Hop on Hop off Florence: The Best Bus Tour for 2026

Florence is small. Smaller than almost everyone expects. So does a tour bus even make sense here? We rode it to find out. Here is our honest take.

You can walk across the historic center of Florence in about twenty minutes. The Duomo, the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and the Accademia all sit within a short stroll of each other. That changes how you should think about the Hop on Hop off Florence bus.

This is not Rome or London, where a bus saves your legs across huge distances. In Florence, the bus does one job really well. It carries you up the hills the center cannot reach. We will be straight with you about when that is worth it and when it is not.

GetYourGuide Hop on Hop off Florence
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Author Allie

At a Glance: Hop-on Hop- off Bus Tour

There is really only one main operator on GetYourGuide for this. The red open-top buses run by Sightseeing Experience. So you are not stuck comparing ten near-identical tickets. Here is what comes with yours.

Florence Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: 24, 48 or 72-Hour Ticket – From about $29 per person • price shows in your local currency – Check availability

Routes: 3 lines (A, B and C)

Bus type: open-top double-decker

Audio guide: 8 languages, including English, German, French, Spanish and Italian

Kids: under 5 ride free

Booked Through GetYourGuide:
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before • Reserve now, pay later • Mobile voucher accepted • 3 routes, audio guide in 8 languages

The three routes, and which one matters

This is the part most pages skip over. The lines are not equal. One of them is the reason to buy a ticket at all.

Line A. The city center loop

Roughly one hour. It circles the heart of Florence and climbs to Piazzale Michelangelo. This is the most frequent line, with buses every 20 to 60 minutes depending on the season. It is the line you will use most.

Line B. Up to Fiesole

About two hours. It heads into the hills to Fiesole, the old Etruscan town that looks down over the whole valley. Buses run roughly once an hour, and only a few times a day in winter. Check the schedule before you rely on it.

Line C. The combined loop

Also about two hours. It blends Lines A and B into one long ride. Good if you want to see everything in a single sitting without changing buses.

Line
Where it goes
Time
Frequency
Best for
A
City center + Piazzale
1 hr
Every 20-60 min
Quick overview and the famous viewpoint
B
Florence to Fiesole hills
2 hr
Hourly (fewer in winter)
Escaping the center, big panoramas
C
Combined A + B loop
2 hr
Hourly
Seeing it all in one ride
Check Availability
GetYourGuide Hop on Hop off Florence (2)
Courtesy of GetYourGuide

What we learned from riding it

  • My advice: Treat it as a shuttle, not a tour. Use it to get up to Piazzale Michelangelo, walk the center on foot, and ride back down when your legs give out.
  • Mistakes tourists make: Buying it for the center. The bus barely touches the streets you actually came to see. People expect a door-to-door tour and get frustrated.
  • Best time to ride: First bus of the morning, around 9am, before the heat and before the Piazzale fills up. Light is soft and the top deck is half empty.
  • What surprised us: How much we liked Line B. Fiesole feels like a different world, with olive groves and quiet. Almost nobody rides up there.
  • What we would skip: Doing the full Line C loop just to "complete" it. Two hours on a bus in a walkable city is a poor trade. Ride the bits that save you a climb.
  • How long you really need: A single afternoon covers the useful parts. The 48-hour ticket is plenty for most people. The 72-hour only earns its keep on longer, slower trips.
  • Photo tip: Sit on the open top deck and shoot the climb toward Piazzale Michelangelo. You get the river, the bridges and the Duomo dome lining up as you rise.
  • Crowd tip: Avoid the midday buses around 1 to 3pm. They fill with cruise-day crowds. Mornings and the last hour of service are far calmer.
  • Best nearby cafe: At Piazzale Michelangelo, walk five minutes up to the rose garden below San Miniato. Quieter benches, same view, and a small bar for an espresso.
  • If we only had 1 day: Walk the center in the morning. Catch Line A up to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. Ride back down. One climb saved, one perfect view earned.

Hop on Hop off Florence: is it worth it?

Here is the honest answer. The bus cannot enter most of the historic center. The streets are too narrow and too pedestrian. So it does not drop you at the Duomo, the Uffizi or Ponte Vecchio. Those you reach on foot, no matter what ticket you hold.

What the bus does well is the climb. Piazzale Michelangelo sits on a hill above the river. The walk up is steep and hot in summer. The ride to Fiesole is even further. That is the real value here.

Our verdict:
Worth it if you have limited mobility, are traveling with kids, want the hill views without the climb, or plan to visit Fiesole. Skippable if you are fit, staying central, and only have a day or two. For most central first-timers, your own two feet beat the bus. See current prices here.

GetYourGuide Hop on Hop off Florence (1)
Courtesy of GetYourGuide

How to use your ticket

Booking is simple. The on-the-ground details trip people up. Here is what to know before you go.

  • Your mobile voucher is accepted. No need to print.
  • You can board at any stop on any of the three lines.
  • The visitor center is inside Santa Maria Novella station, near platform 16. It opens 08:30 to 16:00.
  • Download the free “Sightseeing Experience” app. It shows live bus positions and wait times, which matters because Line B runs less often.
  • Your ticket does not include attraction entry. Buy Duomo, Uffizi and Accademia tickets separately.
Check Availability

Hop on Hop off Florence: FAQ

Whether the Florence Hop on Hop off bus is worth it depends on you. It is worth booking for hill views at Piazzale Michelangelo, trips to Fiesole, families, and limited mobility. Fit travelers staying in the walkable center often do not need it.

The Florence Hop on Hop off bus tour costs from about $35 per person for a 48-hour ticket on GetYourGuide. The 72-hour ticket costs a little more. Prices shift with season and currency, so check the live rate before you book.

The Florence Hop on Hop off Bus Tour runs three routes. Line A loops the city center and Piazzale Michelangelo in about an hour. Line B climbs to Fiesole. Line C combines both into one longer two-hour loop.

Your Hop on Hop off Florence ticket is valid for either 48 or 72 hours from first use. Both options cover all three bus lines. For most visitors the 48-hour ticket is enough, since central Florence is compact and walkable.

You can board the Hop on Hop off bus in Florence Italy at any stop on the three lines. The main hub sits at Piazza Stazione, by Santa Maria Novella station. A visitor center near platform 16 helps with tickets and schedules.

Yes, the Florence Hop on Hop off bus stops at Piazzale Michelangelo on Line A and Line C. This is the main reason many people ride it, since it saves the steep uphill walk to the famous panoramic viewpoint over the city.

You glimpse the Duomo from the Hop on Hop off Firenze bus, but it does not stop at the cathedral. Florence’s center is pedestrian, so buses stay on the ring roads. You reach the Duomo on foot from the nearest stop.

  • English
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Italian
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Chinese
  • German

In addition, the buses offer free Wi-Fi on board.

The Florence Hop on Hop off Bus Tour works well for families. Children under 5 ride free, the open top deck keeps kids entertained, and it saves little legs from the steep climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo on a hot day.

It’s especially nice to sit up top, feel the breeze and the fresh air, and learn more about the city’s amazing buildings. Unlike when you’re behind the wheel yourself, you’ll actually enjoy getting stuck in traffic for a bit and snapping a vacation photo or two.

But the open-air hop-on hop-off tours aren’t just a hit with adults. Kids love this part of city trips too—after all, riding on a bus like this can be quite exciting.

Author

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Welcome!

My name is Allie.
Italy is one of my favorite countries to visit in Europe, especially Florence!
I love everything the city has to offer. From the architecture to the most delicious food and wine, Florence has it all. So, come with me on this beautiful journey through Florence.

Allie

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