Vespa Tour & Rental on Lake Como

There is a road on Lake Como's western shore where every third curve has been in a film, and the only correct way to drive it is on a Vespa — slowly, helmet off at the viewpoints, espresso at the villages. Two wheels turn the lake from scenery into a road trip.

Rental or guided tour?

Self-drive rental is the classic: pick up a modern Vespa 125 (or a vintage-styled one), get a briefing and a route map, and go. Four hours covers the Como–Bellagio shoreline loop; a full day lets you add the Ghisallo climb and the Valbrona switchbacks. Guided tours put a local lead rider in front of you: they know which lay-by has the real view of Bellagio, which trattoria in the hills does lunch for €25, and how to time the ferries so the lake crosses itself into your route. Vintage Vespas — the genuine 1970s two-strokes — are available for the romantics, with the caveat that they smell like 1974 and sound like heaven.

Real prices for 2026

Option	Details	Price 2026
Vespa rental, 4 hours	Vespa 125, 2 helmets, insurance, route map	€70–75
Vespa rental, full day	Vespa 125, unlimited km in the lake area	€115–165
Guided half-day tour	Lead guide, panoramic route, coffee stop	€130–140 per rider
Vintage Vespa experience	Classic 1970s Vespa, half day, photo stops	€155–165

Prices are per Vespa — two people sharing one scooter pay once. A security deposit (€180–300, card pre-authorisation) and fuel top-up at return are standard.

License and requirements — the honest version

To ride a 125 cc Vespa in Italy you need a valid driving license held for the required period: for most EU visitors a standard car license (B) suffices if you are over 21; non-EU visitors (including US and UK) should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national license. Riders under 21 or those who prefer zero paperwork can choose the 50 cc option, which any adult car-license holder can ride. You must be comfortable on two wheels in light traffic — the lake road is friendly, but it is a real road, and August adds tour buses to the curves.

The routes worth your fuel

The classic shoreline (3–4h): Como → Cernobbio → Laglio (wave at Villa Oleandra) → Argegno → the balcony road to Lenno beneath Balbianello → ferry across to Bellagio with the Vespa on board → back down the eastern shore through Varenna. The Ghisallo loop (full day): the climb to the Madonna del Ghisallo — patron saint of cyclists, with a chapel full of champions' bikes — then the ridge road with the lake on both sides of your handlebars. The secret one: ask us about the Val d'Intelvi balcony road at sunset. Helmets, a phone holder and a marked map are included; the guides' WhatsApp stays open all day in case you take the scenic wrong turn.

Practical notes

• Season: April–October; May, June and September have the emptiest roads
• Closed shoes and a light jacket are mandatory in spirit if not in law — the lake breeze at 50 km/h is colder than it looks
• Ferries take Vespas for a few euros; the Menaggio–Varenna crossing is part of the fun
• Book 1–2 weeks ahead in summer; vintage models are few and go first

Tell us your date, riding experience and license type — we will confirm the right Vespa, the right route and the exact price, usually within the hour.