Vespa Tour Rome: Colosseum, Circus Maximus & Gianicolo Hill

You navigate Rome's narrow streets on your own Vespa, not squeezed into a bus seat.

A guided Vespa scooter tour in Rome takes you through five major landmarks (the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Giardino Degli Aranci, Piazza Venezia, and Fontana dell'Acqua Paola on Gianicolo Hill) on a two-hour route with a live English-speaking guide. You ride your own scooter, accessing alleys and hilltop views that cars and buses cannot reach, and the tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Colosseum20m
2. Circus Maximuspassing by
3. Fontana dell'Acqua Paola20m

Explore Rome on Vespa scooter

• See Colosseum and take photos
• Pass by Circus Maximus ruins
• Visit Giardino Degli Aranci park
• Pass by Piazza Venezia square
• Visit Gianicolo Hill viewpoints
• See Fontana dell'Acqua Paola fountain

The experience

The Colosseum anchors the first stop, where your guide explains the monument's history while you take photos from ground level. From there, the route moves to Circus Maximus, the ancient chariot racing stadium that once held 150,000 spectators in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills: today it's a public park where the scale of the original structure becomes clear even in ruins.

Riding a Vespa lets you slip through Rome's narrow streets and reach spots a car tour cannot. Giardino Degli Aranci, the Garden of Oranges on the Aventine Hill, opens onto panoramic views of the Tiber River, St. Peter's Basilica dome, and the Colosseum itself. The route then takes in Piazza Venezia, dominated by the Vittorio Emanuele II monument, before climbing to Gianicolo Hill and the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola: a 17th-century Baroque fountain built under Pope Paul V, made of white marble with three arches and cascading water, sitting high enough to frame the entire city behind it.

Your guide is experienced and speaks English throughout. Helmets and coffee or tea are provided. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so the two-hour window covers both the ride itself and the time to collect you and return you at the end.

What’s included

• Helmet and coffee or tea.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• live English-speaking guide.
• access to five landmarks including the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Giardino Degli Aranci, Piazza Venezia, and Fontana dell'Acqua Paola.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day, 10 start times, from € 80 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 6 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: 09:00, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 15:30, 17:00 and 18:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 62 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (25 to 58 years) · Youth (15 to 24 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Private Photographer in Rome

Is this one for you?This tour suits riders comfortable on a scooter who want to cover Rome's major landmarks without the constraints of a bus route. The Vespa gets you into narrow streets and up to hilltop views that larger vehicles cannot reach, and the two-hour timeframe keeps the pace brisk enough to hit five distinct stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 24 years). Children under 15 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola and why does the tour stop there?

The Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, also called the Fontanone, is a large Baroque fountain on Gianicolo Hill built in the 17th century to mark the restoration of an ancient aqueduct bringing fresh water to Rome. It sits high enough to offer stunning panoramic views of the entire city, making it one of Rome's most impressive fountains and a natural vantage point on the tour route.

Can I ride my own Vespa or do I ride as a passenger?

You ride your own Vespa scooter on this tour, which is what allows you to navigate Rome's narrow streets and alleys that buses and cars cannot easily access. Your guide leads the route and provides historical information along the way.

What was Circus Maximus used for in ancient Rome?

Circus Maximus was an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium built in the 6th century BC in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills. It could hold up to 150,000 spectators and was the largest stadium in ancient Rome, hosting chariot races as the main event along with processions, religious ceremonies, and festivals.

Is there an age requirement to ride on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 15 and up. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health, though it is suitable for all other fitness levels.

How much of the two hours is actual riding versus pickup and drop-off?

The remaining time after the tour's main route is allocated to hotel pickup and drop-off, so the actual riding and stops at the five landmarks fit within the two-hour window.