Rome: Vespa Sidecar Tour & Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps

Three Hours Through Rome in a Vespa Sidecar, Past the Colosseum & Secret Keyhole

You ride through Rome in a custom-built Vespa sidecar for three hours with a local guide driving and narrating. You see the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, and a hidden keyhole on Aventine Hill that frames St. Peter's in the distance. The tour includes safety gear, headsets if you're in a group, and photo stops at major landmarks. You don't drive. You sit back and let someone who knows the city show it to you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Piazza della Repubblicapass by
2. Colosseumpass by
3. Palatine Hillpass by
4. Circus Maximuspass by
5. Piazza della Bocca della Verità5m
6. Pyramid of Caius Cestiuspass by
7. Theater of Marcelluspass by
8. Vittoriano and Palazzo Veneziapass by
9. Janiculum Hill5m
10. Piazza Navonapass by
11. Campo de' Fioripass by
12. Trevi Fountainpass by
13. Largo di Torre Argentinapass by
14. Spanish Stepspass by
15. Pantheonpass by

Vespa tour of Rome's main sights

• Meet guide at Piazza della Repubblica
• Receive safety instructions and equipment
• Ride past Monti district to Santa Maria Maggiore
• Pass Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Circus Maximus
• Stop for photos at Ancient Rome landmarks
• Visit Aventine Hill and famous keyhole
• Cruise through Testaccio neighborhood
• See Pyramid of Cestius and Mouth of Truth
• Pass Theatre of Marcellus
• View Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia
• Stop at Janiculum Hill for city views
• Explore Piazza Navona and Fountain of Four Rivers
• Visit Campo de' Fiori
• Stop at Trevi Fountain to throw a coin
• See Largo Argentina and Julius Caesar ruins
• Pass Pantheon
• End tour at Spanish Steps and Trinità dei Monti

The experience

You're in Rome for a few days and the thought of another crowded bus tour makes you want to skip the whole thing. Then you realize you could actually ride through the city the way Romans do: in a Vespa sidecar, with someone else at the wheel. The tour starts at Piazza della Repubblica, where your guide and driver meet you with safety gear and a quick rundown of how this works. If you're traveling with someone, you'll get headsets built into your helmets so you can hear the guide's stories without shouting over the engine. The whole thing takes three hours, and you'll cover more ground than you'd manage on foot, without the exhaustion.

From there, you head into the thick of it. The Colosseum slides past, then Palatine Hill and Circus Maximus: the ancient chariot racing arena that's now a sprawling green space. Your guide points out details as you go: which emperors watched from where, what the roaring crowds sounded like, why the Pyramid of Cestius sits randomly in Testaccio like Rome decided to import Egypt for a day. You stop at the Mouth of Truth, the legendary marble face in Piazza della Bocca della Verità that supposedly bites liars' hands. You'll also ride up Aventine Hill to see the world's most famous keyhole: the one that frames St. Peter's Basilica in the distance when you look through it. The surprise of what you see through it is worth the detour alone.

The route weaves through neighborhoods most visitors miss: Monti's cobblestone streets where Julius Caesar once walked, Testaccio's authentic corners, the quiet Teatro di Marcello. Then it opens up into the postcard Rome: Piazza Navona with Bernini's fountains, Campo de' Fiori, Trevi Fountain (where you hop off to throw a coin, because superstition), the Pantheon, and finally the Spanish Steps. You finish at Trinità dei Monti, looking down at the staircase from above. The whole Vespa sidecar experience feels less like tourism and more like being driven through a friend's neighborhood who actually knows the stories.

One practical thing: the booking system works differently than most tours. Each vehicle holds two people: one in the sidecar, one on the seat behind the driver. You can alternate at stops, or if you want to stay in the sidecar the whole time, you'll need to book two spots. If you're traveling with kids under 5, they ride in the sidecar for the full tour with a booster seat and kid-sized helmet. The height minimum is 4 feet, and the weight limit for the sidecar is 240 pounds. Safety equipment comes with the tour.

What’s included

Your tour includes the Vespa sidecar ride with a professional driver and expert local guide, safety equipment (helmet and protective gear), headsets for group communication, and photo stops at all major landmarks including the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Circus Maximus, and the hidden keyhole on Aventine Hill. If you're traveling with children, booster seats and kid-sized helmets are provided as needed.

Options for this experience

2 options

Vespa Sidecar Semi-PrivateUp to 6 people · Guide in 5 languages · 09:30, 14:30 and 18:30Semi-Private Guided Tour: whiz along cobblestone streets and past ancient ruins, uncovering secret spots along the way.

Private tour by Vespa with sidecarUp to 8 people · Guide in 5 languages · 09:00, 14:30 and 19:00Upgrade to a private tour: explore famous landmarks and monuments with your own private, English-speaking guide. The private tour finishes at Piazza del Popolo.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 19:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by LivTours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Rome's main sights and hidden corners in three hours without navigating traffic yourself or walking for miles. The Vespa handles the distance and the guide handles the stories, leaving you free to take it in.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

How long is the Vespa sidecar tour?

Three hours total, covering major highlights and hidden gems across Rome.

Can two people ride together in one Vespa?

Yes. Each vehicle holds two passengers: one in the sidecar and one on the seat behind the driver. You can alternate at stops, or book two spots if you want to stay in the sidecar the whole time.

What's included in the tour?

The Vespa sidecar ride with a professional driver and local guide, safety equipment (helmet and gear), and headsets if you're in a group. Photo stops are included at major landmarks.

Is there a height or weight requirement?

Passengers must be at least 4 feet tall. The sidecar has a maximum weight limit of 240 pounds.

Do I need to drive the Vespa myself?

No. This is a passenger-only experience. A professional driver handles the Vespa while your guide narrates and points out landmarks.

What happens if I'm traveling alone?

If you book one spot, you'll share the vehicle with another guest and alternate seats at each stop.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Piazza della Repubblica and ends at Trinità dei Monti, above the Spanish Steps.

What if the weather is bad?

Check with the operator about their weather policy. Safety gear is provided, but heavy rain may affect the tour.

Are there any stops where I can get off and explore?

Yes. You stop at landmarks like Trevi Fountain, the Mouth of Truth, and other sites for photos and brief exploration.