Best Hop-On Hop-Off in Paris: Big Bus, Tootbus or Batobus
The best hop on hop off in Paris for most first-time visitors is a close call between Tootbus and Big Bus, and the Batobus wins if you would rather be on the river. Tootbus has more languages, a 72-hour pass and a kids channel. Big Bus gives you a poncho, WiFi and a cruise add-on with Bateaux Parisiens. Tootbus has the bigger review count, 4.3 from 2,679, and Big Bus 4.3 from 301 on its main listing. Here is the full comparison.
Big Bus vs Tootbus vs Batobus: side by side
| Big Bus Paris | Tootbus Paris | Batobus | |
| Route | Red Route, 10 stops | Blue Route, 10 stops | 9 piers on the Seine |
| Full loop | about 2h15 to 2h30 | about 2 hours | boat every 25 to 40 min |
| Hours | 09:45 to 17:30 | 09:30 to 17:00 / 19:00 by season | about 10:00 to 19:00 |
| Frequency | every 10 to 20 min | every 7 to 15 min | every 25 to 40 min |
| Passes | 24 or 48 h | 24, 48 or 72 h | 24 or 48 h |
| Commentary | 8 languages | 10 languages + kids channel | not listed |
| Extras | WiFi, headphones, poncho | WiFi, earphones, 5 walking tours in the app | Heated in winter, bike storage |
| Fleet | Open-top double-deckers | Electric or gas double-deckers | Glazed river boats |
| Traveller rating | 4.3 (301) | 4.3 (2,679) | 4.4 (1,114) |
| From | €28.80 | €28.00 | €23.00 |
| Book Big Bus | Book Tootbus | Book Batobus |
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Which hop-on hop-off company to choose, by traveller
| You are... | Our pick | The deciding reason |
| A family with children under 12 | Tootbus | Kids commentary in English and French |
| Staying three days or more | Tootbus | The only 72-hour pass |
| Korean-speaking | Big Bus | Korean is in its 8 languages, not in Tootbus's 10 |
| Arabic or Russian-speaking | Tootbus | Both are in its 10 languages, not in Big Bus's 8 |
| Keen on a cruise too | Big Bus | Its cruise packages use a one-hour Bateaux Parisiens boat |
| Visiting in the rain | Batobus | Covered and heated, no road traffic |
| Counting every euro | Batobus | The cheapest pass, from €23 |
Is hop-on hop-off worth it in Paris
Yes for a first visit, a short stay, a family, or anyone who struggles with long walks. Paris landmarks sit far apart, the Arc de Triomphe to Notre-Dame is over an hour on foot, and a pass turns that into a seat with a view and a story.
No if you know the city already, you have a week, or you only want transport. Three honest downsides:
- Traffic. Mid-afternoon around the Champs-Élysées and Concorde a loop can run long.
- Weather. Rain on the open deck sends everyone downstairs. Big Bus at least hands out ponchos.
- The last bus. Service ends between 17:00 and 19:00. Hop off late at the wrong stop and you walk home.
When a Paris bus tour pays for itself
A bus pass is not the right buy for everyone. These are the situations where we would buy one without thinking twice, and the ones where we would not.
| Situation | Buy a pass? | Why |
| First day of a first trip | Yes | Two hours give you the map of the city |
| Jet-lagged arrival day | Yes | A seat with a view beats a museum queue |
| Travelling with someone who struggles to walk | Yes | The bus does the distances between the Arc, the tower and the Louvre |
| A week in Paris, keen walker | Probably not | Metro, feet and one cruise do the job |
| Only one afternoon | Maybe not | The Batobus or a night tour may give more for less |
Outside these cases it is a matter of taste. Some people love the commentary and the open top deck; others would rather spend the same money on a cruise and walk the rest.
Where the Big Bus and Tootbus routes differ
| Stop or area | Big Bus Red Route | Tootbus Blue Route |
| Louvre, Notre-Dame, Orsay | Yes | Yes |
| Arc de Triomphe, Trocadéro, Eiffel Tower | Yes | Yes |
| Opéra Garnier | Yes, stop 10 | Yes, stop 1 |
| Pont des Arts | Yes | No |
| Grand Palais | Yes | Nearby, at Pont Alexandre III |
| Concorde | No | Yes |
| Panthéon and Luxembourg | No | Yes |
Nine times out of ten the routes are interchangeable. The tenth time is the Left Bank: if the Luxembourg Gardens or the Latin Quarter matter to you, only Tootbus stops there.
Our scores for the three hop-on hop-off options
| Out of 5 | Big Bus | Tootbus | Batobus |
| Language choice | 4 | 5 | - |
| Pass flexibility | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Frequency | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Comfort on board | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Extras included | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Value | 4 | 4 | 5 |
These are our own scores from the facts on this page, not an average of reviews. Tootbus edges it overall for most visitors; Big Bus wins on extras and on Korean; the Batobus wins on comfort and price but loses on reach.
Alternatives to a hop-on hop-off pass in Paris
- City bus line 69 crosses the centre from the Champ de Mars past the Invalides, the Louvre and the Marais on a normal metro ticket. No commentary, no hopping, a fraction of the price.
- City bus line 72 follows the Right Bank of the Seine past the Louvre, Concorde and the Eiffel Tower.
- The metro and your feet. Cheapest of all, and the centre is compact enough to walk between most sights.
- A one-hour Seine cruise. The big landmarks in an hour, with commentary, from the water.
Each of these trades away something: the commentary, the open top deck, or the freedom to get off at the landmark itself. If those matter, the pass is the better buy.
Who should not buy any hop-on hop-off pass
Repeat visitors who know the layout of the city, travellers with a week or more, and anyone who loves walking will get more from the metro, their feet and a single cruise. The pass shines when time is short and distances feel big; take those away and it is an expensive way to sit in traffic.
Big Bus vs Tootbus for a family
Both buses take children and both pass the same landmarks. The differences are in the extras for families.
| Tootbus | Big Bus | |
| Kids commentary | Yes, English and French | No |
| Age bands | Adult 13+, child 4-12, infant 0-3 | Shown at checkout |
| Family ticket | 2 adults + 2 children | - |
| Kids Tour | Wednesdays, French-speaking guide | - |
| Extras | App with live buses, walking tours | Free poncho and WiFi |
| Korean commentary | No | Yes |
Tootbus is the stronger family choice for most children. Big Bus wins if your children are Korean speakers, and its stops by the Louvre and the tower are just as handy for park breaks.
Big Bus vs Tootbus for a short trip
On a one or two-day trip, the 72-hour pass and the extra Panthéon stop matter less. Three questions decide it.
- Where are you staying? Near the Opéra or the Louvre, both buses are on your doorstep. On the Left Bank, Tootbus with its Panthéon stop is handier.
- Which language do you need? Korean: Big Bus. Japanese, Russian or Arabic: Tootbus. The rest are on both.
- Which is cheaper on your date? The landmarks are the same, so the price decides the rest.
If you have only one afternoon, the Batobus or a single night tour may give you more for less than a full bus pass.
Prices are "from" prices in euros and vary by date and option; the price at checkout is the one that applies. Independent guide, not affiliated with Big Bus, Tootbus, Batobus or Bustronome.