What to wear and pack for an Amalfi Coast Vespa day
A Vespa day on the Amalfi Coast mixes riding with walking, so your clothes have to work in both. The helmet comes with every tour. The rest is a short list built from what the listings ask for, plus a few things we would add.
The 10-item list
Every tour on this site hands you a helmet, so you do not need to bring one. Everything else below comes from the listings' own packing notes or from the shape of the day itself.
- Closed, comfortable shoes, trainers or flat walking shoes without buckles or studs
- Long, light trousers, or a skirt you can sit astride in
- A light jacket or warm layer for the wind at speed
- Sunglasses that sit well under a helmet
- Sunscreen, put on before you leave the hotel
- A hair tie or thin scarf to wear under the helmet
- A small cross-body bag or backpack that stays put on the seat
- A phone strap or zipped pocket for your phone or camera
- Cash in euros for entry tickets and tips
- Your driving licence, plus an International Driving Permit if needed, when you will drive
Shoes and trousers first
Shoes matter most. Tour 1's listing asks guests not to wear boots or shoes with ornaments, because they scratch the Vespa, and tour 2's listing names comfortable shoes. Trainers or flat walking shoes cover both rules.
Closed toes also protect your feet if you put a foot down on hot asphalt or loose gravel at a stop. Sandals and flip-flops are a poor idea on a scooter, even as a passenger. Our page on how safe the coast road is explains why.
Long, light trousers keep the sun and the warm engine side panels off your legs. Linen or thin cotton works well in summer. Shorts are common, but on a full day your knees and shins take a lot of sun.
A layer for the wind
Tour 1's list of what to bring includes warm clothing, which surprises people in a southern Italian summer. At scooter speed, the air feels several degrees cooler, and the coast road dips into shade under the cliffs.
A thin jacket or a light fleece is enough for most of the year. In the cooler months, bring something warmer and gloves if you have them. Our guide to the best months for a Vespa tour covers what each part of the year feels like.
Sun, hair and the helmet
Sunglasses are on tour 1's packing list, and they also keep the wind and dust out of your eyes. Choose a pair with slim arms that slide under the helmet straps without pressing on your temples.
Put sunscreen on before you set off, including the back of your neck and the tops of your hands. Those two spots catch the sun all day on a scooter, and reapplying at a café stop is easier than you think.
The helmets are provided, with a disposable hygienic liner on tour 1 and a sanitized helmet on tour 2. Long hair tangles badly in the wind, so tie it low at the nape. A thin scarf under the helmet also helps on a hot day.
Bags, phones and cameras
Tour 1's list names a camera, and most people use a phone instead. Either way, keep it on a strap or in a zipped pocket while you ride. A phone dropped at speed on the coast road may well end up over the wall.
A small cross-body bag or a light backpack holds sunscreen, water and a layer. Big beach bags and loose tote bags do not work on the back of a Vespa, and anything loose can slide off the seat on a bend.
Let someone else steer
On Federico's private day an experienced driver handles the bends, so your hands stay free for the camera. Hotel pickup and drop-off are part of the plan.
Federico's private Vespa tour from ~$410 holds 5.0 from 200+ reviews on Viator, and riding behind the driver means you can take photos between stops. Read whether to drive or ride pillion before you pick an option on any tour.
Cash and papers
Entry tickets are paid on the spot in euros on most of these tours. On tour 1 the Emerald Grotto costs €10 and Villa Rufolo €8, with Amalfi Cathedral at €3 on top. On tours 2 and 3, Villa Rufolo or Villa Cimbrone costs about €10.
Some small euro notes and coins also help for a coffee stop or a tip for the guide. Food, drink and tips are not included on tours 1 and 2. Our page on what each Vespa tour costs lists the extras in full.
If you plan to drive, bring your driving licence. Travelers with a non-EU licence are often asked to carry an International Driving Permit in Italy, so ask the operator which licence they accept before you book. Riding pillion needs neither.
Skirts, dresses and what to leave behind
Skirts and dresses work only if you can sit astride the seat comfortably. A long, loose skirt or a wide dress is fine, while a short or tight one turns every stop into a struggle. Many riders wear shorts under a skirt.
Leave dangling earrings and anything else that flaps in the wind at the hotel. A wide-brimmed hat will not fit under a helmet, though a foldable one in your bag is handy for the walking parts in Positano and Ravello.
Each tour stops in towns where you walk through lanes and up steps, so dress for a few hours on foot too. Our page on where the route stops shows how much walking each tour includes, and our guide to the limoncello and lunch stops covers the breaks.
If you pack only three things beyond the helmet, make them closed shoes, a light layer and some euros. They cover the needs of almost every stop on the coast road.