7 Best Florence Vespa Tours (Selected by a Local)

Vespas are one Italian cliché I will happily defend. Seeing Florence and the Tuscan countryside from one is fun, and you can follow roads lined with vineyards and cypress trees to viewpoints that are harder to visit on foot.

Florence Vespa tours range from 1.5-hour rides around the city and panoramic hills to to trips of up to seven hours through Chianti or to San Gimignano. The main thing is choosing the right format. Some tours expect you to drive, while others let you ride behind a professional driver.

Most self-drive Vespa tours are not lessons for complete beginners. They include a safety briefing and practice session, but you may need previous scooter experience, a valid license, and enough confidence to pass a riding test.

➥ Why trust me? I’m Italian and was born and raised in Bologna, about 40 minutes from Florence by high-speed train. I’ve spent more than 10 years helping travelers plan trips around Italy and choose experiences that fit different travel styles and comfort levels.

I usually book tours through Viator and GetYourGuide because they offer reliable operators and flexible cancellation policies. Every tour in this guide currently allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the starting time.

Florence Vespa Tours: Quick Picks

Short on time? These are the Florence Vespa tours I recommend most:

OUR PICK: Best Vespa Tour from Florence

Duration: 6 hours
Type: Guided group tour (maximum 20 people)
Best for: Travelers who want a complete introduction to Florence’s hills and nearby countryside

The Florence Vespa Tour: Tuscan Hills, Food and Chianti Wine is my top pick because it balances riding, panoramic views, and a proper Tuscan meal. It also has thousands of positive reviews, making it the most established option in this guide.

The tour begins with a safety briefing and practice session on an automatic Vespa. Once the guides are satisfied that everyone can ride safely, the route heads toward the hills around Florence. Stops and pass-bys include Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato al Monte, Villa Poggio Imperiale, and country roads toward Chianti.

You’ll then stop at a countryside estate for local food and Chianti wine before riding back. Drivers must be at least 18 and bring their original license. Previous scooter experience is highly recommended, and the operator can stop anyone from driving if the practice session does not go safely.

Why this is the best tour

This is the strongest all-around choice because it combines Florence viewpoints, quieter countryside roads, and an included Tuscan meal. The route focuses on the hills south of Florence rather than traveling as far as San Gimignano.

The riding check is a useful safety measure, but it is also the main caveat. This tour is a better match for someone who has ridden a scooter before than for a nervous first-timer.

Read what the reviews say:

“Gabriel, Stefano and Tony do a phenomenal job making it fun and educational. The lunch at the farm is the perfect finish.”

Irene_S – Read more reviews

This tour includes an automatic Vespa, helmet, guide, fuel, third-party insurance, local food, and wine. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Chianti Vespa Tour with Wine and an E-Car Option

Duration: 6 hours
Type: Guided group tour with several vehicle options
Best for: Couples and groups with different levels of riding confidence

The Chianti Vespa Tour with Wine and E-Car Option offers more booking flexibility than the other countryside tours. You can select a solo Vespa, share a double Vespa as driver and passenger, ride a solo scooter, or choose an electric car for one or two people.

The route travels through the Chianti hills, Impruneta, and Chiocchio, with vineyard and countryside views along the way. The group then stops at a winery for a Tuscan meal, Chianti wine, and olive oil tasting.

Each vehicle is a separate booking option, so check your selection carefully. Drivers must be at least 18 (passengers can be 13+), carry a valid license, and already know how to ride a scooter. The double Vespa option includes one driver and one passenger, it does not include a hired driver.

