For those that have been to Paris and/or Rome... Is it worth pre purchasing Hop on Hop off bus or just buying it when we arrive? Also is 1 day enough or 2?
Thank you!

I always buy them at the bus itself. If you buy one, keep the stub as you will receive 10% off of the next purchase for the bus in another city. If you want to use it for all of your transportation, buy for two days. The metro in Paris is super simple and you can buy a carne of tickets for a lesser cost. If you are using the subway in Rome or Paris make sure you look after your belongings. There are always pickpockets looking for a tourist. Bus 64 in Rome takes one to all of the sites, BUT you need to be very careful since it is always has a gang of well dressed pickpockets on it. Just be aware and you will be fine! Use a neck pouch inside your shirt...Best thing ever!

Thank you so much! This is great info Verna
we were just worried they’d cost more if we bought it once there. Buying from here they are around $45 per day.

Most importantly...buy your Museum/gallery passes in advance. Saves a lot of time waiting in line to get to see the big attractions!

I agree. If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, do buy early and online. If you don't, it will take sometimes up to four hours of standing in lines to get a ticket. Monteparnasse Tower has wonderful views and is far less crowded.

and your view won't include the tower if you're on top of it!

Do you recommend a certain pass? We are not doing any of the art museums on this trip. Just want to hit as many monuments and churches as we can. As well as spend some time in Montmartre
We only have 3 days.

We were in Paris a few weeks ago and bought a 1-day ticket with the Big Bus hop-on hop-off company. We liked the live commentary and chance to just sit and ride was much needed in the hot weather (particularly for the kids). The one day ticket was enough for us and then we took the metro to museums and galleries on later days. Bonne vacances!

thank you Sara!

Ericka if you do one museum, go see the Monets at L'Orangerie. Not too big or time consuming but you'll regret not seeing them in person. It will just take an hour or so.

Ericka The Paris Museum Pass, but it depends on how many and which museums your doing whether you'll get value. If you're doing the Louvre, skipping the ticket line with the pass could make it worth it alone. Your don't want to waste you precious holiday time standing hours in a line. Churches generally won't charge admission. If you're not joining a tour, get to Notre Dame early when it opens, or you'll be swamped by hordes a mere hour later. I skipped going up the Eiffel (though did go to the park) and went up the Arc de Triomphe instead. Be warned there are 200+ steps and no elevator. But you'll get as good a view, less lineups, and the Eiffel will be IN your photos.
http://en.parismuseumpass.com/

Buying passes not worth it. Check separate tickets price beforehand.

Do a new Europe walking tour in Paris. A lot better than bus tours

Use the metro & walk. It’s so easy and convenient, plus you will get a much better experience

Amen to that!

Don't buy the pass then. It will not be worth it. You will Love Montemartre! Go up at night when the crowds are gone and have dinner at one of the little bistros..We do this with my groups all of the time and we love it. It is easy to access via the metro. Abbesses and Pigalle are the two stops. The Moulin Rouge building is right at the metro stop. Another beautiful thing to do is the Bateaux Mouche at night/dusk. It is not to be missed!

Thank you so much Verna! It’s been a little overwhelming trying to research. This helps a ton.

Ericka Message me if you need specifics. I will help with both Paris and Rome.

Verna thank you so much.

I did hop on hop off of the boat. That together with a day pass on the metro is all you need to see big sites. 2 days is better cause you can’t count on the weather

That’s for Paris

Rome 1 day is enough

If you want to splurge a bit, have a look at Bustronome. It’s a bus tour with fine French dining combined. They do both lunch and dinner tours. If you have 3 days, I would suggest that you do at least one art museum. Museum D’Orsay is stunning, both in the architecture of the building and the fine art it contains. It is easier to navigate and not as overwhelming as the Louvre. It can be done in 2-3 hours if you wish. I also really loved the Rodin Museum. The gardens, building and art (including “the thinker”) are all easily assessable and some even touchable. You can get up close and personal to a beautiful Van Gogh painting there too among other famous art. I find it a calm pocket of beauty in a busy city. For the Eiffel Tower, book the tickets in advance or you will waste hours in line. Or, book a tour and this will give you easier assess up the tower too. Usually about $80-100pp. I found it well worth it! I learned so very much from our guide. Viator books such tours.
Another option is a “Picnic” lunch at the towers restaurant “Tour 58” booked in advance. It gives you tickets to the first floor and your own elevator up as well as a nice lunch. You can then take the stairs up to the next level if you want. You will love Paris! I keep returning and wanting more!

Thank you for all of this Karen!

We bought a one day. Then bought a regular bus pass for 2. That way, we travelled as we wanted where we wanted after doing the hop on hop off to see what there was to see.

When in Paris we booked the 2 day Hop on Hop off the night before on the internet. Very reasonably priced and a great way to see alot! We were only there for 3 days and decided that definitely wasn’t enough time to see everything. Probably because we spent 6 hours
in the Louvre! Have fun!!

