Rome…to stay in the city or in a nearby village

Ditch the car
Stay in Rome

Seriously you won’t need or want a car in or around Rome
Trains will get you anywhere you want to go with a lot less stress

Where else will you visit in Italy?

Use smart safe travel practices and you will be fine

...have been advised not to drive in Rome...hearing a lot about being careful of pickpockets...

I would also advise against driveing in Rome. First, it's hectic to say the least. Traffic signs will be new to your. And the person driving will not be able to "see" anything. Nor will the sister acting as navigator.

For the same reasons, we don't drive in Italy at all. But that's just us.

With regard to pickpockets, yes, they do exist. However, if you use a money belt underneath your clothing, and keep all but day money and one charge card in your purse, you should be fine. Just wear the purse as a cross body bag so it's in front of you. Be aware of your surroundings, and if things get too crowded just take a "time out" and move away from the "sardine can" area until things thin out. Or wait for the next bus or subway. Again, a properly used money worn under your clothing is your best defense.

What is the rest of your itinerary, including where you fly in and out?

hey hey char_island
like others mention, ditch the car. it will be more of a headache to have in rome. finding a parking spot and reading italian signs is not worth it. public transportation and taxis are abundant (taxis available at stands, no flagging them down)
don't know what you're planning to see and do in rome or your itinerary after. your 2 days are so so short, check in to hotels is 3pm usually and check out is 10-11am. does hotel have baggage storage to hold after you check out, most do. it will be hot, busy and very crowded, wear comfy shoes with lots of walking.
don't forget to get an IDP driving in italy (AAA.com/IDP)
take a train outside rome and pick up car for the rest of your trip. pick up in one country and return to another country will cost you big bucks $$$. like any other city, there are pickpockets. be very careful with your bags and money, have a bag under your clothes and secure it. enjoy your time and have fun
aloha

We found that Rome was very walkable, if you are able. You can walk just about everywhere you want to go, and perhaps easier and faster than public transportation
Buses are (fairly) easy to navigate, also.

Two days is a tight enough time frame that I would want to be in the heart of Rome and not needing to come and go each day. It does boil down to one FULL day, and the other half days as less productive - especially if much of that is getting in and out of the city.

If you haven't rented the car already, maybe you could break it into two reservations where you drop it outside Rome, train/taxi to your hotel in the core, and then two days later, pick up a new rental and continue on your way. That might mess with the pricing of the rental(s) though.

Regarding pickpockets, the normal rules that apply everywhere apply in Rome - pay attention. Keeping your passport, extra cash, and back-up CC safe on your body always makes sense (at home I keep my passport safe in a fireproof safe) and using a purse strap or similar will deter snatch and grabs. If you look like you're paying attention and alert, generally "bad" folks are gonna move on to a less challenging target.

Enjoy your time. Rome is worth (much) more time than a day or two, so hopefully you'll be able to return and explore further.

Ditch the car. It will more of a hassle than any problems with pickpockets. After you have been in Rome for a half day and have seen the traffic you will better understand this recommendation. Are you sure you even need a car? Pickpockets are crimes of opportunity. Provide no opportunity and you have no problems. Pickpockets are discussed all time leading to the idea that you are head into a den of thieves. Pickpockets are over discussed and are not a problem IF you take a few precautions. Years ago we had a package through Travel Zoo that had us staying in a hotel at the last stop on the metro. It was a super pain in the butt to take the subway in and out each day. Stay in the Termini area -- Sonya, Aberdeen.

We've already booked a return flight at the Milano airport
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/places-to-visit-in-italy-and-switzerland
( another of OP's posts)

If you are visiting Rome just as an extension of your visit centered on Lake Come & Switzerland, the best thing would be to dump the car in Milan and use the train to/from Rome

Thank you all very much. We have decided we are definitely not going to be driving in Rome, except to turn in our rental to the airport when we fly out. Thank you to the person who reminded about getting an IDP. We did not know about that. We are still undecided about staying in Rome or a nearby village.

If you share your itinerary, we can better advise.

Our itinerary…flying into Milan where we will pick up rental car…Lake Como region for several days, with maybe a day drive over to Switzerland in that time frame…driving to Rome for 2 nights…turning in car rental and flying to France for last leg of trip, where we will rent another car for a couple days.

Rome is a major city of the world, and an important center of classical and Renaissance art. To see Rome, stay in Rome. Violent street crime is MUCH lower in Europe than in the US. You are wrong to be fearful of Rome. Have you visited Europe before? I have been to Rome at least five times (I mean, including short stays associated with a cruise or something), but our first visit was five nights. And yes, I almost got Pickpocketed! (Second trip to Europe) But since then, I have followed our host here (Rick Steves) rule to use a belt-pouch inside my pants. Result: Zero Risk.

