HELP! Parking in Rome
 

I know, I know, we don't need a car in Rome, but will have one for an extended trip through Italy, France, Germany and Austria.

We are booked into a hotel near the Pantheon, so there is no hope of parking the car for our three days at the hotel. Though we did this once before with a car, we had the luck to have a hotel that provided limited parking near the Forum. Just don't know what our best bet is for this trip and our very central location, especially with some unseasoned travellers accompanying us this time. (I can hear the whining now..."We have to take our luggage HOW FAR???")

The car was NOT my idea, but I am the accomodating type, so I've agreed to this insane plan. Please help!

Any advice on the nearest (and least expensive) place to leave the car while in Rome with easy access by metro or foot when we arrive and leave? Directions to the parking garage/lot would also be helpful.

Thanks! Daniel

With a car I don't see why anyone would ever have to carry their luggage anywhere seeing as how the driver could simply drop off everyone and their luggage at the front door of the hotel on the day of arrival and THEN park the car..and also pick everyone up on the day of check-out, too, so that seems like a non-issue.

Assume you have contacted the hotel directly and determined that they have absolutely no connections with parking facilities or are unable to advise you as to the closest/cheapest/most convenient place to park the vehicle, right??? I think that strategy is worth the cost of a phone call or the time to send an e-mail and it would bring you facts, rather than opinions, too.

Since you are so far the "unwitting accomplice" I suggest you do this..."allow" the person who decided on this "I just can't travel without being in a car" plan to take charge of the car parking arrangements... NOW! As a matter of fact, I think you should "allow" them to take over this e-mail thread, too. It's either that or harbor resentment forever.
Hopefully, someone here will know of a place to park..good luck!

Don't know where your hotel is, in relation to Via del Corso, but there is a satisfactory underground garage just two blocks from where the Pantheon-Trevi "footpath" crosses Via del Corso. It's called Autorimessa Trevi" or something like that. There is a large art museum right across from the Piazza d. Colonna, and the entrance to the garage is near the back right corner of this museu (as you face its front).

This is the garage that (Albergo) Cesari will send you to, if you are staying there.

Best wishes,

Rex

Follow-up to what JonJon said. For both "near Pantheon" hotels that I know personally (Cesari and del Senato, which directly faces the Panetheon), you can indeed drive a car right within 5 yards of the front door.

It's a considerably longer more circuitous drive to get from the hotel to the garage from del Senato, and the walk is tice the distance too.

But no need to shlep luggage at either one.

A word of caution on driving in the centro storico. We stayed at the Del Senato in April and again last month. Both times our taxi drive had to take a very circuitous route to the hotel due to the one way streets and the streets that were pedestrian only. Anyone unfamiliar with Rome's street signs (if they are in existence) would find driving in that neighborhood very difficult.

Grinisa is absolutely correct. What's even more frustrating for drivers is that Rome officials change traffic patterns far too often. Of course, this is all in the name of protecting monuments.

There are numerous hotels in the city center where a taxi CANNOT pull up to the hotel's doors and you'll need to walk your luggage in. If you ask, your hotel will tell you just how close you can get with a car.