We used the hop on hop off in Rome for one day and combined it with walking around. When we got tired of walking or wanted to see something that was further away, we hopped on the bus. At the end of the day, we hopped on and went to the stop closest to the hotel. It was nice to be able to take some breaks from walking while still seeing the sights, and also to be able to get a more "bigger picture" feel of Rome than we would have if we only walked. We were there only for a few days, and the rest of the time we used the Metro. I don't think I would recommend more than one day of hop on hop off.

We wouldn't do the hop on hop off. Especially in Paris, where all the sites are so accessible from public transit! Easy to get around by metro and foot for way way less.

I found Paris very walkable, and if you are staying in or near the Latin Quarter, most of the main sites are within easy walking distance. For other places, I found regular bus transit and the metro fine for getting around.
And definitely 2 days, minimum. I did 4 in Paris alone and wanted more.

We are in Saint Germain. We have 2 people with us that are in their 70’s. Just thought hop on bus might be a little easier

I forgot to add to my above comment that I was with my Mom who was 69 at the time, so that is why Hop on Hop off worked well for us in Rome (many people find that Rome is really walkable and the Metro is really easy and convenient and don't find the need for Hop On).

Saint Germain is a great spot, right near most of the major sites. I found regular transit fine, but a hop on/off might be cheaper if you plan to take several buses in between. They also have Uber. Beware of being ripped of if you take a taxi.
I'm going again with my Mom in her mid 70s as well. I don't think the distances are great (we'll actually in Saint Germaine as well), and around the Seine is flat. But I worry about how much time she'll be on her feet in total. I'm adjusting accordingly and making sure well have lots of sitting time. Just an FYI, Montmarte is on a steep hill, though I think there is a funicular or street train you can take to Sacre Coeur at the top.

Perfect!
Maybe they won’t be coming with me to Montmartre. She can stay with my aunt. It might be too much for them.

Ericka if you are traveling with people in their 70s then I can understand the appeal. Saves you all the stairs in and out of the metro stations. But if would get really expensive if you rely on it as your mode of transportation. How long are you in Paris for? There is A LOT to see. So the depending on your stops, you may not use t as much in a day as you’d imagine.

3 days. I think they would be content just going around once and then choosing the next day where they’d like to spend the day. My sister and I then would go do our trekking around and let them do their own thing closer to our Airbnb

Ericka ah. Okay. That’s a whirlwind!! Enjoy the time you have - there is so much to see and Paris is addictive. We have been 5 times in the last 6 years. Don’t forget to stray from the tourist sites! And enjoy!

for sure! Thanks Alyssa!

Not sure if my comments are of value, but the 4 days I spent in Rome about 5 years ago, the hotel was close to a lot that I wanted to see and I took the metro and trams for other sites. I have heard that hop on hop off can be difficult in Rome because a lot of time can be wasted sitting in the horrible traffic. Whatever you do, it will most likely be wonderful!

Yes. I’ve heard that the stops are long as well... I’m hoping September is a better month.

You can wait until you get there. Foxity was the cheapest and easiest. Kids under 12 for free if you buy online. A one day tour is fine.
But if you want a super awesome, highly informative and customized tour experience, skip the bus and book yourself a 3 hr Segway tour through GO GO TOURS. Funnest way to see the sights up close and get a good survey of the main sights.

we did the hop on and off tour in Paris. Bought tickets day of and they weren't that expensive. The company we used had 3 or 4 routes I think and we did them all in one day. They overlap a little so transferring from 1 line to another was super easy. Got free headsets to plug into their recorded tour guide system. Had a great time. Never did it when I was in Rome. Just did our own thing but we did pay for a guided tour of the Colosseum which I highly recommend!!! It included the Colosseum and 2 areas nearby. Super worth it.

Good walking shoes and as many days as you can. Louvre took a full day. D'Orsay 1 day. Eifell tower, Arc de Triomphe and Champs elysee.
Rome has so much too. Colosseum and Vatican took a day each.

I didn't do the bus HOHO in Rome and still was able to see the main attractions by taking the public bus and walking. My mum and I just did the bus HOHO (Batonbus) and it was good. We only did that on one day. The thing with the boat is some of the stairs to get off the side of the river is steep so for old people it's slightly harder. Also, on some stops you might still have to walk for a bit to get to the main attraction. For example to get to the Louvre it doesnt stop right by the Louvre but the buses it stops closer. It's slightly cheaper to buy the tixs online and less hassle. If you decided to get the Baton bus in Paris you'd still have to show your online tixs to the kiosk and they will change it.

I've never purchased hop on hop off bus tickets. Just a city pass with transit. The Paris museum pass didn't allow me to cut the line except at the Louvre, perhaps I still had to book a time for other attractions. But the Roma pass is worth, just hope that transit isn't on strike.

Thank you Martin. I’ll look up the Roma pass.