At the
moment there are no less than seven hop on, hop off tour (hoho) buses
operating daily in Rome.
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 on the basis that it pays the most
commission.
This page attempts to explain what to expect from your Rome Hop on
Hop Off tour and what the differences are between the various operators.
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Typical
Rome Hop On, Hop Off Tour Bus |
The
Rome Toolkit Hop On Hop Off ( HOHO) Bus Reference Route
Apart from the
Archeobus, all the rival HOHO operators operate a very similar core route
around the Rome sights. The following route is a template that we use on
this site as a reference to illustrate any differences in routing between
the operators.
Although all tours are loops where you can start at any point, nearly
all operators start at Terminus Station. When they say last tour departs
at x, they normally mean last departure from Terminus Station.
From Terminus Station buses will head south passing the Colloseum
and Roman Forum before looping around the Circus Maximos Rome to the
River Tiber, where you can walk over to Trastevere. Back up to the
other end of the Roman Forum from the Colloseum at the Piazza Venezzia.
From here the buses head straight to the Vatican crossing the River
Tiber with a stop along the way near the Piazza Navona and Pantheon.
After the Vatican the buses head over to the north of the city centre
recrossing the Tiber to the Piazza Del Popolo. Most buses will route
through the Villa Borghese, sweeping down the Via Vittorio Venetto
to Piazza Barberini for the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. From
there its back to Termini.
Clearly there are many more worthwhile places to visit than the icons mentioned
above. The typical lap will take just under 2 hours and have around 12 stops.
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Hop
On Hop Off Buses & Ticketing
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 8 languages. Most buses have their
first bus departing Termini at 08:30 or 09:00 with the last bus leaving
at 18:00 or soon after finishing around 20:00.
Most operators
will sell you a ticket of 24 or 48 hours duration from the time you
start. Ciao Roma sell tickets based on calendar days.
Different operators have significant differences in rules for age
bands for children to enjoy discounted or free travel.
Some operators offer a heavily discounted ticket where you cannot
do the hopping on and off, you just stay on the bus for one lap of
the route.
Some operators make available a discounted ticket available valid
just for a single afternoon/evening. |
| Headline
Differences Between The Operators |
- All
operators run a very similar route to our reference route, (see
above). The Roma Christiana is the exception to the rule, operating
2 distinct routes that cover more sites to the south of the city
centre and Trastevere. On our individual pages for tours we highlight
any variations to this route.
- The
main differentiator in route for most operators covers the northern
city. Most operators go through Villa Borghese, fine if you want
Villa Bourghese but not so good for those wanting the Trevi Fountain,
resulting in a 10 minute walk. Green Line and 110 Open do not
go through Villa Borghese but go through the city with a stop
much closer to the Trevi Fountain.
- All
operators start at around 09:00 or slightly before and run every
15-30 minutes until a last departure at around 18:00. Only City
Sightseeing struggles on these frequencies.
- Only
Ciao Roma do not start their journeys from Termini Station. Ciao
Roma start from their office about 5 minutes walk from Termini.
City Sightseeing operate 2 very similar routes, the most frequent
route again doesn't visit Termini but a 5 minute walk south of
the station.
- Most
operators sell you a ticket valid from the time you first board
the bus for a 24 or 48 hour period. Ciao Roma are the exception,
the ticket being valid for calendar days.
- Most
operators offer a discounted fare for children aged 6 to 12 years
old. City Sightseeing is arguably more geared to families, their
child band is 5 to 15 years old and they also have a family ticket
covering 2 adults and 3 children. Green Line Tours are more family
hostile pricewise, the child age band is 3 to 8 years old and
only a 20% discount. Cia Roma do not publicise any child fares.
- Some
operators offer 'no hop off' tickets at a significant discount,
you just stay on the bus for one lap of the tour. These include
110 Open, Green Line and Cia Roma. These operators also offer
a discounted afternoon/evening only discounted ticket too.
- On
Sundays there are often road closures that may affect routes and
availability of stops to all operators.
|
| Comparison
of Rome Hop On, Hop Off Operators 2009 |
| Operator |
Cost
1 Day |
Cost
2 Day |
Freq |
Non
Standard Features * |
| Open
Tour |
€19 |
€28 |
25
mins
|
First
departure 09:00
Last departure 19:15, end of service 20:45 |
| 110
Open |
€20 |
n/a |
20
mins
|
First
departure 08:30, Last dearture 18:30
One lap of route, no hop off option €12
48 hour ticket combo with Archeobus €30 |
| Roma
Christiana |
€16 |
n/a |
A
- 25 mins
B - 25mins
|
Runs
08:30 to 19:30. 3 day ticket available. Coverage of Basilica St Paul
+ St John, Quirinale, Baths of Caracalla & Trastvere. 2 routes |
| City
Sightseeing |
€18 |
n/a |
A
- 120mins
B - 60 mins |
Runs
09:00 to 18:00 (Line B), 19:00 (Line A)
Family ticket available for 2 adults, 3 children €51.
10% discount on other city tours worldwide. |
| Green
Line |
€20 |
€30 |
30
mins
|
First
departure 09:00, Last dearture 18:30
|
| Ciao
Roma |
€20 |
n/a |
30
mins
|
First
departure 09:00, Last dearture 18:30
Promotional prices: 13:30 to end of day
One lap of route, no hop off option €12 |
|
| Archeobus |
€15 |
n/a |
30
mins
|
Not
a tour of the main sights in Central Rome but goes south of city to
tour the Via Appia Antica
48 hour ticket combo with 110 Open Bus €30 |
 |