BTW, a shopowner standing in front of his store cuffed the pre-teen assigned to pickpocket me, and the kid dropped my wallet on the pavement. The "distraction" nursing mother with her child were already gone. Welcome to the real world.

Another issue is the heat in August. You need a place to retreat and rest during your two Rome days.

You also need to read up on national rules about rental car insurance, and about ZTL rules in the "villages" you are going to visit. This is not like driving from the Mall of America to the Walker Art Center!

Since you are flying into Milan, why not take the train to the Lake Cumo area and rent a car when you leave there? It's easy to do, and will eliminate driving on arrival while tired, sleepy, jet lagged, and on strange turf. You might not be bothered by those things, but many people (self included) shouldn't drive right after a long overnight flight. Just something to think about.

Yes, get rid of the car and stay in Rome, you will enjoy that city so much more. You will miss a lot staying outside the city and waste a lot of time commuting.

Pickpockets, yes, have a money belt or only carry one credit card and a small amount of cash in front pocket.

Milan to Rome
fast train - about 3 hours
By car- about 6 hours
No brainer IMO

Traveling around Lake Como can be done by ferry

I don’t see anywhere in your itinerary where you’d need or want a car

Only 3 sensible choices in my opinion:

1. Do without a car and travel to Lake Como from Milan by train. Also not sure where you want to be in Switzerland, but if you stay in Menaggio on lake Como, lake Lugano and the city of Lugano in Switzerland is very easy to reach by bus.
2. Rent a car in Milan, visit lake Como and wherever in Switzerland by car, then return the car in Milan and go to Rome by train (3 hours train vs. 6-7 hours drive).
3. Same as 2 but drive the 7 hours to Rome and return the car in the city of Rome (or the airport) upon arrival. Enjoy Rome for the days you are there without a car. Take a taxi to the airport on the day of departure to France.

Your choice, but any of the 3 options above would be preferable to keeping the car while in Rome or commuting from a town nearby.

driving to Rome for 2 nights…turning in car rental and flying to France

This makes the answer much easier. Drop the car near Rome - wherever you are comfortable (airport or town near a train) - and then spend the two days in the heart of Rome.

I had thought you were continuing to drive in Italy from Rome, but since you are flying out, your need for a car ends when you get to Rome, so it's just about finding a logical drop-off for the rental. Airports are usually straightforward but maybe there is a better option that will work for you.

Definitely stay in Rome! There is so much to see; taking a bus or train into the city cuts into your already limited time. It will be hot in August and you will likely want to take a mid-day break in your (hopefully!) air conditioned room-something you can't do if you stay outside the city. My daughter did what you are proposing and it is her greatest regret about visiting Rome.

I concur with others regarding driving. Italian trains are very convenient and MUCH more relaxing than driving! You can purchase advance tickets (with seat reservations) on the website for either Trenitalia or ItaloTreno. New to Italian trains? The website Seat 61 will answer your questions. You can take the Leonardo Express from Rome's Central Station to the airport or can take a taxi (flat rate from the city center to the airport around €50).

You all are so helpful! I really wish we had waited a bit, but we’ve already rented the car through our Avis app. Now, I would really like to drop the car off near Rome and just taxi to the airport. I’m afraid we’re going to be penalized quite a bit if we do that.
And I think we are going to stay in the city instead of outside. Thanks so much for helping us to make that decision!

I’m afraid we’re going to be penalized quite a bit if we do that.

If you did the 'Pay now" when you booked the car it looks like the penalty to cancel, 24 or more hours before pickup is $50.
Parking for 2 days in Rome probably at least that much.

I would contact Avis to see what terms apply for an early turn in or cancelling and doing a new reservation

We're headed to Rome for a second time at the end of September. If you can handle large cities in the U.S., you'll have no problems with Rome (pick pockets). And please don't even consider staying in an outlying area. You'll waste a tremendous amount of time commuting in and out of the city and completely miss the thrill of Rome at night you must see the fountains, statues and buildings lit up. I was just on line looking at hotels and there are reasonably priced hotels still available.

We have 4 travelers coming from US and Rome is our first stop in July, we are there 4 nights.

We are staying in Trastevere, which was recommended on this forum and plan to walk everywhere. There are scooters, motorcycles, buses, etc. everywhere and walking alone is a challenge. We will rent a car on the outskirts of town for the next stop, which will be driving to Florence with little towns along the way.
My husband and I have been to Rome twice before (once on 9/13/01) which was a pretty traumatic trip and another one day/evening stop. I would tell yourself, "I will be back." Hit a few spots, buy as many tickets to things in advance but leave yourself time to amble around and see the sites. Big cities cannot be tackled in a few days but that's ok, see what you want.
Pickpockets make everyone nervous! I always leave my fancy jewelry at home, grab a cross-body and walk with purpose! If you are lost, step in a doorway or a shop and get your bearings straight. Backpacks are the big no no.

Enjoy!

Char, I sent you an off topic PM.