11 Open-Top Bus Tours in Italy to Build a Day Around

1.Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off Open-Top Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 9,537 reviews · 3 hours - 3 days · from $22Our pick

Ride Rome’s open-top Big Bus past the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. Choose a 3-hour loop or 24-, 48-, or 72-hour ticket, with multilingual audio, Wi-Fi, live bus tracking, and self-guided walking tours.

“Location on Google Maps requires attention as it’s crazy trying to find the location of the Bus Terminal. Outrageously wrong. “Update your location on Google”, is urgently required !!!!!”

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2.Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off Open-Top Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 2,580 reviews · 1 hour 40 minutes (approx.) · from $26

Use a 3-, 24-, 48-, or 72-hour Big Bus ticket to circle Rome’s major sights, including the Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon area, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. Audio commentary, Wi-Fi, a VOX walking tour, and live bus tracking are included, but several stops require a walk.

“Well worth it & saw the city from a different angle & loads of incredible information. Well worth it and easy to use”

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3.City Highlights Open-Top Bus Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 2,038 reviews · 45 min · from $22

Ride Rome’s red open-top double-decker bus for one 45-minute night loop past Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colosseum, St. John Lateran, the Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona. Recorded commentary comes in eight languages. Bring a warm layer, and choose your seat carefully for the best views.

“Great way to view Rome from the bus then you can arrange to go back to the areas you want to visit on foot.”

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4.Hop-On Hop-Off Open-Top Bus City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 648 reviews · from $34

Ride an open-top Io Bus around Rome with audio in eight languages, free WiFi, live bus tracking, and app-based walking tours. Hop off near the Colosseum, Vatican, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and other key sights, then rejoin the route when ready.

“Really enjoyed this experience, easy to get on and get off the bus, seeing different tourist spots. Difficult to know where the bus tops were, but the colosseum one is at the back of it, where they are all numbered! Once we knew this it was great, good service and nice people. Thank you”

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5.Sassi of Matera: Eco-Bus Open Top Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 592 reviews · from $23

Ride into Matera’s UNESCO-listed Sassi districts with an Italian and English-speaking tour leader. Pause at San Pietro Caveoso Square, visit a furnished cave home, and enjoy views from Via Madonna delle Virtù. Guides may include Anita, Angelo, Georgia, or Antonella.

“Interesting and fun. Angelo our guide was entertaining and transitioned between Italian and English effortlessly. Great way to get around Matera during the heat of summer.”

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6.Nighttime Tour by Open-Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 447 reviews · 1h 30m · from $25

Ride through central Rome at sunset and after dark on a vintage double-decker bus. You’ll pass the Colosseum, Fori Imperiali, Castel Sant’Angelo, Via Veneto, and Villa Borghese, with an audio guide in 16 languages. Check the roof status before booking, as the bus may run closed-top.

“hermoso el.paseo, excelente puntualidad y calidez de lis guías”

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7.Matera: Open Top Bus Tour with Entrance to Casa Grotta

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 278 reviews · 1.5 hours - 105 minutes · from $23

Explore Matera’s Sassi in about 105 minutes by open-top bus, with short walks to viewpoints, Sant’Antonio Abate rock church, and a traditional Casa Grotta. An audio guide is available in Italian, English, French, and Spanish. Guides such as Imma and Cosimo may add local insight.

“This was a great way to see the highlights of Matera in a short time. A 45 min delay in the ticketed time was not ideal as we had further transport arranged which we nearly missed. The audio was good but sometimes hard to know what particular site was being referred to.”

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8.Chianti Wine Tour with Tuscan Lunch Open Top Van

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 89 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $192Top rated

Leave Florence at 9:30 am with guide Firas for a small-group ride through Chianti in an open-top van. Visit two wineries, taste wine and Tuscan foods, explore Greve, and enjoy a cellar lunch at Fattoria di Luiano. The van holds six, making the day personal and flexible.

“Our driver was very nice! It was wonderful being with two other couples instead of a huge group. The open van was great for the beautiful weather.”

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9.Parco Murgia: Eco-Bus Open Top (official tour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 82 reviews · from $23

Ride an open-top sightseeing bus from Matera to Murgia Timone, then spend 30 minutes exploring ancient paths, Stone Age caves, and the area near a rock church. Guides such as Anita, Angelo, and Annetta add lively commentary in English or Italian.

“Our guide Angelo was the best I have had anywhere in Italy - and I’ve been here for a month. Knowledgeable, funny, and really responsive. Couldn’t be more appreciative.”

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10.Open Top Van!! Half Day in Chianti with Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $180

From Florence, join a small group of up to six for a 4 to 5-hour open-top van ride through Chianti. Taste Chianti Classico at Fattoria di Luiano, visit Greve’s arcaded square, and enjoy a friendly guide-led view of Tuscany. Wine shipping is available.

“From start to finish our experience exceeded expectations. You can't go wrong. Our driver was early and so gracious and personable the entire tour. The winery tour and tasting was like no other. It was amazing, the views incredible, it truly was a day we will never forget!! Don't hesitate to take this tour!!”

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11.Villages of Chianti with lunch and tasting in Open Top Van

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $256

Leave Florence at 9:30 am for a private open-top van ride through Chianti. Visit Montefioralle, Greve’s Piazza Matteotti, and Castellina in Chianti, then enjoy a winery tour, Tuscan lunch, and a tasting of about seven wines, olive oil, and vinegar.

“My husband and I booked this tour for our honeymoon and it was to date one of the best days of our lives. We absolutely loved everything about the tour. Overall, it was an extremely enjoyable/relaxing way to see the Tuscan countryside. I couldn't imagine a more perfect way really. The van is very new, clean, and feels safe. I debated doing vespas but this way, we didnt have to worry about drinking at the winery AND dealing with navigating the small roads of the countryside on moped we were not familiar with driving.”

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