Car rental in Rome

Rome by car

Rome layers one empire on top of another across its hills, and the cobbles, one-way lanes and permit gates make the historic quarters a puzzle to navigate. Everything past the ring road runs on a different logic entirely.

Driving in Rome

Rome is reached by A1, A24 and the GRA ring road. Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone. Driving through the centre is restricted, so most drivers park on the edge.

Where to park

Street spaces in central Rome are scarce, and in some districts the nearest free one can be far from the destination, while self-styled attendants often demand money to guide drivers to a space. The suggested option is to leave the car outside central Rome, for instance at a hotel with its own parking, and reach the sights by public transport or on foot.

Arriving by road

Any radial road leaving the GRA leads to the centre, and signs on the ring name these roads, such as Via Appia Nuova, Via Aurelia and Via Tiburtina. Moving between radial roads usually means crossing the historic centre or returning to the ring. Central ZTL zones are camera-controlled and need an electronic pass, and Trastevere, Testaccio and San Lorenzo also have night-time ZTLs.

From the airport without a car

From Fiumicino airport the non-stop Leonardo Express train runs to Roma Termini, while regional trains leave from the same station but skip Termini. Ciampino airport has no rail link: the Ciampino AirLink bus meets trains at Ciampino station, and a local bus from the stop outside the terminal building goes to a metro station.