Florence Vespa Tour and Vintage Fiat 500 Ride

Price comparison at a glance

Shared Vespa seats are the cheapest way onto two wheels. Driving your own Vespa costs more because you take the whole scooter. Passenger and private car tours cost the most per person but need no skill and feel more relaxed. Free cancellation is included on both tours below and on the Chianti ride reviewed by Maddy's Avenue.

The full-day Chianti tours sell out in peak season from May through October, so book those weeks early.

Which option fits you

Confident drivers get the most from the full-day Chianti ride with a solo Vespa. Nervous beginners should book a shared seat first, because guides evaluate every driver and people sometimes fail for safety reasons, with a possible Fiat 500 seat if one is free. Non-drivers are happiest on a passenger ride.

Families and anyone who wants to relax take the private Fiat 500.

The classic Chianti day

You meet your guide, get a helmet and a quick lesson, then follow a convoy into the Chianti wine region south of Florence. The route stops at the Basilica di San Miniato and a secret viewpoint, passes Piazzale Michelangelo, old villas and 12th century castles, and ends with a Tuscan lunch at a farmhouse with Chianti wine. Groups carry a two-way radio so the guide can talk to riders while moving.

If the hill climb worries you, some operators let you skip it and ride a van to the top. Tuscany Vespa tours run year round with air-conditioned van pick-up, and Chianti tastings often happen at a 12th century family-owned winery.

The short city option

The Small-Group Florence Vespa Passenger Ride with Wine Window lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and stops at a historic wine window, so it fits a morning or a gap between museums. Passenger city tours elsewhere stop at Piazzale Michelangelo and pass Ponte Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo. For a wider city plan, see all florence city tours.

Typical inclusions

The reviewed Chianti tour includes an automatic Vespa, a farmhouse Tuscan lunch with a vegetarian option, helmet, guides, third-party insurance and fuel. Vintage 70s Vespas come with manual shift and include a two-way radio with the guide. Longer wine tours add more: the 8 hour San Gimignano route includes a 3 course meal and a tasting of 9 local wines.

On this page, both tours include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

The driver evaluation

Guides watch every driver on an evaluation ride at the start. People sometimes fail for safety reasons. If you fail you can be turned away, though the guide may offer you a Fiat 500 seat if one is available, so a shared booking keeps the risk cheap.

Modern Vespas have automatic shift and can be learned in a couple of minutes, while vintage models use manual shift and need clutch control. If you have never ridden a scooter, book a passenger seat instead and let a guide drive.

What to wear and bring

Closed shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen are sensible on an open scooter, and a light layer helps in the hills. A helmet is provided. Ask the operator when booking if you are unsure what to wear.

Rental versus guided tour

The same operator that runs the reviewed tour also sells a Vespa rental for the day and a passenger-only tour, so a self-guided day is possible. The trade-off is that you plan the route yourself, carry your own risks and find your own lunch, while a guided convoy handles roads, stops and insurance. For a first visit, the guided ride is the easier day.

Parts of Florence to avoid

Vespa tours leave the busy centre for the hills, which is the smart move. Ask your rental shop about traffic zones and restricted streets before riding into the centre.

What makes Florence special for Vespa rides

Group and private Vespa tours plus Fiat 500 tours run south of Florence in the Chianti wine region, passing old villas and 12th century castles with Chianti wine and a Tuscan lunch. Operator listings carry more than 10 years of experience and small tour groups, and similar rides appear in other Tuscan towns and in Rome.