Sightseeing bus or RATP bus: not to be confused
The sightseeing bus (hop-on hop-off) is a private, paid service designed for visiting: a fixed route around the major monuments, audio commentary in several languages, an open top for photos, a ticket valid for 24h, 48h or 72h. The RATP bus is a public transport service, far cheaper per journey but with no tourist commentary and no route designed for visitors. If all you want is to get around at the best price, head to our guide to RATP buses rather than this article.
The operators currently active in Paris
The Paris sightseeing bus market has changed in recent years. Tootbus Paris is the current name of the former "Paris l'Open Tour", operated by RATP until it was rebranded under the Tootbus name (RATP Dev group) in June 2021. Big Bus Paris is the other long-standing player, present under that name on the Paris market for many years. To our knowledge these are the only two hop-on hop-off operators still active in Paris: the international brand City Sightseeing, very present in other cities, does not list Paris among its current destinations. If you come across an offer under another name, check that it is not simply a reseller (a ticketing platform) offering one of these two routes under a different label.
Operator comparison table
| Criterion | Big Bus Paris | Tootbus Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Route | 1 line ("Classic Route"), 10 stops | 1 central loop, 10 stops, full circuit ≈ 2h |
| Frequency | About every 10 to 20 minutes | Every 15 min in high season, 10-15 min in low season (Nov-Mar) |
| Operating hours | About 9.45am-5.30pm (classic route), separate night tour around 9.30pm | About 9.30am-6.30pm depending on season, last departure ~5pm in low season |
| Audio guide languages | Multilingual recorded commentary, exact list not specified on the website (to be confirmed) | 10 languages confirmed: French, English, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Modern Standard Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Japanese |
| Ticket durations | 24h, 48h | 24h, 48h, 72h (1, 2 or 3-day passes) |
| Options included depending on package | Seine cruise as an option on certain packages, guided tour of Notre-Dame (45 min) as an option | Depending on the package: Seine cruise, up to 5 guided walking tours via the app, AI guide as an option on the most complete offer |
| Indicative 24h price | About €39 to €49 (observed prices, often discounted) | About €37 to €49 depending on current promotions |
| Indicative 48h price | About €49 to €64 depending on options (with or without cruise) | "Must See" package (48-72h, cruise + guided tours included) around €47 to €63 |
| Themed packages | Night tour | Night tour, children's tour on Saturdays, 3-hour express route |
Important note on prices: both operators use dynamic pricing and very regularly offer discounts displayed directly on their websites (crossed-out price / promotional price). The ranges above reflect the prices observed when checked on 27/09/2026, per adult, excluding child/family discounts; check the exact price at the time of booking on each operator's website before relying on a fixed amount.
When is the sightseeing bus worth it?
- First stay in Paris with limited time: doing a full circuit (1h30 to 2h) lets you quickly get a sense of where the major monuments are before returning on foot or by metro to the sites that interest you most.
- Reduced mobility: boarding right outside a monument, with no metro stairs or long walk, makes visiting easier for people with reduced mobility or families with a pushchair (subject to the vehicle's accessibility, to be checked at the time of booking).
- A wish to wander without a plan: the open top and audio commentary suit an unapologetically "touristy" first discovery, especially outside peak hours.
The limits of the format
- Considerably pricier than public transport: an RATP bus or metro ticket costs a few euros, against €35 to €65 for a 24-48h sightseeing bus pass.
- Dependence on traffic: the announced frequencies (every 10-20 minutes) are indicative and can slip at peak hours or during events (demonstrations, marathon, parades).
- A single central route: both operators essentially serve the central, touristy arrondissements; the more outlying neighbourhoods (Belleville, Butte-aux-Cailles, Petite Ceinture...) are not covered.
- Limited operating hours: the buses do not run at night (apart from the occasional "night tour"), unlike the RATP network, which offers the Noctilien.
Our selection method
This comparison covers the two hop-on hop-off operators whose activity in Paris could be verified online at the time of writing (active official website, working ticketing, confirmed route). It does not aim to name a "best" operator in absolute terms: Big Bus and Tootbus offer very similar services, and the choice will mostly come down to the options included in the package (cruise, walking tours) and the promotions of the moment.
