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Rome by Vespa – Vespa Tour with Local Guide Francesco

Badge of Excellence
Rome, Italy
  • 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Zipping through the streets on a Vespa is the quintessentially Roman experience, but it can be intimidating for visitors unfamiliar with the city. Explore the Eternal City safely—and with a guide to lead the way—during this small-group scooter-riding tour. Ride one or two people by scooter (experienced riders only), or hop on the back of a Vespa driven by a professional guide.
  • Choose between morning and afternoon departure options
  • Tours are capped for a personalized adventure
  • See top sights and cover more ground than possible on foot
  • Option to drive yourself on a Vespa or ride as a passenger

What's Included

  • A 2,5 hours guided tour with Francesco (Officially licensed as Tour Guide)
  • We provide you helmets
  • Vespa rental for the tour
  • Local guide (on a separate Vespa)
  • Food and drinks
  • Pick up and drop off
  • ⚠️ Please note: "Vespa with driver" option requires a €50 cash fee per person to pay the driver
    €50.00 per person
  • 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

Trevi Fountain

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

4

Spanish Steps

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

5

Piazza Navona

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Castel Sant'Angelo (Pass By)

6

Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

7

Fontana dell'Acqua Paola

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

8

Trastevere

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Piazza Venezia (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • ✔️ OPTION: Vespa with Driver
  • Additional Cost: An extra €50 per passenger applies for this option. Payment is made in cash at check-in.
  • ✔️ OPTION: Self Drive (Traveler drives the 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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.6
based on 75 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We perform checks on reviews

Romaliscious!

Katherine_P, Mar 2026
If you’re wanting to see Rome, all the sites with a nice history review while having fun… take a Vespa Tour! It’s the BEST!

Worth every penny

Lori_J, May 2025
We were only in Rome for one day. This was a great way to see some highlights as well as other places that I would have never seen. Riding the Vespa was so much fun and I’d totally do it again. Roberto was so much fun and taught us a ton.

Fast and Scary

Lydia_F, Oct 2024
Driving the Vespa through Rome’s little alleyways was thrilling and scary. The panoramic view of the city was spectacular.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Welcome to Rome: the eternal city is famous for its beauty and crowded roads, that’s why we only provide vespas to experienced riders In case you feel not confident to drive in Rome, we have another option called Vespa with driver. You join the tour as passenger and the vespa is driven by a member of our staff Thank you for your review, see you next time. Regards Francesco

Francesco was awesome.

Dale_P, Oct 2024
Tour was awesome. Learned a lot from the tour guide. He was funny and made the tour enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Fantastic

Marcus_s, Aug 2024
Francesco was an informative guide not to mention entertaining. St Peter’s basilica was a highlight as the Pope was giving his Sunday 12 o’clock mass

Very Rude

David_F, Jun 2024
I signed up for a vespa tour where we drive ourselves, but somehow it got switched and the tour guide was upset because he wanted to have drivers take us (at an extra cost of course). We told him we wanted to drive ourselves and he was extremely rude and told us to leave (without a refund of course). Later he said he would refun 80% of our money, which was better than nothing. We walked across the street to BiciBaci vespa tours and they were wonderful and got us right out on our own scooters. If you are in Rome ... go with Bica Baci for sure!!

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Dear David Fife, We apologize for any confusion regarding your recent booking. However, you actually booked a private chauffeured Vespa tour with us for 10 people, rather than the option where you had to drive the Vespa yourself. We understand that this may have caused a misunderstanding during your experience, but it was just your mistake and the guide and our 9 drivers were ready to welcome you. Instead of recognizing your mistake, you began to surround the guide and shout at him that someone had changed your reservation but we verified that no one had changed your reservation. The guide only read to you several times that on your voucher it was written "Private vespa tour with driver" but you got angry and left. In the end we refunded you 80% of the payment, even though it was not due. We are pleased to know that you had a positive experience with BiciBaci vespa tours and that they were able to satisfy your preferences, especially when you were involved in a serious accident that compromised your holiday. In fact, we learned from the Bici Baci staff that your son fell badly on his own and his passenger (your wife) suffered a foot fracture. I definitely think that your Vespa ride in Rome was truly unforgettable. Below are the details of your booking: Booking Details Booking Reference: BR-1136802657 Tour Name: Vespa Tour of Rome with Francesco (check driving requirements) Travel Date: Wed, May 29, 2024 Lead Traveler Name: David Fife Traveler Names: David Fife, Passenger Two, Passenger Three, Passenger Four, Passenger Five, Passenger Six, Passenger Seven, Passenger Eight, Passenger Nine, Passenger Ten Travelers: 10 Adults Product Code: 22406P14 Tour Grade: Private Vespa tour with driver 09:30 Tour Grade Code: TG12~09:30 Tour Grade Description: Vespa tour with driver: Traveler joins the tour like a passenger, no previous driving experience is required ADMISSION COST: Admission cost to be paid at of €50 per passenger at arrival in cash

Must do

Monique_C, May 2024
Had a great time. Francesco took us to many spots and made us laugh the entire time! Highly recommend!

