Big Bus Rome
Cruise visitors interested in taking a tour on the Big Bus Rome will either be visiting the Eternal City for the day or staying in Rome before or after a Mediterranean cruise. In either case (logistics aside), the hop-on, hop-off Big Bus Rome is a great choice. The reasons why: convenient, safe, great service that offers a great way to explore the city’s must-see landmarks, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Circus Maximus. If you get off the bus then that list of reasons why expands to the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and more!
Review
I was in Rome on a three-city European tour researching options for cruise visitors and was extremely happy with the Big Bus Rome. Using the bus is an easy and convenient way to explore Italy’s capital. Passengers get the benefit of a guided narrated tour while seeing famous sights along the route. You are free to explore the sights on your own and then return to the bus to continue the tour. Unlike other bus tours I have been on, we hardly had to wait for another bus along the route, it seemed like there were plenty of busses to accommodate tourists with limited time. Also, the staff could not be nicer. We boarded the bus near the main train station called Termini Railway Station, which was where our hotel was located. If you are coming to Rome for the day from the “Port of Rome” located in Civitavecchia about 45 miles northwest of the city then I would also suggest meeting the Big Bus Rome at Termini. It is easy to locate the Big Red Bus outside the main entrance where all the buses park at Termini, and there is plenty of helpful staff to assist you with purchasing tickets.
Highlights of the Big Bus Rome Tour
There are three different tours to choose from that will depend on the day you visit. All tours offer pre-recorded commentary that is available in 9 languages. The tours take you to the top things to do in Rome. Below are some of the sights we explored during our tour.
Marvel at the Colosseum
One of the world’s most iconic landmarks of the Eternal City is the Colosseum, which began in 70AD under Emperor Vespasian. We bought an additional package offered by Big Bus Rome that allowed us to “skip the line” to get faster entry to the Colosseum and the Forum, two must-sees for my family. I would highly recommend buying these passes. Passes can be purchased at most of the bus stops from helpful staff who are available to answer questions or ask the bus driver.
Roman Forum
Next-stop a stroll through the ancient streets and ruins at The Forum. Stroll around the grounds and image life in ancient Rome. This is the center of civic life and there are many ruins to explore.
See the Circus Maximus
The Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium of ancient Rome.
Check out the Pantheon
the Pantheon is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient architecture in the world. This architectural icon was built as a temple to multiple Roman gods. It is constructed out of concrete and the facade of the Pantheon is in the classic Greek style but the remainder of the building is constructed as a modern domed structure. The Pantheon is now a church that sits on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus.
Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain
Throw a coin over your shoulder to guarantee that you will be back in Rome.
Some logistics for day-trippers from Civitavecchia
As a cruise passenger, you have a choice to take an organized shore excursion or strike out on your own. If you decide to take a train to Rome, plan to spend a little over an hour getting to the city. Make sure to do your research in advance because you will want to study the timetable and try to get on an express train (not a local one that makes a lot of stops). You can plan about two hours for the entire loop that takes you around the major sites of Rome without getting off the bus. Also look at the subway map because you might want to hop-off the bus and it might be more convenient to get back from the ship from a different train stop. Civitavecchia is a very large port with multiple piers. There is a complimentary shuttle service that takes people from the debarkation area to a parking lot outside the port. This is a helpful website about the port. You can find more information about the port by clicking >>> here.
About Big Big Tours
Big Bus Tours is the largest operator of open-top bus sightseeing tours in the world, providing sightseeing tours in 19 cities across three continents.