Should You Try Hop On, Hop Off Bus To See Paris?

Instead of using a tour guide, we used a hop on, hop off bus to explore Paris. Should you do this?

What is a hop-on hop-off bus?

A hop-on hop-off bus is a tourist bus that allows passengers to get on and off at any of the designated stops along a predetermined route. They are a popular way to see a city or town, as they offer a convenient and affordable way to get around. Hop-on hop-off buses typically have open-air decks, so passengers can enjoy the views while they travel. They also usually have commentary, so passengers can learn about the places they are passing. 

What hop-on hop-off bus do you recommend?

We used Tootbus, but you can also go with BigBus Paris

Where did you buy the tickets for the bus?

We bought the tickets on GetYourGuide.com.  We received an email with QR code for all 4 passengers with one code.  Children under 4 years old ride free.

Where are the stops?

Hop on and off at any of the 10 stops along the route as you explore Paris on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Buses arrive every 20-30 minutes, and you can use the app to see where all of the buses are in real time. The app also provides access to tour guide recordings in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. You can also bring your own headphones with a 3.5mm plug and plug them into the bus's audio outlet.

Stops

• Haussmann – Grands Magasins (11, Rue Auber 75009 Paris)

• Opéra Garnier (49, Avenue de l’Opéra 75002 Paris)

• Musée du Louvre (Place du Carrousel 75002 Paris)

• Notre-Dame (4, Rue du Petit Pont 75005 Paris)

• Musée d'Orsay (8, Quai Anatole-France 75007 Paris)

• Concorde (12, Place de la Concorde 75008 Paris)

• Champs-Élysées – George V (116, Avenue des Champs-Élysées 75008 Paris)

• Trocadéro (50, Avenue du Président Wilson 75016 Paris)

• Tour Eiffel (69, Quai Branly 75007 Paris)

• Pont Alexandre III – Invalides (41, Quai d’Orsay 75007 Paris)

What We Liked

• We liked being able to explore Paris at my own pace. We could hop on and off the bus whenever we wanted to see a particular sight or take a break.

• We also liked how easy it was to get on and off the bus. The bus stops were clearly marked with Tootbus signs, and there were always Tootbus employees at the stops to help passengers.

• Finally, We liked that the bus was a more affordable option than taking a taxi.

What We Disliked

• The traffic in Paris during the day can be bad, which sometimes led to long delays in getting to my destination.

• If we missed a bus, we had to wait 20-30 minutes for the next one. In these situations, we would walk to a previous stop to try to catch the bus faster.

Verdict?

• Comfort - 8

• Convenience - 8

• Value for the money - 9

• Luxury - 5

On the scale of 1 - 10, we give this one: 7.5 (Probably worth it for most people.  If you have a stroller, unless you can fold it up easily, it may be too difficult to fit in an out of the bus)

If you are interested in this specific tour, click this link.