Since 2026 a helmet is mandatory on every e-scooter, for every rider — and rental companies don’t hand them out. Scooters max out at 20 km/h (6 km/h in pedestrian areas), can’t go on pavements, and can’t carry a passenger. Sharing works best in Rome (Lime, Dott, Bird), Milan (Lime, Dott + BikeMi from €4.50 a day), Bologna (RideMovi bikes) and Turin; in Venice’s historic centre bikes and scooters are banned, and on the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre and Sanremo there’s no sharing — use trains, buses, ferries or a rental shop. A company listing a city doesn’t mean a vehicle near you: check the app map. Install Google Maps + Citymapper/Moovit, Trenitalia, a taxi app and the one sharing app that’s live where you’re going.
Checked 2026-09-24 · Italy · Getting around
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Scooter helmet | Mandatory for all ages (2026) |
| Speed | 20 km/h · 6 km/h in pedestrian zones |
| Age | 14+ by law · Rome sharing 18+ |
| Milan BikeMi | €4.50/day · €9/week |
| Venice centre | No bikes, no scooters |
| Fines | No helmet €50–250 · pavement parking €41–168 |
E-scooter rules for visitors
Helmet for everyone
ACI · new e-scooter obligations ↗ · Turismo Roma · helmets and plates on shared scooters ↗
Speed and where to ride
ACI · new e-scooter obligations ↗ · MIT · e-scooters outside built-up areas ↗
Age, passengers, lights
ACI · new e-scooter obligations ↗ · Roma Mobilità · sharing ↗
Plates and insurance
MIT/MIMIT · contrassegno and insurance dates ↗ · MIMIT · e-scooter insurance FAQ ↗ · Dott · Italy terms ↗
Fines
ACI · e-scooter rules (legal summary) ↗ · ACI · 2025 sanctions overview (PDF) ↗
Bikes, e-bikes and mopeds
ACI · art. 50 (pedal-assist bikes) ↗ · BikeMi · FAQ ↗ · Roma Mobilità · sharing ↗
Which companies run where
| City | Operators (24 Sep 2026) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rome | Lime, Dott, Bird (scooters + e-bikes); Cooltra mopeds | Verified — municipal list |
| Milan | Lime, Dott (scooters); BikeMi, RideMovi (bikes); Bird revoked 15 Jul 2026 | Verified |
| Florence | RideMovi (check vehicle type in app) | Partial |
| Venice | RideMovi — mainland and Lido only; none in the historic centre | Partial |
| Naples | Lime, Dott listed | Partial |
| Bologna | RideMovi — 2,200 bikes + 300 e-bikes | Verified |
| Verona | Lime, Dott listed | Partial |
| Turin | Lime, Dott, RideMovi; Cooltra listed | Partial |
| Bergamo · Padua · Rimini · Modena | Lime/Dott (Bergamo), Dott + RideMovi (Padua), Lime (Rimini), Dott (Modena) | Partial |
| Lake Garda | Lime listed — check the map by village | Partial |
| Palermo · Catania | Lime, Dott listed | Partial |
| Cagliari · Genoa | Dott listed | Partial |
| Bari | Lime, Dott listed | Partial |
| Pisa · Lucca | RideMovi listed | Partial |
| Trieste · Lecce · Matera · Olbia · Alghero · Siracusa · Taormina | No shared fleet confirmed — walk, bus, rental shop | Not found |
| Amalfi Coast · Sorrento · Cinque Terre · La Spezia · Sanremo · Versilia | No shared fleet confirmed — train, bus, ferry, rental shop | Not found |
A company listing a city doesn’t guarantee a vehicle near you — the app’s live map is the source of truth. Prices (unlock + per minute) are shown in each app before you start.
