Things to do in Rome

Your Guide To Exploring The Length Of Rome With The City Sightseeing Rome Bus Tours

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In this day and age, when technology has clawed its way into every aspect of our lives, a return to the pastoral pleasures of existence is becoming increasingly desirable. For the ones bitten by the wander bug, Rome represents the return to one's roots. A city that saw the beginning of almost everything. A city that revels in its past and urges you to do the same. Every little corner of the Eternal City is painted in heritage and tradition.

Once in Rome, it would be a crime to miss any of its illustrious attractions. The City Sightseeing Rome Bus Tour is possibly the most comprehensive way to experience the City of Love. The various customizations on offer help you plan the tours around your schedule. Read on to find out why City Sightseeing Rome is a boon for every visitor in Rome.

City Sightseeing Rome


city sightseeing rome

It is truly astonishing how many sites of historical significance can be found in Rome. If you aren't careful with your planning, you are likely to end up missing out on prominent landmarks. City Sightseeing Rome, however, obliges to do the planning for you. City Sightseeing Rome operates year round with a single route of 8 stops that service all the major sights in the city centre of Rome.

You have the option of citywide tours that span over 2-3 days and cover almost all essential Roman spots. Then there are tours that are more concentrated on a particular geographical location or a particular complex. Some City Sightseeing Rome tours allow you flexibility by handing out complimentary public transport passes, yet others include a sumptuous dinner to conclude a long day. To sum it up, Rome is best experienced with City Sightseeing Rome.

Why Choose The City Sightseeing Rome Bus Tours?

city sightseeing rome
  • The City Sightseeing Rome tours are operational year round, 365 days a year. So, hop on any day you'd like.
  • The City Sightseeing Rome buses are open top allowing you to consume full 360 degree panoramic views as you travel around the city.
  • There are 8 stops in all running at a frequency of 15 minutes, making City Sightseeing Rome a fairly time efficient option.
  • Stay put in the bus and you'll have seen all of Rome in 1.5-2 hours.
  • You can opt between a 24, 48 or 72 hour ticket, valid from first use gifting you the flexibility to explore this historic city at whatever pace you like.
  • All City Sightseeing Rome bus tours come with multilingual audio guides in 8 languages (Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese) so that you do not miss any information about the city and its attractions.
  • If you have kids aged 5 to 15 yrs , pay half the price for their tickets!
  • With the bundled tickets for cross-city bus tours and a few popular destinations within the city, City Sightseeing Rome provides a bang for your buck.
  • The Hop On Hop Off tour allows you the license of deciding the amount of time you spend at one spot.
  • City Sightseeing Rome offers a unique night tour of Rome that catches the city in a different and delightful light.

City Sightseeing Rome Route

Unlike other Hop On Hop Off tours around the world, City Sightseeing Rome has a fairly simply and easy to navigate route. With just 1 route that has 8 stops hitting up all the major attractions around Rome, there's honestly no better ( read cheaper) way to get around Rome. Here's a quick summary of the routes and closest attractions near each stop.

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)*

* On Saturday afternoons (after 3:00 PM) and Sundays, the bus will go to the Spanish Steps

City Sightseeing Rome Map

In order to know the City Sightseeing Rome routes, here's a comprehensive map. Download City Sightseeing Rome Map PDF and keep it handy on your phone before you hop on!

Parc Asterix Paris

Bestseller - 48/72 City Sightseeing Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Tour


48/72 hour Hop-On Hop-Off Pass

This is the ultimate bus tour option in Rome. Opt for a 72-hour unlimited access to hop on hop off tours and top it off with your choice of skip the line entry to top Roman landmarks.

48/72 hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Audio Guide

  • Get Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel or Colosseum
  • Get Upto 5% Cashback by Booking with Headout

Why Choose This Pass?

  • Get a 48 or 72-hour bus pass to access to all hop on hop off tours.
  • Absorb all that is there to know about prominent Roman landmarks with the help of the multilingual audio guide.
  • Use the complimentary WiFi on the buses to make the most of your experience.
  • Avail an express access ticket to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
  • Visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with the tour tickets.

