What’s the best way to avoid crowds and see a different side of Rome? See it on a vespa!
If you’re really brave, you could rent one yourself. But want my advice? Enlist a pro! You will feel much safer riding behind someone who knows the Roman streets like the back of their hands. Enter Bici&Baci, the best Vespa Tour in Rome!
Airports to Fly Into
FCO is Rome’s International Airport. A taxi into the city center costs about 50 Euros. FCO is not that far from the city. Lucky for us, our Airbnb organized a driver 🙂
Where to Stay
If you’re going to be visiting Rome for the first time, you want to stay in the city center, or the centro storico. This is the historic center and so it’s close to all of the sites that you want to see! This includes the Colosseum and forum, the Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, and the Vatican.
- Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj – This is the #1 rooftop bar in Rome. Approximately 300 Euros per night but well worth it as it’s right in the thick of everything. We enjoyed drinks on their roof one night.
- AirBnb – This is the AirBnb we stayed at. I always stay at an AirBnb when traveling with a medium sized group.
If you’d rather stay in one of the bordering Roman neighborhoods, my favorite is Trastevere. It’s very up and coming with lots of restaurants and local charm.
- Hotel Santa Maria – Rated #1 on Tripadvisor, and for good reason. It’s a quiet oasis in the center of the busy bustle of Trastevere.
- Residenza San Calisto – A more budget friendly option with very high ratings on Tripadvisor.
The Best Vespa Tour in Rome
Bici&Baci is the place to go for the best vespa tour of Rome. Not all tours are created equal! We booked the 3 Hour Small Group Tour but they have other options on their website.
This tour is great for all ages: families with older kids, millennials to baby boomers. The best part about our tour were the guides. They were professional, knowledgable about Rome, and safe drivers. They picked us up at our AirBnb and asked us if we’d like to see the famous Roman sights or the gorgeous hill-top views. We asked for a combination (best of both worlds!)
Historical Places to See on a Vespa
Seeing Rome on a vespa is a great introduction to the city of Rome. On a vespa, you have the ability to go where tourists on buses and in walking groups can’t. A vespa can drive through the narrow streets quickly and avoid the crowds! Here are some of the stops you can make on your vespa tour:
- The Colosseum – Want to feel like you’re on a movie set? Drive by the Colosseum on a vespa! This was one of our favorite parts of the tour.
- The Vatican – We lined up our vespas and took photos outside then we walked around the open plaza. (We didn’t go inside as that takes several hours.)
- Piazza Navona – We were staying around the corner so we didn’t make this stop, but you should!
- The Trevi Fountain – Throw in a coin for good luck!
You also have the opportunity to see some lesser known sites like:
- Fontana Del Aqua Paola – One of the most romantic and picturesque places in Rome.
When to Go
There are a couple things to consider when deciding when to visit this fantastic city. High season is June – August. *Remember: All of Europe is on vacation in August! Bottom Line: There are 12 million visitors to Rome every year… It’s always busy! My favorite time to go is in September and October.
Cost Breakdown
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*A note on travel insurance – The price is dependent upon your trip. I paid $140 for my entire 2 week trip to Italy with World Nomads. Check out their prices here.
BOOK A TOUR WITH BICI&BACI:
Vespa Tour with Gourmet Picnic
Or visit them online:
This video is not sponsored and all my reviews and opinions are based on my own experience, which may not be the same for everyone. This contains affiliate links which will help support this blog! If you choose to use them, thank you for your support 🙂
