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Golf cart tours are booming in Rome. Are they actually a good way to see the city?
Rome's golf cart tours can save time and walking, but they come with tradeoffs, and the city wants to rein in their rapid growth.
On a recent trip to Rome, I noticed something new: golf carts seemed to be everywhere.
They zipped through the historic center carrying small groups past some of the city's biggest sights, offering a very different way to see Rome than the one I usually choose.
I didn't take one, since walking is one of my favorite parts of visiting any city. I like seeing what's between the major landmarks, wandering through neighborhoods, ducking into churches and stopping when something catches my attention.
But plenty of travelers are choosing the golf cart instead.
Bookings for golf cart tours in Rome increased 147% compared with 2024, according to Tripadvisor data reported by the Associated Press . An estimated 500 carts are now operating in the city, and their growing presence has prompted Rome officials to consider new restrictions.
With tours becoming so popular, there's a more practical question for travelers planning a trip to Rome: Are they actually a good way to see the city?
For some visitors, I think the answer is yes. But I wouldn't recommend them to everyone.
Viewing the Colosseum from outside gives you a sense of its scale, but transportation only gets you so far.
(Adrienne Barile)Why golf cart tours have become so popular in Rome
The appeal isn't difficult to understand.
Rome is a city where you can easily walk miles in a day, often over cobblestones and uneven pavement. Many of its famous sights are spread across the historic center, and summer temperatures can make a long sightseeing day exhausting.
A golf cart can cover much more ground in a few hours.
Current tours commonly last about three hours and connect sights such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Circus Maximus and Villa Borghese. Some are private and customizable, while others follow a more established itinerary.
The carts are small enough to get closer to some central sights than a tour bus can, and many tours stop briefly so passengers can get out, take photos and hear about what they're seeing.
But there's an important distinction: a golf cart tour can help you seemore of Rome, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll fully visitmore of Rome.
A golf cart tour pauses near the Colosseum. Many tours include stops at major landmarks, but travelers should check whether the itinerary includes attraction entry or only exterior sightseeing.
A golf cart tour isn't the same as touring Rome's major attractions
Golf cart itineraries can look packed because they often list many of Rome's biggest landmarks. But in most cases, you're stopping outside for a quick look rather than going inside.
That makes these tours better for getting oriented and covering ground than for fully visiting places like the Colosseum or Roman Forum.
If you book one, check whether attraction entry is included and how much time is actually spent at each stop.
Looking for a unique Rome experience? Read my guide to the Domus Aurea , Nero's extraordinary underground palace near the Colosseum.
They're especially appealing if walking in Rome is difficult
One of the strongest arguments for a golf cart tour is simple: not everyone can or wants to walk around Rome for hours.
The city's historic center can be tiring even for travelers who are comfortable walking long distances. Cobblestones, hills, heat and long sightseeing days add up quickly.
A golf cart could make Rome more manageable for older travelers, multigenerational families or anyone who needs to limit the amount of walking they do.
That doesn't mean every golf cart tour is accessible, however.
If mobility is the reason you're considering a golf cart, I'd check the details or contact the operator before booking and ask how easy it is to get in and out of the vehicle, whether a wheelchair or walker can be carried, and how much walking is required at individual stops.
A golf cart can also make sense when you don't have much time
If I only had a few hours in Rome, I could see the appeal.
A three-hour golf cart tour can connect sights that would take considerably longer to reach on foot. Current operators advertise routes linking major locations throughout central Rome, and some offer pickup and drop-off as part of the tour.
That could be useful on a short stopover, before a cruise departure or at the beginning of a trip when you want an overview of the city.
I'd still be selective about the itinerary. Seeing 12 landmarks in three hours sounds efficient, but Rome isn't a city I'd personally want to experience entirely as a checklist.
A flower-covered vintage Fiat bus waits outside a church in Trastevere, apparently as a wedding getaway vehicle. It's exactly the kind of unexpected street scene I love finding while exploring Rome on foot.
(Adrienne Barile)What you miss when you're not walking
Some of my favorite moments in Rome happen between the major sights: a quiet church, an unexpected piazza, a neighborhood street, or a place to stop for coffee or gelato.
A golf cart helps you cover more ground, but walking gives you a better feel for the city itself. If you have the time and mobility, I'd still make room to explore on foot.
Vespa tours add to the mix of sightseeing vehicles crowding streets and parking areas near Rome's major landmarks, alongside golf carts, buses and taxis.
(Adrienne Barile)Golf cart tours are becoming controversial in Rome
Their rapid growth has caught the attention of city officials. Rome is considering new rules that could limit the number of golf carts, establish designated routes, and require operator licenses as concerns grow about congestion in the historic center.
For travelers, the takeaway is simple: regulations may change, so confirm current routes and pickup details before booking.
How much does a Rome golf cart tour cost?
Prices vary by tour length, group size and whether the experience is private. Current listings on booking site Viator range from roughly $50 to well over $150 per person for three-hour tours, so it's worth comparing what's actually included.
Check the route, group size, pickup details, guide commentary and whether attraction entry is included before booking.
A hop-on hop-off bus can be another affordable option for travelers who want transportation between major sights while allowing more time to get off and explore independently.
(Adrienne Barile)Who should consider a golf cart tour in Rome?
A golf cart tour makes the most sense for travelers who want to see a lot of Rome without walking all day.
It can be especially useful for older travelers, people with mobility limitations, visitors dealing with hot weather, or anyone with limited time in the city.
If you're a strong walker, on a tighter budget, or happiest exploring neighborhoods on foot, I'd probably skip it.
A golf cart drives away from the Colosseum, a fitting reminder that these tours can help you cover more ground, but they won't replace the experience of stopping to explore Rome's major sights and neighborhoods on foot.
(Adrienne Barile)So, is a golf cart tour in Rome worth it?
For the right traveler, yes. A golf cart tour can be useful if you want to limit walking, have little time, or need an easier way to cover more of Rome.
I'd still choose to explore on foot when possible. Walking lets you experience the neighborhoods and unexpected details between the major sights.
Think of a golf cart tour as a useful tool, not a replacement for exploring Rome.
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