Independent guide
City Sightseeing Rome: routes, stops and tickets
Independent guide, not operated by or affiliated with City Sightseeing.
We list 6 City Sightseeing ticket options in Rome, from 1 hr, 30 min. City Sightseeing Rome runs the red open-top line, and its tickets, sold by Sightseeing Experience, are also valid on the yellow Vatican & Rome Open Bus line run by Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi. This guide covers 2 routes, its 13 distinct stops, when to ride and who it suits, then lines up the tickets.
- Routes2
- Stops13
- Full loop1H 30M
- Tickets6
Route and stops
- Red Line
- Yellow Line (Vatican & Rome Open Bus)
A central Rome loop from Termini station past Santa Maria Maggiore and the Circus Maximus to Piazza Venezia, the Vatican area, the Spanish Steps and Piazza Barberini. The route also passes close to the Colosseum.
Red Line
Show all 9 stops
A longer line that adds the Lateran area, Largo Argentina, Piazza Navona and Villa Borghese to the central highlights, run by Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi and covered by City Sightseeing tickets.
Yellow Line (Vatican & Rome Open Bus)
Show all 11 stops
City Sightseeing tickets in Rome
Want to see every hop-on hop-off bus in Rome, not just this one? Compare hop-on hop-off tours in Rome.
What riders say
Across these tickets travellers rate City Sightseeing Rome 3.4 out of 5 from 5,552 reviews.
Alex was a great tour guide explained in detail about the Sistine Chapel, Basilica, and Museums. Great experience
The loop tour went really well. I would say to be clearer on street address for meet points. Clean bus and guide was good
A fabulous way to get around the city and view the main attractions. The narrative is very informative.
Best time to ride
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for an open-top bus in Rome; midsummer afternoons are very hot and winter days can be cool and wet. Mornings are quieter and give the best light at the monuments.
Who it suits
- Families
- The open top and the chance to hop off at big landmarks suit children, though the full loop is long.
- Couples
- A relaxed way to link the ancient centre, the Spanish Steps and Vatican area without walking between them.
- Seniors
- Rome's hills and cobbles are tiring, so riding between major sights saves effort; the red line's compact loop is the simpler option.
- First-time visitors
- Covers the headline sights in one ride and the ticket works on two colour-coded lines.
Tips before you go
- Termini has several boarding points, so check which one your ticket names before you go.
- The yellow line is operated by a different company, so its stops, timings and gaps between buses can differ from the red line.
- Traffic restrictions, events and works can change stops, so check the route on your ticket or app on the day.
- Mornings are the better time to use the yellow line, as some of its stops are served less often.
Good to know
- Commentary languages listed by the operator: English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian.
- Buses: roughly every 10 to 25 minutes on the red line, depending on season.
Sights along the way
Colosseum, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, Piazza Venezia, Vatican City, Castel Sant'Angelo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Villa Borghese.
Top-ranked in Rome: Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro). All things to do in Rome.
Other hop-on hop-off options in Rome
Questions about City Sightseeing Rome
Which lines does the City Sightseeing ticket cover?
It covers the red City Sightseeing line and the yellow Vatican & Rome Open Bus line, which is run by Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi.
Where does the red line start?
It starts at Termini station, with boarding points on Via Marsala, Via Giolitti and Piazza dei Cinquecento.
How long is the red loop?
Sources give roughly 90 to 100 minutes without hopping off.
What languages does the commentary use?
Listings name eight: English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Russian.
Does the bus stop at the Colosseum?
Several listings say the Colosseo stop is out of service, with Circo Massimo as the nearest alternative, so check the current stop list.
How many City Sightseeing ticket options are there in Rome?
We list 6 City Sightseeing ticket options in Rome, lasting 1 hr, 30 min, rated 3.4 out of 5 across 5,552 traveller reviews.
Route and stop details checked 2026-10-15, from the operator's own pages where they could be read and from independent guides where they could not; where sources differ, the list may be incomplete. Routes and times change with the season, so confirm on the ticket page before you travel.