Hold on tight! That's the advice from Matteo, my driver, as we accelerate into the chaos of rush-hour Rome on a Vespa. The experience is not for the faint-hearted, but surrendering to it can be exhilarating. I'm in Rome ahead of the Vespa's 80th birthday in June, when thousands of riders will celebrate the design classic. To mark the occasion, I decided to follow in the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, which cemented the Vespa's iconic status.
Driving myself seemed too daunting, so I opted for Vespa Sidecar Tour, which offers a safer alternative with experienced drivers. The tour accommodates two passengers—one on the back and one in the sidecar—and can be taken at night. Vespa Sidecar has partnered with art'otel Rome, where I stayed, making it easy to arrange a three-hour tour with pick-up from Piazza Repubblica.
Matteo, who fell in love with Vespas growing up in northern Italy, now works as a full-time tour guide. Our itinerary covered central Rome, including the Spanish Steps, St Peter's Basilica, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Trastevere for gelato. As I quickly learned, the key to adapting to the scooter's frenetic motion is to relax into it rather than tense up.
Riding a Vespa offers an immersive way to see the city—close enough to touch café tables, smell petrol fumes and espresso, and hear conversations at traffic lights. Whizzing around, I noticed hidden details like ornate cornicing and residents on balconies. At street level, cars honked, school children waved, and nuns took our picture. Our convoy of vintage Vespas in pistachio, powder blue, and yellow drew attention.
The Vespa was designed in 1945 by aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio for Piaggio, becoming a symbol of urban mobility and style thanks to films like Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita. Despite a sudden downpour over Ponte Garibaldi, Matteo provided waterproof ponchos, and we continued. The rain added to the drama, and I still consider this one of the best ways to see Rome—walking is tiring, cycling daunting, and the metro limited.
After several visits, this tour gave me a coherent sense of the city's layout, connecting the dots between landmarks. The Vespa ride was a thrilling and memorable way to experience the Italian capital.