Pros:

• Several vehicle options for couples and mixed groups
• Chianti meal, wine, and olive oil are included
• The electric car is useful for travelers who do not want to ride a scooter

Cons:

• At least one person must drive when booking a double Vespa
• No options include a hired driver

This tour includes roundtrip transportation from the Florence meeting point, the selected vehicle, a tour leader, a support vehicle, a Tuscan meal, wine, and olive oil tasting. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Vespa Tour to San Gimignano with Wine Tasting

Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Type: Small-group guided tour
Best for: Travelers who want to combine Vespa riding with San Gimignano

The Tuscany Vespa and Wine Tour to San Gimignano travels farther into Tuscany than the tours around Florence and Chianti. A van from Florence takes you to the starting point of the Vespa ride, where the guides lead a short training session and check that drivers can operate the scooters safely.

The ride includes stops among vineyards before reaching San Gimignano. You’ll have a guided introduction to the medieval town and time to explore independently. The day finishes at a local winery with a traditional Tuscan lunch, wine tasting, and olive oil tasting.

Drivers must be at least 18 and bring their original license. The booking page does not sell or guarantee a separate passenger-with-guide option.

Pros:

• Combines countryside riding with time in San Gimignano
• Includes transportation from Florence and a winery lunch
• Offers a more extensive Tuscany itinerary than the tours close to Florence

Cons:

• No bookable passenger-with-guide option is offered

This tour includes air-conditioned transportation from Florence, Vespa use, a licensed guide, a traditional lunch, wine, and olive oil tasting. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Florence Vespa Tours for Non-Drivers

Shared Tour with a Personal Vespa Driver

Duration: 1.5 hours
Type: Small-group passenger tour (maximum 6 people)
Best for: Travelers who want the Vespa experience without driving

The Florence Vespa Tour as a Passenger is the clearest choice for anyone who cannot or does not want to drive. Each traveler rides with a personal Vespa driver, so you do not need a motorcycle license or previous riding experience.

The 1.5-hour route passes central landmarks such as the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio before climbing to panoramic viewpoints. Stops include Piazzale Michelangelo, Fiesole, and San Miniato al Monte, with afternoon and evening departures available.

This is a city-and-hills sightseeing ride rather than a full Chianti excursion. It includes an alcoholic drink at a Florence wine window. The listing does not publish a formal minimum age, so families should check before booking.

Pros:

• A personal driver is included for every traveler
• No driving license or scooter experience is required
• The group is limited to six people

Cons:

• It does not travel into the Chianti wine region
• The listing does not publish a formal minimum age

This tour includes a professional Vespa driver, the Vespa ride, private transportation during the experience, a guide, and an alcoholic drink at a Florence wine window. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Private Sidecar Tour with Hotel Pickup

Duration: 1.5 hours
Type: Private chauffeured tour
Best for: Couples and families who want a private ride without driving

The Private Florence Vespa Sidecar Tour is a more luxurious alternative to the shared passenger ride. A professional drives the Vespa throughout, and the experience includes pickup and drop-off at your Florence hotel.

Each Vespa sidecar setup can carry up to two passengers. One guest sits in the sidecar and the other rides behind the driver. The route focuses on Florence’s panoramic hills, including stops around Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte.

The minimum age is six. Guests under 150 centimeters must sit in the sidecar. The listing also sets height and weight limits: the sidecar passenger must be no taller than 1.90 meters and no heavier than 110 kilograms, and the guest behind the driver must weigh no more than 110 kilograms.

Pros:

• Private experience with a professional driver
• Florence hotel pickup and drop-off are included
• Suitable for children from age six

Cons:

• It is considerably more expensive than the shared passenger tour
• Food and drinks are not included

This tour includes a professional driver, private Vespa sidecar transportation, and pickup and drop-off at your Florence hotel. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Private Vespa Tour in the Chianti Countryside

Duration: 6 hours
Type: Private Vespa tour
Best for: Experienced riders who want a private countryside itinerary

The Private Vespa Tour in Chianti from Florence is designed for travelers who want more control over the pace and do not want to ride with a large group. Pickup and drop-off are included, which also makes the logistics easier.

The itinerary travels through the Chianti countryside and villages such as Radda, Volpaia, and Panzano. The route includes a winery visit with wine tasting and a traditional Tuscan lunch.

