We are renting a car in Venice and driving back to Rome via Cinque Terre (yes, I know parking is horrible - I've made private arrangements). We'll be arriving back in Rome late evening of a Wednesday. How complicated will it be to get the car back to where it belongs near Termini? Any advice?
Posted by
Bel Air, MD, USA
261 posts
DON'T DROP NEAR TERMINI!!! First, finding Termini (not well marked). Also, lots of odd one way streets and "Zona Traffico Limitato" signs. A street will go one way, then suddenly be one way the other way! It took us 15 mintes to find Termini, and 15 more to find where we were supposed to return the car. Some agencys have drops near Villa Borghese. That's better marked. Also many car rental work out of parking garages, so it's not always easy to figure out exactly where to go. Good Luck.
Posted by
OP
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
122 posts
It was my understanding that Termini is outside of the restricted traffic area. Am I wrong?
Posted by
Bel Air, MD, USA
261 posts
We were trying to navigate the one way streets around Termini and I saw a few "zona limitato" signs, but I didn't notice any cameras. There were also trolley tracks, so maybe they were for the trolley lanes? I guess I'll find out in a year if I get a ticket.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Yes, it is outside the ZTL...just. But you will have to approach from the North around to the east and south to avoid the ZTL zones immediately to the west. That whole wedge of Rome from NE to SE of Termini is a ATL. Check with your rental car company for a route in...they should be able to tell you. Look for the ZTL signs...if you pass one, you've had it. Hours are 6:30 am to 6:00 PM Mon-Fri, and 2-6 pm on Saturday.
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Norm is correct - if you come from the north, Termini IS NOT in the ZTL zone and is relatively easy to find - especially if you have a GPS. (We drive there often to meet folks or catch trains).
Most of the major car rental vendors are all in the same garage, located at Via Giovanni Giolitti, 34. It's a parking garage located on the side of Termini.
Here's how to get to it as it can be confusing. If you are DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF TERMINI looking at the train station, you will want to head to the street that runs down the LEFT SIDE of the Train Station. This is Via Marsala . Follow Via Marsala down the entire length of the train station until you can make a RIGHT.
This first right will be Sottopassaggio A. Pettinelli. It is actually a tunnel that has TWO LANES of traffic both headed the same way... Take the second tunnel - NOT THE FIRST - and you will go through the tunnel and be able to make a LEFT TURN. (if you take the first tunnel you will only be able to make a right turn and how to go ALL THE WAY AROUND TERMINI again...) As you exit that second tunnel you will see the parking garage on your left with all the rental agencies listed. Just go to the floor where your vendor is!
From there you will walk back alongside Termini. Do not be "distracted" by folks trying to get you a taxi. GO DIRECTLY to the OFFICIAL taxi stand in front of termini to avoid getting ripped off!
Hope that helps!!
Ciao,
Ron