This post reviews and compares the various Paris hop on hop off bus tours.
We also include guided and night bus tours to help you decide which one may be best for you.
- Hop-On Hop-Off
- Fully Guided Bus Tours
- Night Bus Tours
- Bus, Boat and Other Combo Deals
- Free Bus Tours
- Things to Do in Paris
HOP-ON HOP-OFF PARIS BUS TOURS
Most of the businesses that offer this service provide audio commentary in several languages and additional bonuses such as Seine River cruises or walking tours.
Paris has two major hop-on hop-off bus tour companies: L’Open Tour Paris and Les Cars Rouges (Big Bus Tours), but there is also a company called Foxity.
These double-decker bus tours are the most popular in the city.
On these sightseeing tours, large double-decker, open-top buses drive around the city on a set route with multiple stops nearby historic monuments and popular attractions.
Visitors can choose which attractions they want to stop at and visit whenever they wish at their own pace, knowing that they can hop back on once they are finished at their current location.
Ticket validity ranges from 24 and 72 hours depending on which service you utilize, and there is no limit on how many times you can get back onto the bus.
The tour itself typically lasts for between 1-2 hours total, but you can take your time and travel at your own pace, which means you can make the tour last as long as you want!
A standard 1-day ticket will cost between €20 - €40 depending on which service you choose.
There are also a number of discounts you might want to consider which can cut costs by 50% or more!
Disclosure: We think you should consider our free tours, but we have also provided other options. While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
Big Bus Tours
Formerly called Les Cars Rouges (Red Buses), Big Bus Tours has been in business since 1991.
They are probably the most notable “hop-on-hop-off” sightseeing tour bus in Paris.
This is an international company that provides services all over the world, and they are generally well-liked.
In total, there are 10 significant stops on their classic route.
No matter what attractions you want to visit, chances are that Big Bus will take you there.
Big Bus Paris averages 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide (read the reviews).
TIP: The Big Bus tours are also included for free with the purchases of the Paris Pass, a tourist attraction discount card.
Admission Prices Online (Save 10%)
Online tickets are a better deal than paper tickets, and the 2-day ticket option for two consecutive days is a much better deal than the 1-day choice.
Discount doesn’t apply to same-day online purchases. Purchase here.
Classic 1-day tour
- €37.80 for Adults
- €19.80 for Children (aged 4-12)
Premium 2-day tour
- €46.80 for Adults
- €22.50 for Children (aged 4-12)
Deluxe 2-day tour
- €58.50 for Adults
- €28.80 for Children (aged 4-12)
- Includes Cruise on River Seine
Bus Schedule
Buses run every day from 9:30 am - 18:00 (6 pm). Buses run roughly every 30 minutes at each stop.
To experience a complete route back to your start point, you should hop on prior to 17:00 (5 pm); tours after 17:00 end at the Trocadero.
Where to Purchase Admission
We recommend you purchase your tickets online because the prices online are lower.
You can also buy tour tickets with the bus driver and at your hotel reception desk.
Pre-Recorded Commentary Audio Languages
English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, German, Japanese, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean or Mandarin.
Click the map to be taken to a larger, interactive version.
Routes
Red Route (day tours): Eiffel Tower, Champs du Mars, Opera Garnier, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musée D’Orsay Museum, Champs Élysées, Grand Palais, and Trocadero.
Blue Route (night tour): Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musée D’Orsay Museum, Champs Élysées, Grand Palais, Trocadero, and Gare Du Nord.
Route Duration
If you want to experience everything on each route, this is the amount of time it will take to travel past each stop. Keep this in mind when deciding which tour ticket to purchase if you want to see everything possible on your trip through Paris.
Red Line: 2 hours 20 minutes
Blue Line: 1 hour 15 minutes
NOTE: As of June 2022, Big Bus is not currently offering its blue route.
Tootbus
This company is quickly making a name for itself in certain cities across Europe and the UK.
Their hop-on hop-off tours currently offer just one route and a total of 10 different stops providing access to dozens of notable sites in Paris.
Admission is available for 1, 2, or 3 days at a time, and they also have combo tickets which include a cruise on the river Seine.
