You know them as hop-on hop-off buses, those massive maroon and beige double-decker coaches with open tops that navigate most major cities around the globe.
They trace their roots to the May 2011 merger of two sightseeing operators, the Big Bus Company in London and Les Cars Rouges in Paris. These two firms pooled over 20 years of experience to create a sightseeing brand known internationally as Big Bus Tours. Their goal was simple, to launch city-wide guided tours using modern buses that allow passengers to hop on and hop off at their leisure.
The concept is clearly working, as the company now operates in 23 cities across 11 countries with more than 150 buses worldwide.
Big Bus Tours in Paris
If there is one city that demands a tour, it is Paris. This is where Big Bus Tours applies its sightseeing expertise under the Big Bus Paris brand. The core logic remains the same as elsewhere in the world, just tailored to the French capital.
A Big Bus Paris ticket offers you a view of iconic monuments and landmarks from the top deck of an open-air panoramic bus. You can choose from several routes with unlimited use for 1 or 2 days, including a classic circuit with 10 stops and 12 points of interest, a Montmartre route, a Seine river cruise extension, and a night tour of Paris. These tours run every day of the year.
Big Bus Tours provides absolute freedom, giving you the ability to hop on and off as often as you like at any designated stop for the entire duration of your ticket validity.
A sightseeing solution for everyone
Big Bus Tours is a sightseeing option designed for everyone, as it is accessible to travelers with disabilities and provides commentary in 11 languages. The service includes several perks, such as free onboard Wi-Fi and the Big Bus Tours mobile app, which lets you track the company buses in real time and keeps all points of interest, routes, and schedules in your pocket. Another advantage is the frequent departures from each stop, usually every 5 to 10 minutes. You will also receive individual headphones, a map of Paris, a book of discount coupons, and a poncho if it rains.