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During our trip to Italy, an absolute must-do for me was a tour by vespa! The Florence Vespa Tour was amazing and a bucket-list experience now happily checked-off as completed! Read on as we share highlights of the experience and pictures from our adventure!
We highly recommend booking this tour which departed from Florence! Not only was it fun, but the Florence Vespa Tour enables you to see the gorgeous hills of Tuscany, eat an Italian meal in a breath-taking setting, and also take some stunning pictures, all in one excursion! Click below to also read over two thousand positive ratings of the Florence Vespa Tour:
Florence Vespa Tour: Meeting Point
We selected an afternoon tour on a Sunday. As noted on the voucher emailed, we arrived earlier for check-in. Once everyone was checked-in, we went to choose our vespa, helmets and get fitted.
Outside, our group was taught some basic instructions and safety information for our ride.
My husband and I booked one vespa to ride together, where he would be driving. Although he had never driven or been on a scooter, there were others in our group that similarly had no prior experience on a vespa.
However, the instructors were very patient and made sure everyone felt comfortable before departure!
Drivers did test drives of their vespa, multiple times, in the alley, before we left for our adventure!
Ultimately, although the safety and instruction segment were timely, I felt this was necessary. The time spent was justified to ensure the group felt ready for our journey through the city and scenic hills, especially with many first timers like us!
Florence Vespa Tour: The Tour
Despite the potentially looming rain, the tour proceeded. During the journey, there was one guide leading us and one at the end of the group. We stopped throughout the trip and the guides that accompanied us always checked in with how our group was doing.
As I imagined, it was exhilarating to ride through the streets of Florence on a vespa!
Basilica San Miniato al Monte
For our first stop, we disembarked our vespas at the Basilica San Miniato al Monte. The group was here for about twenty minutes to take in the stunning view! It is one of the highest points in the city and offered an incredible place for pictures.
In fact, the tour guides took amazing pictures of each of us from the group with our vespa helmets. We actually have our picture which they took, framed and hanging in our home!
Vespa Ride Through Tuscan Hills
We continued the tour out of the city to the countryside. Although it was now raining, it was an amazingly surreal experience as we drove through the scenic hills of Tuscany.
We made a brief stop off the side of the country road to check-in with everyone, before continuing to make our way to the country estate.
Italian Meal at a Country Estate
We stopped for an Italian meal at a country estate in the beautiful Tuscan hills.
Since it was raining when we reached our lunch stop, the area was prepared. It was set-up with clear, water-proof tarps that still enabled us to eat with a view of the countryside.
Although it was cloudy with rain, the elevated views were spectacular.
Everyone from our tour was seated together, which was nice. We chose a seat at a long table and lunch was served family-style. Although understandably disappointed with the rain, everyone made the best of the situation as we shared some friendly conversation.
The menu included bruschetta, cheese, salami, pasta, and bread.
A glass of wine and bottled water was available for our beverages.
We had a brief break at the estate to take in the views before heading back to the city.
Heading Back to Original Departure Point
The vespa ride back to the city went smoothly as everyone was more comfortable with the experience. Our tour guides always made sure our group was together and waited if necessary if the full group did not make the traffic stop lights.
We finished our tour back at the original departure point. Exhilarated from our adventure, we returned our vespa and equipment, and departed.
Florence Vespa Tour: Requirements & Additional Information
- Vespa – automatic with no gears. Options:
- single vespa: one vespa for one person
- double vespa: one vespa for two people who can take turns to drive or one can drive.
- License: original, valid (car) driver’s license. A motorcycle license is not required for this tour. No experience required although it would surely help.
- Minimum participant age: 18-years old
- Clothing: I suggest bringing or wearing a waterproof jacket for this tour. Fortunately, I brought a packable, water-repellant windbreaker which I had to bring out and put on! We visited Italy in September, and it did rain both in Venice and Florence.
Florence Vespa Tour: Conclusion
Our Florence Vespa Tour was one of the highlights of our time in Italy! Despite the rain, it was spectacular! I can only imagine how much more I would have loved the Vespa Tour from Florence and lunch stop in Tuscany if it was a warm, sunny day!
Do not hesitate to book the excursion – we highly recommend it! We always felt comfortable during the tour and the experience was so much fun. It is a must-do travel experience in Florence, in my opinion! And I would absolutely do the tour a second time if we return to Firenze! Enjoy Italy!
*Be sure to check out Nurture Happiness Today on Instagram for pictures and video footage from our Florence Vespa Tour described here!
Check here for Florence Vespa Tour availability or click below to also read and explore over two thousand positive ratings and reviews:
Additional Information: Accommodations
For accommodations in Florence and Venice, we share where we stayed and popular hotels below.
For our first trip to Italy, we stayed at two elegant, beautiful hotels:
- Florence: Hotel L’Orologio Florence:
- walking distance, within minutes, to major places for sightseeing!
- a beautiful four-star, boutique hotel, included in the Michelin Guide Hotels for Florence.
- read our review of Hotel L’Orologio Florence here.
- Venice: Hotel Metropole Venezia:
- located steps to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square).
- read our review here of this elegant and unique five-star hotel!
Florence Hotels
The following hotels in Florence listed below are also very popular – click on the links below for availability, hundreds of reviews, or explore the Florence map below:
- Velona’s Jungle Luxury Suites (Florence Historic Centre)
- Corte Calzaiuoli Elegant Suites (Uffizi, Florence)
- Arte Boutique Hotel (San Marco)
Popular Florence Tours
For popular Florence attractions with hundreds of reviews, explore the tours below:
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For more articles, be sure to take a look at Nurture Happiness Today‘s other features on travel, food, and inspiration for happiness:
- Nurture Happiness Today TRAVEL and RESORTS & HOTELS
- Nurture Happiness Today FOODIE
- Nurture Happiness Today – inspiration for happiness such as quotes, speeches and lifestyle posts.
