Hop-on Hop-off Paris Tours [2024]: Are The Tours Worth It?

When you’re visiting a new city, it can be difficult to make sure you see all the sights you want to see.

Since there are so many things to do in Paris, one way to get a feel for the city is to take a Hop on Hop off bus tour. These bus tours is a great way to explore and learn about the best neighborhoods in Paris. This will help you get your bearings in the city, and take you to some of the most famous Parisian sights.

But are they really worth it, especially if you're only there for a short time? Find out if you’d like to hop on one of these tours!

What is a Hop On Hop Off Tour?

Hop on Hop Off bus tours can be found in many major cities.

This style of bus tour allows you to see famous landmarks while using the bus as a way to conveniently get you from place to place. Every tour operates on a route, stopping at various landmarks. You can either ride the bus through the whole circuit or get off at the sights that interest you. You can then hop back on when the next bus comes through. 

Tours also frequently come with pre-recorded commentary so you can learn all about the city you’re visiting and the sights you’ll see. These will come in multiple languages so you don’t need to worry if you don’t speak the local language.

Buses frequently also have open rooftop seating so you can get the best views as you cruise through the city. 

Ticket Prices

If you’re interested in taking a Hop on Hop Off tour in Paris, you’ll need to purchase tickets. Click here to check out the Hop-on Hop-off bus tickets!

Booking them online in advance will save you some money, but you can purchase them prior to boarding the bus as well.

The official Hop on Hop off tour operator in Paris is Big Bus Tours. Keep in mind that the prices below may fluctuate. For the most up-to-date pricing, make sure to click the link to Big Bus Tours official site!

Their pricing is as follows:

Classic One Day Ticket

• Adult: From €37.80 (€42.00 on street)
• Child (age 4-12): From €19.80 (€22.00 on street)
  

Premium Two Day Ticket

• Adult: From €46.80 (€52.00 on street)
• Child: From €22.50 (€25.00 on street)
  

Classic One Day Ticket + River Cruise

• Adult: From €55.00
• Child: From €30.00

Deluxe Two Day Ticket + River Cruise

• Adult: From €58.50 (€65.00 on street)
• Child: From €28.80 (€32.00 on street)
  

Night Tour

• Adult: From €27.00 (€30.00 on street)
• Child: From €18.00 (€20.00 on street)

If you decide to book the Paris Pass, a classic one-day ticket for the Big Bus tour is included. You can hop on and off as many times as you like for as long as your ticket is valid. 

If you’re searching for a more budget-friendly bus tour of Paris, check out Foxity. For €22, you can enjoy a two-hour tour of Paris with panoramic views. You’ll see 40 monuments, but unlike the Big Bus Tour, you won’t be able to hop on and off at your leisure. 

Hop on Hop off Route

The Big Bus tour in Paris has one route with ten stops. The first bus leaves stop one at 10:40, while the last bus leaves stop one at 17:57. The classic route takes you to see the biggest Parisian landmarks, and these are the ten stops:

1. Eiffel Tower
2. Champs de Mars
3. Opéra Garnier
4. Louvre- Pyramide
5. Louvre- Pont des Arts
6. Notre Dame
7. Musée d’Orsay
8. Champs-Elysee
9. Grand Palais
10. Trocadéro
    

While the bus doesn’t cover every monument in Paris, you can get off at any of the ten stops to explore the area. You can also use the bus to get you from one place to another before exploring further.

You can hop on and off as many times as you’d like, providing there is another bus coming. Bus tickets do not include entry to any of the landmarks, though. 

There’s also a Big Bus Tours mobile app you can download so you can track in real-time when the next bus will arrive, and follow your route. This is helpful if you choose to get off at every stop so you can plan when to be back at the stop to continue your journey. The app is available on Google Store and in the Apple app store. 

Paris Hop on Hop off map

It can be hard to visualize just where the Hop on Hop off bus tour will take you with just a list of stops. To help you, here’s a map showing the route the bus will take you on, as well as where the stops are located.

A Hop on Hop off tour will take you through the best sights in central Paris, and let you forget about any transport-related stress. 

Hop on Hop off Boat

While exploring Paris by bus is a great way to see the city, there’s another fun way to see the city: by boat! With the Seine cutting Paris in two, you can use the famous waterway to make your way around the city, hitting some famous landmarks on the way. If this interests you, BatoBus provides a hop on hop off service via boat.

Much like with the Hop on Hop off bus, purchasing tickets online will save you some money. Their pass pricing is as follows:

24 Hour Pass:

• Adult: €17 (€19 in person)
• Child (3-15): €8 (€9 in person)
• Toddler: Free
  

48 Hour Pass

• Adult: €19 (€21 in person)
• Child: €10 (€11 in person)
• Toddler: Free
  

BatoBus’ route takes two hours to complete, with stops lasting 15 minutes. You can hop on and off as many times as you’d like during the validity of your pass. The route stops at nine stops along the Seine:

1. Jardin des Plantes
2. Hotel de Ville
3. Louvre
4. Place de la Concorde
5. Tour Eiffel
6. Invalides
7. Musée d’Orsay
8. Saint-Germain-des-Prés
9. Notre Dame
   

Opening and closing times vary based on the season, but the times for first and last departure are for the Eiffel Tower stop. 

Other Hop on Hop off Tours

While BigBus Tours is the biggest name in Hop on Hop off tours, there are alternative companies. 

‍TootBus also offers hop on hop off tours, in addition to thematic nonstop tours of Paris. The hop on hop off options visit the same sights as BigBus Tours, and run at the same cost as a ticket purchased on the street for BigBus Tours.

The biggest difference between the two is that TootBus only offers audio guides in French and English, rather than a multitude of languages.

TootBus does allow for free cancellation of your tickets, though. The tour runs a loop, stopping at ten locations:

1. Haussmann - Grands Magasins (department stores)
2. Opéra Garnier
3. Musée du Louvre
4. Notre Dame - Quartier Latin
5. Musée d’Orsay
6. Concorde
7. Champs - Elysees - Georges V
8. Trocadero
9. Tour Eiffel
10. Pont Alexandre III - Invalides
    

If you’re looking for a unique way to view Paris by bus, though, TootBus offers a Paris Vintage tour that’s run on a bus from the 30s! In 90 minutes, travel back in time with a live guide to explore the Paris of old. Tours run on Sundays and cost €35,00 for adults and €19,00 for children (ages 4-12). 

Are Hop on Hop off Busses Worth It?

If you’ve never visited a city before, Hop on Hop off bus tours can definitely be worth it.

They’re a great way to get an overview of the city and to check off key landmarks in one day. They’re also a less stressful way to navigate Paris as you don’t need to worry about trying to figure out the metro or determining how to route your way from one landmark to another.

If a Hop on Hop off bus tour sounds worth it to you, be sure to buy your tickets online in advance to save some money!

If Paris is your next destination, be sure to read our post on where to stay in Paris so you can figure out your accommodation easily!

Ready to tour Paris with Pilot?

For the first visit to Paris, a Hop on Hop off bus tour is definitely worth the consideration to see the most of Paris!

Regardless of whether you plan on jumping on a Hop on Hop off tour bus, make sure you have your itineraries and travel documents prepared. If you're looking for a easy way to keep everything organized, why not try out Pilot?