Self-Drive Vespa Tour in Rome - Small Group with Francesco
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rome, Italy
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore Rome like a local on a Vespa with this small-group tour that makes the journey just as fun as the destination. Traveling by scooter means you can weave in and out of traffic and not have to worry about parking as you visit the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and more. Plus, you can choose to self-drive (experienced riders only) or opt to join the tour as a passenger of a Vespa driven by a professional driver.
- Whiz around Rome on a Vespa scooter on this unique tour
- Opt to self-drive or sit back and relax as a passenger
- Ride one or two people per scooter (added cost)
- Small-group ensures more personalized attention from your guide
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Cover the top sights in Rome without getting footsore in just a few hours on an iconic Vespa scooter.
What's Included
- A 2,5 hours guided tour with Francesco (Officially licensed as Tour Guide)
- Helmets
- Vespa 125cc rental
- Small-group experience
- ⚠️ Please note: "Vespa with driver" option requires a €50 cash fee per person to pay the driver€50.00 per person
- Food and drinks
- Pick up and drop off from your hotel
- Colosseum entrance (we visit from outside)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Via della Madonna dei Monti, 57, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Meet your guide near the bar "La casetta di Monti", a lovely green house Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled starting time. The subway Linea B stops right at our meeting point at CAVOUR, which is conveniently located next to the iconic Colosseum
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Rione Monti
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Colosseum
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Quirinal Palace
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Trevi Fountain
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Spanish Steps
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Piazza Navona
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Castel Sant'Angelo (Pass By)
7
Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Fontana dell'Acqua Paola
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Trastevere
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- ✔️ OPTION: Vespa with Driver (also Private tour)
- Additional Cost: An extra €50 per passenger applies for this option. Payment is made in cash at check-in.
- ✔️ OPTION: Self Drive (Traveler drives Vespa)
- DRIVING REQUIREMENTS – For Your Safety and the Group’s Comfort
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Prior experience riding a 125cc scooter or motorcycle is required
- Drivers must feel comfortable riding in busy city traffic
- Not suitable for beginners or first-time riders
- EU-issued licenses must be category A or B (also valid for UK, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, Switzerland)
- Non-EU licenses require a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) as required by Italian law
- U.S. citizens: An IDP issued by AAA is legally required. Without it, self-drive is not permitted
- Due to insurance requirements, guests without an IDP (when required) cannot ride one of our Vespas.
- If you arrive without an IDP, it may still be possible to arrange a separate Vespa rental with a nearby partner (about €45, subject to availability).
- €500 security deposit required at check-in (cash or credit card)
- Fully refunded after the tour once the Vespa is returned in proper condition
- This is a guided city experience, not a riding lesson
- If you are unsure about your confidence level, we recommend choosing the Vespa with Driver option to fully enjoy the experience stress-free.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 264 reviews
Alexandra_W, Mar 2026
Very good day on the Vespa would definitely recommend. Host was very knowledgeable and friendly. Thanks
Wendy_H, Dec 2025
The tour was amazing. Fabrizio was our tour guide. He was friendly and very knowledgeable. Francesco, who works with Fabrizio, even allowed us to store our luggage in their garage as we went on the tour. It was truly a worthwhile experience!!!
Shelly_L, Dec 2025
The tour was fabulous! Rodolffo guided us all through the city to the best views, secret local spots, and best bakery to eat a maritozzi. He went at our pace, made us feel safe, and shared lots of interesting history. Highly recommend!
Kathleen_M, Oct 2025
Our guide was knowledgeable, funny, and patient! We’ve ridden Vespas before, but Rome was a whole new level! It’s a beautiful city with amazing history! It was great to see it from a different perspective…and he pointed out all the best coffee and eateries. We would definitely recommend!
Mandy_W, Oct 2025
Francesco was hilarious, patient, friendly, entertaining, interesting descriptions, driving skills were great, locations he chose to bring us (underground) were places we would’ve never found ourselves. I would recommend him to anyone who wants to do a Vespa Tour.
Amanda_K, Sep 2025
Highly recommend this tour, Francesco was a fantastic guide and very knowledgeable. I opted to ride with a driver and not once did I feel unsafe. It was an amazing way to see Rome and I’m so glad I did it!
Nicolas_H, Aug 2025
Francesco was a awesome and friendly guide. The Vespa tour thru the vibrant streets and alleys of the city was exciting.
