Car rental Rome Fiumicino Airport

As you’d expect from a capital city, Rome has an excellent road network. When you collect your car at the airport, it’s a short drive to the city via the autostrada A91. Rome also lies on European route 35 (E35), which links the capital to other major Italian cities such as Florence, just three hours north, and Naples, just over two hours down the coast.

From Rome it’s easy to reach beautiful Italian beaches like Santa Marinella, just an hour out of the city via A1 and E80, and Ostia, a short drive away via SP8.

Italy’s autostrade are toll roads, indicated by green signs. As you enter the freeway, take a ticket and you can pay at the exit. Speed limits are in km/h and the limit on the autostrade is 130km/h, falling to 110km/h on the highways. In built-up areas, the limit is usually 50km/h. Make sure you always check signs to ensure you’re keeping within the stated limit.

Like many other big Italian cities, Rome has a Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL system), designed to reduce congestion. This means there are some parts of the city where you cannot drive, unless you have a special permit.

In Rome, the ZTL includes much of the historic centre, including landmarks such as the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain. The area is closely monitored by cameras, and a fine will be issued if you enter illegally.

Around Rome you will find plenty of convenient places to leave your car. Areas with blue lines mean there is paid parking, and you’ll need to purchase a ticket at a nearby machine.

White lines mean parking is free for three hours, and yellow lines mean parking is reserved for emergency vehicles. For a spot close to the central attractions, try booking a space at Villa Borghese, which is open 24 hours.

Rome is one of Europe’s most popular visitor destinations, thanks to its remarkable history and lively modern atmosphere. When you rent a car at Rome Fiumicino Airport, you can take in all the best sights around the city and beyond.

Iconic ancient monuments

When in Rome, taking in the array of cultural landmarks is essential. Perhaps the most famous of all is the Colosseum, a mighty stadium-like structure dating back almost 2,000 years to the reign of Emperor Vespasian.

Once believed to have been able to seat more than 60,000 spectators, the remnants are incredibly well-preserved, and perhaps at their most spectacular when lit up against the night sky.

Also on your list should be the temple simply known as The Pantheon. Completed around 120AD during the reign of Hadrian, it’s probably the best-preserved monument of Ancient Rome.

Pass through the magnificent entry portal with its bronze doors and you’ll find the tombs of Italian kings like Victor Emmanuel II – the first king of a unified Italy – and the Renaissance artist Raphael and Victor Emmanuel II.

Artistic treasures

As well as its ancient monuments, Rome also boasts some of the most celebrated art galleries in the world. Don’t miss the Galleria Borghese, where you can see works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens and Botticelli on the first floor alone.

The building also houses sculptures by Bernini and Canova, along with spectacular mosaics and many more exhibits throughout its 20 rooms. It’s a hugely popular attraction, so you’ll need to reserve tickets online in advance.

To see slightly more contemporary masterpieces, head to the National Gallery of Modern Art, where you’ll find works from the 19^th century onwards. Highlights include paintings by Van Gogh, Cezanne and Monet, as well as an impressive collection of 20^th century art.

Vatican City sights

Rome is a city of outstanding churches and religious monuments, but the most spectacular of them all is St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City – an independent city-state within Rome. Once the largest church ever built, its famous dome is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.

It’s possible to climb St Peter’s Cupola, where you can enjoy outstanding views of the square below, or head down to the Vatican grottoes – a vast underground crypt where many popes, kings and queens are buried.

Many of the religious artefacts and artworks are housed within the Treasury, which carries an extra charge to enter.

Not far away you’ll find the Vatican Museums, home to masterpieces of art and sculpture collected by popes across the centuries. Its must-see highlight is the Sistine Chapel, where you can gaze on Raphael’s monumental ceiling frescoes.

By the sea

Rome may be packed with historic and cultural attractions, but with car rental from Fiumicino Airport you’ll also be able to head out of the city to explore the coast. Take the short drive south-west towards the beach at Ostia or embark on a slightly longer 90-minute journey north-west to Santa Marinella.

Offering the perfect break from the attractions, this resort boasts sparkling blue waters, golden sands and restaurants where you can feast on fresh seafood while soaking up sun and the outstanding sea views.

With Rome Fiumicino Airport car rental, you can explore all this and more.