Rome Bans Unpermitted Golf Carts From Historic Center By July 1

Rome is set to ban golf carts from its historic centre after a surge in tourist use has raised safety and heritage concerns. The city announced on Tuesday that the small electric vehicles, which have been hired by tour operators to ferry visitors through the narrow streets around the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon, will no longer be allowed to operate without a special permit. The ban will take effect on July 1, giving operators a 30‑day window to remove or re‑register their fleets.

The decision follows a decade‑long rise in daily visitors, which peaked at 15 million in 2023, and the growing popularity of golf carts as a convenient way to navigate Rome’s steep, cobbled streets. Local residents and heritage experts have complained that the carts create noise, increase the risk of accidents and damage fragile archaeological surfaces. In the past year, the police recorded 27 incidents involving carts, including a collision that injured a tourist and a near‑miss with a historic column. The city’s tourism department cited European Union guidelines that urge member states to protect cultural heritage sites from modern traffic.

Under the new rules, operators must apply for a permit that caps the number of carts allowed in each district, sets a maximum speed of 20 km/h, and requires a safety inspection every six months. Unregistered carts will be fined €500 per use and can be impounded. The city will also install a GPS tracking system on all registered vehicles to monitor compliance. Tour operators have mixed reactions; some say the cost of permits and inspections will hurt their margins, while others welcome clearer rules that could reduce the risk of accidents.

Rome’s mayor said the crackdown is part of a broader strategy to make the historic centre more pedestrian‑friendly and to preserve its ancient monuments. The city will monitor the impact of the ban on tourism flow and will review the policy after the first quarter of the new year. If the measure proves successful, Rome may extend similar restrictions to other heritage sites across Italy, setting a precedent for balancing tourism with preservation.