First impressions and challenges, navigating public transport, walking the streets like a local, dealing with traffic and crowds.

As any seasoned traveller knows — whether you’re heading to a remote village in a far-flung tropical destination, or a closer-to-home city — it’s advisable to do plenty of pre-trip prep before you hit the road. Says the person who failed on that front when it came to navigating Trastevere. Anyway, moving on!

Do your research

In terms of pre-trip planning ahead of travelling to Rome, I found a bunch of travel blogs useful in terms of figuring out what I most wanted to see and do in a limited time, and working out how I was going to get around Rome to fit everything in.

Rome Toolkit is pretty great when it comes to insider intel on how to get around, along with detail on airports , sightseeing, and top trips to take from Rome .

If you want to wise-up on local events and concerts, check out Romeing and Romewise . The latter also shares tips on the likes of non-touristy places to grab a coffee, gelato or full-on authentic food near stacks of top attractions. 

Last (but by no means least) on the pre-trip reseach front, you might want to read our travel tips for Rome , and get your hands on The Rough Guide to Rome . 

Yep, I’m definitely biased, but it’s packed with info on every area that’ll help you decide where you want to stay in Rome , and the top things to do when you’re in town. 

Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to give more thought to start how to get from A to B once you’ve arrived. The Rough Guide will help you do that, too, by the way (it’s also packed with maps), but back to more personal pre-trip planning tips before I share tips on getting around.

 Fountain di Trevi in Rome ©  trabantos/Shutterstock

Arm yourself with navigation tools and apps

I could have done with following this advice I first time I visited Rome — they definitely helped my subsequent trips.

In terms of handy transport apps, check out ATAC Roma — the official app for Rome's public transport authority. You can use it to plan routes and buy tickets.

MyCicero also helps with trip planning and public transport schedules, while Roma Mobile provides real-time info on public transport, including routes, schedules, and delays.

As for maps, it goes without saying that Google and Citymapper will be your best friend — look to download offline maps where possible. That certainly came in handy when my phone battery died on me in the middle of the Forum and I had no idea how get across town to meet a friend for lunch.

Another tool that’s come in massively handy when planning countless trips around the world is  Rome2Rio . You just have to plug in your desired start and end destination and it’ll give you the lowdown on every mode of transport, with estimated journey times and estimated costs.

Learn from locals

While you’ll certainly have no trouble navigating Rome with little-to-no Italian, I found having a few phrases in my armoury pretty useful. That way you can at least ask for directions politely even if you struggle to understand the reply!

Oh, and ahead of travelling, a native Roman friend advised me to forget pricey taxis, and take a bus from the airport to the centre of town — more detail on that below.

Piazza del Popolo (People's Square) in Rome © Shutterstock

On arrival in Fiumicino Airport (Leonardo da Vinci), I already knew to look for the bus stop to get into the centre. On my first trip, I didn’t know I needed be at Terminal 3 — the departure point for most buses — which left me frustrated trying to figure out where the buses were in a busy airport

So, save yourself the time and hassle of aimless wandering by buying your bus ticket in advance and checking the departure point so you can head straight there after collecting your luggage. 

A few companies run shuttles from Fiumicino Airport to the centre of Rome e.g. Terravision, SIT Bus Shuttle, TAM Bus and Cotral. Do your research to check costs and routes to pick the service that’ll get you closest to where you need to be. 

Most services end at Termini Station — the central railway station. It’ll take around 45 minutes to an hour to get here. Being a major transport hub, Termini is very, very hectic, so it’s advisable to pre-plan your onward route from here. 

To avoid get caught in the craziness of crowds and confusing signs, figure out which metro or onward bus you need to take before you arrive. This certainly saved me a whole lot of time and stress when I reached Termini. 

Landing in Ciampino Airport? You could take a 10-minute bus to Ciampino Train Station and jump onto a 15-minute train to Termini from here.

Alternatively, a few bus companies operate direct services to the centre. This might be the best option if you’re loaded down with bulky bags  — lugging luggage on and off buses and trains multiple times isn't much fun!

When it comes to getting around Rome, do your research and plan routes in advance Rome © Shutterstock

While Rome is a wonderful city to wander on foot (once you’ve got used to the traffic and have your bearings — more on that later), you’ll almost certainly want to explore further afield and make use of public transport. Here’s an overview of exactly that.