Despite the fact that they offer more than some of their competitors, Tootbus receives 4.2 out of 5 stars on Get Your Guide (read the reviews).
Many guests feel that their service is excellent, but there are some reviewers who suggest that they don't offer frequent enough stops and that their hours aren't long enough.
Admission Prices (with 10% discount)
1-day bus tour
- €39.60 for Adults
- €21.60 for Children (aged 4-15)
- €112.00 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)
2-day bus tour
- €46.80 for Adults
- €27.00 for Children (aged 4-15)
- €134.00 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)
3-day bus tour
- €51.30 for Adults
- €29.70 for Children (aged 4-15)
- €147.00 for Family (2 adults + 2 children)
Purchase admission or learn more.
Bus Schedule
- April - October: 9:30 am - 6:30 pm
- November - March: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Buses run every 15 minutes.
Pre-Recorded Commentary Audio Languages
English, French, Italian, German, Spanish.
Routes
Blue line – Paris Grand Tour – Palais Royal, Louvre, Notre Dame, Saint Michel, Musee Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysee, Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, Concorde Royal and much more.
Route Duration
If you want to see every location and stop on each route, this is the amount of time it will take to experience all of them. Please keep these figures in mind when deciding which sightseeing tour ticket to purchase.
Blue line: 2 hours.
Foxity
These orange and white buses are the least expensive option for hop-on hop-off bus tours in Paris.
Families, listen up: each adult can bring 1 child for free on the day tours, so you definitely save more than with their competitors.
Believe it or not, this bus tour is so inexpensive, that it might even be one of the most affordable forms of transportation in the city.
Although this service may be more budget-friendly, you’ll also find that this business offers fewer stops.
Make sure to check their routes before purchasing any tickets.
Unfortunately, Foxity does not have glowing reviews on TripAdvisor, as they have received an overall 3 out of 5-star rating.
Complaints typically focus on the fact that this service provides fewer buses on each route, meaning you might have to wait for a while before jumping back on.
This bus tour also visits fewer locations, but that’s to be expected from a cheaper service.
Those who enjoyed their trip reported that the experience was both affordable and effective for seeing most of the significant sights in Paris
Admission Prices Online
1-Day Bus Tour (Hop-on, Hop-off)
- €36.90/Adults | €18.90/Children (4-12)
- Children 3 and under FREE (1 child per each paying adult)
2-Day Bus Tour (Hop-on, Hop-off)
- €42.30/Adults | €21.60/Children (4-12)
- Children 3 and under FREE (1 child per each paying adult)
TIP: Add on a 1-hour cruise for €11/Adults or €6.50 for children
Tour Dates
Buses run every day from 9:30 AM - 6 PM. Buses run every 20 minutes.
Where to Purchase Admission
It’s recommended to buy the tickets online. You can also get tickets from the ticket office near the Opéra Garnier at 3 Chaussée d’Antin, 75009 Paris.
Pre-Recorded Commentary Audio Languages
French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, German, Italian, Chinese.
Route/Route Duration
Eiffel Tower, Opera Garnier, Concorde la Duree, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, L’Ecole Militaire and much more.
Their one and only route lasts for two hours in total. It shouldn’t be too difficult to experience everything on this tour in one day.
If you intend to travel around Paris for more than one day, one of the other hop-on hop-off tours may actually be more affordable.
FULL-SERVICE BUS TOURS
In addition to the hop-on hop-off tour services available in Paris, there are also several full-service bus tours.
Although you might not have the opportunity to leave the vehicle, guides on these tours typically receive high praise for providing a lot of valuable information.
Audio-Guided City Tour (by CityRama)
This service is very similar to hop-on hop-off bus tours with one big exception: there is no hopping on or off at your leisure.
Instead, you will experience all of the major landmarks and historic sites in Paris during a 1 ½ - 2-hour trip around the city.
During your trip, you'll have the opportunity to hear expert commentary about all of the locations on your journey in 11 different languages.
- Ticket Prices: €29/Adults | €19/Children
- Availability: Daily at 3 pm and 5 pm
- Duration: 1 ½ - 2 hours
- Audio guide available in 11 languages
- Purchase admission or learn more.
