Rome's Golf Cart Tours Face New Rules as Overtourism Debate Grows
Rome is drafting rules to regulate the growing number of golf carts carrying tourists through its historic centre, as locals and officials debate their impact.
Rome's narrow, cobblestone streets are seeing a new kind of traffic jam: fleets of electric golf carts ferrying tourists between the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and other landmarks. The vehicles have become a popular sight this summer, but their rapid growth is now drawing scrutiny from local residents and city officials.
Local community groups, including the Monti neighbourhood association, have launched a petition calling for clear regulations. "We don't want to cancel them, but they must absolutely be regulated," said Luigi La Licata, the association's head. The carts, critics argue, are parking illegally and adding to congestion in an already crowded city centre.
Tour operators, however, defend the service. Pascal van Duijnhoven, president of Metur, an association representing cart operators, says the vehicles offer a smarter alternative to larger tourist buses and taxis. "Overtourism is a real problem and we are not denying it," he said. "But if we are part of it, then at least be part of it in a smart way." He added that operators need support from authorities to make the model work.
Rome's deputy mayor for sustainable mobility, Eugenio Patanè, acknowledges the challenge. He has drafted regulations that would set fixed routes, cap the number of carts, and introduce a system for selecting operators. However, the city currently lacks the legal power to enforce these rules, as passenger transport is regulated at the regional level. Patanè says he is waiting for the Lazio Region to transfer that authority, which he expects to happen soon.
"This phenomenon has now become rampant and, in some cases, even worrying," Patanè said. He noted that other cities facing similar growth in golf cart tourism have few options without such powers.
The debate comes amid broader efforts to manage Rome's traffic. In July, the city began charging electric vehicles for access to the historic centre, a move aimed at reducing congestion rather than emissions. The number of authorised vehicles has already dropped by about a quarter.
For many tourists, the carts are a convenient way to see the city's sights without the hassle of buses. "It's the best way to do it, because you can go down all the little streets," said Ruth Sanderson, a tourist from England. Operators say bookings have surged this summer, though they face inconsistent enforcement and heavy fines in some cases.
As Rome works to balance tourism with liveability, the golf cart has become the latest flashpoint in a long-running debate over how the city should move.