Drivers must be at least 18, carry a valid license, and have previous scooter or motorcycle experience. If the guide considers a driver unsafe after the briefing, a different vehicle may be offered when available. The listing does not clearly confirm passenger bookings or a maximum group size.

Pros:

• Private guide and countryside route
• Visits several well-known Chianti villages
• Winery lunch and tastings are included

Cons:

• Previous scooter or motorcycle experience is required
• Passenger availability and maximum group size are not clearly published

This tour includes pickup and drop-off, a private guide, Vespa rental, insurance, a Tuscan lunch, and wine tasting. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Tuscany Sunset Vespa Tour

Duration: 5 hours
Type: Guided group tour (maximum 16 people)
Best for: Travelers who prefer an afternoon departure and sunset views

The Tuscany Sunset Vespa Tour leaves later than the other countryside options. Transportation takes the group from Florence to the start of the vespa tour, where you’ll receive a helmet, orientation, and time to practice before setting off.

The ride follows country roads and stops at a Tuscan property for wine and olive oil tasting. The return is timed around sunset, so the views and cooler late-day temperatures are the main appeal.

A valid driving license is required, and Viator does not currently offer a separate passenger ticket for this tour. The experience includes tastings but does not include dinner, despite taking place around the evening meal period.

Pros:

• Later departure leaves the morning free for sightseeing
• Sunset makes this one of the most romantic options
• Transportation, wine, and olive oil tasting are included

Cons:

• Dinner is not included
• No separate passenger ticket is currently offered

This tour includes roundtrip transportation from Florence, Vespa and helmet use, a guide, wine, and olive oil tasting. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Are Florence Vespa Tours Worth It?

Yes, if you choose a tour that matches your riding ability. A Vespa tour gives you open-air views and access to country roads that feel very different from seeing Tuscany through a bus window. Tours that include a guide, equipment, fuel, and a meal also remove much of the planning.

However, nervous or inexperienced drivers should not book a self-drive tour simply because it includes a short practice session. The passenger and sidecar tours are much better choices if you want the fun of riding without the responsibility of controlling the Vespa.

If you prefer cycling to riding a scooter, you can also compare the best bike tours in Florence. The guide includes both city rides and countryside routes.

If wine is your main priority, compare these options with the best wine tours from Florence. For a wider look at Siena, Pisa, Chianti, and other destinations, see my guide to the best Tuscany tours from Florence.

FAQ: Florence Vespa Tours

Do you need a license to drive a Vespa in Florence?

Yes. Drivers generally need to be at least 18 and carry their original valid driving license. Requirements for licenses issued outside the European Union can vary, so check the exact tour listing before traveling. You do not need a license for the passenger tour with a driver or the private sidecar tour.

Do you need previous Vespa or scooter experience?

For most self-drive tours, yes. Some listings describe experience as recommended, while others require it. A safety briefing and short practice do not replace previous riding experience. The operator can stop you from driving if you cannot control the scooter safely, and a refund is not always offered.

Can you take a Florence Vespa tour without driving?

Yes. The shared passenger tour gives every traveler a personal Vespa driver. The private sidecar tour also includes a professional driver. Another option is the Chianti tour with an electric-car option.

How old do you need to be?

Drivers normally need to be at least 18. The top-pick tour also sets 18 as the minimum age for all participants. Passenger rules vary.

The private sidecar tour accepts children from age six, while the Chianti tour lists passengers from age 13. The shared passenger tour does not publish a formal minimum age. Always check the selected booking option when traveling with children or teenagers.

What happens if it rains?

The listings do not publish one consistent rain policy. Operators may change, postpone, or cancel a tour when conditions are unsafe, but you should not assume that light rain guarantees a refund. Check the weather and contact the operator if the forecast looks poor.

What is the cancellation policy?

Every tour in this guide at the time of writing offers a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the starting time. Cancellations made inside that window are generally non-refundable. Operator cancellations caused by unsafe conditions may be handled differently.