Compared with other European cities, Rome’s metro system has limited coverage — three main lines that don’t extend to all the key tourist areas. 

That said, Line A (orange) runs from Battistini to Anagnina and serves lots of major attractions, including the Vatican museums (Cipro), Spanish Steps (Spagna) and Trevi Fountain (Barberini).

Line A intersects with Line B (blue) at Termini, and runs from Laurentina to Rebibbia/Conca d'Oro, with stops near the Colosseum (Colosseo) and Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo). Meanwhile, Line C (green) runs from Monte Compatri/Pantano to San Giovanni.

Vatican Gardens from the dome of St. Peter's Basilica © Shutterstock

Running from early morning until midnight, with handy night buses available on certain routes (look out for the “N” prefix), Rome’s bus network covers areas not serviced by the metro or trams. 

Termini, Piazza Venezia, and Largo di Torre Argentina are major bus hubs to have on your radar.

Generally less crowded than buses and the metro, six tram lines cover scenic routes that complement the bus and metro networks.

Most tourists find themselves becoming familiar with Tram 8, which runs from  Piazza Venezia to Trastevere. Another route worth having on your radar is Tram 19 — it connects areas like San Lorenzo, Villa Borghese and the Vatican.

Villa Borghese, Rome © Shutterstock

Tips and tricks for using public transport in Rome

It’s fair to say, buying tickets for public transport in Rome can be pretty confusing. Knowing the best tickets to buy depends on how long you’re in town, and the specific journeys you intend to make. 

For example, I’d have been better off buying a CIS (Carta Integrata Settimanale)   ticket offering unlimited travel for seven days. I was only there for five days, but that would have worked out cheaper — and more convenient — than buying BIT tickets (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo), a single ticket valid that’s valid for 100 minutes.

Another option is to get a Roma 24H, 48H or 72H ticket, which gives you   unlimited travel for (you guessed it) 24, 48 or 72 hours.

Whichever ticket you decide is best for you, remember to validate it as soon as you board a bus or tram — look out for the machines. Being distracted by busy crowds, or simply forgetting, is a common pitfall, and fines can be hefty.

Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna, Rome © Shutterstock

One thing I was aware of before visiting Rome was that fact that many areas I wanted to visit are also easy to get lost in — hello Trastevere, Centro Storico and the Monti District! So, it’s best to plan your walking routes in advance.

I also found it useful to orient myself using major landmarks, and to try to remember how turns I’d made while wandering around. No easy feat when one maze of alleys and piazzas leads to another and before you know it, you’re lost!

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to download offline maps with your intended walking routes mapped out. While few things beat going off-piste as a result of making discoveries along the way (in my case, seeing signs for a vintage market in Trastevere), it’s worth having easy access to tools to get you back on track.

That way, freed from stress around the possibility of getting lost, you’ll be able to embrace “La Dolce Vita” with more verve, taking time to linger in cafés, and live in the moment. 

Related, it’s worth not trying to pack too much into your daily plans and walking routes. While you won’t want to miss seeing the city’s celebrated top tourist attractions, allocating extended stretches of time to explore specific districts on foot is the best way to really get to know Rome.

For example, I’m so glad I devoted an entire day to the Monti District during my second trip to Rome. Sitting between the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Termini station, Monti is hardly off the beaten track, and yet it somehow feels a million miles from well-trod tourist trails. 

Loaded with vintage shops, indie boutiques, and cute little trattorias, with the Colosseum looming large over the Via degli Annibaldi, it’s charming, laidback and understatedly cool.

Rome's Monti district © Tupungato/Shutterstock

As I said at the start, Rome is rather hectic at the best of times, so you’ll want to avoid using public transport or taking taxis during peak hours. 

This means not using buses, trams or the metro from 7.30-9.30 and 17.00-19.30 if you can help it. If you’re travelling by car, the busiest times extend from around 7-9.30, and 16.30-19.30.

As a general rule, visiting top attractions — the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps   and the Pantheon — is best done as soon as they open, which is usually around 8.30.

In the case of the Trevi Fountain, after passing it a few times during the day, when it was nigh impossible to see it, let alone get a decent photo, I decided to make a special effort to head there very, very early in the morning.

I then had enough time to walk on to the Forum (it took around 20 minutes) before crowds descended there, too. 

Another general tip is to check out buying skip-the-line tickets for the likes of these very popular sights. Also bear in mind that some attractions offer evening tours, which can be less crowded.

