Rome Moves to Cap 500 Golf Cart Tours as Summer Bookings Jump 147%
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 12
Rome Moves to Cap 500 Golf Cart Tours as Summer Bookings Jump 147%
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 12
Summary
Rome is seeking authority to regulate tourist golf carts in its historic center, with plans to cap vehicle numbers, assign routes and decide which operators can run tours.
Tripadvisor data cited by AP showed summer bookings up 147% from 2024, helping push as many as 500 carts onto Rome’s narrow streets and fueling complaints over traffic, illegal parking and crowding.
Deputy Mayor Eugenio Patanè said the city wants greater regional powers to control what he called a rampant and sometimes worrisome phenomenon after residents and drivers clashed on congested roads.
Supporters say the carts are quiet, compact and emission-free, and travel experts note Rome’s limited public transport makes them useful for tourists—especially visitors with mobility impairments.
The dispute has become part of a wider overtourism debate as major destinations tighten rules to protect daily life for residents while still accommodating heavy visitor demand.
If Rome heavily restricts golf cart tours, how will visitors with mobility issues navigate the ancient city's narrow streets and limited public transit?
With barely 4,300 parking spots for 50,000 daily vehicles, are golf carts the real problem or just a scapegoat for Rome's traffic crisis?