If you're looking for something quick, inexpensive, and informative, this might be one of your best options.
This service has a 4 out of 5-star rating on both TripAdvisor and GYG (read reviews here).
Many guests have indicated that their experience was excellent, suggesting that the service provided is both comfortable and informative.
Foxity
In addition to its hop-on-hop-off service, this company also provides a more traditional bus tour.
Although it only lasts for two hours, it’s very affordable and a lot more accessible than some of the other full-service tours on this list.
Admission Prices Online
2-Hour Tour
- €29 per Adult | €19 per Child (4-12)
- Child 3 and under FREE (1 child with each Adult purchase)
- Include a 1-hour cruise for just €11/Adult and €6.50/Child
We recommend purchasing admission online. Tickets are also available at their office near the Opéra at 3 Chaussée d’Antin, 75009 Paris.
Pre-Recorded Commentary Audio Languages
French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, German, Italian, Chinese.
NIGHT BUS TOURS OF PARIS
There’s a reason that they call Paris the City of Light. When the sun goes down, this metropolis lights up!
All of the companies that provide hop-on, hop-off services also offer bus tours at night.
For more information on their respective ratings, make sure to check out our review profiles for each service.
Unlike their hop-on-hop-off service, this night tour doesn’t allow you to get off whenever you wish.
Clocking in at a total of 2 hours, you’ll travel around the city in an open-top bus and see all of the major landmarks after the sun sets.
Discover famous sites such as the Moulin Rouge, Champs-Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower from an entirely different perspective once the lights turn on at night.
Admission Prices Online
Night Tour
- €27 for Adults
- €18 for Children (aged 4-12)
Tickets are available online, but they can also be purchased either directly from bus drivers or from your hotel reception desk.
Additional Information
Big Bus Tours offers commentary in 11 different languages to accommodate guests from around the world.
The 2-hour night tour begins at 20:15 (8:15 pm) every night throughout the 16th of December. From December 17th to January 2nd, the tour begins at 21:15 (9:15 pm).
Much like their competitors, this night tour will not allow you to jump off and explore different attractions at night.
It's an audio led tour, so no live tour guide.
This trip clocks in at only 1 ½ hours and comes with a higher price tag.
Although you’ll visit locations such as the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Elysées, it would appear that you’ll have much less time to experience these beautiful sites after the sun goes down.
This tour scores 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide (read the reviews).
Admission Prices Online
Paris By Night Pass
- €29.70 for Adults
- €20.70 for Children (4-12)
You can obtain tickets online, with the bus driver, or via their ticket office at 13 Auber Street 75009 Paris. Reservation is compulsory, so it’s best to purchase your tickets ahead of time.
Additional Information
Tootbus provides commentary in 5 different languages. You’ll also receive personal earphones for listening to audio while on the tour.
Between March 25th – October 31st, the tour starts at 21:30 (9:00 pm). From November 1st – January 1st, the tour will begin at 18:00 (6 pm).
This trip will depart from the main office at 13 Auber Street 75009 Paris.
Whether you’re looking for more than just a bus tour or you want to take more than one trip through Paris, you can save a lot of money by purchasing a combo package.
All of the major hop-on-hop-off services offer packages that include more than one activity at a discounted rate.
Although some of these deals include entrance into popular attractions, most of them are focused on tours that will take you around Paris.
If you want to visit some of the museums or enter famous landmarks in the city, you may want to consider a Paris Pass instead.
If you’re already interested in getting a hop-on hop-off tour ticket, you might want to consider the combo package offered by this company.
This package includes their standard service and a cruise on the River Seine.
For those who have been considering a cruise, this could be a great way to save money.
Admission Prices Online
Classic Ticket + Night Tour
- €65 Adults
- €40 Children (4-12)
Classic Ticket + River Cruise
- €55 Adults
- €30 Children (4-12)
Classic Ticket + River Cruise + Night Tour
- €79 Adults
- €45 Children (4-12)
Premium Ticket + Night Tour
- €79 Adults
- €45 Children (4-12)
Deluxe Ticket + Night Tour + a Seine River Cruise
- €89 Adults
- €49 for Children (aged 4-12)
Where to Purchase Admission
If you purchase admission online, you will save the most money.