Apps to install before you go
| App | What it’s for | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps | Walking, cycling and transit routes | All Italy |
| Citymapper | Live multimodal routes | Rome, Milan, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Naples, Turin |
| Moovit | Transit planner and live departures | Most Italian cities |
| MooneyGo | Bus/metro tickets, parking, taxi | Rome, Milan, Naples, Florence, Bologna, Palermo, Bari and more |
| DropTicket | City and intercity bus tickets, parking | Rome, Naples, Florence, Genoa, Palermo, Bari, Cagliari, Matera and more |
| Trenitalia · Italo | Train tickets, live status, bike supplement | All Italy |
| appTaxi | Licensed taxis, in-app payment, 9 languages | 50+ cities |
| FreeNow | Taxis | Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Bologna, Palermo, Catania, Cagliari, Modena, Reggio Emilia |
| Wetaxi | Taxi with a maximum-fare estimate | Turin, Milan, Rome, Naples and partners |
| Lime | Shared scooters and e-bikes | Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Verona, Bergamo, Bari, Palermo, Catania, Rimini, Lake Garda, Monza |
| Dott | Shared scooters and bikes | Rome, Milan, Turin, Verona, Bergamo, Padua, Genoa, Bari, Palermo, Catania, Cagliari and more |
| RideMovi | Shared bikes/e-bikes (scooters in some cities) | Bologna, Milan, Florence, Venice, Turin, Padua, Pisa, Lucca and more |
| BikeMi | Milan’s docked bikes and e-bikes | Milan |
| Cooltra | Shared mopeds | Rome (licensed service); Milan and Turin listed |
Install order
Google Maps coverage ↗ · Citymapper · cities ↗ · Moovit Italy ↗
Foreign cards
Reddit · MooneyGo and foreign cards ↗ · MooneyGo · coverage ↗
Bikes on trains and ferries
Trains
Ferries
Navigazione Laghi · Garda tariffs ↗ · Grimaldi · bikes and e-scooters on board ↗
Before and after every ride
Protect yourself from charges
Bird · Italy rental agreement ↗ · RideMovi · FAQ and cities ↗
Accidents
With children
Best car-free cycle routes
| Route | Where | Length · difficulty | Rent at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appia Antica, Caffarella and the aqueducts | Rome | >16 km · easy–moderate, cobbles | EcoBike, Via Appia Antica 58/60 |
| Florence city ring | Florence | 22.6 km · easy–moderate | Central e-bike rental |
| Around Florence | Florence | 82 km · moderate | E-bike, guide recommended |
| Adige Valley cycle path | Trentino–Verona | ~98 km · flat, mostly protected | Rail + rental |
| Adige–Garda (Mori–Riva) | Lake Garda | 19.9 km · short climb | Rovereto or Riva |
| Garda east: hills and lake | Lake Garda | 11–22 km · moderate | Garda, e-bike |
| Riviera dei Fiori (Ospedaletti–Andora) | Sanremo | 45 km · easy, old railway — continuous since 24 Jun 2026 | Sanremo, Arma, Imperia, Diano Marina |
| Venice islands cycleway | Lido, Pellestrina, Sant’Erasmo | 2 days · flat, with ferries | Lido or Mestre |
| Garda–Venice | Veneto | 185 km · multi-day | Staged rental + rail |
| Sicily’s Baroque route | Modica–Noto–Siracusa | Long, rolling · moderate–hard | E-bike with van support |
Quick answers
Do I need a helmet on a shared e-scooter in Italy?
Yes — a helmet is mandatory for every rider at any age, and operators don’t necessarily provide one.
Can I ride a Lime or Dott scooter on the pavement?
No — ride on roads up to 50 km/h and cycle lanes; you may only push it on the pavement.
How fast can e-scooters go in Italy?
20 km/h, and 6 km/h in pedestrian areas where riding is allowed; apps can set lower limits.
Can I ride a scooter or bike in Venice?
Not in the historic centre — even pushing a bike is banned. Bikes are fine on the Lido, Pellestrina and in Mestre.
Is there bike sharing in Milan for tourists?
Yes — BikeMi: €4.50 a day or €9 a week, from age 14, with Visa, Mastercard or Amex.
Which scooter companies operate in Rome?
Lime, Dott and Bird for scooters and e-bikes, plus Cooltra for mopeds; riders must be 18+ with ID.
Can I rent a Vespa or moped without a motorbike licence?
No — mopeds need the right licence and a helmet; don’t unlock one without it.
Can I take a bike on Italian trains?
Folded or bagged bikes go free on most trains; assembled bikes need a €3.50 supplement on regionals with the bike symbol and on Intercity with a reservation.
Which apps should I install before a trip to Italy?
Google Maps plus Citymapper or Moovit, Trenitalia/Italo, a taxi app (appTaxi or FreeNow) and the one sharing app live in your city.
Go deeper in our guides
Related answers
Sources: ACI · new e-scooter obligations ↗ · MIT/MIMIT · contrassegno and insurance dates ↗ · Roma Mobilità · sharing ↗ · Comune di Milano · scooter sharing rules ↗ · BikeMi · FAQ ↗ · Lime · locations ↗ · Dott · locations ↗ · RideMovi · FAQ and cities ↗ · Comune di Venezia · bikes and scooters FAQ ↗ · Trenitalia · travelling with your bike ↗