Antimo_D, Aug 2025
If you are looking to see all the spots in Rome quick, this is the way. You are given the opportunity to either ride the Vespas or be a passenger. Please respect the tour with your honesty if you can or cannot ride a scooter and maneuver in traffic. The driving patterns in Rome can be difficult to navigate as the drivers there can be a challenge and aggressive.
Francesco does an amazing job riding through Rome and having you see the beautiful monuments. He’s truly funny and kind so please be kind to him! They work very hard. I would do this again in a heartbeat.
Anonymous, Jul 2025
I learned a lot about Rome
The bike was fun. Francesco was a great guide
He was concerned with safety
Michele_G, May 2025
The Vespa tour was so much fun and the best way to see all the sights in Rome. Our drivers were amazing and we instantly felt safe and trusted them to maneuver the traffic in Rome. Thry also gave great information about Rome and the places we saw. Highly recommend!
Jay_H, May 2025
Riding a Vespa through Rome is an experience in itself – the wind in your hair, the sounds of the city, the stunning views unfolding around every corner. But having Francesco as our guide elevated it to a whole new level. He brought the history to life, shared the secrets of the city, and made sure we had an absolutely fantastic time.
If you want to see Rome in a unique, exciting, and truly authentic way, book a Vespa tour with Francesco. It’s an adventure you won't soon forget! Molto grazie, Francesco, for an incredible day in Rome!
Janet_H, Mar 2025
Best way to see Roma. Francesco was very informative and entertaining. I highly recommend this tour.
NicoleKathryn_D, Dec 2024
Excellent tour! If you are going to do a Vespa tour then this is the guy to do it with. Felt safe and the information provided was so interesting. He answered so many questions we had about the city. Definite highlight of our stay.
Karien_K, Oct 2024
We had a great time zipping in and out of the Rome traffic on the back of vespas in the evening and getting to see some of the famous landmarks by night. Francesco was great as the guide giving us the history along the way.
WARREN_D, Oct 2024
BEWARE.....We paid for 3 single drivers (the higher price 170 euros) and the night before Francesco advised us to use a driver because of the high traffic in Rome. He waited beyond the deadline to make changes and our price was not adjusted lower (135 euros each) plus we had to pay 50 Euros each for our drivers. Traffic has been bad for months because of the Jubilee preparation and he could have informed us a week earlier. He did not adjust our price lower and we ended up paying 105 euros above the normal price (35 euros per person). I requested the price to be adjusted and they DENIED IT. BAD BUSINESS!! I would not recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Dear WARREN DOWDY,
My name is Francesco, and I am reaching out to you from Rome by Vespa. I hope this message finds you well.
On your ticket was very well explained that we require good scooter driving skills:
✔️ OPTION: Tour Self Driven (Traveler drives Vespa)
DRIVING REQUIREMENTS
1. Scooter driving skills
Due to the intricate traffic and crowded streets of Rome, this tour is not suitable for beginners or those lacking prior riding experience. We kindly request that only experienced riders participate.
Jubilee preparation is not impacting the Rome's traffic. Typically, Rome experiences congested roads and traffic on a regular basis. That's why we only accept experienced riders in the tour.
Prior to the start of the tour, we had previously contacted you with the following details:
[29/09/24, 18:09:48] Rome by Vespa: Hello
I’m Francesco from Rome by Vespa
⚠️ Due to the intricate traffic and crowded streets of Rome, we kindly request that only experienced riders participate
Do you have good scooter or motorcycle driving skills?
Please send me your driving license pic and international driving permit pic
[29/09/24, 18:15:26] WARREN DOWDY: Hello -
If we cancel will we get a full refund? The traffic is very bad and our skill level is not high.
[29/09/24, 18:20:02] Rome by Vespa: Viator's cancellation policy does not provide any refunds with such short notice. The experience request is specified on the tour details and your voucher.
In this case we can see if we find 3 of our drivers and you do the tour as the passenger, with an extra price of €50 per person,
[29/09/24, 18:20:07] Rome by Vespa: I look forward to hearing from you
[29/09/24, 18:23:56] WARREN DOWDY: Okay find the 3 additional drivers
[29/09/24, 18:34:10] Rome by Vespa: Ok , you pay directly them tomorrow 50€ in cash per driver.
Come please 15 minutes before 09:30 am .
The meeting point is via Della Madonna dei Monti 62, in front of this green house
[29/09/24, 20:04:56] Rome by Vespa: Do you confirm please?
