Rome by Vespa · See the best of Rome in 2h 30m
Rome Vespa Tourwith a Local Guide
See Rome by Vespa in one short ride: the Colosseum, Trevi, Trastevere and the view from the Janiculum. Drive your own from €135, or come along as a passenger.
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Converted prices are estimates — payment is taken in euro at checkout.
Rome by VespaA family business
We run Rome by Vespa ourselves. Francesco leads the tours on the road; Mihaela takes care of the bookings and answers your messages. You are booking with us, not with an agency that resells the tour.
Francesco Lapenna · national register no. 12000261 · check him on the Ministry of Tourism register
Follow us on InstagramPrefer to stay on foot
Same guide, same city, no licence needed.
What Our Guests Say
4.9 average from 1,400+ reviews on Google and Tripadvisor
Where We Start
Via della Madonna dei Monti 57, Rome
In the heart of Rome — just a short walk from the Colosseum and easily reachable via Metro B.
FAQ
The essentials before you book.
Should I drive myself or ride as a passenger?
Riding as a passenger is the easy option — no licence, no deposit, and a professional handles Rome's traffic while you take in the city. Self-drive is for confident riders only: you'll need to be 18+, have real 125cc scooter experience, hold an EU, UK, Swiss, Turkish or Israeli licence (category A or B), and leave a €500 deposit at check-in. Any other licence, including US ones, also needs an International Driving Permit. View full requirements →
Is a Vespa photoshoot the same as a guided tour?
Not exactly. A photoshoot focuses on pictures, while a guided Vespa tour includes storytelling and local insights. See the full comparison →
What does the €500 deposit cover?
It covers damage to the Vespa. You leave it at check-in by card or cash, and it comes back to you in full at the end if the Vespa is returned undamaged.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure, with a full refund. Within 48 hours the booking is non-refundable and the remaining balance is charged. Tap “Free cancellation” under the booking button for the full policy.
Can we have a tour just for our group?
Yes — the private tour is your group and your own guide, on a route you choose. It runs at the same four daily departures and you can drive or ride as a passenger. Route ideas, prices and details →
What if one of us can’t ride?
Two options on the Vespa: one of you drives with the other riding behind, or you both ride as passengers with our drivers. If neither appeals, the Ancient Rome guided walking tour is the same guide and the same city on foot — no licence, no traffic.
Do US citizens need an International Driving Permit?
Yes. A US licence on its own is not enough in Italy: you also need an International Driving Permit, and you have to get it in the United States before you fly. AAA issues it over the counter; nobody in Rome can. Italian rules also accept an official sworn translation of your licence, but that needs a court stamp and is not something you can arrange on the morning of a tour. Without one or the other you cannot drive — but you can still come as a passenger, and we move your booking over at no extra charge.
Can we bring our kids on the tour?
Yes, if your child is at least 1.35 m (4 ft 5 in) tall — that is what it takes to rest both feet on the footrests and sit steady for two and a half hours. Height decides, not the birthday: Italian law sets five as the minimum age, but a five-year-old is rarely tall enough. Your child rides behind a parent who drives. A family of three needs two Vespas. Measure your child before you book and message us if they are close to the line.
How much walking is involved?
Very little. We park right next to the landmarks, so you stay on the Vespa for almost the whole route — ideal if you'd rather not spend the day on your feet.
Will we stop during the tour?
Yes — multiple stops are included for photos, viewpoints, and short walks around Rome.
Is there a weight limit?
Each Vespa carries a driver and one passenger within the scooter's rated load. If you have any concern about the combined weight, contact us before booking and we'll find the best setup for you.
Can I buy a tour as a gift?
Yes. Choose any tour and tick "I want it for a gift" at checkout — you don't pick a date, so the person you're giving it to books the day that suits them.
What language is the tour in?
English or Italian — just tell us which you prefer when you book.
Will someone take photos of us?
Just ask and your guide will happily take photos of you at the stops, with your own phone or camera. It isn't a photoshoot, but you won't go home without pictures.
What should I wear and bring?