Timings and Frequency

Buses run from 9 AM to 7:30 PM at intervals of 10-15 minutes from the three main terminals located near Termini Station

Duration

To complete the entire circuit of 9 stops from the bus, it takes 1 hour 40 minutes

Exclusions

  • Individual hotel dropoffs
  • Drinks and meals

Validity

Bus tickets and passes are valid for 48 or 72 hours from the date selected. The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tickets are valid for the date selected. Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tickets are valid after 2 PM for the date selected.

Cancellation Policy

Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before the tour commences.

Comparing the Best City Sightseeing Rome Tours


City Sightseeing Rome offers different types of Hop On Hop Off services along with other bus tours. In order to choose the tour that suits your budget and itinerary, here's a comparison of the best City Sightseeing Rome Tours.

To make things easier for you, we have compartmentalized the tickets into 2 sections :

  • Attraction Entry Ticket + City Sightseeing Rome Hop on Hop Off
  • Rome Sightseeing Pass + City Sightseeing Rome Hop on Hop Off

Attraction Entry Ticket + City Sightseeing Rome Hop on Hop Off

These tickets give you Skip the Line Access to either of the 2 prime attractions in Rome - The Colosseum & Vatican along with a 24 or 48 hour Hop On Hop Off Pass.

Colosseum Skip the Line & Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Vatican Skip the Line & Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Colosseum Skip the Line & Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Book At
Vatican Skip the Line & Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Book At
About

Get up close and personal with the oldest amphitheater of Rome along with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Enjoy the rest of Rome with Hop on hop off bus tour.

Learn More

Experience the Vatican Museums like never before in this tour that comes with an option of 24 or 48 hours of an unrestricted open top bus tour of Rome.

Learn More
Highlights
  • Gain express access to the Colosseum and experience this historical site in its full glory.
  • Explore the Roman Forum and the ruins around it.
  • Get a breathtaking view of the Eternal City from the Palatine Hill.
  • Enjoy touring the rest of Rome on one of the open top buses.
  • Use the audio guide to learn more about the various Roman spots.
  • Get a comprehensive tour of Rome aboard the open-top double-decker buses.
  • Skip the line at the Vatican Museum and gain express access to the entire complex.
  • Take your time exploring the city and take one of the frequently plying buses to the next spot.
  • Use the audio guide to equip yourself with information about the Roman wonders.
  • Get an up-close look at the the Sistine Chapel.
Days of Operation

Daily, except 1 January, 25 December and every first Sunday of the month

Monday to Saturday.
Closed on Sundays and 1,6 Jan - 19 Mar - 2 Apr -1 May- 29 Jun- 14,15 Aug- 1 Nov - 8,25,26 Dec.

Timings

Buses run daily from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM at intervals of 10-15 minutes from the three main terminals. On the days Colosseum remains closed, this tour does not function

Buses run daily from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM at intervals of 10-15 minutes from the three main terminals. On the days Vatican remains closed, this tour does not function

Route

Stop #1: Termini Station
Stop #2: Santa Maria Maggiore
Stop #3: Colosseum
Stop #4: Circo Massimo
Stop #5: Piazza Venezia
Stop #6: Vatican City & Castel Sant’Angelo
Stop #7: Fontana di Trevi (except Saturdays after 3:00 PM, Sundays and bank holidays)
Stop #8: Via Ludovisi & Via Veneto
Stop #9: Piazza Barberini

Stop #1: Termini Station
Stop #2: Santa Maria Maggiore
Stop #3: Colosseum
Stop #4: Circo Massimo
Stop #5: Piazza Venezia
Stop #6: Vatican City & Castel Sant’Angelo
Stop #7: Fontana di Trevi (except Saturdays after 3:00 PM, Sundays and bank holidays)
Stop #8: Via Ludovisi & Via Veneto
Stop #9: Piazza Barberini

Ticket Exclusions
  • Individual hotel drop offs
  • Drinks and meals
  • Individual hotel drop offs
  • Drinks and meals
Validity

Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tickets are valid after 2 PM for the date selected. Bus tickets and passes are valid for 48 hours from the date selected.