[29/09/24, 20:05:19] WARREN DOWDY: Confirm
[29/09/24, 20:05:25] Rome by Vespa: Perfect.
We regret to inform you that we were unable to accommodate your request for a partial refund based on Viator's cancellation policy.
As 3 Vespas were reserved specifically for your self-drive tour, we had to decline any new bookings.
In order to provide a suitable alternative, we offered you the opportunity to join the tour as a passenger for an additional fee of €50 per person.
This ensured that you could still participate in the tour without losing the amount already paid for the self-drive option.
Thank you for choosing Rome by Vespa.
Warm regards,
Francesco
Rome by Vespa
Kerry_P, Sep 2024
Seeing parts of Rome I didn't know were there was an amazing experience. Francesca handled the streets of Rome unbelievably. Our host was very funny too and made the experience lots of fun. My husband loved it as much as me too, which was great as he was a little nervous at first.We felt very comfortable with the team.
Lee_C, Sep 2024
This was one of the best tours I have done. The tour guide was amazing Francisco his name was I would definitely do this tour again
Mark_K, Sep 2024
What a fantastic experience. Thank you Francesco for sharing your knowledge and passion for Bella Roma in such a fun and interactive way. Our best tour ever!!
Scott_R, Sep 2024
This was so much fun riding on Vespas throughout Rome! Glad we picked the option to ride instead of drive as Rome drivers are crazy here. Never saw any accidents but man they drive all over the place. Liked the history information the guide shared. His English wasn’t too good but he tried really hard and we were able to understand eventually.
Kailah_B, Jul 2024
We had an amazing time on the tour around Rome, definitely recommend this tour and with this company :)
Christine_B, Jun 2024
I was nervous but between the other drivers and Francisco, I was comfortable and confident while driving. Being able to see all of the landmarks was amazing too
Federico_T, Jun 2024
Francesco was a great host. He was not only very knowledgeable, but he was also fun and engaging which made it easy to keep our attention.
Great way to see Roma!!
Jennifer_K, Jun 2024
Best tour of our trip! Francesco is awesome and entertaining! He made us feel comfortable on the vespas and we got to see parts of Rome we wouldn't have seen otherwise.
Tiffany_K, Jun 2024
This was the most enjoyable and exciting way to see Rome! Francesco was great company and provided an amazing tour, giving lots of information along the way. The communication was clear. Would 100% recommend to do this!
Kristin_B, Jun 2024
We loved being in a smaller group to tour Rome. And riding a Vespa thru Rome is quite an experience!! It was fantastic to see and learn about all the major sites in just a few hours. Highly recommend this tour!
sarlevy97, May 2024
I had a wonderful morning learning about Rome and riding on the Vespa! I chose to ride on the back of Francesco’s bike. He was great and fun!
Peter_K, May 2024
The Vespa tour with Francesco was our best day in Rome. Very funny and educational. Francesco is very knowledgeable and takes great care of the group. Thanks millions Francesco from Pietro & Katerina (Australia)
margaret_m, Feb 2024
What a great experience on the back of a Vespa with Francesco - the singing driver ! Thankyou so much - would highly recommend to anyone visiting Rome to take part in this , loads of areas visited and Francesco was so knowledgable and engaging.. we had a great time thankyou !
Tracy_D, Oct 2023
Decided to not even go. My husband voiced some concerns about the roads being so crowded in Rome with so many tourists and driving in and out of them. Tour guy made some rude gestures to his friend about my husband that I wasn't supposed to see. I did not get good vibes from him and I had some difficulty understanding his English, so we opted not to even go-even though they offered drivers. While we were standing there, a car came driving by and knocked over and damaged 2 vespas. Wasn’t for us for sure. We’ve had 15 excellent experiences on Viator—but this was by far the worst.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Dear Tracy
Thank you for your review
The guide didn’t do any rude gestures about your husband.
Before you arrived at the meeting point we kindly asked you if you were able to drive a scooter and you replied that your husband drives frequently motorbike.
Your husband told to the guide that he didn’t drive a 2 wheels by long time (15 years). The guide, myself, communicated this information to his colleague in Italian.
Your husband didn’t know how to use the accelerator and the guide didn’t provide him the vespa.
No one was against you, we always try to avoid dangerous situations for everyone.
Hoping we solved your misunderstanding, see you next time
Francesco
Tim_S, Oct 2023
Great way to get a good taste of Rome if you only have a couple days. Great tour guide makes it even better.
From $117.37
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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