Awesome Rome Experience

Jared_B, Apr 2024
We had a great time on the Vespa Tour of Rome! Our guide, Francesco, was funny, informative, and helpful. Wonderful experience, would highly recommend!

Vespa Tour of Rome

Etta, Apr 2024
Francesco was an amazing tour guide. The Vespa tour was indeed a very unique and knce in a lifetime experience that completed our trip to Rome.

Exciting fun

Lori_S, Jan 2024
Our guide was great and it was a great way to see the whole city from afternoon to evening. We saw several panoramic views that were beautiful.

Do it - You won’t regret it!

Kristen_K, Oct 2023
Francesco was awesome! We felt safe driving the Vespa all around the city with him. He showed us popular tourist spots as well as some spots that we didn’t really know about. He gave us great historical information. I highly recommend doing this!!

Tons of fun

Robert_P, Oct 2023
Our guide Francesco was the best. Kept us safe though traffic explained the sites in detail. He was fun to be with . Ciara was very competent as a driver also and kept us in good company.

Get on and do it! Huge amounts of fun!

David_K, Aug 2023
Riding a Vespa thru Roma streets, alleys and traffic may sound daunting, but it was the most fun we’ve had on a tour during our holiday. Francesco was an amazing host and guide thru the 3 hours of driving and site seeing. Highly recommend and I would definitely do this again when we return.

Make sure you are well experienced before booking.

Tiffany_T, Jun 2023
Our tour operator was not comfortable with our driving skills upon 2 short practice runs so he canceled trip but did refund us money. Disappointed as we did have some experience. They did warn that we needed experience but I guess not enough.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

I’m Francesco from Rome by Vespa You weren't familiar enough with the scooter and besides you there was a girl who didn't touch the ground well with her feet. Having 4 vespas behind me of which only one driven by an expert driver, I preferred to cancel the tour, because there weren't the necessary safety conditions for you, for the others and for me. As you specified, I also refunded the tour.

The best way to see Rome!

Leigh_H, Jun 2023
Wow! What a fantastic way to see this amazing city. I can’t believe how much of Rome we were able to see in just a few hours. My boyfriend has never been to Rome, so it was a great way to get an overview of the city. And even though I have been to Rome multiple times, we visited areas that were new to me, too. Our guide Francesco was super fun and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!

Pressured, bullied and rushed

James_K, Jun 2023
Owner was pushy and obnoxious from the start, mocking my friends middle-eastern name, telling him to force a too-small helmet on for the test drive, offering only pressure rather than direction. Not a positive experience!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

the truth is, your friend hasn't ridden a scooter in 15 years and was not a confident and experienced driver. he tried 5 times the slalom between 3 obstacles but every time he used his feet more to move the vespa than the accelerator, like Fred Flinstones. You booked a Vespa tour for two people and I refused you for safety reasons. It was not positive experience for other guests to wait 20 minutes and start their tour in delay.

Fun on Vespa!

Rebecca_R, Jun 2023
We had forgotten our international driver’s license at the hotel before our Vespa Excursion but the travel guide was so accommodating that we were able to change our 3:00pm Vespa ride and join the 6:30pm group . You definitely need to get the international driver’s license before booking… no exceptions! It’s easy to get! Go to your AAA agency to pay $20 and obtain the license.

Amazing!

Katelyn_L, Jun 2023
Amazing to experience the sights and sounds of Rome. Our guide, Francesco was wonderful and quite knowledgeable and informative.

A must experience

Mike_G, May 2023
Absolutely perfect way to start ur Rome experience. Hit all the highlights and get a feel for the city. The company did great and Fabo was a fantastic tour guide. Had great knowledge of the city. Highly recommend this experience.

