Bus orientation tour of Rome?

We took a "Hop On, Hop Off" bus tour on our first trip to Rome. It was a bit costly but we enjoyed it. We especially liked it late in the afternoon when it was really hot and we were tired of walking/standing so it was nice to take a break and enjoy Rome from the second level of the bus. Our ticket was good for 24 hours so we also took the bus at night so we could experience Rome all lit up! It did take a long time to complete a "round trip" on the bus because of the traffic and also because the bus stopped at Termini for what seemed like an eternity but overall we were glad we did it. If you're short on time, I wouldn't bother but if you will be in Rome for several days, it might be worthwhile.

That long stop at Termini is because that is the bus "Capolinea" (starting and ending place). Personally I don't find the hoho bus as good for an orientation as a walking tour, but it does take you near the major sights and can be fun at night, as mentioned.

I would not discourage you from taking the HoHo bus, I think it does give a general overview, you will see some of the outer sites, the Vatican, the Colosseum, Forum, and a few other places. In general though, I think that is all the tour is good for, a quick couple hour overview, not as a means of transport to see the sites, and certainly not a means to see the all the great sites. The reason is many are in pedestrian areas or areas the buses can't go. The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori, Jewish quarter, and on and on. Rome is best a walking city.

So if the overview has value for the cost and your budget, then absolutely take it, if not. take some walking tours through central Rome and some neighborhoods (Jewish quarter, Trastevere) and metro or bus to the outer sites.

Last year 5 of went to Italy, starting in Rome, so I scheduled a van to pick us up from the airport. The regular van was booked so I booked the VIP tour which included an hour and a half tour thru Rome and then a drop off at the hotel. At least 2 of us in the group are very good at directions and I thought this would be a good way to help orient us, but really it did not. It was not the dense traffic (altho it WAS at rush hour!!) but the twisty and one way streets that prevented us from getting a good handle on what was where. As Paul pointed out there is a big pedestrian area which cuts out many of the big sights.

The tour did take us to a great overlook and also to the Aventine keyhole to peek thru. We were very disoriented by the time we got to the keyhole but a few days later did manage to find our way back on foot for a longer look.

If you do the HoHo, I recommend taking your map and a pen, lol.

Skip the Hop On Hop Off tours. You can easily get around walking and using the Metro. You'll get a better sense of directions walking and using public transportation is easy. Besides walking around you may stumble onto some ruins or small chuch you want to pop into.

We are always big fans of the hop on/off buses when new to a city. The tickets are generally good for 24 hrs so we tend to buy mid to late PM and always ride one complete loop to get an idea of areas to hit, pick up points, etc. On the second loop will get off at a couple of points. That evening will decide what we want to see in greater detail the next day and try to arrange our last stop (before the ticket expires) to be at the site that will consume the most time. With a decent map from the TI, the second deck of the bus gives a good view and orientation. In Rome the starting point for the bus is the plaza in front of Termini. There are several routes so pick the one that appeals to you. On Sunday the Archaeological bus is a good choice.

I enjoy arriving in a new city and taking a bus tour. It helps me get oriented. I learn the lay of the land. Plus, typically when I arrive I just can't handle a big museum and need to get over my jet lag. I would recommend the 110open Bus. Its run by the public bus system in Rome. Its basically a 90 minute overview of the city showing most of the top sights. You can also get on and off like a Hop on Hop off bus or you could just ride the circuit. It might take longer with traffic but I'm usually not worried about that on my first day in town. You can pick it up at Termini station or Piazza Venezia. It runs daily and the cost varies depending on if you want a single ride, 1 day or 48 hours.