Please help us decide - we are a family of 5 and will have a rental car in Umbria (near Fabro) and will be traveling to Rome on a Saturday in July. We will stay near the Vatican. Is it better to drive directly into Rome and drop the car off at the nearest agency office (either Hertz or National) or would it be a better/safer idea to return the car to a northern city, like Orvieto, and take the train into Rome? Thank you!
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Dropping it off at the train station in Orvieto might be less congested and easier. If you have time, you can drive up to the hilltown and park in the new parking structure. Or, you can turn in the car and take the funicular from the train station up to the hilltown. This is a lovely town to walk around. The Duomo has a magnificent facade and the frescoes done in the chapel were done by Luca Signorelli. Read all about Orvieto in the RS Italy tour book. Have a great trip making lifetime memories with your family.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
I don't get this Orvieto hype. You should drop your car in a Hertz office near the GRA X A24 interchange, only 4 blocks of city traffic in an industrial park, then you walk 3 minutes and catch a metropolitan train to wherever you need to go.
Posted by
Montreal, Québec, Canada
17 posts
we took a car in Venice and dropped it in Rome, the ZTL was inactie bcse of holiday on August 15, and i think it is also off on w-e. We first found our way to our hotel near the PAntheo, checked in and then dropped the car to the agency. They are all around the same area .
Then we walked to the spanish steps and staretd our visit of Rome If you are a family, do not complicate things. We were with our kids and our plan worked out for us ps do stop however at Orvieto on your way at least for the cathedral.
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Richard, it really comes down to your comfort level driving in Italy...and Rome. The good news is that if you come on the A1 and then jump onto the GRA (ring road), you can swing around to the Vatican Area quite easily. The main road in, Via Aurelia, is crowded but easily navigable and NO WHERE NEAR the dreaded ZTL's of Rome. A couple of tips: Make sure you have an International Driving Permit; map out your route in advance; and DO NOT cross the river into central Rome. That's generally where all the trouble (and ZTL's) start. I've lived in Vatican/Prati area and drove daily for years in this area. It's one of the newer sections of town (I suppose that's relative) and hence has wider streets (when folks aren't triple-parked!). Also, make sure your Car Rental Location in Rome will be OPEN when you plan to hit town. Some of the satellite locations sometimes have unusual hours. You can safely drive to your hotel and drop off your party if you stay in the Vatican/Prati area.
Posted by
Marin, CA
527 posts
Orvieto worked great for us plus we enjoyed spending the night,loved the town and saved money over more expensive Roman hotels.
Posted by
OP
Stratham, NH, USA
5 posts
Thanks to all for your help! We were firmly on the fence with what to do, but decided our plans will work out best by driving the whole way and dropping off near the Vatican. We found a Europcar office within about 5 minutes walk from our B&B. We might be able to work in a day trip to Orvieto earlier in the week. Grazie!