Your Rome Bike Rental Options Are Easy With This Guide

These Rome bike rental options can be an amazing way to for you to experience the Eternal City during your next visit and this guide makes choosing so easy.

Rome Bike Rental - Convenient — Convenient And Available

After enjoying the amazing food and wine that Rome has to offer, you might be looking for some way to work off all those calories, and bike rental could be your answer. There are options available to you and this guide should be your starting point as you are planning a visit, or if you are already in Rome and trying to determine how to avoid returning home a couple sizes larger than when you arrived.

In the beginning of 2023, the city of Rome updated the ordinances relating to bike sharing in the city. There is required labeling of a metal plate and a QR code used to identify the bike, there are specified No Parking areas in the city, and unlike with scooters, minors can participate in the Bike Sharing program. In Rome, the number of electric bikes that will be authorized will vary between a minimum of 2,500 and a maximum of 3,000. But this number can be increased by the administration, bringing it up to 4500.

Rome Bike Rental FAQs

Does Rome Have Rental Bikes?

Yes, there are a number of options available to you if you are interested in bike rental in Rome. These options include electric bike rentals, as well at entirely pedal powered bike rental. There are locations spread all around the city, but with a concentration in the historical city center of Rome.

Rome Bike Rental - Ready To Go — Ready To Ride

Does Rome Have City Bikes?

You can rent all different types of bikes in Rome, including mountain bikes and city bikes, also known as urban or commuter bikes. They are designed for short-distance commutes and inner-city riding.

Is Rome Bike Friendly?

The answer to this question depends a bit on who you ask. If you are asking a bike rental company or a tour group, you will most definitely be told: Yes. The truth is a little different. There are dedicated lanes for bikes spread across the city and some areas, like along the Tiber River, are great for biking. The other side of this coin includes: the well known 7 Hills of Rome that are troublesome for even the most fit rider might require an electric bike rental, the cobblestones in the historical center of the city that can be difficult to manage in any type of wet weather and the reputation of the drivers in Italy is well-deserved. The drivers do look out for bikers, probably more than in the US, but accidents do happen. The answer, in my opinion, is: No. The city is not what I would consider bike friendly.

Does Rome Have Bike Share?

Yes, Rome does have a bike sharing program that is spread across the city. The e-bikes are provided by some of the largest companies, like Lime, Helbiz and Dott, and they are typically available near the most popular sites in the city, near schools and hotels.

Can You Ride A Bike On The Sidewalk In Rome?

There is no cycling on the sidewalk, but it happens. This prohibition is established by the Highway Code (il Codice della Strada) which regulates both the circulation of cars and other means. The sidewalks are considered part of the road and are reserved for pedestrians, so bikes cannot circulate on them. Cyclists who are caught on the sidewalk are forced to pay a fine ranging from a minimum of €41 to a maximum of €168, but even after two years, I have not seen this enforced.

Rome Bike Rental - Left Around Town — Left Around Town

Rome Bike Rental With An App

One of the most popular ways to rent bikes in Rome is to use a Bike Sharing App. These popular e-bikes are provided by some of the largest companies, like Lime, Helbiz and Dott, and they are typically available near the most popular sites in the city, near schools and hotels. All you need to do is download the appropriate app from your favorite app store and create an account. Unlike with scooters, there are no age requirements for bike rentals in Rome and at least my experience is that there are no requirements to wear a helmet. If there are actual laws about helmets, they are not enforced much at all.

Rome Bike Rental From Actual Bike Stores

If you want a more personal experience when renting a bike in Rome, you might consider stopping into a local bike shop. These shops offer longer term rentals, instead of the hourly rentals of the bike sharing programs. You can rent an electric, a mountain, a child or a tandem bike by the day or by the week. You can get recommendations for paths and they also offer guided tours of the city.

Bike Rental From Your Hotel

A little more uncommon, but not unheard of, is renting a bike from your hotel. These would have a limited selection, but the convenience of picking up and dropping off the bikes right at your hotel can’t be beat. If you are interested in this type of bike rental, check with your hotel for the details.

Buying A Bike For Your Visit

OK, this admittedly is a little “outside-the-box” thinking, but if you are coming to Rome for longer than a couple days, you might actually consider buying a bike, instead of renting a bike. There is a popular website called Subito on which you can buy a simple bike for a very reasonable price. I saw decent city bikes available for as little as €50, but you get what you pay for. Once you are finished with it, you could try donating it to a charity, seeing if a bike shop will give you anything for it, or just lean it against the garbage bin identified for metal. It will either get taken or sent for recycling.