Closed shoes are recommended, plus sunglasses and sunscreen in summer. Helmets are provided, along with a disposable hygienic liner.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain doesn’t stop us and the tour runs as planned. If we must cancel because of storms or an official weather warning, you can choose another date or a full refund.
What if I'm running late?
Please arrive 15 minutes before your departure. Running late? Message Francesco on WhatsApp as soon as possible — we will gladly move you to a later departure the same day if available. No-shows are non-refundable.
★★★★★ 4.9 from 1,400+ reviews · Free cancellation up to 48h
See you in Rome. I'll bring the Vespa.
Wind in your hair, the Colosseum in your mirror — pick your ride, check availability, and lock in your spot before the good slots go.
English or Italian • Four departures daily • Real Rome, no tourist traps
Vespa Tour as a Passenger
Duration2h 30m
LicenceNot needed
Departures9:30 · 12:30 · 15:30 · 19:00
LanguageEnglish or Italian
Price€144 per person
Price shown is a converted estimate — payment is taken in euro.
What to expect
You ride on the back while one of our staff drivers handles Rome's traffic — no licence, no stress. Just look around and enjoy the city. Read more about this tour →
Meeting pointVia della Madonna dei Monti 57In the heart of Rome — about a 6-minute walk from the Colosseum, and easily reachable via Metro B (Cavour station).
Francesco is your guide — ✓ licensed by the Italian Ministry of Tourism.
Included
- Vespa ride with your driver
- Sanitized helmet & disposable liner
- English speaking guide
- Third-party liability insurance (RC)
Itinerary
Nine stops in two and a half hours, with the engine off long enough at each one to look properly and take the photo.
Colosseum
Circus Maximus
Trastevere
Janiculum Hill
Castel Sant'Angelo
Piazza Navona
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Start and finish in Via della Madonna dei Monti, five minutes from the Colosseum. Helmets on, quick safety briefing, and out into the Monti backstreets — the old working-class quarter that Rome's tour buses never reach. Helmets off, photos shared, and you're a six-minute walk from the Colosseum for the rest of your day.
Self-Drive Vespa Tour
Duration2h 30m
Departures9:30 · 12:30 · 15:30 · 19:00
LanguageEnglish or Italian
Price1 person: €1352 people: €180
Price shown is a converted estimate — payment is taken in euro. The €500 deposit is always in euro.
What to expect
Self-drive Vespa tour. You drive your own Vespa, following a local guide who leads the group and shares stories at every stop. For riders with real scooter experience. Read more about this tour →
Meeting pointVia della Madonna dei Monti 57In the heart of Rome — about a 6-minute walk from the Colosseum, and easily reachable via Metro B (Cavour station).
Francesco is your guide — ✓ licensed by the Italian Ministry of Tourism.
Tour options
1 person per Vespa (€135): you ride solo.
2 people per Vespa (€180): one of you drives, the other rides behind. Only the driver needs a licence.
Included
- 125cc Vespa rental & fuel
- Sanitized helmet & disposable liner
- English speaking guide
- Third-party liability insurance (RC)
Itinerary
Nine stops in two and a half hours. Francesco leads, you follow, and the group pulls over together at every one.
Colosseum
Circus Maximus
Trastevere
Janiculum Hill
Castel Sant'Angelo
Piazza Navona
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Start and finish in Via della Madonna dei Monti, five minutes from the Colosseum. Helmets on, quick safety briefing, and out into the Monti backstreets — the old working-class quarter that Rome's tour buses never reach. Helmets off, photos shared, and you're a six-minute walk from the Colosseum for the rest of your day.
Driving requirements
- Real scooter experience required — Rome's traffic isn't for beginners. Minimum age 18.
- EU, UK, Swiss, Turkish or Israeli licence: category A or B accepted.
- Any other licence (incl. US): you also need an International Driving Permit at check-in.
- €500 deposit at check-in (card or cash), returned in full if the Vespa comes back undamaged.
Without these we can't let you ride, and the booking isn't refundable.
