Big Bus runs an open-top double-decker on a fixed route through Rome, with 7 stops where you can hop on and off as often as you like. The full loop takes 103 minutes, with a bus arriving every 9 minutes. Depending on the ticket type, passes are valid for 3 hours, 1 day, or up to 3 days.
Big Bus runs a single route in Rome, the red line. The open-top double-decker follows a fixed loop past the city's major sights: from Termini station via Circo Massimo, Piazza Venezia, and the Vatican to the Spanish Steps. The route covers 7 stops in total, and at each one your ticket lets you get off as often as you like, take your time at a sight, and continue on the next bus.
A full loop without getting off takes 103 minutes. In practice, buses run every 9 minutes between 9:00 AM and late evening, so wait times at any stop stay short. Onboard, a recorded audio commentary plays in 8 languages, including German, through headphone jacks at your seat.
The basic idea: buy one ticket, get on at any stop, and explore the city at your own pace. If you just want a general overview, stay seated and ride the full loop. If you have more time, get off at 3 or 4 stops and combine the bus ride with walks to the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, or the Trevi Fountain, all within walking distance of the stops.
What You'll See Along the Route
Tickets & Prices
Big Bus sells several ticket tiers in Rome with different validity periods and add-ons. All tiers include hop-on/hop-off access to the red route and the air-conditioned lower deck.
| Rome Taster Ticket (3 hrs) | from €28.00 |
| One Day Ticket (until end of day) | from €32.00 |
| Discover Ticket (24 hrs) | from €37.00 |
| Essential Ticket (48 hrs) | from €42.00 |
| Explore Ticket (72 hrs, incl. night tour) | from €52.00 |
| Night tour only (1 hr) | from €23.00 |
The Discover Ticket (24 hours) and above include the free download of 4 digital Vox City walking tours, and the ticket is "Fully Flexible": you can move your start date once for free. The Essential Ticket (48 hours) adds a free gelato, and the Explore Ticket (72 hours) adds a one-hour night tour plus a free gelato or prosecco. Combo tickets with a timed Colosseum ticket (from €71.00) or a Tiber boat tour (from €49.00) can also be booked.
You can buy tickets online in advance or directly from Big Bus staff at major stops like the Colosseum or Piazza Venezia. Buying online locks in a discount of up to 20% compared to the on-site price.
Included & Not Included
Included
- Hop-on/hop-off ticket for the full red route with 7 stops
- Ride on an open-top double-decker bus, lower deck air-conditioned
- Recorded audio commentary in 8 languages, including German
- Free use of the Big Bus app with live bus arrival times
- Free Wi-Fi on board
Not included
- Admission to sights along the route (Colosseum, Vatican Museums, dome of St. Peter's Basilica, etc.), except where noted in the combo tickets
- Food and drinks, except the gelato/prosecco vouchers included with certain tickets
- Tips
- Hotel transfer – the route serves fixed stops, no hotel pickup
The Route: All 7 Stops
Via Giovanni Giolitti, 32. The main starting point right at the main train station, close to the Baths of Diocletian and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. A second boarding point is also available at Terminal B – Marsala (Via Marsala, 9).
Piazza dell'Esquilino, 14. Right at one of Rome's four papal basilicas, with a short walk to the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli.
Piazzale Ugo La Malfa. Right at the ancient chariot racing track, within walking distance of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
Via di Teatro Marcello. The most central stop on the route: from here, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori, and the Capitoline Museums are all a few minutes' walk away.
Lungotevere Tor di Nona, 7. Your stop for St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and Castel Sant'Angelo, all reachable on foot from here.
Via Ludovisi, 73. Near the Galleria Borghese and Villa Borghese park, a short walk from the Spanish Steps.
Via Barberini, 12. A second boarding point for the Spanish Steps, also within walking distance of the Trevi Fountain and the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica.
First and last bus times vary slightly by stop and season – the times above reflect the current schedule.
Operating Hours
Mon – Sun from 9:00 AM
Tips for Your Ride
Upper Deck in the Morning
The open seats on the upper deck are the best spots for photos on the tour. Board as early in the morning as you can, before the buses fill up around midday.
Pick Your Ticket Tier by Trip Length
For a short 1–2 day trip, the Discover Ticket (24 hours) gives you a good overview. For 3 or more days in Rome, the Explore Ticket (72 hours), which includes a night tour and free gelato, pays off quickly.
Use the Digital Walking Tours
From the Discover Ticket up, 4 downloadable Vox City walking tours are included. That lets you pair the bus ride with walking explorations around Piazza Venezia or the Vatican.
Use Your First Ride to Get Oriented
Stay seated through the full loop on your first ride. That gives you an overview of the whole city in 103 minutes, before you get off at the stops that interest you most.
Boarding & Stops
Treffpunkt: Via Giovanni Giolitti, 32, 00185 Rome RM (Stop 1 – Termini)
You can board at any of the 7 stops; no fixed meeting point is required. The main hub is Stop 1, right at Termini station.
| Metro | A, B | Termini |
| Tram | 5, 14 | Termini |
| Bus | 30+ bus lines | Termini |
Photo Gallery