In addition, these combo deals may not be available if you purchase tickets directly from a driver or at your hotel.
Additional Information
To find out more about the quality of their service, please read our review profile of Big Bus Tours.
Tickets purchased online can either be printed out or accessed via smartphone.
Tootbus
This company provides some of the most original combo packages in Paris.
In addition to the standard cruise and night tour options, they also offer entrance into the Louvre, the Picasso Museum, and even a Tasting Passport for those who want to experience French cuisine.
If you’re looking for a somewhat different experience in this city of light, you might want to consider one of the following combo deals.
Admission Prices Online
Bus Tour + Seine River Cruise
- 1-Day Ticket: €52.20/Adults | €28.80/Children
- 2-Day Ticket: €59.40/Adults | €34.20/Children
- 3-Day Ticket: €63.90/Adults | €36.90/Children
- More info and to book online.
Bus Tour + Night Tour
- 1-Day Ticket: €62.10/Adults | €37.80/Children
- 2-Day Ticket: €69.30/Adults | €43.20/Children
- 3-Day Ticket: €73.80/Adults | €45.90/Children
- More info and to book online.
Where to Purchase Admission
The easiest way to buy your tickets is online.
These combo deals may not be available to purchase directly from bus drivers or at their ticket offices.
Additional Information
If you want to know more about the services this company provides, you will find more information in the Hop-On, Hop-Off section.
Vouchers from this company are valid for an entire year, so you can purchase them ahead of time and use them whenever you wish.
Some of the tourist passes available in Paris actually include bus tours.
If you’re looking to experience more than just a bus ride around the city, you might want to consider picking up one of these passes.
Make sure to read our review of these services before deciding on which one to purchase.
This service includes more featured attractions and activities than any other tourist pass available in Paris.
Unfortunately, it also comes with a much higher price tag than the passes offered by competitors.
If you plan to spend a lot of time in the city and experience as much as possible, this is an excellent deal.
However, if you’ve only got a few days, you might want to consider another option.
The Paris Pass includes a Big Bus Tour hop-on hop-off tour ticket in addition to a museum pass guaranteeing access to more than 50 attractions such as The Louvre and Arc De Triomphe.
Pass Prices Online
- 2-Day Passes – €89 Adults / €54 Children
- 3-Day Passes –€119 Adults / €69 Children
- 4-Day Passes – €199 Adults / €74 Children
- 6-Day Passes – €229 Adults / €84 Children
Where to Purchase Passes
The Paris Pass can easily be purchased online and shipped globally. No matter where you live, chances are that you’ll be able to buy this tourist pass.
Additional Information
The hop-on, hop-off bus tour provided with the Paris Pass is a 1-day ticket. Even if you purchase the 6-Day Pass, you’ll only have access to the bus tour for one day.
That being said, this tourist pass also includes access to the metro, RER and buses in Paris.
It shouldn’t be too difficult to get around the city with the Paris Pass.
The Paris Passlib’ City includes the Tootbus Paris Night Tour in addition to multiple other activities such as the following:
- Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise
- Half-day Bike Rental
- Aquarium de Paris
- Arc de Triomphe
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Centre Pompidou
- Rodin Museum
- Eiffel Tower
- Dali Paris
- And more!
There are a total of 47 attractions you can pick from on this pass, and it provides admission to approximately 5 activities.
Pass Prices Online
Paris Passlib’ City
- €70 per person
Where to Purchase Pass
This tourist pass can be purchased online and shipped internationally. Alternatively, you can also pick up your passes at their main office.
Additional Information
If you use this pass for a Tootbus Paris Night Tour and admission to the Eiffel Tower, you'll have covered almost the entire cost of the pass, which means the remaining 3 activities will essentially be free.
This is just one way to look at the savings possible with this pass, but you can always choose other attractions and still save plenty of money.
As you can no doubt tell, there are several options for Paris bus tours.
No matter which type of service you want, chances are that you will find something to fit your needs.
Discover the city of light on your own terms and enjoy your experiences as you travel past some of the most beautiful landmarks in the entire world.
