5 Exciting E-Bike Tours Through Rome That Won't Break The Bank

A trip to Italy's most traveled city comes with a few staple stops you know you'll want to make. The Colosseum, Vatican City, and any of the many basilicas in the area are a must, as are a few exquisite dining choices and some hidden treasures beyond the city. Planning the whole thing can be a headache. Making it between each landmark can be even more stressful, so why not handle both aspects at once with a tour that keeps you on the move? Rome e-bike tours offer a new, exciting, and convenient way to see the city without sacrificing some of those must-see stops.

Some of the bigger concerns with tours are cost and convenience. Generally, traveling independently puts you in complete control over what you spend, what you see, and when you see it, keeping you off the rigid schedule you left at home. However, don't write off tours completely. Despite featuring a fun piece of equipment that keeps you from exerting too much energy and exhausting yourself, Rome e-bike tours can be wallet-friendly.

You can have the best experience in Rome and the ideal introduction to Italy, seeing the landmarks on your list, and not break the bank, we've laid out some of the more cost-efficient e-bike tours of Rome. On the back of an e-Bike, cruising through The Eternal City is a freeing experience, topped off with stops at some of the most sought-after tourist destinations and hidden treasures.

If you buy into the many cons of a guided tour, you're probably going to be exploring Rome on your own. Unfortunately, that means you'll miss out on the expertise that a local tour guide offers, so there may be some hidden details or interesting facts missed along the way. For as little as $35, you can still get some of the benefits of a guided tour and enjoy cruising through Rome on an e-bike with a Rome Self-Guided Audio Tour.

Rather than travel in a group, following a guide throughout the city, you'll be given access to an audio narration and the freedom to plan your own itinerary. Safety first on this free-roaming self-guided tour, as it includes a Bluetooth helmet through which the narration plays. You won't be at the mercy of potentially unstable internet connections, either, as the audio is available offline.

The four-hour e-bike experience includes narrations of some of Rome's most iconic sites, including the Colosseum and Appian Way. You'll pass by a total of 10 locations while the Bluetooth audio narration explores the "stories and insights" of each landmark. There aren't many reviews of the tour, but the only negative two-star feedback states that it's "Not for kids under 13" as their nine-year-old was unable to manage the e-bike. The tour does offer a child seat for infants up to five years old.

This morning stroll through Rome is a great start to the day. It's only three hours long, so you'll still have much of the day ahead of you, and it includes many of the traditional stops expected of a guided tour through The Eternal City. At just over $60 for each adult (and free for children under 55 pounds), it's a reasonably-priced trip through the beautiful streets of Rome aboard an e-bike that will do much of the pedaling for you.

While you may think mornings would be quite crowded, Lonely Planet confirms that earlier in the day is one of the better times to go exploring. "Early risers need not get gladiatorial as long queues only start to form around mid-morning," Lonely Planet contributor Alexis Averbuck explains. With that in mind, tour start times vary depending on the time of year. From May to August, you'll launch at 8 a.m. For the rest of the year, the tour kicks off a little later at 10 a.m.

Before the crowds start forming, you'll get a chance to visit 11 different locations, from the typical stop at the Colosseum to the remains of Circus Maximus. Though the stops are typically historical in nature, you still see much of the city on the 5-mile excursion led by a bilingual guide, including the Tiber River and the impressive Septizodium decorative wall.

Forget the Roman monuments; it's time to chow down on some local delights. Well, you'll still see six of the city's landmarks, like the Circus Maximus and Parione, the real highlights are the food and drinks you'll chow down on. The full Street Food E-Bike Tour, which includes an e-bike rental, is less than $80. This includes a $22 on-site charge for the food, which you may find worth it to gorge on Jewish-Roman desserts, classic Italian suppli, pizza, and more.

This isn't the tour you'd pick for a well-rounded excursion through the city. You will still be riding for about 5 miles, though, as you'll make a trek out to Via del Banchi Vecchi. Here, you'll spot quaint shops and feel like you've been transported to a simple street in ancient Rome. The tour runs for 3.5 hours in the evening, so be sure to still have lunch beforehand, so your stomach isn't grumbling too much the whole way.

As the third low-cost Starbike tour on this list, it's worth noting that these aren't simply cheap, low-quality, or gimmicky expeditions. As a company, Roma Starbike has five stars on Tripadvisor and almost 900 reviews. That includes over 830 five-star reviews, like one that touts it as a "Nicely run business with genuinely enthusiastic guides."

For a fairly reasonable $28, you can participate in a three-hour ride around much of Rome. The itinerary is quite similar to the self-guided e-bike tour, but this Rome 3-Hour Sightseeing Bike Tour adds a local, English-speaking guide that offers a more personalized experience than audio played through a Bluetooth helmet. You don't want to miss out on anecdotes about the Old Jewish Quarter or Navona Square that only a live tour guide could provide.

The e-bike makes this a comfortable and easy ride, though you're free to take over for the battery and pedal along if you want to get a workout in. Either way, you'll still enjoy scenic views of the city. Don't be surprised if you walk away with new contacts in your phone, as this kind of intimate expedition is bound to help friendships develop along the way.

Reviews of the 3-hour e-bike tour are an encouraging five stars, with only a lone one-star review that reads as a word of caution to know where the meeting spot is before the departure time. Other than one unfortunate incident, the other reviews, even the three stars, offer praise for the tour itself and the knowledgeable guide leading the charge. There are two times available, so you have some variety when planning the rest of your day. You'll either leave early, around 10 a.m., or later in the afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Of all the tours on this list, this one does come out as the most expensive. However, as you may have already noticed, it doesn't take a similar route as the others, so you'll be skipping some of the easier-to-access landmarks that can be within walking distance, depending on where in Rome you're staying. That includes the Colosseum, so plan accordingly if that's also high on your must-see list. For the $84 Rome E-Bike Tour, you'll ride your electric cycle through the Roman countryside, where you'll be happy to have a bike that does most of the work for you.

Along the Ancient Appian Way, you'll spot ruins of Rome's past, like the Aurelian Walls, the remains of the Roman aqueducts, and the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, a Roman matron and daughter of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus. You'll also see well-preserved relics like the Roman aqueducts, some of which are still utilized today to supply the city with water. The ride along the Ancient Appian Way is scenic and will transport you back in time as you bike over old paving stones through areas of Italy stuck in time. Rick Steves does warn that the way can be bumpy, but it's made a little easier on an e-bike.

This e-bike tour has earned a five-star rating from over 1,400 reviews. Of those, 95% are five-star, which is a testament to how well-received e-biking along the Ancient Appian Way has been.