Rome by Night Open-Top Bus Tour

Termini Station and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

The night loop starts on Via Giovanni Giolitti, beside Termini Station, the main railway hub of Rome and the easiest place in the city to reach by metro, bus or taxi. Within minutes the bus reaches the Esquiline Hill and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the great papal basilicas of the city. Founded in the fifth century, it keeps its original nave mosaics, and its Romanesque bell tower is the tallest in Rome.

At night the façade and the twin domes glow above the piazza, where a tall column stands in front of the steps. Travellers often ask whether Santa Maria Maggiore is worth visiting inside; it is, and entry is open to everyone during the day with modest dress. On this Rome night bus tour you see it from the upper deck, which gives a clean view over the traffic and the crowds.

The Archbasilica of St John Lateran

From the Esquiline the route heads south-east to the Lateran, where the Archbasilica of St John Lateran stands. It is the cathedral of Rome and the official seat of the Bishop of Rome, and for that reason it is called the mother of all churches of the city and the world. The present façade, completed in the eighteenth century, is topped by giant statues of Christ and the apostles that can be seen from far away, and they are dramatically lit in the evening.

Opposite the basilica rises the Lateran obelisk, the tallest ancient Egyptian obelisk in Rome, brought to the city in antiquity and re-erected here in the sixteenth century. Next to it is the building of the Holy Stairs, a place of pilgrimage. The commentary explains the long history of the Lateran palace, which served as the residence of the popes for about a thousand years before the Vatican.

The Colosseum lit up at night

The highlight of this Rome by night tour is the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman world. Inaugurated in the year 80 with games that lasted a hundred days, it could hold around fifty thousand spectators who watched gladiator fights and animal hunts. Seeing the Colosseum at night is a completely different experience from the day: warm lights pick out its arches, the crowds have gone, and the broken outer ring stands out against the dark sky.

The bus passes slowly around the monument, giving you time for photos from the open deck, with the Arch of Constantine and the edge of the Roman Forum nearby. If you want to go inside, Colosseum tickets must be booked separately and for a daytime slot; our team can help you add a guided visit of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill to your stay.

The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna

The loop continues towards the historic centre and the Spanish Steps, the monumental staircase of the eighteenth century that climbs from Piazza di Spagna to the church of Trinità dei Monti. At the foot of the steps lies the Barcaccia fountain, shaped like a half-sunken boat, and around the square run the elegant shopping streets of Via dei Condotti and Via del Babuino.

By night the steps are softly lit and the twin bell towers of Trinità dei Monti stand out above them, which makes this one of the most photographed corners of Rome after dark. Sitting on the steps is no longer allowed, so the view from the bus is a good alternative to a crowded visit. Ask our team for ideas of things to do in Rome at night nearby, from gelato to an evening stroll along the lit-up fountains.

Piazza Navona and the return to Termini

The final highlight is the area of Piazza Navona, the long baroque square that keeps the oval shape of an ancient Roman stadium built on this spot in the first century. In the centre stands the Fountain of the Four Rivers, with figures representing great rivers of four continents, and opposite it the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone with its curved façade and dome.

In the evening the square is lively with street artists and restaurant terraces, and the fountains glow under the lamps, so the bus route nearby gives a good preview before you return on foot another evening. From here the bus heads back across the centre to Via Giovanni Giolitti, closing the loop after about 45 minutes. Because the tour is valid for one loop only, it is best to stay on board for the whole ride and plan any visit to the squares separately.