The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tickets are valid for the date selected. Bus tickets and passes are valid for 48 hours from the date selected.

Cancellation Policy

Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before the tour commences.

Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before the tour commences.

Rome Sightseeing Pass + City Sightseeing Rome Hop on Hop Off

These tickets are the ultimate tourist saviours. They come with a free city pass, public transport pass and a Hop On Hop Off service! Sounds too good to be true right? Here are the 2 best City Sightseeing Rome Tours that gift you the ultimate combo deal.

Rome Sightseeing Pass: Vatican, Colosseum, Public Transport & 48h Hop On Hop Off Tour Rome Sightseeing Max Pass: Colosseum, Vatican & 48h Hop On Hop Off Tour
Rome Sightseeing Pass: Vatican, Colosseum, Public Transport & 48h Hop On Hop Off Tour
Book At
Rome Sightseeing Max Pass: Colosseum, Vatican & 48h Hop On Hop Off Tour
Book At
About

Skip the line access to some of the most iconic Roman landmarks and an unrestricted access to Hop on hop off and public transport- this is an exploration on steroids.

Learn More

With this tour, get express access to the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, along with an unlimited access bus pass.

Learn More
Highlights
  • Skip the line and get an up-close tour of The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
  • Gain express access at Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
  • Hop on hop off the open top buses that take you around Rome’s most fascinating sites.
  • Learn about Roman landmarks in the language of your choice.
  • Take advantage of the Roman ATAC unlimited public transport access for 48 hours.
  • Gain express access at the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel without wasting time in queues.
  • Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with the hassle-free skip the line tickets.
  • Climb aboard one of the hop on hop off bus tour and explore Rome the way you prefer.
  • Take the tour in weatherproof buses with a detachable roof.
  • Avail free on board the buses for ultimate tour experience.
Days of Operation

Daily, except 1 January, 25 December and every first Sunday of the month

Monday to Saturday.
Closed on Sundays and 1,6 Jan - 19 Mar - 2 Apr -1 May- 29 Jun- 14,15 Aug- 1 Nov - 8,25,26 Dec.

Timings

Buses run daily from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM at intervals of 10-15 minutes from the three main terminals.

Buses run daily from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM at intervals of 10-15 minutes from the three main terminals.

Route

Stop #1: Termini Station
Stop #2: Santa Maria Maggiore
Stop #3: Colosseum
Stop #4: Circo Massimo
Stop #5: Piazza Venezia
Stop #6: Vatican City & Castel Sant’Angelo
Stop #7: Fontana di Trevi (except Saturdays after 3:00 PM, Sundays and bank holidays)
Stop #8: Via Ludovisi & Via Veneto
Stop #9: Piazza Barberini

Stop #1: Termini Station
Stop #2: Santa Maria Maggiore
Stop #3: Colosseum
Stop #4: Circo Massimo
Stop #5: Piazza Venezia
Stop #6: Vatican City & Castel Sant’Angelo
Stop #7: Fontana di Trevi (except Saturdays after 3:00 PM, Sundays and bank holidays)
Stop #8: Via Ludovisi & Via Veneto
Stop #9: Piazza Barberini

Ticket Exclusions
  • Individual hotel drop offs
  • Drinks and meals
  • Individual hotel drop offs
  • Drinks and meals
Validity

The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tickets are valid for the date selected. Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tickets are valid after 2 PM for the date selected. Bus tickets and passes are valid for 48 hours from the date selected.

The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tickets are valid for the date selected. Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tickets are valid after 2 PM for the date selected. Bus tickets and passes are valid for 48 hours from the date selected.

Cancellation Policy

Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before the tour commences.

Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before the tour commences.

Romantic Rome Night Bus Tour with Dinner


An open top bus takes you on a nightly ride to discover why Rome is called the City of Love. End your day with an elaborate Italian buffet dinner.