Planning to visit Rome on a family trip? Check out our list of things to do in Rome with kids .

Joanne is a Pembrokeshire-born writer with a passion for the nature, cultures and histories of the Caribbean region, especially Dominica. Also passionate about inspiring a love of adventure in young people, she’s the author of several books for children and young adults, hosts international writing workshops, and has written articles on the Caribbean and inspirational community initiatives for Rough Guides. Follow her @JoanneOwen on Twitter and @joanneowenwrites on Instagram.

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Sturgill simpson introduces ‘johnny blue skies’ album and tour–get tickets.

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In the early ’80s, madcap performance artist and comedy genius Andy Kaufman invented a cantankerous alter ego named Tony Clifton.

A decade later, Garth Brooks introduced rocker “Chris Gaines” to the public. More recently, Joe Jackson started performing as music hall entertainer Max Champion.

Now, we can add Sturgill Simpson to the list of stars that have shed their persona and began a second life as an entirely new artist.

Simpson, 45, just announced he will take off on his ‘Why Not? Tour’ this fall in support of Johnny Blue Skies’ upcoming album “Passage du Desir,” due out July 12.

Along the way, Simpson/Blue Skies will drop into Queens, NY’s Forest Hills Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19.

As for special guests, he’ll be joined by Lord Huron for just one show on the run; that’s the Sept. 20 gig at George, WA’s Gorge Amphitheater .

And while we don’t know whether Simpson Johnny Blue Skies will perform tracks from Simpson’s catalog or just new Blue Skies material, we do know the best way to find out is live.

Fans can purchase tickets for all upcoming shows on sites like Vivid Seats ; the official on-sale is Friday, June 14.

Vivid Seats is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.

They have a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and will be delivered before the event.

Sturgill Simpson tour schedule 2024

A complete calendar including tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets for all upcoming ‘Why Not? Tour’ shows can be found below.

Sturgill Simpson 2024 festival appearances

On top of the tour, Simpson is scheduled to headline at a pair of major mutli-day music extravaganzas.

For a closer look at who he’s performing with, here’s everything you need to know — including fellow headliners — about Simpson’s 2024 festival appearances:

Sturgill Simpson set list

Most recently, Simpson hit the road on his own was when he wrapped his 2020 ‘A Good Look’n Tour’ in March 2020.

Here’s what he took to the stage at his March 7, 2020 gig at Duluth, GA’s Infinite Energy Arena, according to Set List FM .

01.) “Ronin” 02.) “Remember to Breathe” 03.) “Sing Along” 04.) “A Good Look” 05.) “Make Art Not Friends” 06.) “Best Clockmaker on Mars” 07.) “All Said and Done” 08.) “Last Man Standing” 09.) “Mercury in Retrograde” 10.) “Fastest Horse in Town” 11.) “I’d Have to Be Crazy” (Steven Fromholz cover) 12.) “Oh Sarah” 13.) “Brace for Impact (Live a Little)” 14.) “The Promise” (When in Rome cover) 15.) “Welcome to Earth (Pollywog)” 16.) “It Ain’t All Flowers” 17.) “Some Days” 18.) “Long White Line” (Moore & Napier cover) 19.) “Turtles All the Way Down” 20.) “You Don’t Miss Your Water” (William Bell cover) 21.) “Just Let Go” 22.) “Call to Arms”

Sturgill Simpson new music

While doing PR for his 2021 album “The Ballad of Dood & Juanita,” Simpson told Rolling Stone he only wanted to release five albums of original material.

This led to the Johnny Blue Skies loophole and the upcoming “Passage du Desir” album. You can find the track list here:

01.) Swamp of Sadness 02.) If the Sun Never Rises Again 03.) Scooter Blues 04.) Jupiter’s Faerie 05.) Who I Am 06.) Right Kind of Dream 07.) Mint Tea 08.) One for the Road

As of now, the only existing Blue Skies material is the 2023 single “Use Me (Brutal Hearts)” he recorded with Diplo.

Country rockers on tour in 2024

Many acts that straddle the line between country and rock are taking their raw sounds on the road this year.

Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live these next few months.

•  Chris Stapleton

•  Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

• Zach Bryan

• Charley Crockett

•  Tyler Childers

Who else is on the road? Take a look at our list of the 50 biggest concert tours in 2024 to find out.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy , New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed Bruce Springsteen and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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