Private Vespa Tour
Duration2h 30m
With driverPassenger: €190
As driver1 person: €1752 people: €250
ItineraryYour choice — or we design it
LanguageEnglish or Italian
Prices shown are converted estimates — payment is taken in euro. The €500 deposit (self drive) is always in euro.
What to expect
Just your group and your own guide, on the route you want. Drive yourself or ride as a passenger — you choose. Read more about this tour →
Meeting pointVia della Madonna dei Monti 57In the heart of Rome — about a 6-minute walk from the Colosseum, and easily reachable via Metro B (Cavour station).
Francesco is your guide — ✓ licensed by the Italian Ministry of Tourism.
Tour options
With driver (€190/person): you ride on the back, our driver handles the traffic. No licence needed.
You drive, solo (€175): your own Vespa, guide leading the way.
You drive, two up (€250): one of you drives, the other rides behind. Only the driver needs a licence.
Itinerary
The route is yours to shape — pick any of Rome's classic stops, or tell Francesco what you'd like to see and he'll build the ride around it. See three routes other groups asked for →
Driving yourself? Requirements to check first
- Real scooter experience required — Rome's traffic isn't for beginners. Minimum age 18.
- EU, UK, Swiss, Turkish or Israeli licence: category A or B accepted.
- Any other licence (incl. US): you also need an International Driving Permit at check-in.
- €500 deposit at check-in (card or cash), returned in full if the Vespa comes back undamaged.
Doesn't apply if you ride as a passenger.
Ancient Rome: Guided Walking Tour
Duration2 hours
GroupPrivate — your group only
Departures10:00 · 14:30
LanguageEnglish or Italian
PriceUp to 4 people: €220Each extra: €45
Price shown is a converted estimate — payment is taken in euro.
What to expect
Start under the arches of the Colosseum, then walk up through five squares built by five emperors over three centuries — most visitors pass all of them without noticing where one ends and the next begins. Two hours on foot, finishing on the terrace above the Roman Forum. Read more about this tour →
Meeting pointLargo Corrado RicciFive minutes on foot from the Colosseum, in Monti, and easily reachable via Metro B (Cavour station). The tour is a loop, so you finish where you started.
Francesco is your guide — ✓ licensed by the Italian Ministry of Tourism.
Included
- Licensed guide, two hours, your group only
- Radio headsets for groups of seven or more
- A route adjusted to your pace on the day
Not included
- Entrance tickets — nothing on this route is ticketed
- Food and drinks
Itinerary
A loop of about two kilometres, mostly flat, with one gradual ramp. Everything is seen from the outside, so there are no tickets and no queues. Full route and details →
Colosseum
Forum of Nerva
Forum of Augustus
Trajan’s Markets
Trajan’s Column
Campidoglio
Roman Forum
Start and finish in Via della Madonna dei Monti, five minutes from the Colosseum. A corner everyone walks past, and the only place where all five Forums are in front of you at once. Five minutes here and the rest of the walk stops being a field of broken columns. Five minutes downhill, and you are back in Monti with the rest of the day free.
Good to know
- Everything is seen from the outside. The Colosseum from under its arches, the Forums from the street and the balustrades, the Roman Forum from the terrace above it. No tickets, no queue, no timed entry, and nothing extra to pay.
- Outdoors throughout. Comfortable shoes, and a coat in winter.
- Summer runs early or late only — there is no shade on Via dei Fori Imperiali at midday.
- Bad forecast? We call you the evening before. Move the date or take a full refund.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellationCancel up to 48 hours before departure for a full refund.
Within 48 hoursCancellations made within 48 hours are non-refundable and the remaining balance will be charged.
No-shows & delaysNo-shows are non-refundable. Running late? Message Francesco on WhatsApp as soon as possible — we will gladly move you to a later departure the same day if available.
Bad weatherLight rain doesn't stop us. If we must cancel due to storms or official weather warnings, you can choose another date or a full refund.
Driver changesUnable to ride on the day? If available, you can switch to a passenger or change your time, subject to a €50 per person short-notice fee.
All times are Rome local time. For self-drive bookings, the €500 security deposit is released after the ride and is completely separate from this policy.