Romantic Rome Night Bus Tour with Dinner

  • Discover the romantic sights of Rome aboard an open-top minibus on a night ride across the city.
  • Savor an exquisite dinner prepared from the finest local ingredients to end your romantic night on a high note.

Why Choose This Tour?

  • Begin your journey with a complimentary aperitif.
  • Embark on your ride of the day, an open top bus, for a memorable tour of the city.
  • Discover the unique nightly charm of Rome.
  • Gain a different perspective of the Colosseum at night.
  • Gorge on a dinner comprising of classic local dishes at the Zodiac Restaurant.

Know Before You Book This Tour

Operating Hours

Monday to Sunday from 7:30 PM

Duration of Tour

2 hours 30 minutes

Ticket Validity

The ticket is valid only for the date and time of the booking.

Route

The bus takes you on a fixed route past the Piazza del Popolo.

Ticket Exclusions

Individual hotel dropoffs

Cancellation Policy

Full refund if canceled up to 72 hours before the tour commences.

Domitilla Catacombs Guided Tour & Open Shuttle Bus Tour


Explore the darkest and coldest part of subterranean Rome and learn about its mysterious past from the expert tour guide.

Domitilla Catacombs Guided Tour & Open Shuttle Bus Tour

  • Enjoy a ride on an open-top shuttle bus with an audioguide onboard as you make your way to the Catacombs.
  • Explore the Domitilla Catacombs, Rome’s oldest underground labyrinth.

Why Choose This Tour?

  • Take an open top bus ride to and from the Catacombs.
  • Learn more about the Catacombs from the onboard audio guide.
  • Take advantage of the 7 different languages available on your audio guide.
  • Discover the obscure secrets of Rome’s oldest Labyrinth.
  • Know about the 17 kilometers of underground tunnels in the Catacombs from your professional guide.

Know Before You Book This Tour

Operating Hours

Wednesday to Monday, tours start at 9:15 AM, 10:40 AM, and 3 PM
The tour won't be operating from 19 December 2018 to 23 January 2019.

Duration of Tour

2 hours

Ticket Validity

The ticket is valid only for the date and time of the booking.

Route

The bus takes you on a fixed route past Colosseum and Circus Maximus.

Ticket Exclusions

Individual hotel dropoffs + Drinks and meals

Cancellation Policy

Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before the tour commences.

Tips to Enjoy Your City Sightseeing Rome Bus Tour


  • Make sure you carry a valid identity proof and a printout of your ticket if you have booked them online.
  • Enquire in advance about the dress codes at the museums. Make sure your clothes cover shoulders and knees.
  • Avoid carrying luggage to tourist spots without booking a place to store them. Not all sites have cloakrooms.
  • Remember that your tours may be disrupted or delayed without prior notice due to situations that are beyond the jurisdiction of the service providers.
  • Skip the line tours let you bypass the entry queue. The security checks are still mandatory.
  • Be informed about the disability access limits in the hop on hop off buses.

City Sightseeing Rome Reviews


Here's what others have to say about their City Sightseeing Rome experience. Read more City Sightseeing Rome reviews on Tripadvisor and know what past visitors have to say about their Hop On Hop Off tour.

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Best way to get hang of city is to explore roads, squares and areas. Hop on hop off though not a detailed guided tour is still a decent way to get you close to understanding the city before you yourselves start wandering. Hop on hop off tour by City Sight seeing takes you through the important junctions / points / spots that will give you a good idea of the locales and their distances from each other. It comes with an self-audio guided tour that will help you understand the buildings, squares, areas better. Then pick and choose which all areas you have to explore more.

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We lived in the old part of town near St. Peter’s basilica. The hop on hop off bus stop was a 10 minute walk from where we stayed opp the river to the Castello. We had bought these bus tickets online from ticketing site. My son and I jumped off at the colosseum while my wife and daugther stayed in the bus because it was so hot and got off at the Parthenon which was close to the 150 Flavors gelato shop. When we finished our colosseum tour we met my wife and daugther at the Parthenon. Depending on how much time you have, a two day tour ticket maybe better.

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