After a few days touring around Tuscany in a few weeks, we will be driving from Siena to our destination in Rome but need advice on whether to drive all the way to the airport where car rental drop off is or try to drop car outside of Rome in lovely town of Orvieto and take the train into Rome. We are concerned about traffic being a challenge as we get closer to Rome even though we are NOT dropping the car inside Rome but at Airport. Is traffic that crazy as we get to the airport that we would be better off dropping car if we can in Orvieto and taking the train. Many thanks for anyone's recommendation.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7544 posts
Just my take, but of the choices listed, Orvieto makes the most sense, easy to drop off, good train connection to Rome. It would likely be faster than driving to the airport then train or cab into Rome, maybe cheaper. There are probably options closer to Rome than Orvieto, including in the outer suburbs of Rome, but you would need to find a connection to public transport or arrange a cab.
Posted by
Fairfax, Virginia
330 posts
I'd suggest the opposite, drop off at the airport. I did that a few weeks ago (at FCO airport), and had no problems. We got to the vicinity of Rome late morning and were at the airport around noon, no traffic problems and the driving is motorways and major roads. The cost of a taxi (fixed price) from the airport is reasonable, and you'll get dropped off at your hotel, so how to get from the train station to the hotel with your bags isn't an issue.
Posted by
Atlanta
967 posts
You could also easily drop your car at the Tiburtino train station which is right off the autostrada coming from Siena.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7544 posts
I guess to provide some details on the two options, the train from Orvieto to Termini takes just under an hour and a half and costs about $10/ ticket.
Drive time to the Airport from Orvieto is just over an hour and a half, cost is somewhat sunk, except for some fuel. Then Airport into Rome is either express train ($15/ticket) or cab (~$45/ride) and another hour or so of travel. There are also other transport options from the Airport.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15158 posts
Are you flying out when you drop the car? Or are you going to a hotel in Rome?
Which rental company are you using? And where are you staying in Rome?
If you drop at some out of center locations the traffic is not bad. Tiburtina station is easy to reach.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Answer to that last question : We are dropping car and then going to our Hotel in Rome center. We are planning on using AVIS car rental.
Posted by
Alta Loma, CA, USA
1446 posts
I would opt to drop the car off in Orvieto if you have some time to sightsee in Orvieto. It's a wonderful town and definitely worth a visit if it's not taking too much time away from Rome. I'm unclear as to whether you're spending any time in Rome or going directly to the airport. If you're going directly to the airport, I think I would opt to drop the car off at the airport. But, if you haven't been to Orvieto and have time to visit, you won't be disappointed.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15158 posts
Orvieto is not going to work for you because Avis doesn't have an office in Orvieto any longer.
You easiest drop off with AVIS is on via di Riano, 15. It's near the Olympic Stadium and very easy to reach coming from Roma Nord. Alternatively Roma Termini station is not too bad either.