parking near Rome?

Could you add Rome at the begining or end of your trip? You certainly don't want to drive in Rome. And parking a rental car for 3 days seems like a huge waste of money.

It is expensive to park but there are 6 of us (we are renting a small van) and we are coming from small towns in Austria and heading to small towns in Switzerland after Italy. So, between our number and the places we want to visit, the car rental makes sense. Rome seems to be the biggest problem. At least Florence has parking lots outside the city that make parking pretty straight forward. I'm just wondering if others have found someplace similar to park outside of Rome?

We parked our car for four nights in the town of Orvieto. There's a free parking lot at the train station. Please note, it's located down below the train station. We drove around and around looking for it. I believe this lot is mentioned in the Rick Steves tour book under Orvieto. We then took the 1 hr. train ride into Rome. There are always some precautions we take when we park the car and go into a city. We buy an Italian newspaper and make it visible on the seats. We hide the luggage and all maps and tour books. We park the car either under the lights or as close to the front of the lot as possible. By the way, the hilltown of Orvieto is very quaint and charming. It's definitely worth an overnight if you have time for it. We stayed at Hotel Valentino. They had great a/c and a wonderful buffet breakfast. Have fun on your trip making lifetime memories with your family.

Linda, As someone else suggested, parking in Orvieto is a good option to consider. It's an easy trip from there to Rome, and somewhat "out in the country" so traffic isn't as much of an issue. One important point to note is that for driving in Italy, each driver must have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are valid for one year, and easily obtained at any AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which in some case is offered at the issuing office). Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot! Have a look at This Website for more detailed information. You may also want to search other Posts here regarding the Zona Traffico Limitato areas that are becoming increasingly prevalent in many towns in Italy. EACH PASS through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket! A GPS along with a good Map would also be a good idea. Be sure to also give some thought to the question of CDW. If you accept the CDW offered by the rental firm, it will be expensive but will provide "peace of mind". Some "premium" credit cards provide rental vehicle insurance, however I've found this to be somewhat complicated so I just accept that offered by the rental firm. Check the Car Rental section in Europe Through The Back Door for further information. Also, as you'll be driving in Switzerland, be sure that the car is equipped with the Highway Tax decal (I believe this is required in Austria also). Those caught without the decal will face unpleasant fines! Happy travels!

To me it doesn't make much sense to be paying for one kind of transportation, ditch it, and pay for another one on the same day. Rome is no better and no worse for getting into and out of than any other city. If you come in from the east, it's easy to hit Termini Station with just a couple of turns. The place is surrounded by parking garages. Alternatively (also coming in from he east) the hotel Eurostars Roma Congress is snazzy and reasonable and has shuttles to and from Termini.

We've been to Rome twice. The first time we parked our rental van at our hotel and taxied in and out. The second time we were farther out and after a few 50€ taxi rides, we drove in. I didn't have an issue parking anywhere in Rome. My challenge was just finding the car on a side street. We parked a 5 min walk from the Vatican. Look at Rome on Google maps. Rome has a beltway and an inner ring road. Figure out where you want to go, where it is in relationship to the ring road and get off the exit nearest your destination and drive till you get to your destination or a parking garage near a bus line.
We drive most everywhere in Europe and have never had an issue. Not an accident, not a break-in, not even a scratch. Your mileage may vary, but best of luck. Pat

I'm going to be in the same sort of situation this Spring. My husband will be in Italy on business with a company rental car. I will be arriving separately in Rome and want him to meet me there so we can spend a few days in Rome together. Even though he won't be picking me up at the airport, I was going to suggest that he park there and take the shuttle into the city. Does this sound like a good plan or is there a better option?

Perhaps the biggest challenge of driving in Rome is just knowing where you are ... and where you're going! Signage and one-way streets, not to mention the traffic, make Rome driving difficult. But NOT impossible. Having lived in Rome for years and driving daily, I still found myself "lost" in some parts of town. But for us, driving in Rome was just part of the daily routine. As suggested, armed with a GPS, a good navigator, a map, and steely nerves ... you too can successfully drive the city! There are a few major roads into town, coming off the GRA (the ring road). Once you get near the center of town you do have to worry about the ZTL's - especially if you are NOT staying in a hotel downtown that can "register" you. As far as parking, there are actually many parking options in and and around Rome. Besides the garages listed in the parking link, white lined spaces are free to park in but sometimes hard to come by. If we rented a car, we often parked near our apartment by the Vatican. Finding an open parking space sometimes meant 5-10 minutes of crusing and hiking back a couple of blocks. Most of the time, we rode our motorino and parked... on the sidewalk! Many folks drop their rentals in Orvieto - or at one of the airports in Rome to avoid driving in the city. But if you "know" where you're headed, plan ahead - and maintain your composure - you too can drive in Rome!