Poor communication and read all fine print

Cheryl_T, May 2023
Was unable to participate. Needed a license from the US driving club, so unable to obtain as we were already in Rome. Feel that this requirement should have been in bold or easily seen prior to booking. Was told by company that they would communicate for a tour with drivers for later in the day. No communication received. They made an easy $300 off of me

Response from Host, May 2023

I'm Francesco from Rome by Vespa As stated on your ticket, it is a requirement to have a valid national driving license enabling you to drive category A or B, and for non-European nationals, an International Driving Permit is also necessary. We did not receive a response from you when we asked if you had the IDP the day before the tour. Regarding the rescheduling of the tour, the guide asked you to contact us on WhatsApp to arrange a different timing since you were not available for the second tour of the day. However, we did not receive any communication from you. Please note that there is no refund in case the driving requirements are not met. Furthermore, the 10 am tour started 15 minutes late due to your late arrival and lack of the International Driving Permit. This caused other customers to wait for the guide to clarify the driving requirements with you.

Rome from a different perspective

Shaine, Apr 2023
Francesco excellently guided us through all the busy streets of Rome while doing superb commentary. He was quick on his feet and adjusted the itinerary based on public events and blocked streets, as well as the group's suggestions. Definitely recommend this tour! Seeing the Eternal City in another viewpoint is such a unique and fun experience.

Fun time

Matthew_R, Mar 2023
We had a fun day. However, if you do not have experience riding a motorcycle in heavy city traffic, do not drive your own Vespa. This is not the the time to learn how to rid a motorcycle. I have over 40 years of riding a motorcycles and this is not for the faint at heart.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you for your review, I’m Francesco from Rome by Vespa I’m happy that you had fun with me. You are right, the self drive option is not for unconfident and inexperienced drivers, but we also offer the option Vespa with driver so everyone can join our vespa tour.

Francesco is so fun and...

anastasia_c, Feb 2023
Francesco is so fun and informative. i really suggest this tour, driving vespas in rome city was so beautiful and vibey

Do not miss out on this opportunity!

Sydney_C, Jan 2023
This was a great experience!!! The guides were amazing and we learned so much. I would recommend this tour to everyone! It was such a fun and cool way to see Rome.

Fun excursion

Kevin_S, Jun 2022
Our guide was fun & relaxed, but always focused on our safety. He even serenaded us while we drove through the city. He took us to several places with great views. We enjoyed this fun excursion.

Rome by Vespa--truly an amazing experience

Scott_K, May 2022
This was one of my favorite things to do in Italy. Frecessco was truly an awesome and safe guide. Hey, when in Rome, do as the Romans do!

Disappointed

John_R, May 2022
I will first admit that I made a mistake not reading the full description that states you need an international driving permit for this tour. This is because we did two other scooter tours (one in Rome one in amalfi) that did not require one. When it came time for this tour, I went ahead thinking this tour would be the same. It was not and when I politely and respectfully sent a message to the tour operate the night before the tour, they refused to cancel because they said they already cancelled other people. So a day after my wedding, the tour guide said no refunds because it was 18 hours away and Viator has a 24 hour cancellation policy (we paid a few hundred dollars). They offered for us to ride on the back of scooters but I’m a former pro athlete and would never fit on the back of one of those. Rome just felt like everyone was scamming us and this just added to it. I would never do that to a customer at my business.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Dear customer, Hello, I'm Francesco, the owner of Rome by Vespa. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you experienced during your trip. It can be quite frustrating when there is a lack of consistency in the requirements for different tours. To prevent such situations in the future, it is important to carefully read and understand the description before booking any activity. Regarding the cancellation policy, I understand that it is disappointing not to receive a refund. However, as a tour operator, we have our own policies that we must adhere to. Despite the circumstances, we offered you the option to still carry out your tour with our drivers. Unfortunately, you rejected our offer. I want to assure you that we did not intend to act like scammers. Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience caused and I hope we hope you had a good vacation in Rome

Best experience in 4 day...

Frano_T, May 2022
Best experience in 4 day trip in Rome. Our guide was excellent, combo of fun and stories about the city and his history. Really recommended.

Excellent!

Sadhbh_H, Apr 2022
Excellent experience! Saw so many sights all in 1 tour and had lots of fun while doing so, would definitely recommend!

Amazing! Must DO!!

david_b, Apr 2022
This tour was the highlight of our trip to ROMA! It was not only beautiful but so much more than that! Francesco and Luca were an amazing tour guides who not only keep us laughing but also had so much knowledge of the history of Roma. There is simply no better way to see Rome then with Francesco and his team to drive you through the beautiful streets of rome!

Response from Host, Apr 2022

Thank you very much for your review Regards Francesco

From $117.35

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 45 days in advance.

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